Best 7-6"ish camp/tactical knife for price

J

Jasonhg

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Feb 1, 2000
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I am thinking of going on a wilderness survival jaunt for two days. I have an instructor and I need a good sturdy knife to take on the trip. I would like a combination of a decent sheath (kydex preferred) workability in the camp/survival/tactical role, and price. Price is a considertion otherwise I would just pick up a TTKK. I am open to anything but I need some suggestions since I usually only carry for self defense and utility purposes (IE a small folder). I would really like to keep the price under $150 if possible and even less expensive is better.

I have been looking at everything from the cold steel bushman (which I already own) to the CS SRK, Becker knives, Swam Rat, Ontario, Ka-bar. I have relatively small to medium hands. I dont envision the knife being used to fell trees but deffiniately it must be robust yet able to handle slicing chores. I dont care what steel as long as it holds an edge for a decent amount of time. The wilderness survival course will happen in Pennsylvania but I would like a knife that is well rounded to a variety of environments.

Thank you for any help you can offer. I appologize if this topic has been covered a million times before but with all the new knives out there I need some of you experts to help me out in choosing.

Jason
 
I know my next knife will be the Swamp Rat Camp Tramp. I fly into the Canadian bush every year and this is the knife I will be taking from now on.
 
Of the choices you are looking at, I'd say the Swamp rat or SRK are "good to go" for your furture needs.

Though the Ontario, Ka-bar and Beckers would be good choices, I think the SRK or Rat will stand up to more in the long run.

Brownie
 
I'd also go with the Swamp Rat. I have a Camp Tramp and it has quickly become my favorite. Great quality and the pronounced choil makes it easy to 'choke up' for finer work.

I'm also a fan of Fallkniven's stuff. I used an S1 Forest knife last summer on a trip to the Adirondacks and it performed well.
 
I think that the Becker BK-5 fits your definition to a tee. I have this knife and absolutely love it, even more so now that Mr. Fisk himself put a wicked convexed edge on it. Absolutely incredible knife, it's a damn shame that it got discontinued... but if you look hard, you will occasionally see someone putting one up for sale (why?????)
 
Oh yes I would like to mention that I would like to be able to sharpen the knife on a spyderco sharpmaker if at all possible.

Thanks
 
The Swamp Rat would make an excellent choice, but I also think that the Ontario RAT-7 would work very well. Jeff Randall takes these knives into the jungles of South America and they hold up very well to the rigors of the rainforest.
 
I have quite short fingers, and the Swamp Rat Camp Tramp fits my hand VERY well.

IMO, this blade give up nothing to any other out there.
 
The Fallkniven A1 would be a good bet in that size range. To upsize the camptramp or recon scout would work well. Coldsteel knives have alot of baggage around here but the rs is a pretty good blade I carried one for years with no complaints.
But to pick one in that price and size range I would go with the A1.
 
Beckers are great but the handle might be a problem for small hands. The only Swamp Rat I've got is the Ratchet, but it has their standard handle which is excellent for grip and comfort in hard chopping. The edge holds up remarkably well.

Whatever else you decide, unless weight is really a critical factor, take the Bushman along also.
 
In the bush I could certainly do without a large knife but I've noticed that having one along has made things easier and more efficient time wise.

When I'm at home I do a fair bit of day to day work with a 6-7" knife as well as taking one with me on 2-3 longer trips (usually sea kayaking/remote camping) per year.

The day to day stuff is because I've adopted some bush that's between my place and the sea. I hike through it regularly and like to lay a bit of dead brush down on the dunes that are 'blowing out' to help contain erosion. This involves lots of walking, cutting brush and carrying it up and down dunes. I've found the 7" knife a perfect for this work and not too heavy or obtrusive.

I've used a CS SRK, CS stainless bushranger, BK&T BK7 and now a Ontario Rat 7.

SRK - Pros: It's light, it's balanced forward so a good chopper for it's size, it's heniously sharp and easy to keep that way. Cons: It's a bit thick to be a good slicer/whittler. The rubber handles are fine and mine has held up well for 3-4 years now.

Bushranger - Pros: Longer and thinner than the SRK, better slicer and chopper. Cons: Stainless is a but hard to keep really sharp and heavy chopping leaves it needing a lot of work to get sharp again. If I see a carbon V version of this knife around I will definetly get it. They are discontinued now so a little hard to find.

Both of the CS knives are excellent for extended chopping (for non 9 inch blades that is) as the rubber handles absorb shock.

BK7 - Pros: It's an adequate chopper and slicer, light for it's size although much heavier than the cold steels as is the RAT 7)Cons: hard to choke up on, grips felt a little clunky.

RAT7 - Pros: Does eveything that the BK7 did for me but with a slightly better feel and balance. Much easier to choke up on. Cons: I read that it is made of an inferior steel than the other two but I haven't noticed a difference.

If I had to choose one of these for long term survival it would be the RAT7. The shape, handle and finger choil make it very comfortable and versatile to use. I suspect the swamp rats and Busses would be as good or better given they have the same style. The BK7 is also an excellent knife for the money but I like my RAT better.

I know big knives and hatchets are better choppers etc, but I like this class of knife for it's versatility and mobility. If I lived in jungle I may think different.

Hope that helps.
 
If you want something slightly larger than the BK7, perhaps you may want to consider the BK9. A very good and affordable blade.
 
For a super deal, I'd go for a BK&T BK 7 although I "only" have a BK 5 (Magnum Camp, great knife!). If you want to spend a little more, the SwampRat Camp Tramp would be the way to go IMO.
My own Bandicoot is extremely tough and the Camp Tramp is a lot sturdier! Also comes with an excellent warranty!
 
Of the knive you mentioned I own the SRK,the Bushman and the Kabar.All are capable but I would go with the SRK.Great price and this blade will stand up to what ever you put it through.Mine has been use for whittling,chopping,food prep,cleaning fish as well as lots of other tasks.
 
Originally posted by Keith Montgomery
The RAT-7's blade is made from 1095. This is not an inferior steel to Carbon V or 0170-6C.
Click to expand...

Thanks for clearing that up Kieth. Not sure where I formed that impression. Makes me feel better about my RAT as well:)
 
Thank you for all the input so far, Everybody seems to be leaning toward the Swamp Rat Camp Tramp. Is there anything else anybody might recommend that I have forgotten. What is the sheath like on this knife, can I sharpen it on a spyderco sharpmaker?
 
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