BEST Combat/Utility fixed Blade???

S

Spydiefan04

Joined
Jan 8, 2005
Messages
819
I got a Becker BK 7 and think it is the bomb, cuts like a razor, very, very tough. I've also always been a fan of the old Ka-Bar design, I love leather handles. What I'd like to know is what in you guys opinion is the BEST 7in combat/utility fixed blade out there today, period. I own BK 7 and Ka-Bar, and there are several that I think LOOK good but have no experience with, I'd especially like to hear comments on the SOG Bowie, is it worth that much??? (I really like Leather handled knives:)) Also how about the TOPS Moccasin Ranger, Chris Reeve Green Beret and Project I and II, Busse Natural Outlaw, and Swamp Rat Rattweiler, or any others I've left out. Pretty much which one is the best and why????

BTW my vote is for the BK 7. It is very tough, good CARBON steel, flat grind makes it a better slicer than most in its size range, no serrations. It is very near neutral balance which would make it good for fighting, clip point which I prefer for good combination of strength and penetration. I also like the kydex lined canvas or nylon or whatever fabric they use sheath. The price is good too:). And unlike many people I LOVE the handle design and find it very comfortable, though I wouldn't mind stacked leather:). Like I said I'm really interested in the SOG Bowie.
 
I'll vote for the Ontario Rat 7 from my experience with a huge sample size of 3 - The RAT 7, BK7 and the CS SRK - all fairly low priced blades.

My BK7 was stolen and I replaced it with the RAT7 - I find it has better ergo's, is a better chopper and, most crucial to my survival, it looks better :)
My RAT 7 lives in my bush/bob/grab and go bag.
 
I'm one of the many people who hate the handles on the BK-7. However, I bought one and will rough up the handles with sandpaper. Except for the handles it is a great knife.

My favorite combat utility is still the Randall Model 14. Mine stays in a safe, though, and I would be more likely to use the BK-7 - once I work on those handles.
 
I don't think there is a "best." There are so many really good knives out there. What feels good in my hand might not fit your hand well, and you might be comfortable with spending $300+ dollars for a knife, while my budget is somewhat leaner. Either way, we can all find something that will do anything that a knife can be reasonably asked to do. :D
 
I'll have to go with the gov't issue MK2, otherwise known as the Ka-bar no matter who made it. I was issued a Camillus MK2 when I did my service in Uncle Sams pickle suit service and I still have it. That knife has stood up for camping, canoeing, hunting and is still good to go. For a while in the 80's I was enthralled by the custom stuff and had knives by Randall, Henry, Hastings and others, but about 1990 I got tired of them and sold them all off via A.G. Russell and went back to using real world knives.

Exept for a few Moras my most using knifes are my old MK2 and a sak. After about 40 years the Mk2 is still good to go.
 
Cold Steel SRK for most any environment. Swamp Rat CT for real outback work. The SRK will do just about anything and it has a more neutral balance and is quicker in the hand for fighting. I think the CT is a much better chopper....and as such has more of a forward balance.
 
I don't think there is a "best."
Click to expand...

If there is a best combat/utility, I doubt anyone would know which one it is. There are so many out there, both factory and custom, and I doubt anyone has ever tested them all to find out which one is best.
 
Best knife? Who's the best looking woman? Good luck...

I like the BM Nimravus.

And Keira Knightley.
 
Cold Steel "new-style" 6" Tanto.
Camillus CUDA CQB-1.
Benchmade 140 Nimravus.
 
:D
Well, I have a BK-7, several Ka-Bars(both older and 20th. century), a Chris Reeve Green Baret and a whole buch of others but if I had to choose which one to grab on the fly it would propable be the Chris Reeve Green Beret with the S30V blade as I feel that it would stand up to almost any required usage in a combat/survival situation.
I have 6 Randalls and with the exception of the 6" #1 and the Buxton Fighter they all have beautiful stag handles and I am not sure just how well stag will withstand the hard usasge of a "combat/survival" knife. Oh, yeah one more...a model 10-3 with red micarta handle that I migh slip a lanyard into and carry as a neck knife.

FWIW, ;)
Ron
 
Randall Model #16-7 Special #1 Fighter – 7” blade of ¼” stainless steel stock... And if you order today it's only $310 bucks and a four year wait. :D

military3-sm.jpg
 
Okay, I like what I'm hearing so far, but I forgot to add that I NEVER chop with a knife, I use an axe or a chainsaw :D and personally prefer a knife that is fairly neutral in balance, so I'm not too big into really blade heavy designs. I've heard the Chris Reeve Projects balance different depending on how they're held/what's in the handle.

I'm interested in those, along with the TOPS Moccasin Ranger, and particularly the SOG Bowie. I like leather handles on a knife, I like CARBON steel bc I can't sharpen SS freehand, and I like a neutral balance, and prefer full flat grind ~7in blade with a clip point. I don't like serrations (but can deal with them if the rest of the knife is enough to my liking). The only knife I've found in the lower price range that filled all these needs (except having leather handles) was the Becker BK 7. I'm trying to move up in price scale, but I don't know that I'll use it after I buy it, just looking :)

I think someone said it right earlier there's really no BEST, but I'm appreciating the input, I think I just explained what I'm looking for, if the Becker had leather handles or the Ka-Bar had a full flat grind and a slightly wider blade they'd both be perfect for me.
 
My Project I has almost neutral balance: The balance point is in the middle of the serrations.

I've always assumed that the hollow handles on the Chris Reeves are made to achieve near perfect balance, and not to make a large space for stashing stuff. Perfect balance, IMO, is much more important than handle room.

The hollow grind on the Project I makes it a scary slicer and slasher.

When you chop with the Project I the broad shoulder of the blade helps break things apart. It doesn't get stuck in things the way my Busse Magnum EU-17 does (full flat grind).

David
 
"Best" is just too hard to define. My best is likely to differ with your best and it all depends on what knife you have anyway as it will likely be the best! For my part the Camillus CQB-1, with the 154CM blade steel, is a design I really like and consider to be best in the medium sized fixed blade. For a bit larger projects the TOPS Lancero I have coming would be best. :D :D :D
 
Spydiefan04 said:
I think someone said it right earlier there's really no BEST, but I'm appreciating the input, I think I just explained what I'm looking for, if the Becker had leather handles or the Ka-Bar had a full flat grind and a slightly wider blade they'd both be perfect for me.
Click to expand...

I think you should look at a Swamp Rat for the handle if you can't get leather with a blade you like. The SWKW resiprene handle has a slightly grippy feel and it's very well shaped. Probably more durable than leather, too. Their blades are a lot like the Becker, broad flat grinds.
 
I would second the CS SRK. Much better in size than the Becker 7 for me. Also much more likely to be carried, because it's very unobtrusive.

If a larger blade is required, I would look seriously at the CS Recon Scout. Thick enough for utility (read abuse), yet lively enough for combat.
 
How are the blade grinds on those Cold Steel models, they look to me like they abruptly change from full thickness to edge, but I've never seen one in person. I will probably get a swamp rat eventually, how are they at slicing?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top