Best Fixed Blade Camping Knife?

allenC said:
I recommend not using a knife to split wood.
Use an ax or hatchet instead.
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Agree 100%. What's up with this Battoning craze anyway ?

But ... if (op) wants to spend around $50 (ish) for a knife (that isn't 10 feet long) and wants to split wood with it ...
BK 2 would be a good, readily available choice. JMHO.
 
Splitting wood with a knife is safer, and more effective and controllable for making kindling etc. Think of this...Swing the blade through the air, and hope to hit your mark (without splitting your foot, or having the axe head fly across camp), or swing a piece of wood against the blade that sits firmly ontop of the exact area you intend to split. Hatchets are for chopping and axes are huge.
My bk7 was able to go through logs that I would have had to chop into sideways with an axe, and a hatchet would have been a joke. If you're processing wood for the winter season, and just need to take big, cut logs down to firewood size en masse, Axe all the way (I love axes when I can afford the weight), but if you're making campfires, and really only need to split a couple large logs down, and make kindling, I would prefer a strong, solid knife. A BK2 works essentially like a splitting wedge, you could shingle a shelter, make flat, even food boards and then cut up your food with the same tool, all kinds of stuff you simply cannot do with an axe.
 
Haze240 said:
Splitting wood with a knife is safer, and more effective and controllable for making kindling etc. Think of this...Swing the blade through the air, and hope to hit your mark (without splitting your foot, or having the axe head fly across camp), or swing a piece of wood against the blade that sits firmly ontop of the exact area you intend to split. Hatchets are for chopping and axes are huge.
My bk7 was able to go through logs that I would have had to chop into sideways with an axe, and a hatchet would have been a joke. If you're processing wood for the winter season, and just need to take big, cut logs down to firewood size en masse, Axe all the way (I love axes when I can afford the weight), but if you're making campfires, and really only need to split a couple large logs down, and make kindling, I would prefer a strong, solid knife. A BK2 works essentially like a splitting wedge, you could shingle a shelter, make flat, even food boards and then cut up your food with the same tool, all kinds of stuff you simply cannot do with an axe.
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Well said, as that is the way that I feel as well.

I often camp with children (small children, nephews, etc), and feel that having one less edge that is potentially flying around is a bit safer. It just removes another variable from the equation.

That said, I do like axes, and saws as well.
 
Haze240 said:
Splitting wood with a knife is safer, and more effective and controllable for making kindling etc. Think of this...Swing the blade through the air, and hope to hit your mark (without splitting your foot, or having the axe head fly across camp), or swing a piece of wood against the blade that sits firmly ontop of the exact area you intend to split. Hatchets are for chopping and axes are huge.
My bk7 was able to go through logs that I would have had to chop into sideways with an axe, and a hatchet would have been a joke. If you're processing wood for the winter season, and just need to take big, cut logs down to firewood size en masse, Axe all the way (I love axes when I can afford the weight), but if you're making campfires, and really only need to split a couple large logs down, and make kindling, I would prefer a strong, solid knife. A BK2 works essentially like a splitting wedge, you could shingle a shelter, make flat, even food boards and then cut up your food with the same tool, all kinds of stuff you simply cannot do with an axe.
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I hear ya. Diff. strokes for diff. folks - (pun intended) - no worries. For me a hatchet works. Plus, I like to keep my knives as sharp as poss. for long as poss. But if all you have is a knife and you were looking to keep things reasonable ($) ... BK 2.

But this battoning thing just to beat the piss out of a knife ? Just doesn't make sense. Again JMHO.
 
Becker bk-2 if you want a tank that you can pound down through wood. Becker BK-5 if your wood processing needs are less stringent. The 5 still slices like a demon and is a reasonable chopper. Hell, you can get both in one knife. One really sweet knife. The Ka-Bar JAB Pot Belly. This is a good one buddy. It's the first knife on the left with the brown grips.
IMG_3761.jpg
 
Agreed. Although the Potbelly is a bit more pricey, it really does seem to be a great all-rounder. I might have grabbed that one instead of my BK2 if I had known about it before.

Its beefy 1/4in thickness, but hollow ground so it still cuts like gangbusters.

Any feedback yet from the OP on things that they are liking better over other suggestions yet? When that happens, people can generally recommend a bit better.
 
For me, it would be the Becker BK2 or for a larger knife- Ontario Knife Company SP8 or SP10. 1/4" thick 1095 HC steel- Made in America-although not the sheath, (but they are both pretty good & have a swivel), for
$49.99 & $51.99.
 
Save up a little more and go with an ESEE. An ESEE-4 or ESEE-6 are great camping knives.
 
+1 for a Becker whether it's a #2 or #9

-1 for Condor. I always have to sand out the dings. IMO the steel is just too soft to make it worth my while. YMMV
 
Never had one before, but I've never heard anything but nice reviews of the Becker line. I've used the Ka Bar (Issued to my Grampy during WW2 during the Pacific campaign) in all kinds of really nasty situations. It has held up well and can be batoned (sp?) without problems. Good all around field knife. My thoughts on camp/field/survival knives is that if you have to have only one, choose a little on the bigger/beefier side. It will never do as well at the finer work as a smaller blade will, but it will be able to handle more abuse and do a broader range of chores. Far better to be cussing your way through a messy skinning with an overly long or thick blade than to realize you don't have enough blade to chop wood for a shelter or fire. Just my .02

And I've gone on to spend some serious money on a serious knife to carry in the hinterlands. I went with a Busse SFNO. Great knife, but there are lots of great options out there that may serve you just as well for much less money. At any rate, however much money you spend on it, remember that this is a tool to be used hard when needed and taken care of when not in use. Care for your gear and it will take care of you when you need it most. Wrist lanyards and dummy cords in the woods keep you from losing gear!

Forgot to add... Check out the ESEE line too. Great reputation.
 
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