Cheap, fixed-blade survival knives for a weekend survival course?

revolution13 said:
is there a Mora that anyone (MIGHT??) feel ok with chopping/batoning? Or no, not at all, it'll never work, too dangerous, not at all built for it.. and just plain NO????
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With some Mora's batoning it is fine. Although, this is NOT true for all Moras.
There is a picture of Rescueriley batoning a decent chunk of wood some where.
 
kidwholaughs said:
Benchmadebob hit the nail on the head. Rageweed forge is the way to go.
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Whoa! Easy there brother! That's BenchmadeBOY. Bob is a different dude:p Anyway, glad to see the majority agree on the Moras. Be sure to take lots of pics and share with us how the course went.
 
A Mora will Baton, as Rescueriley has showed on many occasions, but they cannot chop well.
 
Big Mike said:
No offence intended, and none taken.
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Likewise. :)

As a new poster, and base on your original statements, you can see my concern.
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I didn't qualify myself with a mention of my background because it wasn't relevant to my main question, but with the modesty of my introduction coupled with my newly-registered status, your being at least passingly skeptical is totally understandable.

Take your responsibilities seriously, and take pride in what you do my friend...But most of all, remember that the skills you teach are what these folks may have to rely on.
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Believe me: that notion is always foremost in my mind.
 
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I have a Mora 2000 and the 510. Didn't even bother looking any further than those two.
 
http://knifetests.com/MoraClipperFieldTest.html

Check it out. Moras can baton. I've got both the clipper and the triflex craftsmen, and Ive battoned wood around 3 inches fine. And if it breaks, NP, most likely it the blade that popps out of the handle, so ill make a new handle.

Edit: upon reflection, I've batoned things more like 2-2.5 inches. Use my machete more things larger.
 
If you want something a little more impressive looking, you might try one of the "Rough Use" knives from Cheaperthandirt.com.

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/SearchResults.aspx?site=All+Products&num=10&q=rough+use+knife

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Only 10 bucks, and they get pretty decent reviews.

Doc
 
DocGP said:
If you want something a little more impressive looking, you might try one of the "Rough Use" knives from Cheaperthandirt.com.

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/SearchResults.aspx?site=All+Products&num=10&q=rough+use+knife

DBA-443.jpg


Only 10 bucks, and they get pretty decent reviews.

Doc
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Just my opinion, Doc,

But that knife is exactly the wrong tool to give to newbies...it is too big, to much a weapon format, and doesn't give a new user a chance to really SEE what an appropriate-sized blade can do.

ymmv
 
Just wanted to say, I have the Canadian Belt Knife from Cold Steel and it's a great knife for the money but the sheath is not the most secure. I'm not sure about Mora sheaths but they seem like they are much more secure (hold the knife in better) than the Cold Steel sheaths.

David
 
bkduckworth said:
I'm going to second Kismet. Mora's are way better for newbies.

Brandon
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Not only are they for Newbies.

My first Mora was purchased because of the opinions of many of the members on this site, and shortly after that purchase I found myself owning five of them all together.

For the price that the Moras sell for, you almost feel like you are stealing them, and the value that you get for your money is second to none.

Moras should never be discounted, unless you are knife hunting Musk Oxen or something along those lines.

Chuck
 
yea a mora is your best bet great knives for the money make sure to get a carbon steel blade they will hold a better edge than the stainless and will been a big help if you try the flint and steel method of starting a fire
 
pimpnugget said:
yea a mora is your best bet great knives for the money make sure to get a carbon steel blade they will hold a better edge than the stainless and will been a big help if you try the flint and steel method of starting a fire
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On that note, I find that the Laminated steel models are lacking in their ability to throw good sparks from a firesteel also.

Chuck
 
chuckinohio said:
Not only are they for Newbies.

My first Mora was purchased because of the opinions of many of the members on this site, and shortly after that purchase I found myself owning five of them all together.

For the price that the Moras sell for, you almost feel like you are stealing them, and the value that you get for your money is second to none.

Moras should never be discounted, unless you are knife hunting Musk Oxen or something along those lines.

Chuck
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:thumbup:

I agree with you 100%! Mora's are great for everyone!

Brandon
 
Though they cost a little more the #33 or #34 Moras have a tang all the way through the handle. Should be a little sturdier for batoning, if you're really worried about that.

Or just buy a coupla back-up knives, just in case.

Oh, I vote Mora, too.
 
Big Mike said:
No offence intended, and none taken.

After all, this is the Wilderness and Survival Forum.


As a new poster, and base on your original statements, you can see my concern.
Take your responsibilities seriously, and take pride in what you do my friend.

But most of all, remember that the skills you teach are what these folks may have to rely on.
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+1, well said
 
Well, at the advice from you fine folks, I've ordered one #510 and one #760 from Mr. Nar. The weekend outing is still about month away, so I'll do a few overnights in the back 40 with these two specimens to test 'em out before I buy the quantity I need. Although I must say that I'm such testing will be pointless; many people -- all wiser and more experienced than I -- already endorse them, so I'm sure they'll perform fantastically.

The price is pretty damned friendly, too; $12? That's dirt cheap! ...Which is good considering the fact that I'm not only supplying these guys with a solid knife, but also a small whetstone, firestarter, some paracord, a whole rabbit, and I'm surprising them a couple bottles of homebrew, and smores*, yet I'm only charging them $75 a head. The savings on the knife makes spending the weekend ever-so-slightly more worth my while; win-win!

Thanks for the guidance; much appreciated.





*Yeah yeah, I can just imagine all the eye-rolling that's going on right about now, but screw you guys; a campfire just isn't a campfire without marshmallows! :D
 
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Where is the class - can I come? I hope you have liability insurance and permits ( assuming the class isn't on private property).
 
Quirt said:
Where is the class - can I come? I hope you have liability insurance and permits ( assuming the class isn't on private property).
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It's in WA state. And as far as insurance/legal concerns go, we're doing it on my own land, and everybody who's coming is either a friend, or a friend or a friend, so I'm not too worried about getting sued. And like I said, it's very low-key; "class" really isn't an appropriate term, as that implies something very formal and structured and official. It also implies that I think I'm a guru or a badass, which most definitely do not/am not; I'm just a guy who has done this sort of stuff for a very long time and enjoys teaching others what he knows, and has finally acquiesced to two years of his buddies' arm-twisting to take them out in the woods for a weekend. It'll be fun, nobody will get sued. Or killed. Or poisoned. And now, thanks to the good advice here, nobody will get a finger severed either. Well, probably not. :)

Thanks again!
 
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