Budget survival knife?

Would really like to see a GI Tanto vs Busse review now to see which is tougher and by how much. I remember someone doing a head to head review on a Himalayan Imports Chiruwa Ang Khola vs a Busse Nuclear Meltdown Fusion Battle Mistress and they were found to be equal in toughness but the CAK dominating in chopping. IIRC the Busse was around 4 to 5 times the price of the H.I. (which is about $200).
 
Aleous said:
Would really like to see a GI Tanto vs Busse review now to see which is tougher and by how much. I remember someone doing a head to head review on a Himalayan Imports Chiruwa Ang Khola vs a Busse Nuclear Meltdown Fusion Battle Mistress and they were found to be equal in toughness but the CAK dominating in chopping. IIRC the Busse was around 4 to 5 times the price of the H.I. (which is about $200).
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The Ang Khola is 1/2" thick sabre ground blade that is differentially tempered vs a thru hardened blade that is 5/16" thick and flat ground. If they indeed tested out equal, then it is quite obvious which steel is actually tougher.

Both the GI Tanto and Busse were tested to failure by Noss. The only thing that beat the Busse battlemistress was a half inch thick Keffeler sabre ground monster blade made of 3V(if I remember correctly). The GI tanto blew most everything else away incuding strider
 
To be fair, the GI Tanto is a VERY tough knife, at a low price point. However, it achieves that toughness by being made with a lower carbon steel, run much softer (1055 or 1060 IIRC, run in the low 50's on the RC scale). So to the OP, it IS a great value if you're looking for something to dig, chop, pry, and throw. However, any Mora will beat it handily in edge retention. Just be aware, its not some magical model/steel, just something built with a different set of priorities that can be appealing if you're looking for something that its good at.
 
Another vote for Schrade SCHF9. For $39 Its the best bang for your buck.
Its got a thick blade and built like a tank.
 
The knives tested out equal, I did not mean to infer that the steel in the HI was superior, only that the price of the knife does not automatically mean it is better in every way.
I'm pretty sure if Busse were to make a copy of the CAK it would probably be over 10 times the price of the HI.

The GI Tanto is an amazing bang for your buck but I always seem to forget it, kudos to whoever brought them up. The GI is made from 1055 steel, the same steel Cold Steel uses in their full length swords! Kind of over oversimplifying it but for me if it's good enough for a functional full length sword it's good enough for any survival/work knife I would ever have to use. It's why I'm such a fan of carbon steels since I started off from a sword collector background.
 
I have a the SCHF36, the Condor Bushlore and the Bushlore Mini of the knives mentioned so far. For a survival situation I would choose the Schrade because it comes with a firesteel and sharpener, sharpens easy and it's tough.

I have to say though that the only time I'm likely to need to survive would be if something goes wrong when I am hiking in which case I'm carrying an ESEE 3 (because it's not too heavy). Different price point to the others but I'm sure I could sort out shelter and fire with it.
 
I'll list Five knives in no particular order for under $50 bucks that I believe are pretty good.I will also list the prices and steel used.

1) Gerber Strongarm (Amazon) $49.63 420HC (Made in USA)
2) Mora Companion (Amazon) $14.32 12c27 (Made in Sweden)
3) Schrade SCHF42 (Amazon) $46.95 1095 (Made in Taiwan)
4) Cold Steel GI Tanto (Amazon) $36.79 1055 (Made in China)
5) Ontario SP24 USN-1 Survival Knife (Black) (Amazon) $44.99 1095 (Made in USA)

So if you have a "very" tight budget then give these knives a look. For about $20 bucks more you can get a Becker BK2 and thats a solid beast.
 
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On a budget, best answer is the Ontario SP-52.

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Gaston
 
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outdoorgeargeek said:
What is a good budget survival knife? I want the SCHF37 because of the low price tag but read that it can have quality issues. Should I go for it or find another budget survival knife? (I would consider battoning, chopping and bushcraft a necessity for a survival knife)
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I would shoot forthwith Schf52. Better handle ergos and right around $40 range on Amazon.
I know many mention the Mora. But it depends on what you really want, and what you intend to use the knife for. Camping, shelter building, processing wood for fire, the Schrade will do all of that and they have an awesome warranty and customer service. The Schrade will come with a fire steel and sharpener, which is always a plus. You have means to maintain your edge and a combustion device. The schrade will also be HC 1095 made in Taiwan, which I own the F9 in 1095 and its edge retention is pretty good. It all just depends on what you want to do with your knife. The Mora is great for small tasks, but I wouldn't just sport a Mora alone at camp without a large knife or axe. However, the Schrade can hold its own as a camp knife, but a knife can never compete with an axe when it comes to chopping large wood to maintain a fire through the night. At the least, I always pair my small or large knives with my CRKT chogan woods hawk just because it chops like a beast and is very multi functional. There are so many options out there for a range of prices its unreal. Usually when you start with one, you will always want to get another, lol. Let us know what you decide.
 
