Best knife for contractor? INFI, 3v, A2, D2 etc

super_tactical

super_tactical

Joined
Jan 28, 2007
Messages
66
Please don't tell me to search. I've been reading threads every night for a week now on 3 different forums. :ross:

I need a blade to ABUSE and beg for more.

Need: A fixed blade for EDC on the job. I am a landscape lighting contractor and use my knives VERY HARD. I need it to be able to cut through sod, sandy dirt, copper wires, branches, and afterwards...cardboard boxes. I need it to be able to break Schedule 40 pvc without rolling an edge. Under $300

Don't need: I don't care how stain resistant it is...I will clean it every night. I don't need it to 'pop' hair, just shave it. I don't need it to be pretty. Don't need to pry open crates with it. Don't need a 8"+ blade length.

Background: I just got into nice blades recently. I got tired of replacing Kershaws constantly. I chipped a large piece of my 154cm Benchmade, and I'm tired of re-profiling my Anza in W2 everyday.

What I know: I know I'll need a convex edge for the strength that I'm looking for. I don't need a "perfect" steel for all uses. I need a blade that is very wear resistant and strong.


Summary:I REALLY don't want to turn this into a Busse vs non Busse thread. Please don't go that route. It seems that every thread that mentions Busse here gets WAYYYY OT. I need to pick a steel and a knife. Please give suggestions and your reasoning. I am considering custom makers as well!!

Thanks everyone!

Also, please let me know if I'm expecting too much out of a knife.

BTW: This forum and JD have been a great spring of knife-knowledge for me. Thanks to reading so much on these forums, I have bought 4 knives this week and have another on order! Dalton Tank, Spyderco Military D2, Spyderco Endura 4, Koster Bushcraft in 3V, Seigle Wasp Fighter in s30v, hopefully a Barker soon too.:ropeman:
 
Unfortunately I do not own one, so others will have to chime in. I do know they are quite the slicers so I don't know about chopping with them or other more rough tasks.
 
Ok - this is not turning into a pro-busse comment but of all the fixed blades I own, i can't put my Game Warden down. Its a bit thick at .270 but even the thinner varietals are probably equally bomb proof. Add in a killer warranty for idiots and this thing is hard to beat (literally). .... GO Busse!:p
 
What size knife are we talking here?

I'm just going with my experience here so these are the knives I suggest:

I love Busse knives but they are on the higher end and focus on fit and finish a tad more than the others I will suggest.

(1) Swamp Rat knives: Micarta & G10 handles, SR101 steel which is great steel but not as corrosion resistant as INFI.

(2) Scrap Yard Knives: One of the best bang for the buck knives. Res-C handles, very strong steel.

(3) Ranger Knives: Usually micarta handles, great heat treated 1095 steel, and are easily customed to your likeing by the maker.

All have awesome warranties. Take a look at their sites and do some window shopping.

Just as an example take a look at this destruction test done on a Scrap Yard Scrapper 6 at knifetests.com: http://www.knifetests.com/scrapyardscrapper6test.html
 
I have ordered a Ranger RD-7 obviously outside your size pick. But I would say a Busse game warden seems like a perfect pick. Or a Scrap yard Dumpster Mutt. What size are you looking for?
 
I tend to like simple steels. I would say Ontario Rat Series RD7, RAT Cutlery RC6, Ranger Knives, all fit the bill. If you wanted to go to D2, I could also through in KaBar Impact and Benchmade CSK. Busse certainly fits the bill as does Scrap Yard and Swamp Rat. Also, there are probably a dozen Ontario knives in their Spec Plus line that could do the job, but they are a cheaper option and the QC may vary greatly on your end product.
 
Being a contractor, and for the kind of work you describe, a $15 Cold Steel GI tanto sounds about right. You're unlikely to bust it, and if you lose it or it gets stolen, it's no biggie. Save your $$$ and better knives for other things.
 
If you are going for a small axe or hatchet, and I am no expert here, I really like the Small Wilderness Hatchet by Gransfors Brux. Excellent quality.
 
You may be trying to do too much with one tool. The heavy chopping, especially against hard objects, requires a thick blade and edge. Cutting cardboard at the end is best done by a thinner blade and edge. I'd at least go with a big pocket knife for the cardboard, maybe the Spyderco Manix or Benchmade Rukus.

I don't think it is realistic to expect any knife to cut through sod and dirt (therefore stones) and cable and PVC pipe without rolling or chipping. Something like the new Rambo knife, ugly as it is, may be as good a compromise as you'll find. My impression is that a 6-inch blade will not be enough for everything you want to do.

It sounds like you need 1) a hatchet or short, heavy machete; 2) a 6 to 8-inch heavy fixed blade in any of the steels you mentioned or any of the better high-carbon steels; 3) and a heavy-duty pocket knife. That may be more tools than you want, but it's often less of a hassle to carry more tools than try to make one tool do too much.
 
I've never had one, but I'd second the CS GI tanto.

I'd also look at a Ranger knife. A Shiv with G-10 or micarta scales would work pretty good (4 1/4" blade, just over 1/8" thick, in 1095 steel). At just over 8" OAL, it's a good size FB & should be able to take what you dish out. I'd recommend getting it W/O the coating, since you'll be cleaning it every day (& Justin's coating is hit or miss. Even he says his coating is either great or comes off easy). You can probably get one with the options for <$100.

As far as steel is concerned, I think I'd recommend 1095. You can get a good edge on it, & keep it fairly easy, & it's a sturdy steel (I don't believe it's known for chipping).

Good luck with your choice.
 
You might want a Mission Titanium knife---the MPK. I read about a Marine who was bust'n sand bags open, cut'n wire and, of course, pry'n things! He swore by that Mission knife. To me, that's knife abuse. To you, that's a day on the job.
Lycosa
 
I'm going to suggest a hatchet or entry tool for that kind of thing. Ranger Knives makes a very good entry tool out of S7, you can literally chop off a car door with that thing, so it will do everything that you want except for the cutting cardboard easily thing. That, you could do with any small fixed blade, or if you prefer something weaker, a folder.

If you really want to have a knife for that sort of thing, there's always Busses, Swamp Rats and Scrapyards. And of course, Ranger Knives. Something like the RD4 in 5160 might be just what you need. 4" blade 1/4" thick, tough as hell.
 
I would think a Swamprat Ratmandu would serve you well....
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