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Cheap woods knife
- Thread starter Jeremy Barnard
- Start date
just got a Mora clipper which works beautifully in the woods. Ran me $16 with shipping. Buy different kinds to play with them.
try- http://www.ragweedforge.com
for Mora knives.
Sneaky dude, trying to pawn an unused $20 Mora off for a $100 RAT RC 4. Very sneaky.
try- http://www.ragweedforge.com
for Mora knives.
Sneaky dude, trying to pawn an unused $20 Mora off for a $100 RAT RC 4. Very sneaky.
- Joined
- Apr 3, 2010
- Messages
- 955
I ran into this as well and actually sent my RC4 back. I dont think the RC4 is too thick. I was comparing it to the Bravo 1 (Had both at one point). I think you need a blade that has a convex grind. RC4 grind (Full Flat) is not a carve or finesse friendly of a grind IMHO. You could always re-profile the RC4 and it would be excellent for everything. I like the choil on the RC4 for you get an excellent grip for maneuvering the blade to do fine woodwork. However the grip is small and the handle is flat and not contoured. I do ike the thumb serrations on top. It is still a great knife. But honestly it needs a better grind. I am a huge fan of convex grinds!!! They tend to do everything well.
As for the too thick...my Bravo 1 of the same length is substantially thicker than the RC4 but because to the grind it performs substantially better. I will argue this with anyone! But the Bravo 1 handle is slick! because it is smooth..nothing a scotch bright pad can fix! But it doesnt have a choil..I dont seem to miss it much because the blade is sharpened down to the handle...so maneuvering it is breeze. It is an excellent knife unfortunately it comes at a price! A price I think many would stomach once you use it. However as I said, re-profiling the RC4 to a convex will make it a rockstar. The proper grind for your purpose can make a knife a champ!
Oh and I have a Mora 2000 and 2010...they are very good at wood work but I have chewed the thin blade up...was carving up some Oak and Ash (Hardwood) and that knife blade got nicked up when I got around knots. I was PISSED! Mora are very nice but I am hard on knifes and they feel a little weak to some of my other ones. I use them as my gardening knives. And as a slicer/camp dinner prep/fishing fillet knife (Small pan fish). Oh and the 2010 sheath is nice compared to the 2000!! Pivots, it is cheap and the blade design is nice but the clipper might be better for the point would do better fine woodwork such as carving a spoon out. The mora's are, as someone said , better slicers, this goes along with the blade thickness, flexibility and design. I have found that comment right on the money!
Honestly...I would re-profile the RC4. ESEE has the best warranty and it is a great knife and even better with the right grind. What didnt you NOT like about it? As I said the Grind and handle put it in the back seat for me. If it had a convex grind I could live with the handle. Many have put convex grinds on theirs and they seem to really like them. I honestly dont understand full flat on a small blade. Since I have used many knives with both I find myself liking the convex grind far and away better for everything. My A1 is amazing (Convex) vs my RC5 (which is for sale, PM me if you are interested, used 2x looks damn near new!). Just my $0.02
- Joined
- Apr 3, 2010
- Messages
- 955
To be honest I am not liking the specs on any of the Condor Knives. I am holding back full judgement till I handle one but my early feeling based on materials and so on I am not impressed. I have a Condor Machete and really like it!! Built great for but lets remember it is a machete...they are a machete company. Knives are a whole other ball game. For starters their carbon steel is 1075 and their stainless is 420HC. Neither are impressive. Handles are cheap, blades are thin at the bigger length, sheath is fair at best. I am not knocking condor but I think they should stick with machetes. Plus the pricing isnt anything special.
If you want a cheap tough knife for camping around 4.5" get a Gerber Big Rock Camp Knife. You can find them for 28 bucks. http://www.amazon.com/Gerber-22-01589-Rock-Camp-Knife/dp/B000VL4G30/ref=pd_sbs_sg_2 For the money I think that knife is very good and the sheath is decent. Gerber's customer service is very good for a low end knife manufacturer. It is nowhere near your RC4 but it will be fine for many of the task you need it for. It is also stainless. This is a great knife for a beginner. Use it to learn how to sharpen...baton and so on. If you break it WHO CARES! Its 28 bucks with free shipping!! It is far better than any knife condor makes at the moment. Some will say 420HC is better than 440A...it depends who is doing the hardening and heat treating of these blade. Can make a big difference!! Same can be said about 1095...for example ESEE does a much better job heat treating the steel then pretty much any other 1095 knife makers out there. My ESEE 1095 seem to hold up far better than my Kabar 1095 knifes. They both had an equal beating!! Same days...same wood...same use. Rat showed no blade damage at all!! Kabar need some touch up.
