best 9-10" chopper under $100?

crimsonfalcon07 said:
Just a thought--before you give up on your Kukri, try making a few changes to your gripping technique. There's an art to using a kukri correctly that really affects how it feels.

If you're feeling vibration, it's because you're holding onto the handle too tightly. Grip with the pointer finger and the thumb, and let the rest of your grip be fairly loose. This will allow the blade to swing into the wood, and you'll get a more powerful chop, and it also will reduce the stress on your hands. You'll find that with a lot of those more "ergonomic" kraton handles, that those will actually tear your hands up a lot more than the wood or horn handles on a good kukri.

I'd recommend reading through the safety thread in the Himalyan Imports subforum. As long as you already have a good chopper, you should be able to use it without pain if you alter your chopping technique.
Click to expand...
+1 Machete's use the same technique.
 
You are already looking at most of the knives that I would recommend, so nice job there.

You also might take a look at the KaBar ZK line of knives. The War Sword is a bit smaller (even though it is long enough), and the pestilence is a dedicated chopper, but should work well in that role, kind of like a mini machete.
 
BK9, Ontario SP50/52 (both are flat ground 5160), Condor Boomslang...this last one is a beautiful carbon-steel-micarta-handled beast, easily gotten between 80-90 bucks.
 
Necro much teflon-don?

@shotgun, khukuri have those flared handles at the bottom to prevent the blade from flying out of your hand. If you use the same grip with a machete (I haven't really used one much), how do you keep the handle in your hand? Most machetes that I've seen aren't designed for loose grips in the same way that a khuk is.
 
zuluninja said:
BK9, Ontario SP50/52 (both are flat ground 5160), Condor Boomslang...this last one is a beautiful carbon-steel-micarta-handled beast, easily gotten between 80-90 bucks.
Click to expand...

TEFL0N_D0N_81 said:
Becker BK9 or Ontario Gen II SP50. For $60-$75, I think it's tough to find a better quality within that category (9-10" chopper) and price range. Yes, there are great knives cheaper, and great knives more expensive.
Click to expand...

soapboxpreacher said:
For around 70 buck, 1/4" 5160 Steel this isnt a bad Option:

Ontario SP50 Gen II
Click to expand...

I concur with this as well. They have a brother in the SP51 if you like a saber grind. One thing that hasn't gotten mentioned is the grip comfort of these. I held a SP51 recently and the grip texture and shape were excellent. For ~ $70, these are the ones to get IMHO.
 
I really am pretty fond of the ka-bar heavy Bowie it's a beast of a knife for the money and well within your price range also the condor boomslang looks like a solid choice as well.
 
ka-bar's heavy bowie is one of the best underdogs in the chopper category, I still can't believe it's still priced around 50 bucks. I gave one to one of my best friends and one to my mom - she was visiting a couple months ago and complained one day about cutting branches with my big Collins machete. I told her that next time she felt like doing that she could use any of my big knives. One week later she asks me which one she could use, so I handed the heavy bowie to her...and surrendered it after I saw how happy she was with the results! Don't worry, I bought another one for me...

I cut off the front guard on my SP52 and kinda rounded off an arc going into the choil. Also made a kydex sheath for it (PITA on my first try with a recurve, but very satisfied with the result) and have to admit it is becoming one of my favorite knives.

The Boomslang has done light cutting chores but I want to convex the edge with a slightly higher profile to the bevel before doing some heavy demolition. As it is, factory edge made short work out of a 4" diameter branch I cut off like a month ago, bit harder than a fresh green bough.
 
BK 9 ... But then I'm a little bias :D

Serious - for a big knife, it's well balanced, handles great and chops like crazy. JMHO. But one of my favorite knives.

Check out the Becker forum for more info.


Good luck.
 
If you want a knife with a premium steel, very good price, is a total beast for toughness, but is a little below your desired length, look at the Peter Janda Fin fixed blade. I just bought that thing, and it has the thickest spine I have ever seen on a knife. It takes a great edge, and the factory edge was actually good. A little refining out of the box, and mine went from pretty sharp to near Mora sharp. The sheath is also very nice, and the knife can be had for a mere $40. You may want to look at the Fin, considering that it was discontinued, and will soon become impossible to find for so cheap.

Yes, I know I sounded like an ad, I was just VERY impressed with the knife.
 
Ontario SP 52 & 53 = 1/4" 5160, bolo shape for efficient chopping, elastomer handle as required by OP, within OP's budget

Note that you can put some bicycle inner tube over any knife handle to make it more shock absorbent. It really does help.
 
RandomAyes said:
Ontario SP 52 & 53 = 1/4" 5160, bolo shape for efficient chopping, elastomer handle as required by OP, within OP's budget

Note that you can put some bicycle inner tube over any knife handle to make it more shock absorbent. It really does help.
Click to expand...

I do that with my CS Machetes.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top