Best all around camp/survival fixed blade?

C

carpediem

Joined
Dec 11, 2000
Messages
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What do you consider the best all around camp/hunt/survival fixed blade knife using the following criteria.
Cost less than $100.00
fixed blade at or under 6" blade length.
good for wet, dry, & cold conditions.
Sheath is not critical since Kydex can be had for almost anything.
Easy to maintain and sharpen.
Can be used for light prying & splitting small wood.

Also, would you back it up with a SAK or multi-tool?
 
Cold Steel SRK, or Becker C/U 7. They both have carbon blades, but corrosion has never been much of a problem for me.
 
Seems like the Cold Steel Master Hunter in carbon V would be a good choice given your criteria, comes with a concealex sheath, if you intend to have a sheath made, save a few bucks and get a 2nd, which comes with a cheap cordura sheath.
I would carry a SAK or a multitool with a wood saw as well. When hunting, I keep my Master hunter coated with mineral oil to keep it form rusting, and use my Huntsman SAK for light duty cutting. The Huntsman's awl, can opener, tweezers and scissors often come in handy. With a multitool like the Wave, Supertool or Swisstool you also get pliers and a file.
 
Given your criteria, a Becker Campanion and a SAK Rucksack or Pioneer fits the bill.

Personally, I won't use a knife as a pry tool for anything but clams and mussels. That's what I call light prying, and if that's what you mean by light prying, a Becker CU-7 may serve your needs better.

Also, Ontario has several knives which would be in contention here. They may be inexpensive - but that does not mean cheap. Ontario's products are very field worthy. I rely upon my SP-5 (10" Bowie) and it serves me well. My g.f.'s son has the Quartermaster model which also fits your criteria.

Mike
 
what everyone else said I have had or want, they are all great

I might spend 50 bucks more and get a livesay wasp or retak they are so cheap at $150 and you get micarta handles and sheath really a better deal.
 
but if It was for sure under $100 I would go for a machete or a spec plus anything big they use great steel 1095 carbon. The handles are not so comfortable to me but that is a personal thing.

I probably go for their bolo!
 
If you are willing to go $150, or maybe just a tad more, get a used (discontinued) Busse Basic #5 and never look back.
 
After trying a LOT of other knives to come up with a full time "survival" belt knife that would be handy for any field excursion, hunting hiking or whatever, I have come full circle back to the USAF Pilot's Survival Knife (PSK).

Great basic steel (1095) with an honest heat treat, good comfie handle that is stout and lasts well, and a few extra features such as a hammer pommel and sawback. I keep mine in a Kydex sheath made for the Kabar "Shorty", lashed a compass pouh to the sheath to hold a mini kit, and am quite content. The only changes I made to the basic knife (Ontario version) was to cut off the top quilon and re-profile the edge into a sort of convex that slices better and is much more rugged than the original edge.

To "back it up" I have an SAK Explorer (going to get a SwissChamp soon, though) and a 5 inch pair of vicegrips. The right SAK and small vicegrips gives you a lot more versatility, in a smaller, lighter, package than any multi-tool. Plus, you can get the whole above "package" for right at your hundred dollar price tag.
 
EKA Nordic W11 or Fallkniven F1 both fit the bill. The Nordic is the most comfortable knife I have used and is easy to sharpen. The F1 is a little cheaper (in the uk anyway!). Plus a swiss champ in the pack, only realy for the can opener and glasses screwdriver.
 
For 125 bucks I dont think you can beat Newt Livesays air assault.You can pry with it clean game whittle and split wood,plus you get the best handle on a knife imho.
 
I am with Featherstone on this. All of the knives previously mentioned are great. I have handled them all. The Becker is great for a big beefy handle with no hot spots. The Sp 5 is great because it is cheap $, well made and has a good HT. But I must say that the Air Assault made by Newt is one of the finest slicers and has one of the most comfortable handles available. The knife is especially good if you buy it when they are on sale for $100. Just my view...find something that really works for you.
 
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