Best large fixed under $100?

I second the HI khukuri nomination. I got my 18.5" WWII for $95 shipped. It was a blem but if I didn't know that I'd be hard pressed to find fault with it. I've handled some big Bowies but this thing is massive. Chops like no knife has a right to. And it's not slow. Earlier today on the HI forum Uncle Bill had a couple well below $100 shipped. And I dare say a chiruwa ang khola will outchop any Bowie in that price range. Good luck finding your big blade. Let us know what you end up with.

Frank
 
John Greco has some awesome fixed blades that would fit the bill and they can be had at a great price. I only have one of his fixed blades, its a smaller style, but you gotta love the crinkle coat finish similar to higher end knives and the attention to detail phenomenal
 
If you have to stick with a 7" blade, the Recon Scout sounds like a winner. But, I have seen the black coated full size Trailmasters being sold for $90. Given the choice, I will pick the full size Trailmaster any day.
 
You'd love the Trailmaster, or Recon Scout from CS. Both of them will treat you good. You might also consider the Timberline Zambezi. It's a great knife of 440C and it has the most comfortable handle I've ever held.

tl-7211.jpg
 
I think the Swamp Rat Camp Tramp some have mentioned costs more than $100.

I agree that the Timberline Zambezi is a great knife, with an extremely well-designed handle. However, the sheath is lousy if you are a lefty. The button release is very hard to manipulate with the left hand. Personally I like simple sheaths, like those that come with the Fallkniven knives. The Zambezi sheath has too much "stuff" on it. With all of those straps you could probably wear it upside down inside your armpit, but I prefer simple belt carry.
 
I don't know when the new 7" blade designed by Jeff Randall is coming out, but I would wait to check it out. If it is anything like the RTAK, it will be an awesome user. You just won't find a knife that does what the RTAK was designed to do, do it any better. Jeff knows about cutting performance and handle comfort. That is a lot more than I can say about a majority of the manufacturers with a knife in the 7" class. It takes a lot more than perceived toughness and a name to make a knife that actually works well. This one is designed by someone who knows what works.
 
I just got a Buck Nighthawk in the Tanto half serrated and seems to be an awsome knife-You could also try the discontinued Cold Steel Bush Ranger which I have had great luck with-There are still new ones around and CS still has seconds I think-it is same length and steel as the Scout but not as thick thus not as heavy--
 
The CS Recon Scout, if you can find a factory second, will be just under $100, and the best 7.5 inch knife I have held in a long time. Great chopper, thanks to the weighting, very, very sharp, great steel, and 5/16 inch thick is as close to unbreakable as is possible. Problem is, they are now discontinued.

Continuing on with under $100, a HI khukuri would even be stronger, but much larger than 7 inches. The CS Trailmaster (factory 2nd) would also be a prime candidate, but it's too large (9.5 inch blade).

Those would be my choices for under $100. If you're willing to go higher, then a lot changes.
 
Oh puleeesss! Swamp Rat kicks butt!! The smaller ones are under a hundred and the larger ones not much more. Dont' do what I did. I've spent almost as much on mediocore blades now I have found that swamp rat makes blades for only a little more but way more quality. Good tough user knives for the money. Get em now cause I have a feeling that that it's going to go the way of the ruger security six and other guns that were discontined because it wasnt' profitalbe to make. Swamp rat line of knives consists of practical blade designs and quality materials. The choice of models isn't much at this point but the selection covers pretty much every need, ex cept a filet knive and I think they are working on that. ;)
 
Funny thing, if you go the the SRKW's on this forum or the swamp rat forum there are threads of pictures. Those plain black knives seem so non descript and perhaps just plain ugly yet there they are, in all there glory, chopping concrete blocks, chopping wood, skinning game, out there working, performing without a hitch. Granted you won't get a fancy scmancy handle, a damasus blade, but you will have a well thought out user knife with a quality blade, convex ground to be easy to maintain and easy to use. Is there life after swamprat??! :cool:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top