Advise,best large knife for under $100

take a look at condor. I picked up a 15 dollar condor bolo last week and I have to say the quality of the fit and finish and materials of this blade are outstanding. It came shaving sharp with a durable black finish and beautiful polished full convex grind. It's quite thick and heavy with amazing balance and I think I'd probably pay five or six times what I paid for this one. Definately a quality product. They have many 10 inch range beater knives in production and even more coming out. Check out the Hudson Bay, Kumunga, Inca knife and the rest of their line, save yourself 70 bucks.
 
I wish they would have made the blade thickness thinner on the BK9 then the BK2. The BK2 is a 5" blade that is 0.25" thick the BK9 is only 0.1875" thick for a 9" blade. I still like it. That is why I went with the SP5...1/4" It was way cheaper has a better handle for shock, steel is 1095...sheath SUCKS...but under 55 bucks!!!! Skip the RD9...I have heard nothing but chipping issues with the 5160 steel...I was really set on that knife and backed away.
 
I have the RTAK II and Really like it.
BK 9 is good too, but I don't like the "slippery" grips. You can tape or maybe sand ? the scales though.
 
MTHall53 said:
I have the RTAK II and Really like it.
BK 9 is good too, but I don't like the "slippery" grips. You can tape or maybe sand ? the scales though.
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or use a soldering iron to stiple them. there are a couple threads on the Becker section that are excellent examples done by members themselves
 
I didn't care for the handle either slick, hard, and transfers shock but you could always spring for the micarta handles for the BKs but then that puts the BK in a totally different price range when you factor in the additional cost. $75 knife plus $40 handles = $115. Which brings you above the the 100 mark... And the one being the RTAK II which is cheaper and a better option, I have found it for $82. Blade thickness the same, sheath equal, same steel...longer blade. It is not a bowie cut blade either making it more practical for camping/survival/bush. I did the SP5 and Kabar Heavy Bowie...got both for less than one of the others. I like the grips better...but both sheaths SUCK!!! I mean really sucks! I figured I will use them in limited capacity. They are thicker and seems to test better than the RTAK II. I do like the blade cut on the RTAK II better...I am not a bowie fan it is meant to be combat as well as utility I think making the tips weak. But to be honest the tip on such a large blade doesn't pose as much usefulness as a smaller one...this IMHO. But large blades have limited applications. Chopping, Batonning, Zombie Slaying...clearing brush. But weight and size limit it on long hikes, small pack and practical longer term outdoor exposes where gear is limited to weight and size. But they are still needed and certain FUN!!!
 
In this order, from least expensive to most - Ontario 12inch machete, Ontario Marine Raider, Becker BK9, Ontario Ranger RD9, Ontario RTAKII, ESEE Junglas.
 
"Cheaper Than Dirt" has a large knife in three styles (bowie, drop point, etc) for about $12. There is a video on YouTube showing one tested to destruction. It is one tough blade!
I have two.
The droppoint feels relatively light and easy to carry. The heavier bowie makes more of a chopper.
I find the vast majority of posters here equate utility with PRICE or NAME. I call this "knife chauvenism". I suppose my finding a $12 knife made in China just as useful and durable as someone else's $300 'name brand' knife is kind of insulting, but if the shoe fits....
 
ka bar large heavy bowie. been using it to clear my yard. OR get a pile of cold steel machetes. excellent work knives for very little dough. :D
 
Imo, you really can't go wrong with a regular kabar fighting knife. Its cliche and not the prettiest knife, but its the only fb I've ever used harder than it shoudlve been used and yet it is still here today. I've baton'd, chopped, thrown, pried, hammered, dug, cut, and god knows what else with it and yet...she still lives on.

Know, I will be buying a fehrman first strike to take the kabars place, but I'll never get rid of it.
 
Got both the SP5 and the Kabar Heavy Bowie. If you have a bigger hand the Kabar is awesome. Blade is impressive!!! Incredible factory edge. Sheath....well it fair at best. Fit and finish is quite good. If you have a smalller-medium/large hands the SP5 is a better fit. Sheath is better also. It has a 10" blade, 1" longer than the kabar. The SP5 seems to be one tough SOB! 1/4" Thick!!! Thicker thank the RTAKII. And the handles on both Kabar and SP5 absorb shock much better. But the RTAKII handle with Micarta will be better for long use (IMHO). Micarta tends to be less hot spot prone. Either way you did good! I personally wanted a thicker blade. The SP5 fit that and is a chopping and batonning monster!

One note and I dont know why this is because I was expecting so much less from Kabar. They really have done a fine job on the heavy bowie. I was shocked at how well made, how well coated it was and how well sharpened it was...one of the best factory edges I have seen yet and even as well!!! Once again if you have big hands larger and up the kabar is a winner!!! Oh and the price!!! $47 on amazon with free shipping you cannot beat that!
 
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