Best $30 Hurricane Season BOB Fixed Blade?

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OrangeJoe

Joined
Jul 13, 2004
Messages
668
Hurricane Season just started. Time to Upgrade the BOB.

I need a reliable (read tuff) Trunk knife, Bug Out Bag knife, Beater knife however you want to call it knife.

It's the knife you keep as a backup, unloved, but must be ready to perform when called upon in times of distress or simply because you don't want to abuse your 'Knice' EDC. It's the knife that keeps your FAK company, a neighbor to your Stanley FUBAR, there right next to the bottled water.

In my particular case, it will go into car kits and house BOB.

I have been fooling myself into packing those bags with $5 GAKs, it's time to upgrade.

Must be something that can take abuse so even in my tropical climate I'll say carbon steel. Does not have to hold up to weeks of use, but most stand hours/days of tough use. Does not have to be pretty nor geopolitically correct, but most have a good grip and decent sheath. This will go on my hip when needed.

I've always been a folder kind of guy so I'm really lost here.

From my feeble atempts at the search tool the Cold Steel 'GI Tanto' looks close enough. I also remember reading a recent post of a guy buying a couple of X-brand fixed blades for younger family members along with his super duper RAT-something and a little OT discussion occured as members unanimously congratulated him on that choice also (sub $20 ea. IIRC).

It seems then that $30 bucks should buy me a pretty tough basic fixed blade.

What do you say? Give me choices please. :)
 
No offense, but I would have to disagree with the Woodswalker for this application. It's a great knife, but I'm not sure how much abuse it could take. I had the perfect knife in mind (Cold Steel Bushman, $25) until you said "good handle and sheath". I would still suggest it though. You can wrap the handle with grip tape, leather wrap, tennis racket handle wrap, etc. The sheath isn't great, but I think you could definitely make it work for a few days to a week. Or, you can contact Eric at OnSceneTactical for a kick-ass custome sheath (about $25 or so I think). I think that this knife is the ultimate knife for a BOB. It's tough a hell and can really take a beating. For $30 or less, you are really limited, so I would go with the Bushman.
 
Get a Ka-Bar, oil it up, put it dripping oil into the sheath. No sense buying a really, really cheap blade and finding you spent your money on a non-performer when you need a good knife the most.

The Bushman is actually a good knife for the trunk, too.
 
My vote goes for an AK-47 bayonet. You can pick them up anywhere used for around $20. It fits the "Does not have to be pretty nor geopolitically correct" bill and you can't tell me you can damage this thing no matter how hard you try. I got mine at CheaperThanDirt, and sharpened it up nicely. I would not be afraid to use this as a prybar or general beater.
 
comoha said:
My vote goes for an AK-47 bayonet. You can pick them up anywhere used for around $20. It fits the "Does not have to be pretty nor geopolitically correct" bill and you can't tell me you can damage this thing no matter how hard you try. I got mine at CheaperThanDirt, and sharpened it up nicely. I would not be afraid to use this as a prybar or general beater.
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Interesting idea-that would work well:thumbup:
 
+1 on what Esav said! Kabars are one of the best deals out there. Do exactly what Esav suggests and forget about that need ever again. No worries, mate!
 
Dreamer said:
Mora 2000 In your price range.
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I have a Mora 2000 in my BOB as well as a Victorianox Rucksack SAK. All of my big monsters sit in the truck, house, or on my person.
The Mora is not a massive beater, but it will be hard to kill in normal usage. I have read numerous reviews where it is batoned through larger wood with no failure.
As mentioned a Kabar is always a solid option also.
 
My Bail Out Bag has a Glock field knife in it and if memory serves me correct it was around $30 from www.midwayusa.com And it is one tough dependable solid knife in a equally OK Kydex sheath
 
Esav Benyamin said:
Get a Ka-Bar, oil it up, put it dripping oil into the sheath. No sense buying a really, really cheap blade and finding you spent your money on a non-performer when you need a good knife the most.

The Bushman is actually a good knife for the trunk, too.
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Mr. Benyamin,

The GI Tanto came to my attention after reading the noss4 test thread that cyblade linked above. After seeing that thread/video, do you think that the Ka-Bar really holds a large performance edge?

Regarding the bushman... hmm, that is one I had not thought about for a while.

Comoha, I have to shamefully admit that I will have to research your sugestion of an AK bayonet. It is something I had never considered I can't even remember the shape right now.

Rspaulding, the Glock Knife has been on my longterm buy list for years. I've never associated the name Glock with fragile things, but the form factor does not seem as 'beefy' for lack of a better word.

Thanks. :thumbup:

Any other sugestions.
 
OrangeJoe said:
The GI Tanto came to my attention after reading the noss4 test thread that cyblade linked above. After seeing that thread/video, do you think that the Ka-Bar really holds a large performance edge.
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I have no idea what noss4 does with the knives he tests.

I do know the Ka-Bar has held up in miserable environments under intolerable conditions for years. If you want the very, very best, you might have to pay more. But we know the Ka-Bar has consistently done the job you want it for.
 
I was thinking Moras or the Cold Steel Finn Bear, Roach Belly and Belt knife. I've been using a Cold Steel Canadian Belt knife for a couple months now and it's been a good performer. I use it to dig weeds and cut cardboard for recycling. Keeps a pretty good edge and its cheap. Either of these IMO would work as a decent kit knife.

Can't go wrong with Ka-Bars. Sound like you have some higher end choppers stashed away so these would be in a BoB in storage most of the time so why set your budget back?

Just be sure to keep your hard use blade in your BoB too so you don't grab and go and realize you left it behind.

My BoB has blades that I don't use that often anymore or retired. Same with my EDC bag. You may have something already laying around that will do you well.

Oh, and don't forget Opinels for an inexpensive yet useful folder.

hatchet-
 
hatchetjack said:
I was thinking Moras or the Cold Steel Finn Bear, Roach Belly and Belt knife. I've been using a Cold Steel Canadian Belt knife for a couple months now and it's been a good performer.

Oh, and don't forget Opinels for an inexpensive yet useful folder.

hatchet-
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Indestructible is cool, but these smaller knives are real performers, even if they fail to survive artificial survival tests in the lab.

Think about the actual tasks you'll need a knife for, and a Mora will outperform a much more expensive knife, depending too on your own abilities.

A couple of small, light knives will also save you space and weight you can use for water, food, and medicine.
 
Esav Benyamin said:
Indestructible is cool, but these smaller knives are real performers, even if they fail to survive artificial survival tests in the lab.

Think about the actual tasks you'll need a knife for, and a Mora will outperform a much more expensive knife, depending too on your own abilities.

A couple of small, light knives will also save you space and weight you can use for water, food, and medicine.
Click to expand...
Esav, what "artificial tests" are you referring to?
 
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