Best All Around Fixed blade , budget $150

J

jd212scott

Joined
Apr 26, 2010
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8
Size doesn't matter, I'm just looking to get a good starter, all around knife with a budget of $150. Even a little over budget is ok. Suggestions?
 
We'll probably need some more details like main uses, camping, hiking, fishing, are you in a dry climate or near the ocean, do you want it to be able to be used for detail work (smaller blade) or be able to chop (bigger blade). For a starter list of midsized all-arounder sized blades IMO 4-6 I'd take a look at ESEE RC-4 ($100), RC-6 ($115), Bark River Bravo-1 ($140 and up), Swamp Rat Ratmandu ($140) which you can still order at from the swamp rat knife works store but only for a limited time then you'll have to get it on the secondary market for probably at least a $50 mark up. Also look at Kabar Becker Bk-2($65). Fallkniven F1 ($110) and S1. That's all I can think of for now, I'm sure some other's will chime in with other good ones.
 
At about $100 I have a Fallkniven F1, and i carry it everyday. It is a great knife. And I don't think you could go wrong with it. Unless you want to chop down trees, then it wouldn't be your best bet.
 
I live in a dry climate, and this knife would be for camping, hiking, and fishing. Its gonna be my first real knife and I'm looking for something with a broad range of use. Thanks!
 
Scrapyard Knives just released another knife called the Regulator. Get one while you can because they only make their knives for a certain amount of time and then stop for months.
 
jd212scott, the opinions & advice you get from this question will be like "rear ends".... everybody will have one... :D
Mine included..........

That being said........ knowing what I know now, I would forget the production route and get a custom.
There are a lot of excellent makers out there that you can get a fine knife from for that price or a bit more maybe.

Off the top of my head, two that I would highly recommend are on this forum.
A knife from ether of these gentlemen would serve you for the rest of your life if you even half way take care of it.

Also, either one of these guys will gladly communicate with you by email, PM, or by telephone. That way you can "hash out" with them the kind of knife you are looking for and work out details & options.

You will not have to "beg" either of these to guys to communicate or talk with you either...... [that is a huge plus]
....and they both will do exactly what they tell you they will do.... if not more.

You will not be disappointed with a knife from either of them.

Robert Dark / BF name .... Robert Dark www.DarkKnives.com

Michel Morris / BF name .... mykulmorris www.michaelmorrisknives.com

There are other excellent makers also...
....but these are two I will vouch for based on having several of their knives.
Each knife and each transaction experience has been perfect....
............and I am/can be... "picky".

Hope this helps.......... :thumbup: ;)
 
F1, if you like stainless...
BRKT Fox River, if you like a nicer-looking but functional knife...
ESEE RC4, if you want something no-nonsense, and like blade coatings...
 
How bout a ratmandu? or howling rat? both in your range, both still for sale...
 
Since there is a lack of size or intended function, just about anything from Bark River :D or the ESEE lines are great, or the Ranger knives, too.
 
Scrapyard Mil. Overrun Regulator with sheath. Maybe the best deal on the market for a fixed blade at the moment. You're getting .333 thick SR-77... 7" long bowie blade with a really nice sheath for about $110.
 
Taking a look at the overrun regulator now, its a beast. I'm not such a fan of blade coatings, but I might try this one out. Thanks, also, what do other people think about the custom knife suggestion? I see dark knives uses 0-1 tool steel which is pretty good, but how does it compare to the SR-77 of the Overrun Regulator?
 
jd212scott said:
I see dark knives uses 0-1 tool steel
Click to expand...

Yep he uses O-1..... sometimes.

That is why I said "communicate" with him/them........... that is only one of the steels he uses.

I have knives from Robert in 1095, 1084, 154CM, S-30V, D-2 & O-1..... those are the ones that I can think of right off hand. Oh yeah, Nicholson files also.

My advice would be don't get so hung up on the type steel it is.
Unless you are some kind of "expert"..... you most likely will never see the difference.
You can talk about which steel is "better" all day long and never reach a conclusion.

