Camp Knife

K

KFU

Part Time Knifemaker, Moderator
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Sep 10, 2007
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Hey guys. I am a folder guy that has recently grown fond of older styles. I don't have any fixed blades and would like to purchase one. I am a huge backpacker and camper and would like a camp knife. I want something that will be used for everyday camping needs, nothing tactical. It needs to be strong decent steel and capable of anything I might need on long backpacking trips. I am looking to spend $100.00 or less but would be fine with something far less expensive if it was a worker. Criteria: Over four inch blade and a decent steel, stainless or carbon. Any suggestions?
 
You have a lot of good options available to you in the standard lines from Kershaw, Ka Bar, and BenchMade in the red box line to name a few manufactures, to many models to list.

If you can stomach spending more I would highly recommend something from Swamp Rat knives or Scrap yard knives. They'll run you a bit over the $150.00 mark but I can't think of anything better and the warranty and customer service is spectacular.

Good luck in your search
Helle
 
look at the ontario RAT series, they can be found in the 60-100 range depending on size etc.
solid knives, good prices, I'll be picking up a RAT 7 sometime in the (hopefuly) near future.
 
Check out the Fallkniven S1 for a great all-around blade. One of those with the zytel sheath is really light and will still handle anything needed.
 
KOA (Knives of Alaska) Bush Camp. D2 steel, 6" blade, under $100 with the suregrip handle.
 
I also have a KOA Bush Camp knife in D2, w/ironwood scales,,,,the flat grind kicks ass. :thumbup:
 
Go to ebay and punch in Greco knives, he has makes a good solid knife and you can get a great deal for a 100 bucks. Several styles to choose from. John is a great guy. I personally own five of his blades and love em all.....Go to John Greco knives.com to get his phone # .
 
It really just depends on what you need in a camp knife. Personally, I can get along just fine with a locking SAK (for opening cans and bottles as well as fine cutting chores and food prep) and a stout 4" bladed belt knife if I'm light camping out of the car with pre-split wood etc. If I'm going to need to cut wood into small pieces, build a shelter, or just want a knife that can baton/chop/dig/pry to save on packing a lot of extra tools I substitute the 4" bladed knife for a 12" (over all length) khukuri. They can be had for under a hundred bucks pretty easy.

If you want to stay more conventional for even less money, I think that a Buck 119 is a fine all 'round camp knife. It comes sharp, stays pretty sharp, and can chop/slice very well:thumbup:
 
Does anyone have the KaBar Camp Knife? I haven't been able to find many reviews on this blade, but it seems pretty handy.
 
Troop said:
I have one. :thumbup: Can't beat it for the price. That thing takes a beating and survives.
Click to expand...

You're one of the only ones I've found with one! Mind if I pick your brain about it?

How does it perform for light chopping?
Have you batoned with it at all, did it work ok?
Are you able to maintain enough control to do basic woodcraft duties?

I really liked how it felt when I got to handle one, but it's a good bit of cash to drop down...
 
I would suggest 6" Mora for a camp knife. The larger Mora slices like a dream will cut through branches and is easy to sharpen and doesn't cost much. This is a Mora #3 for $18.50 at http://www.ragweedforge.com/

Good Luck!:thumbup:
 
Bowdenknxvll@comcast said:
Hey guys. I am a folder guy that has recently grown fond of older styles. I don't have any fixed blades and would like to purchase one. I am a huge backpacker and camper and would like a camp knife. I want something that will be used for everyday camping needs, nothing tactical. It needs to be strong decent steel and capable of anything I might need on long backpacking trips. I am looking to spend $100.00 or less but would be fine with something far less expensive if it was a worker. Criteria: Over four inch blade and a decent steel, stainless or carbon. Any suggestions?
Click to expand...


Get you a Buck 102 or 105 or 119. You could have at least two of these, maybe three if you are smart about it and buy used, or buy one and keep the change. If a 119 is good enough for SURVIVORMAN on a one week trip alone in the middle of Alaska, it will take what you can dish out at it.
 
SpookyPistolero said:
You're one of the only ones I've found with one! Mind if I pick your brain about it?

How does it perform for light chopping?
Have you batoned with it at all, did it work ok?
Are you able to maintain enough control to do basic woodcraft duties?

I really liked how it felt when I got to handle one, but it's a good bit of cash to drop down...
Click to expand...
Spooky,
It's great. It's a recurve; I don't how you feel about that. It does everything great; the balance is forward of the guard, so it just begs you to chop with it. Batons, and everything. The only thing, it's got the double guard on it, so you may want to grind the top guard off ref. batoning.... but, as long as you stay forward of the guard, you won't have any problems.
It's hollow-ground, but no problems yet. Holds an edge well. It has a stick tang. Right around 11/64" at the spine; 7 1/2" blade, w/an approx. 7" cutting length. Mine's made in the USA; I don't know where Ka-Bar making them now.
They're pretty inexpensive; like I said before, you can't beat it for the money. :thumbup:
You'll need something smaller to carve notches, and to do fine work, like a Mora or something similar.
 
I was going to say a RAT3 but that is a little smaller than your criteria. I have a RAT3 and its a great backpacking knife, 1095 carbon sharpens really quick. Although i dont have any, I've heard a lot of good things about Ranger Knives. The RD4 would suit you nicely.
 
A Buck 119 for ~$35 at Wally World is a hard act to follow, value vs utility. I also like the Vanguard (#192) series - a better hand grab for me, if only barely over 4" (The 119 is 6".), and available with a rubber grip and nylon sheath, or wood grip and leather sheath. Cabela's has a beauty - in Ti-Al-N (black) coated S30V steel - as their 'Alaskan Guide' version. I have one - and a wood gripped with their common, but properly heat-treated, 420HC steel. These are all <$100 - and USA made.

The top-of-the-line new Buck 408 'Kalinga Pro' is $160 list - probably evil-bay nearer $100 - and finally starting to reach distributors (I am still awaiting mine!). It looks great, with a full tang and rosewood handles supporting a brass finger guard. The blade is solid S30V steel and just under 5". The knife looks like a nicer/larger Gerber Freeman.

I have also spent <$100 for two super John Greco knives, actually half price one-offs from the 'Blade' show, at gunshows in Birmingham. Hopefully, he will be back at the AL Gun Col. Assoc. show next weekend here in Birmingham. Nice guy, too - with a great site. Fred Vollmer, a Foley, AL knifemaker, has a fine product, too, even if I can't get much from his site - vollmercustomknives.com.

Now the bad news... if you don't like the Buck 119 from Wally World, consider it's 43+ year old 110 Folding Hunter brother, even if it is only 3.75" long. At ~$26 there, it is a steal. I can't think of a thing I've ever really needed a larger knife for when camping. Heck, most times I would forget everything but my SAK - or the 110, anyway. I carried my late Dad's S. Pacific/WWII friend - a USN KaBar - several times - talk about overkill! My hiking/camping was 3-5 days - mostly in The Smokies and AL State Parks, so I usually was 'near' civilization!

Stainz
 
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