Budget survival knife showdown.. g803, d-171, td-01

[Abishua]

So I'm having a tough time deciding between these three.. and maybe there is something else in the price range that can compete. What do you guys think and recommend?
Ganzo g-803 8cr13mov 25$

Td-01 hx outdoors d2 g10 40$

D-171 hx outdoors d2 35$

 

[marcinek]

Mora.

 

[marcinek]

As for the knives shown,

- The Ganzo seems pretty "Gerber Bear Grylls" to me. Too "clone-ish."
- The other two? I seriously doubt they are using real D2.

 

[Petunia D. Feeble]

Mora.

Agreed. I fail to see how these qualify as budget options when a Mora Companion HD or one of the 1095 Schrade options would be cheaper and likely perform better.

Gun to my head, I'd pick the TD-01, but I can think of several less expensive knives that I'd rather have... even if their prices were inflated to match.

 

[craytab]

None, especially not the ganzo because they are a garbage clone company. Buy from legit companies, especially when your survival might depend on it

Take a look at the gerber strong arm.

 

[Cscotttsss]

Mora

 

[SharpieB]

I would own a bunch of Mora Pro S Knives over anything Ganzo.

$13.95 including sheath for a great stainless knife made in Sweden.

I have 8 or 9 Moras and can’t recommend them enough over cheap Chinese clones with questionable steels/heat treat.

 

[marcinek]

None, especially not the ganzo because they are a garbage clone company. Buy from legit companies, especially when your survival might depend on it

Take a look at the gerber strong arm.

Even the Ontario Pilot Survival Knife comes in at around $30-40. I'd throw that in the car for emergencies.

 

[marcinek]

...also A Abishua ...what do you mean by "survival"? What does that mean to you? What does it entail? Where and when would you do "survival"? Do you really mean "camping"?

 

[Abishua]

I watched a couple of reviews on hx knives.. and they seem to really be d2 steel, or something just good enough. That would not surprise me because ganzo uses verified d2 steel at 62hrc in their edc fh11-31 series.

When I say survival I mean wood processing, starting a fire, etc. Not interestead in politics here.. just the best bang for my buck.

Mora are great knives.. but in my country for a heavy duty companion I would pay 30$, and not so sure they can compete with hx models as far as edge retention, batoning etc.. 12c27 is good, but d2 is better.

 

[marcinek]

I watched a couple of reviews on hx knives.. and they seem to really be d2 steel, or something just good enough. That would not surprise me because ganzo uses verified d2 steel at 62hrc in their edc fh11-31 series.

Well "seem" is the key word...they most likely are not D2. If you would buy from a company that lies about what their knives are made of...that is certainly your decision. I wouldn't.

As for Ganzo's "verified" D2....Ganzo became famous by stealing other makers' designs. So I wouldn't trust their "verification."

When I say survival I mean wood processing, starting a fire, etc. Not interestead in politics here.. just the best bang for my buck.

I'm not sure what "politics" has to do with it. So you are talking "outdoor recreation" like camping, correct? That's not really "survival." Its camping. Which is fine....but we need to know what you are doing with this knife to help you.

Mora are great knives.. but in my country for a heavy duty companion I would pay 30$, and not so sure they can compete with hx models as far as edge retention, batoning etc.. 12c27 is good, but d2 is better.

The Mora will compete with and exceed the knives you are looking at across the board.

 

[Danke42]

When your survival is only worth $25 none of those knives will cut it.

 

[Mingecutter]

As you're "not interested in the politics here," my recommendation would simply be...none of the above for a knife relegated to your specific stated purpose (and one that you may have to stake your life on in an emergency situation).

Check out the Condor or Schrade (or even USA made Gerber) offerings at this price point if Moras aren't a strong consideration for you.

Good luck in your search.

 

[Abishua]

Thanks, I will check if I can get those at competitive prices. I have nothing against US priducts beeing a US citizen myself, but since I live in EU shipping from US is insane.. most of the time costing me more than the item I'm trying to buy.

 

[marcinek]

Am I not trying to talk you out of buying those knives....in fact, it seems more like you are trying to talk us into buying them!

I also see you have used pix from a site that is a thinly-veiled front for a notorious seller of counterfeits and clones, Ali______.

The banner ad on the page is a Land knockoff of the CRK Sebenza, and then it promotes a sale for a "Spyderco C151 Schempp Tuff", a "Kevin John CR StarTac Umnumzaan", "Shigorovs", "Hinderers," etc.

 

[marcinek]

Thanks, I will check if I can get those at competitive prices. I have nothing against US priducts beeing a US citizen myself, but since I live in EU shipping from US is insane.. most of the time costing me more than the item I'm trying to buy.

A Mora is made in Sweden.

 

[danbot]

Thanks, I will check if I can get those at competitive prices. I have nothing against US priducts beeing a US citizen myself, but since I live in EU shipping from US is insane.. most of the time costing me more than the item I'm trying to buy.

Stop being so cheap! No it's not being "frugal", it's being cheap. This is your survival you're talking about! I'm sure there are some quality budget knives that are made in Europe aren't there? There are also European knifemakers on this forum that would make you something great for a reasonable price.

 

[marcinek]

Well...good luck with your search.

My last bit of advice: Get the Mora as an outdoor recreation knife. Then if you are unprepared enough to get in a survival situation while you are out enjoying camping or hiking or fishing, you can use it for that too.

BTW....the purpose of survival is to return to safety as soon as possible. "Edge retention" probably wont come into play.

 

[Abishua]

I just typed the knife model names in google image search and thats how I got the images.

And I'm not beeing cheap.. trust me.. if I could spend 10x the money I would.. I'm just trying to get the most for how much I can afford to spend.. if thats a crime.. so be it.

People were spitting on ganzo knives earlier.. well I bought a verified d2 62hrc steel fh11 for 25$.. I cant be happier with it.. and noone can beat it for the price.. g10, ball bearings, action smooth as butter.. thats what I could afford and if it wasnt out there I wouldnt have a knife of this quality.. because I CANT spend 100$ on a knife.

So far d-171 seems like the best deal. Thanks all.

 

[Abishua]

Well...good luck with your search.

My last bit of advice: Get the Mora as an outdoor recreation knife. Then if you are unprepared enough to get in a survival situation while you are out enjoying camping or hiking or fishing, you can use it for that too.

BTW....the purpose of survival is to return to safety as soon as possible. "Edge retention" probably wont come into play.

If I find a good deal on it delivered that is an option! Thanks.