Best 5-6" FB for under $100? I list specifics.

"The Camillus/Becker handle material doesn't have that plastic look or feel. It's more like G-10 than anything else. You might have a look at the Campanion. I posted a review a while back; you can find it with a search...."

I'm not sure what Becker you have been handling but the scales on this series most definately look and feel like plastic. It's more like Zytel than anything else.
However, a good blasting turns these into very usable handles.
 
Originally posted by fishbulb

I wouldn't really care if he eats babies and breathes fire as long as he were producing the superior products which have been my experience.
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Just saw and talked with John over the weekend at a show in Chicago. I can assure you, I saw him eat not ONE baby, at least not in my presence. IIRC, from a conversation I with him a year ago, he said he was a vegetarian, or maybe only ate kittens. ;)

Can't confirm or rebutt the fire breathing part.

Can tell you I have a few of his blades and they are great! Regardless of cost.
 
My suggestion would be a Black Jack Trail Guide II. You can get one from New Graham with a cocobolo or rosewood handle for $99, or with a bone stag handle for $127.50. I have the cocobolo model, and I can tell you that it is a lot of knife for the money, and very comfortable in the hand, as well.
 
I have that Blackjack Trail Guide II myself and love it, but Fulloflead requested a knife with a blade length of 5 - 6.5 inches. I think the Trail Guide has a blade length of under 5 inches.

A good knife with a six inch blade is the Timberline Zambezi. The steel is 440C and the handle is much better than those on the Fallkniven knives.
 
Originally posted by fishbulb
Yep. Greco's are certainly one of the best deals in the industry...
As far as scowling at you, I wouldn't really care if he eats babies and breathes fire as long as he were producing the superior products which have been my experience.
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OK. You win. Besides, I've been known to give bad first impressions too. I love it when I get another chance...

so there you go. I'll give his products a serious look and perhaps buy one and try it. If I don't like it I can trade it later.

I also have to take some time now and do the neccessary research on a bunch of other good suggestions that I'm curious about:
Camillus Cuda CQB1
Lone Wolf
Ontario
TOPS
Gerber Yari
Ka-bar (smaller models)
Himalayan Imports Kumar Karda

Thanks a LOT everybody! I think this is the most help I've ever gotten from a question on a forum.

And I don't mind cord-wrapped handles for the person who asked.
 
From the list you have compiled it appears you are interested more in a self-defense knife rather than a utility knife. If that is the case you might also want to consider the Blackjack Classic. The blade is a bit longer than that of the Trail Guide. The style is similar to the Randall No. 1, and some models come with a subhilt.

In my opinion many modern knives come with inadequate guards. There was a horrifying post by a member recently telling how he suffered serious injury to his hand when stabbing with a Cold Steel tanto, which has a short single guard. It was not long enough to prevent his hand from sliding forward onto the blade.

I don't care what people say about the quality of the Camillus CQB or Gerber Yari. Those knives have only shallow finger grooves and no crossguards, and there is no way I would choose one of those for self-defense.

The Blackjacks are like Randalls in that they have traditional, long double guards. The Blackjack guards are also longer than those on the small KaBars. You won't find a better design when it comes to offering protection to your hand.
 
fulloflead, I'll be posting a review of my KK blem once I finally get my hands on it sometime today. The mailroom wasn't open during their posted hours for the second time, and now that they're open they can't find it! It should turn up soon, or there will be some serious hell to pay. Anyway, I'll post a few impressions once they finally find it.
 
instead of plastic, ive seen it dones on the camillus forums, he did a strider wrap, looked good to me
 
Originally posted by aaron_simkovich
instead of plastic, ive seen it dones on the camillus forums, he did a strider wrap, looked good to me
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I may try that. I had a Becker once. I liked all but the handle so I traded it. Never thought of wrapping the handle.
 
The ad for the DV8 Hunters does not say what kind of steel is used. In the past the MMHW knives have all been made from 5160. That is a good steel for large knives like bowies, but I have read that it is not the best choice for smaller knives.

I would also recommend inquiring about the sheath that comes with that Hunter. Maybe Ted Frizzell is making better sheaths now, but in the past his sheaths have had problems. I have an MMHW Integral Guard Fighter. The knife fits so loosely in the sheath that it falls out easily, and there is no strap to hold it in. You could lose a short knife easily from a sheath like that. I would ask if anything has been done to improve the retention of the knife in the sheath before buying an MMHW knife. If Frizzell is still supplying the same thin kydex sheaths, ask if a strap can be added to hold the knife in.
 
