Camp Knife $150 & below - need some ideas

TLR

TLR

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Oct 5, 1998
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Hey I'm putting together a list for some people looking at some outdoor and survival exercises. They want some different ideas to try out.

Here are the parameters-

$150 & below
Good steel
Readily available (production)
6" blade and bigger
Will work for light chopping and batoning
Good handle

I realize that there are people who will recommend that they look at a camp axe, machete or someting else. They have other ideas for those categories. Please help me by staying in the camp knife theme.

Thanks!
 
I've been using a Becker BK-3 Tactool for awhile now and love it. Before that I used a Puma Tac One and I much prefer the Tactool. I like the extra heft for chopping and debranching trees. They used to be expensive and hard to find when they were made by Camillus but since Kabar started cranking them out they are readily available. If you're like me and the first thing you do when arriving at camp is crafting the perfect walking staff...the Tactool is your tool.
 
i would also recommend the rat line.

but if you want to go bigger, you may have to increase your budget to get comparable quality. bark river, koster, etc.

for the budget minded: kabar, cold steel.
 
I would check out the ontario "spec plus knives" and also the kabar "large heavy bowie." You will find that these knives perform well and will save you money (they are around 50-60 bucks). The large heavy bowie is made of 1085 steel with a 9 inch blade. The ontario sp5 is 1095 steel with a 10 inch blade.

Here are a couple links:

http://www.knivesplus.com/ka-bar-knife-ka-1277.html
http://www.ontarioknife.com/specplus_pg1.html

CHeck out the sp-5 from ontario. They also have some RAT designs in their catalog.
 
Kershaw outcast, D2 tool steel with a 10in recurve blade of cutting madness.
 
RC-6, but also look around the knifemakers section. we have a bunch of really talented knifemakers here who sell handmade knives for about that price.
 
so far, my BM Presidio fixed blade has handled light chopping quite well and is still small/light enough for use on lighter utility tasks, as well. the only thing is - i'm not anxious to pry very hard with the tip. the handle scares a few people off, but it is alot more comfortable than it looks.

it's just a RCH over your 150 mark.
 
I would get a Ranger or a RAT.

RD6 if you want something thicker
RC-6 if you want something thinner.
 
Cold Steel Bushman
BK-7
BK-9
Fallkniven F1/S1/A1/A2
There are literally hundreds available
 
ka bar heavy bowie $45 and pretty close to perfect. available with 7 or 9 inch blade but get the 9 inch of course
 
Using almost the exact same criteria as you, I chose the RAT Cutlery RC-6. I recommend it highly. Because you mention batoning wood, I wouldn't recommend a D2 or other high-hardness steels, except for Fallkniven. The A1 is a fantastic camping knife but maybe a little above your $ range. The Beckers and the KABARS are good, but I really, really like the fit and finish of the RC-6 and the ergonomics are fantastic.

Take a look, but be careful -- you might get hooked.
 
Thanks for all the suggestions. You guys listed off a few I hadn't thought of.

This search has been an interesting exercise in trying to provide a variety of knives to fill this role at a range of price points.

It's tough helping people who aren't on bladeforums all the time find a production knife for this role.

My choice is my swamp rat chopweiler but I know that most of them won't get a company ike swamprat.
 
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After re read your thread title i should have included one of my other favoites in the list..

KA BAR Camp Knife. (Seriously thats the name :))
 
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