Camillus USMC or BK7 for survival???

R

ranger88

Joined
Feb 15, 2006
Messages
276
My old Camillus USMC has been my favorite fixed blade for outdoor applications such as hunting, of just general camping and survival. But it's getting a little long in the tooth, and I thinking of buying another one. However, I found that for just $10 more, I can get a BK7, but I don't know much about becker knives. I'd like to here some input from some of you Becker owners out there. How does it stack up aganist the USMC as a survival knife?
 
The BK7 is by far the very best knife for that price ever made. I just went ahead and got one and I am completely amazed with the quality .It was razor sharp out of the box and after a few swipes on the sharpmaker it is litterly sharper than a razorblade. I use it all the time in the feild. I've dug holes used it as a hammer and prybar and it allways sharpens right back.Tuff and sharp as hell.it is real compfortable to hold and carry. Basiclly the perfect knife of it's type. you can put micarta scales and make a kydex sheath for it too. thats what I did. now it's really something else. I have 2. Oh yeah and I throw them all night when I'm camping and they are still perfect.
 
Hey ranger88, The Kabar style knives are very versatile, making it a good choice for all around outdoor use and hunting applications.
The BK7 will excel in the heavy camp chore roles and will work for game but my personal experience is there a bit big to work with field dressing.
So I guess it all breaks down to how you use it most.
Since you like the Kabar style knives I would look at one in D2 I think you would love the extra performance it offers.

When hunting I carry two fixed blades and a short Kabar and a BK9 have been in the rotation for a couple years. I use the Kabar for field dressing mostly and the BK9 to clean up shooting lanes and patch ground blinds. either knife would do it all but this system works for me.

Good luck
Helle
 
The BK7 is a very good knife for the money. Mine was razor sharp our of the box as well. Cheaper than Dirts has them for about 40 bucks. That being said I do not like the stock scales that come on the knife. They are bulky and slick.

The Kabar is a better skiing knife in my opinion. Its lighter and easier to handle.

If I had to carry one knife in a survival situation it would be the Becker. Its a much better chopping blade.

You might consider carrying a folding hunter for skinning.
 
If you have the money get a Fallkniven A1 and then forget about anything else. I used it a lot last week and its performance blew me away.
 
Temper said:
If you have the money get a Fallkniven A1 and then forget about anything else. I used it a lot last week and its performance blew me away.
Click to expand...


I took a look at the Fallkniven . It's a real high quality knife for sure, but you said the key word. Money. I'm just a poor redneck, but the A1 is on my wish list.
 
tnmike said:
The BK7 is a very good knife for the money. Mine was razor sharp our of the box as well. Cheaper than Dirts has them for about 40 bucks. That being said I do not like the stock scales that come on the knife. They are bulky and slick.

The Kabar is a better skiing knife in my opinion. Its lighter and easier to handle.

If I had to carry one knife in a survival situation it would be the Becker. Its a much better chopping blade.

You might consider carrying a folding hunter for skinning.
Click to expand...



Yeah, Cheaper than dirt has a good price on the BK7 and the camillus USMC.

And your right, the BK7 has bulky scales, but I saw some pics on the web where a guy removed the scales, and stuffed in a few survival items. I thought that was kinda' cool.
 
The BK7 is a carbon steel. Did you look at Ontari's RAT 7. I just got a face lift on mine. Scott over at Razorback put a convex edge and a satin finish for me. Did the same for my taK, its like they're new knives.

takrat.jpg
 
Glad you like the way they turned out Kyle. I really like the TAK. First time I ever handle one.
Scott
 
Ghost93 said:
The BK7 is a carbon steel. Did you look at Ontari's RAT 7. I just got a face lift on mine. Scott over at Razorback put a convex edge and a satin finish for me. Did the same for my taK, its like they're new knives.

takrat.jpg
Click to expand...


Yeah, they do look good. What would a RAT 7 cost?
 
Hey Guys..

Ranger...

Between the two I'd take the Becker..
although I'm starting to like the USMC knife,, it lacks in a few areas...

Another couple of knives that have been overlooked is Ranger Knives RD7 and RD9..

For the price they are pretty hard to beat..I prefer the blade shape to the Becker,, as well as the handles on the Ranger are quite a bit better..

The RD7 is for sure a contender in the large survival knive catagory..The RD 9 even better,, if you like larger blades as I do...

ttyle

Eric
O/ST
 
Thanks for all the good info guys. The more I look at the BK7, the more I'm leaning towards it. I thinks its biggest plus is the full tang. It just looks like you could cut a tire off a rim, and still skin your dinner with it. I just don't think I can beat it for a knife in my price range.

It will be mine. Oh yes. It will be mine.
 
:thumbup: Good choice. I've got the 7 and it's been a great knife. I never thought the handles were particularly slippery when wet, but I was pleasantly surprised when I applied some 150grit sandpaper to them and roughed em up a bit. Like glue I tell ya!:D Not quite, but it did make them more sticky in my hand. Eventually, I'll end up getting the micarta grips that camillus sells for 20.00 plus shipping.
 
I carried a Ka-Bar for a long time and found it did what I asked of it. I've been using a BK-7 for about two years now and really like it. For under $50 you can't go wrong, its a great heavy duty knife.

I pair mine up with a small neck knife (Livesay NRGS) and I haven't looked back yet. Mac
 
Whatever you will end up getting, stay away from Ka-bar. that is more of a fighter than anything else due to the double hilt and false edge on top plus the ridiculous blood groove. While it's a decent knife for the money, it cannot stand up to tough use like prying apart logs or heavy batoning. Mine bented under light prying. You would be much better off with the BK7 or the Ontario Rat7. The both seem like winners. The becker handle is not a problem at all and can be modified by sanding it down.
 
Get an OLD ka-bar style from ebay.

I mean like WW2 old. I have a WW2 navy mk2 by camillus.

It has stood up to some very rough stuff. Heavy prying, driving nails, chopping wood, trimming palm trees. It has held up.

I have had it since I was 9. I didn't know about knife care back then.

Can't go wrong with either IMHO. The rule is, use a pry bar for prying.

BK7, the most expensive pry bar you will ever break.
 
Does anyone sell a K-bar blade without handle?

Whether or not the blade is sold separate,
is there a picture of the blade without handle,
that I can link to?

frank
 
"for survival???" I'd say this thread, it's 7 years old. :D

BTW: Welcome to the Blade Forums. :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top