I'm sure this might rattle a few folks, but how about regrinding an old butcher knife to the desired blade configuration? Sure the steel is softer and won't hold an edge as long as most but thats why you can buy hones.............OK, that was the cheap way out, how about a good old Ka-Bar Military Knife. Good luck and best wishes in all of your endeavor's!
 
Originally posted by W.T. Beck
The ad for the DV8 Hunters does not say what kind of steel is used. In the past the MMHW knives have all been made from 5160. That is a good steel for large knives like bowies, but I have read that it is not the best choice for smaller knives.

I would also recommend inquiring about the sheath that comes with that Hunter. Maybe Ted Frizzell is making better sheaths now, but in the past his sheaths have had problems. I have an MMHW Integral Guard Fighter. The knife fits so loosely in the sheath that it falls out easily, and there is no strap to hold it in. You could lose a short knife easily from a sheath like that. I would ask if anything has been done to improve the retention of the knife in the sheath before buying an MMHW knife. If Frizzell is still supplying the same thin kydex sheaths, ask if a strap can be added to hold the knife in.
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Dude, if you don't like the sheath, why don't you contact John Gonzalez and ask him to replace it? He already offered to do just that in another recent thread. Seems like a pretty easy thing to fix.
--Josh
 
damn right... beckers are well made, and tough.... and cheap.... and good warantee, you really cant go wrong, just do the wrap, oil/grease it once in a while and your goood to go. if you ever need to use it for something its not supposed to, like pry, or something, and it breaks theres no big issue replacing, its inexpensive
 
Dude, if you don't like the sheath, why don't you contact John Gonzalez and ask him to replace it?
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As a matter of fact I did contact Ted Frizzell and ask about getting a replacement sheath. He told me it would cost $20.

Then I decided that if the first one got loose, so would a replacement, if it were made the same way.

Later I read somewhere on the internet (don't think it was on Bladeforums) about a guy who ordered a knife from MMHW, and lost it the first day he wore it on his belt and went out into the woods. The sheath got loose immediately or was supplied with a loose fit - not sure which.

Anyhow, I don't think the solution to the problem is another MMHW sheath, unless the sheaths have been redesigned to solve the problem. The MMHW sheaths I own are made from thinner kydex than other kydex sheaths I own. I suspect the kydex is just too thin to hold its form. Also, there is no strap to hold the knives in.
 
W.T-- this is the post by John Gonzales to which I was referring; I don't know when you contacted ted, but you might want to e-mail John and see if you can get your sheath situation straightened out:

Attn: WT Beck
Howdy Mr. Beck,

This message doesn't really belong here, but you don't have an email account, nor is the PM option available. Please drop me an email. I'm wondering about your Kyedex sheath. Why don't you send it in to get it fixed? You've made many comments in lots of threads about the quality of MMHW sheaths and I want to get this "right" before you bad-mouth Ted out of business!

About a year ago I had a person contact me because he had lost a MMHW 10 years ago, and wanted the knife replaced because he said it slipped out of the Kydex. I told him he was a liar and to piss off (not really- I just thought it!). Who waits 10 years to ask for a refund/replacement? Anyway, I've seen and owned MANY MMHW knives, and never have I seen a sheath that wasn't far too tight for my taste (I loosen mine up with a hair dryer). I guess some people like their sheaths tighter than others; I like mine to come out fast and easy. Still, they always are so tight you can shake them HARD upside down and they won't budge. And Kydex shouldn't loosen up unless it gets very hot. That said, I think you have a bum sheath and I'd like to replace or fix it (or have Ted do it). We'll make that sucker so tight, you'll need a crowbar to get it out.

I think you made reference to it being "cheap Kydex" in another thread. In my mind .6mm Kydex(TM) is .6mm Kydex(TM). It's the same stuff everyone uses. Ted does have a unique way of making them though. And FWIW, personally, I agree with you from the standpoint of the sheaths being not as good as the knives. But hey, they should be adequate to your needs! Drop me an email and we'll get it fixed/replaced for you.

<Okay, sorry for the interuption. Carry on!>


__________________
John Gonzalez
Dervish Knives
Mineral Mountain Hatchet Works

"That is not dead which can eternally lie, and with strange æons, even death may die" -Abdul Alhazred

--Josh
 
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