The conclusion I have come to.... for me ....... is most o those conversations are just a waste of time. :thumbup:

If you want stainless.... pick one of the top ones and go with it.

Otherwise, pick a steel and concentrate more on the maker and how good his heat treating is.
Robert Dark's heat treating is excellent. I can say that because I own a lot of his knives and they are all excellent.

All of the Michael Morris knives I have are made from files. I use them, they hold an edge like Dark's do.
Therefore, I conclude Michael Morris is doing something right too. :thumbup:

And when I do finally take the hair popping edge away from either man's knife ..... a couple of strokes on a ceramic stick and it is hair popping again.
And it takes a whole lot to even slightly dull either a Dark or Morris knife.

I know it is kinda fun to think about and debate which steel is "better" and which knife works better for which situation.

Whether to get "technical" or "tactical"..... or maybe even....."tech-tact"..... knife. :D

In the bitter end... except in certain unusual situations..... all that talk is just that.
A bunch of talk that doesn't mean crap in the real world. :eek: ;)

Figure out what situations you are mot likely going to really use the knife for, choose one of he guys I mentioned or somebody else to your liking and actually "communicate" to them..... what you are looking for.
IF, you will do this.... I almost guarantee you will have a good outcome.

IF, you happen to choose one of the guys I mentioned here.... and do as I suggested and actually talk with them.
..I guarantee you will have a good outcome and will be a happy camper with what you end up with.

What else can I say???? ;)

Good luck,
Cp
 
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If you don't go custom, I highly recommend any one of these:
Swamp Rat Ratmandu -- Swamp Rat Howling Rat -- Bark River Bravo-1 -- Bark River STS3
fixedblades.jpg
 
If I'd recommend any bark river it would be the Loveless Drop Point Hunter, but I've got a major thing for scandis. Awesome edge retention, easy on-a-whim sharpening, great slicing performance. Traditional puuko design has more belly and useable edge than just about anything out there. Check out Koyote Knives. For the money, Beckers and Condors can't be beat. Great high carbon steel with solid working handles. Sounds like you're trying to start a collection though so I'll leave you gents to the "designer" knives.
 
Fallkniven S1. I think the 5" blade fits a pretty wide variety of uses (not too short not too long), the handle is comfortable grippy in wet, cold, dry, and absorbs shock nicely, sheath (not my favorite, but does lock the blade in well, and is extremely light plus durable) does the job. It has a stainless steel VG-10 blade great for all conditions and elements. The blade thickness is IMHO perfect, thick enough for pry, chopping, skinny, batonning, dig...etc, but not a pry bar making it to heavy nor too thick for other tasks. The weight is also right on the mark IMHO again. Balanced and suitable for all conditions, hiking and so further.

It to me is really a well design all-around blade. I am a big fan of RAT the RC4, 5 and 6 however, the RC4 is just a little to short to be an all around fixed, not as thick to be an all around fixed, the sheath is a little big but I do love it! As for the RC5 (I love this one too) it is heavy and not as carrier friendly to be an all around fixed, the 6 gets into the 6" length making it heavier and harder to carry. But I really do love RAT warranty and the handles are very nice...no hotspots. However you will feel some shock while chopping and batonning. I own a couple now...and really like them. Sound like I really like the RAT...but why I dont recommend it is because of length. They dont have a 5" size blade. And in my opinion 5" is a very universal size for an all-around fixed. Capable of a lot many things well but not everything...more capable then a 4" and also lets not forget the blade is stainless...so elements become less of an issue, snow, rain, water, humidity. Maybe I think of this shit too much. Especially around water...which is in my case. The one thing I do think that is missing from the S1 is a small choil as well as thumb serrations. Oh and if you want to nit pick, a slightly better finger guard. But still with its minor faults I think it would be in my opinion my pick as an all around fixed.
 
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Ka-Bar Becker BK-2 would be an economical alternative to the above suggestions. A great knife for an all-arounder. And you'd have some $ left over for other goodies.
 
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