Best Fixed Blade Camping Knife?

J

jon_robz-96

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Jul 6, 2011
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I'm looking for a fixed blade knife for spliting wood. I dont need it to be really long but it wouldn't hurt. Also I want it to be around 50 dollars. i was thinking of the ka bar heavy bowie and ka bar usmc (ten dollars over my limit) as possible options.
 
You probably won't find a really good option for $50 outside of something like the heavy bowie. Ka Bar USMC are not safe for splitting wood and can break very easily. If you are using the blade just for processing wood Id look at something like the Becker BK9. Its more expensive but is a solid knife you can do work with. Also you can get a pretty decent axe for that price if all you are doing is splitting.
 
Becker BK2 is a great splitter. Another option would be the Schrade Extreme Survival SCHF9, they are less than $40. Crappy sheath, sort of weird rubber scales but the 1095 blade is 1/4" thick.
 
I'm in the market for one as well. I've been looking at the KaBar ZK War sword. Ignoring the branding and marketing, its actually a pretty solid knife with a good sheath and a free extra knife as well. The knife has an almost 10in blade, and a full width full length tang for batoning action. It is about .2 inches thick as well if I recall. its also roughly $45, so its well within budget.

Is that something like what you were looking for?

And also, the BK2 is pretty awesome, especially for batoning, the only place it comes up short in that regard is actually length. Its hard to baton things wider than the blade is long...
 
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You can get a Becker BK2 for about $10 over your limit that would do a great job. The BK9 is longer and would work better but that will cost you $25 more than you want to spend.

I've used my Condor Golok machete to split larger pieces of would and it worked great and it is below your limit.
 
Usually, "best" knife threads are ludicrous. Impossible to answer, essentially nonsensical, given the enormous range of activities one might use a knife for. After all, one man's junk is another's treasure. However, in this case there is actually a "correct" answer. It is the Becker (Fisk-designed) Magnum Camp Knife. There, you're welcome.
 
Another one to think about is the Condor Kumunga, its a 10.25 knife that runs just around $40.
 
One that would work, although probably wouldnt be as comfortable to use as say a BK2, is the Ka-Bar Fin Fixed blade. Its designed more as a tactical knife but it would work if you are working on a budget. You can find them around for a pretty good bit less than $50 dollars. You could also check out the Gerber Prodigy. I have never held/used the Prodigy but I've heard some good things about it.

But personally for what you are wanting I would probably spend a little bit more and get the BK2. It doesnt take long reading around the forums to find plenty of support for the Becker series. Superb knives at excellent price points.
 
Condor Kumunga or Rodan is probably the closest to what you had in mind within your price range. The Cold Steel Bushman or G.I. Tanto might do the job too, depending on your needs and expectations.

I've used a Cold Steel Bushman (not the bowie one) for bushcraft and processing wood, and it works quite well. The blade is thin, so it batons quickly, and the SK-5 steel is very tough as well, so it takes a real beating and also holds an edge rather well.
 
If $50 is your limit this is your answer:

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This is my Condor Tool and Knife Kumunga. IMHO the best $40 knife with sheath possible.
 
I will put another up for the Becker BK2. I have seen this thing baton a LAWNMOWER, after chopping a cinder block. Indestructible, .25 inches thick of 1095 wood splitting madness. It eats entire redwoods for breakfast and can make feathersticks just by waving it over a branch. Honestly, increase your price range by a measly 20 bucks, and you're into prime Becker territory. Knives that were designed to be abused. If you break it, you will be congratulated by the Beckerhead community for your god-like strength and determination.
 
And then be given a new one because its under warranty :) (unless of course you do something like stick it in a vice and wail on it with a hammer).

Beckers are great, but if you can't swing the budget, the KaBar ZK War sword, Condor Kumunga, and Condor Rodan are good alternatives. It just kinda depends on what you want.
 
Been using this C.S. Recon Tanto as my basic beater camping and shooting knife. Picked it up a long time ago for around 55.00 or so and it sat for years without being used, dont know how much they are now. It batons well enough for me (when needed, i prefer an axe), wont make feather sticks just by waving it at them but it will cut rope, dig, clean fish and spread mustard! It's Japanese AUS8 steel so its easy to keep an edge on it. The plastic sheath and rubber handle work well in wet conditions and it's not too large to carry all day. Just saying...
IMAG0247.jpg
 
this is done to death here on the forum. Either a becker or a condor. If you want to step it up try out an esee jungalas....you get what you pay for ;)
 
BK2. 'nuff said. The BK9 is great, don't get me wrong, but the swedge makes it less than ideal for batoning, IMO. What the 2 lacks in length, it more than makes up for in thickness, strength, & overall usefulness. Despite what others have posted, you can indeeed baton logs much wider than the length of the BK2, if u simply do it in sections, starting at one end, then continuing at about 50-60 degree angles, if that makes sense(ie, your first split is not right down the middle, but about 1/4 to 1/3 of the log). If you spend a lot of time in the woods, buy a BK2, you will use it forever & you will not regret the purchase(even if its $8 over your budget). Buy it, you will love it!
 
I'd go with the Condor Hudson Bay it offers a lot of knife for under 50 bucks also the 1075 carbon steel is very tough and well suited for a knife like this.
 
whetrock said:
I'd go with the Condor Hudson Bay it offers a lot of knife for under 50 bucks also the 1075 carbon steel is very tough and well suited for a knife like this.
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This is what I use around the fireplace to make kindling :)
A great knife to use for batoning
 
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