Boot Knife Beatdown? Battle of the Boot Knives?

[diamdave]

I seem to recall a review of five or so boot knives several years ago here (archived) between pre-Fiskars Gerber Guardian, Western, Camillus, SOG Mini Pentagon, and maybe another one that escapes me at the moment.

There are some newer, very good boot knives now out in the marketplace with improved materials and such, including the ZT 0150 Boot, a newer SOG Mini Pentagon, Benchmade Nightshift, Cold Steel 'secret edge' ( I know, it's a neck knife, but it looks like a boot knife to me), and the Falllkniven Garm.

Anybody here in a position to review a comparison of any or all of these, in terms of cutting ability, penetration, edge holding, ease of deployment, etc?

 

[Confederate]

I think spending a lot of money on a boot knife is ridiculous. You don't need super steel for a boot knife; you need only an easily sharpened steel. I have several fifteen dollar S&W boot knives (double edged) and they're excellent. If you need less weight, you can get cheap boot knives, neck knives and such for very little money.

You can spend $100+ for a name brand knife, but it's your money. All you need is a sharp, easily accessible knife that can be drawn and used, and there are plenty of cheap, super sharp boot knives out there. Don't spend a lot.

If you intend to use the knife for other things, go ahead and spend; however, you'll do better using larger knives for work. The boot knife is an Onion Field type of knife meant to be used for last ditch use. Bad guys won't know if they've been stuck or slashed by an expensive name brand knife or an inexpensive deadly sharp knife.

Here is an excellent, small boot/neck knife. It needs a better sheath, but it's fine
for most uses. I've cut cardboard boxes with it and it works!

 

[diamdave]

That is true, but I don't consider a boot knife just a glorified shank, which is what your comments sound like to me. I consider a boot knife, by definition and unlike your posted pic, as a spear point blade with at least the potential for a double sided edge, like a SOG Pentagon. I've also owned a Smith and Wesson boot I got for around $15 several years ago, the rubber on the handle started to peel off after about two days, and the knife would not keep any kind of edge.On the other hand, an old SOG Mini Pentagon I had, and regrettably gave away, would stay sharp no matter what I threw at it material-wise.

The Intention of my post was to conjure up some kind of comparison between currently offered boot knives, just like we do with small 3" pocket folders, tantos, wharnecliffes, or claw-type knives like the one in your picture.

 

[Chris Pierce]

That is a good point about not needing super steel in a boot knife.

But if a guy wants to collect boot knives, then that's a different story.

 

[Charlie Mike]

CF is great for these.

 

[Confederate]

Collection is a different thing altogether and I had a friend who used to only collect one type of handgun, and that was (in his words) Saturday Night Specials. I don't think he'd fired many and did it only for collection. He worked for the NRA at the same time I did and he loved them. I reckon they're worth a lot of money nowadays.

Again, if someone's going to use boot knives as working knives, they would be worth the $$$ to get the steel. I never had any problems with the S&W boot knives going dull or the rubber peeling off. I have two (one with a black finish and one with a standard stainless). I have still another one that is garbage. I had to grind a second edge on it and the black flaked off in my hands. It seems to be the same type as the other two -- just not manufactured as well. I threw it away without ever carrying it. My only complaint with the other two is that they were heavy...but it was fine for a boot knife and I got the edges on both of them more than acceptably sharp.

As for "keeping" an edge, they did that too, primarily because I never used them for anything other than carrying. I used other knives for the daily chores. As for the "boot" knife, I used my S&W double edge for carrying on my belt in the back on the right side where I could get to it discreetly. If I didn't have anything else with me I could cut boxes and packages with it, but most of the time I had a folder (most often a 5-inch Cold Steel Voyager). The boot knife was strictly a backup knife.

The other knife, the no-name pictured above, is a neck knife, and it's something I wore primarily in the autumn under my shirt. It detached easily and it would take a wickedly sharp edge. It also felt exceptional in the hand. Sometimes I carried it over one shoulder and under my arm. Other times it went right around my neck where I could jerk it free. Again, I usually carried something better, but it would do the occasional odd job.

I never felt the need to carry an expensive knife for backup defensive knives. Today I carry a Cold Steel 2011 Voyager Vaquero (plain edge). It works as my primary work and defensive knife and I don't much use backup knives anymore. I certainly can't see paying more for a neck or boot knife than for my Voyager. That said, there are some beautiful knives of that type for sale...and I've been guilty of plopping down money for impulsive purchases before! Chris Reeves knives, not so much, but there are some knives of all shapes, sizes and so forth that appeal to me on a shelf and bing!...it's gone.