Just a thought, check out pawn shops and such. Sometimes they have no idea what they really have and you could find a really nice knife real cheap. I found an A.G. Russell Mark II Combat Bowie at a pawn shop. They were only asking $25 for it. After a some searching, I found that the knife is AUS-8 stainless steel and back in the early '90s they were selling brand new for $100! Now the one in the pawn shop looked like it was never used and still had the original leather sheath. You bet you butt I picked it up for $25, that knife could of easily sold for more if the guy actually knew what he had. On the flip side, sometimes they know what they have and try to con you in a really good knife for $20-40 that is probably used or something thats new and fails the first time you use it. We are all here to help, but imo, in the question asked, get the Schrade and a Mora if possible, then you have best of both worlds as far as general bushcraft, shelter building, wood/ game processing, self defense from both people and animals, and general utility use.
Schrade, Gerber, Condor, Mora, Old Hickory, Cold Steel: all have good warranties, nice knives, blades between $20-$60 range with a variety of steels and designs.
 
How about the Real Steel Bushcraft II or the Steel Will Druid Knife (240)..?
[video=youtube;-1EK_mZtf4o]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1EK_mZtf4o[/video]
[video=youtube;Lg_OS2cH9bQ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lg_OS2cH9bQ[/video]

outdoorgeargeek said:
What is a good budget survival knife? I want the SCHF37 because of the low price tag but read that it can have quality issues. Should I go for it or find another budget survival knife? (I would consider battoning, chopping and bushcraft a necessity for a survival knife)
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I love big blades (>7"). I have quite a few especially in the $50-$150 range and few in the $150-$300 price range. I love machetes and short machete choppers. Regardless of price, if you don't have it with you, it does you no good. The BK-15 is one that I am very comfortable carrying simply because I hardly know it's on my belt; it cuts good and is tough enough. It's there when I need it, which is rare. But, it's there. There are so many knives in the 4-6" blade length that are pretty handy to use and carry. If you like the newer Schrades, get one. Fallkniven, get one. If you like Beckers or ESEE stuff, get one. If you prefer Cold Steel, get one. Busse, sure. Just have fun. We carry them even when we don't need to because we like to. But you seldom need a big blade.

There are times when I'm out fishing and it is fairly brushy around the streams and the people pathways are frequently overgrown. I sometimes finish my fishing, go back to my truck and get one of my machetes. I then spend an hour or so doing a little clearing for the next guy wandering those overgrown pathways.
 
I have received a Condor Stratos one week ago. And, so far, I am impressed with it!
It is simple, strong, efficient, practical, functional, real tool....
The long handle is fully ergonomic, the blade is cutting efficiently... (yes IT IS SHARP out of the box.... a factor which is not being met frequently, even in much more expensive knives, e.g. my Fallkniven S1).
Ready for every duty in the forest, in the camp, in the backyard...
What else have I to ask from a knife ?
And all these attributes for just 38 USD.
Oh yes... I have forgotten the beautiful leather sheath....
Respect to Condor!
 
Aleous said:
The knives tested out equal, I did not mean to infer that the steel in the HI was superior, only that the price of the knife does not automatically mean it is better in every way.
I'm pretty sure if Busse were to make a copy of the CAK it would probably be over 10 times the price of the HI.

The GI Tanto is an amazing bang for your buck but I always seem to forget it, kudos to whoever brought them up. The GI is made from 1055 steel, the same steel Cold Steel uses in their full length swords! Kind of over oversimplifying it but for me if it's good enough for a functional full length sword it's good enough for any survival/work knife I would ever have to use. It's why I'm such a fan of carbon steels since I started off from a sword collector background.
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I bought a nmfbm for less than 600 and a killazilla for 600. Prices might have come up since but just wanted to point out I have owned dozens of HI and busses blades direct from busse and in my experience the cost difference is was about 3x. May have changed but that was my experience.
 
I have several cold steel like many here, i wouldn't classify them as budget. Not the ones I like. The gi tanto is nice but for camp or bushcraft I would want a higher carbon. So condor stratos or schrade get my vote but I do respect the cold steel options.
 
questions like this crack me up. If a fellow expected to need a knife to, well, survive, WHY would he want the budget model? I can't get my head around that one. I'd want the best dang thing money could buy, and if on a budget myself, I'd scrimp somewhere else. :eek:
 
hunter55 said:
I have received a Condor Stratos one week ago. And, so far, I am impressed with it!
It is simple, strong, efficient, practical, functional, real tool....
The long handle is fully ergonomic, the blade is cutting efficiently... (yes IT IS SHARP out of the box.... a factor which is not being met frequently, even in much more expensive knives, e.g. my Fallkniven S1).
Ready for every duty in the forest, in the camp, in the backyard...
What else have I to ask from a knife ?
And all these attributes for just 38 USD.
Oh yes... I have forgotten the beautiful leather sheath....
Respect to Condor!
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Opinions are based on an umber of factors, including experience. Come back in a few seasons and tell us what you think. I mean Condor as the apex of quality and function?
 
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