Also, there are a few bucks that are nice. I have seen Buck Nighthawks around 50 bucks. They are really nice!!! Once again for the money they are a great knife. But the length might be too much outside your needs. They have a forever warranty...pretty much speaks for itself. They use to make a Short Nighthawk (would have fit your needs) but I believe if was only available in half serrated version no plain edge. That would have fit the bill nicely...hey Buck...you listening?
Getting into knives on the cheap is easy...fining the right one is hard!
If you want a cheap tough knife for camping around 4.5" get a Gerber Big Rock Camp Knife. You can find them for 28 bucks. http://www.amazon.com/Gerber-22-01589-Rock-Camp-Knife/dp/B000VL4G30/ref=pd_sbs_sg_2 For the money I think that knife is very good and the sheath is decent. Gerber's customer service is very good for a low end knife manufacturer. It is nowhere near your RC4 but it will be fine for many of the task you need it for. It is also stainless. This is a great knife for a beginner. Use it to learn how to sharpen...baton and so on. If you break it WHO CARES! Its 28 bucks with free shipping!! It is far better than any knife condor makes at the moment. Some will say 420HC is better than 440A...it depends who is doing the hardening and heat treating of these blade. Can make a big difference!! Same can be said about 1095...for example ESEE does a much better job heat treating the steel then pretty much any other 1095 knife makers out there. My ESEE 1095 seem to hold up far better than my Kabar 1095 knifes. They both had an equal beating!! Same days...same wood...same use. Rat showed no blade damage at all!! Kabar need some touch up.
Also, there are a few bucks that are nice. I have seen Buck Nighthawks around 50 bucks. They are really nice!!! Once again for the money they are a great knife. But the length might be too much outside your needs. They have a forever warranty...pretty much speaks for itself. They use to make a Short Nighthawk (would have fit your needs) but I believe if was only available in half serrated version no plain edge. That would have fit the bill nicely...hey Buck...you listening?
Getting into knives on the cheap is easy...fining the right one is hard!
ron_m80
Tempered Member
- Joined
- Mar 1, 2009
- Messages
- 8,155
I think thats a good idea. You will likely misjudge the value and quality of the knives until you actually handle one.
- Joined
- Dec 15, 2003
- Messages
- 3,154
I apply a "deep discount" to advice about a knife given by someone who has not handled the knife.
- Joined
- Jan 6, 2005
- Messages
- 9,680
That would be the logical thing to do... at least you said it.
No it's not another ball game... virtually the same heat treat... it has an edge and needs to cut stuff.
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1075 is an outstanding steel if done right... so is 1050... you have been misinformed about the potential of carbon steels (stainless included). This statement is totally arbitrary.
This is based on what? Your use of the Condor knives? (see first quote)
Bingo... nothing wrong here.:thumbup:
Your ESEE outperforms your Kabar, so that makes their 1095 heat treat better than pretty much any other maker? ESEE makes great knives... but this statement, again is totally arbitrary and not backed enough to make such claims.
- Joined
- Dec 25, 2007
- Messages
- 575
I totally agree and this statement of Soapbox that condor should stick to machetes i totally disagree with.
The Condor Rodan that i have outperforms much more expensive blades.Cheap handle?It feels great in my hand.Great ergonomics.The plastic is very tough (not fireproof though).
It holds an edge,and it cuts very well.
I had two Bravo 2's and I was not impressed with them.
edge rolling and denting when doing a little chopping on pinewood.The Rodan doesnt have these cheap knife issues.
And the Destruction test of Noss didnt give me more confidence in the Bravo 1/2 knives.
Denting when chopping wood.Same experience as i had.
