Budget survival knife?

I've run the gamut, and collected and used everything from a no-name hollow handle "survival knife" ($12.99) to a 24" zombie chopper 5160 custom by Darrin Sanders.

For my money the best value is a Big Chris SAR 6 in 3v... And its relatively inexpensive.
 
Gerber Strongarm is fairly inexpensive.

Moras are awesome and VERY inexpensive.

"Budget", I'm assuming, means inexpensive. Correct me if I'm wrong.
 
If you are going above the normal Mora price tag, then look at the mora forest, and mora 2k.

What sort of chopping were you thinking? in my opinion you are better off with a lighter blade, like a 14-16inch latin pattern machete rather than a big monster, but that depends on the type of environment you are in. Chopping is one of those things that can save you a lot of energy in some cases, but costs you in the weight of the blade carried. So if chopping isn't really needed, you don't gain the benefit, and the cost is just a heavier belt. For a good budget chopper, look at the Kabar heavy series (bowie, cutlass), and the Kabar khukri, as well as the condors. Becker is very good too, and worth the money, its all a sliding scale, as you go up, better sheaths and other options are available.

Cheapest combo I can think of would be a Mora and tramontina machete combo. probably do both for around 40USD and sheaths are pretty easy to bash up from a variety of materials for a machete.
 
A mora companion, a fiskars hatchet and an opinel. Nothing you can't do with that trio. And you can probably get them all for under $50 total. Not the flashy sexy choice, but more than adequate and completely functional.
 
Budget chopper is a machete. I wouldn't buy a chopper less expensive than a BK9 and trust it to last in a survival situation.

For a true survival knife it needs to be compact enough that you will actually have it on you. A Mora Bushcraft Black or Bushcraft Forest can be found for less than $40 with some shopping around. Either are great knives. Cheaper than that a Mora no 1 or Companion can be found less than $20 all day and less than $15 with some shopping around. Either of those are enough for my needs and while I love my Bushcraft Moras the lighter no1 or 2/0 makes the cut most often.
 
I, too, vote for the SCHF36. I know you said chopping, but honestly, I can't think of a situation where it isn't easier to break wood than chop it... not like you'd really chop anything much bigger than you can break, with a knife ha. Granted, it can be fun, and I've done my share. I'm merely stating my suggestion skips that requirement. I have no experience with the 37's, but I too was afraid of getting a bad HT etc. I bought the 36, having read a lot of positive, and figured if it was bent out of the pack I could return it.

No such luck, mine was perfect! I've beat this thing significantly harder than any other knife, and it just laaaughs, and laughs. 1/4" 1095, hollow ground, with a spectacular factory edge (up there with buck/CS), very decent sheath with a little sharpener and ferro rod, and under $40? It ticks the boxes for me!

XmxwoaZ.jpg


rFzembe.jpg
 
Aleous said:
Condor makes the best budget bushcraft/survival knives, one of those and a Mora as a backup and your ready for anything.

If your set on a Schrade I recommend a Schf9, it's a thick hunk of 1095 steel that shouldn't let you down, only caveat is handle is a little big so it might be too much for someone with small to medium hands.
Click to expand...

Gotta second recommendations for the SCHF 9. I love mine.
556405edf7983df295a31538e2805bb7.jpg
 
Have you looked at the Cold Steel Bushman, not sure how budget you want to go, but for a larger blade that looks to be close to indestructible, I don't see how you can go wrong for under $25. Not the prettiest thing in the world, but efficient! I don't own one, but like Mora's, for the money, don't see how you could go wrong, especially for a backpacker!
 
Cold Steel makes my favorite knives for this. I really love the Bushman, Outdoorsman Lite and the Survival Edge. Moras are great, too.

jpiih1.jpg


I love SK-5 steel. Takes a great edge really easily and holds it. It wants to be sharp!

Check out this awesome story from fellow forum member philbro! His Bushman has served him well.
 
I must add I just found out recently that Condor is selling BLANKS of the Bushlore bringing it to Mora affordability territory, about $20 for a blank. The Blanks are already heat treated and sharpened so all you have to do is add some scales or wrap the handle in paracord and your golden.

The Bushman is also a good choice, only problem I ever heard about it is sk5 can get brittle in cold temperatures.
 
I think a combo system is necessary. Large: kabar heavy bowie. Small: mora. The sheath systems aren't the best but for 2 budget blades, these truly knock it out of the park.
 
If I need to use my junglas for smaller tasks I simply loop the lanyard around my elbow taking all the weight then hold the blade spine close to the tip to maneuver the blade. Junglas has a fine enough tip to gut a fish or skin a rabbit.
 
I think someone already said it but it's we're talking about bang for your buck you will not beat: mora and a fiskars hatchet. Probably less than $40 and there is nothing you can't do.
 
As far as Schrade knives, I just got a SCHF1SM for Xmas and it is an incredible knife. Solid one piece construction is virtually unbreakable, came shaving sharp out of the box, and with a couple minutes work with a file I had a nice square edge on the spine for throwing sparks. The only negatives are that the coating actually seems to be a light coat of paint that will come off the first time you baton it through a log, and the blade is a bit short for chopping, though the heavy weight of the knife does somewhat make up for this.
 
14inch tramontina machete. The edge stops about an inch from handle. You sharper that area very keenly and shape the handle a bit for comfort. That and a pocket knife leatherman and your in business
 
Condor would probably fit the bill best. That said, if I'm buying a knife that I'm going to bet my life on, I might as well spend some money on it. Beckers are the cheapest I'll go.
 
MaximIsayev said:
Seriously though, the best survival knife is the one you happen to have on you in a survival situation.
Click to expand...

"Seriously"?

So:
The shoes you happen to have on when it rains are the best for rain.
The car you happen to be driving is the best car.
The PM you happen to have is the best PM.
The Loonie has the best exchange rate 'cause that's the rate it happens to have.
Rob was the best Mayor 'cause he was the Mayor they happened to have had. (The drug he was using . . . .)

Compare: "The knife you have IS the knife you have. The others you don't have are not relevant at that moment."

Besides, were what you say true, we have zero need for a forum. :eek:
 
Rapt_up said:
For my money the best value is a Big Chris SAR 6 in 3v... And its relatively inexpensive.
Click to expand...

Big Chris makes excellent knives, but I don't think they have much of a place in a BUDGET knives thread. A SAR 6 in 3V will probably cost you at least $350 these days.
 
Depends on your perspective.... The amount of work it will do, and the lack of maintenance it will need in that time more than makes it a budget choice. Especially if you get one second/third hand at some what less. :) there's hardly anyone more frugal than me, but I'd still consider this a better choice than most of the knives I saw suggested. Putting a cheap knife in a survival kit is like putting antifreeze in with your food. It's likely gonna kill you. Then the $150 or $200 saved seems a bit foolish. If you want to go cheep, save on running shoes today, or buy cheap jeans at the farm store. Then put the money saved in to a knife that won't let you down and will always be sharp when you need it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top