Best 3-4" fixed blade survival/outdoors knife

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col902

Joined
Mar 16, 2011
Messages
140
I would like a 3-4" fixed blade knife for camping and hiking. I would like to be able to baton on it and thrash it. Weight is not an issue. My only needs are fixed blade, no serrations, very strong, and price. My budget is $50. Suggestions?
 
I'm really warming up to my new Blind Horse Knives PLSK2.

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For ~$50 you may want to look for a used Becker BK2, it's about an inch bigger than what you are looking for however but it's damn strong.

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I would also look at Condor products and buy what you like. There are quite a few sub-$50 knives offered and they aren't bad knives. I'm thinking about buying one in that size range to try it out. (I have other choices as well.) But a good choice for under $100 is the ESEE-4.
 
22-rimfire said:
I would also look at Condor products and buy what you like. There are quite a few sub-$50 knives offered and they aren't bad knives. I'm thinking about buying one in that size range to try it out. (I have other choices as well.) But a good choice for under $100 is the ESEE-4.
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Hi. Been on the forum for a while but this is my first post.

Unless you have smaller hands, you won't really like the ESEE-4. It's a nice knife and sturdy, but not enough handle to suit me.

The Condor BushCraft, 4 or 5" are OK after re-doing the edge. The 5" is actually not that big and a better all around choice, IMO. The Bushlore is a much thicker knife, but it needs to be reground further up the blade. Otherwise it is just a wedge. Not particularly hard steel, but tough, which means easily re-sharpened. The Bushcraft knives are coated, but the Bushlore is just a sand blast finish.
 
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palmerdl said:
Hi. Been on the forum for a while but this is my first post.

Unless you have smaller hands, you won't really like the ESEE-4. It's a nice knife and sturdy, but not enough handle to suit me.
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I agree, and if processing wood is one of your primary uses I would want a thicker blade. Thin blades get stuck and aren't as efficient for splitting wood.
 
The ESEE is not really thin. I think it's 3/16". Handle is just a little short and thin for me and I have average size hands.
 
syntaxerrorsix said:
I didn't realize we were locked into sharing only the the sub fifty dollar knives. I also provided another knife that he COULD obtain for his price point.
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Win for you for getting the edit in before the "edit" tag.......well played sir, well played.

See below.
 
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The Buck 192/692 Vanguard is a great knife for most bushcraft uses. The 420HC is a better choice than most would expect, a great edge-holder for a SS. Judicious shopping should yield one of the rubber handled/nylon sheath units, the 692, for ~$50 - the Dymondwood/leather 192 will be more. Both are 4 1/8" by .140" drop point blades with a healthy hollow grind, making them a poor choice for battonning. They have brass finger guards and pommels, too.

If you could stand a 6" by .175" Bowie-style blade - again, of a super 420HC - you cannot beat the availability/price of the basic Buck 119 'Special' - $34 from WallyWorld. Similar long hollow grind - but it's large enough to batton some with. If you don't like it's black phenolic handle and aluminum fg & pommel, their is a more costly 119BR version, with Dymondwood/brass & a leather sheath, available.

On the short side, the hard to find and short-lived 005GYS Gen5, a 3" x .120" modified skinner of 420HS, with a grey Dymondwood handle, NS fg, and nylon sheath that can be horizontally carried, is a great hiking knife - takes care of most lite 'bushcraft' chores. Nice knife - don't understand the short production!

Good, basic, USA made knives.

Stainz
 
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col902 said:
I would like a 3-4" fixed blade knife for camping and hiking. I would like to be able to baton on it and thrash it. Weight is not an issue. My only needs are fixed blade, no serrations, very strong, and price. My budget is $50. Suggestions?
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You could look at a Becker necker. 1095 steel, 3-1/4" blade, and VERY strong. Doesn't have scales, but a para cord wrap is very comfortable and it's nice to have the extra para cord. Under your price range by about $12.00. Just a thought.
 
Condor rodan. About the same size as a BK2, but it's around $40. 1075 high carbon, flat ground blade, convex edge. Beat on it all you want too.
 
Becker BK11 or BK14 - both under your price point. For the difference you could buy enough paracord to wrap the handles and knit a singularly unattractive sweater.

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Beckerhead #42
 
so what is wrong with the edge on the condor bushcraft 4"? why does it need to be reprofiled?
 
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