Could I get some suggestions on a side arm?

W

wwblankman

Joined
Feb 3, 2005
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44
I'm looking for something I can take out in the woods to accompany my HI BAS.
I was thinking of getting a tanto with a 5 in blade. Does HI make a tanto? If not who makes a kick ass forged blade for around 80-90 bucks. I'll buy used if one of you guys have one.

Matt
 
You wanna carry a 5" Tanto alongside your BAS?
Get a revolver, skip the Tanto. If it's real trouble, you won't reach for the Tanto anyway, but the BAS, so why carry two knives?



munk
 
I'm in agreement with Munk here. A tanto is not the handiest knife for field work. A multitool weighs about the same or less and would probably see far more use.
 
Dale Sanberg (Eight Dollar Mountain Foundry) makes great blades in the size range you describe for the price you mention, maybe a little less.

Down side is a loooooong wait.

Like munk and others say, a fiream would be more useful. The BAS is already on the smaller, lighter side of the kuk envelope...

John
 
A Tanto or any smaller knife can do a whole bunch of things a larger knife can't, so personally I think it's a good choice as a backup to your BAS. Cold Steel makes several knives that would work. For your price range (less actually) the Kobun Tanto is a great deal and scary sharp, although with a thin blade. Kraton handle and kydex sheath. The higher end CS Tanto's in San Mai III are excellent knives and come in about 4 different sizes but are pretty steep. I think they also sell a cheaper recon version in AUS-8.

I also like the CRKT Corkum First Strike Tantos which are incredibly strong convex grind blades, and the most expensive and largest is only about $60. The have a Japanese cord wrapped handle with a black ray skin underlay that is nice, and a multi-position Kydex sheath. I have all 4 models but think the 4.50" blade with about a 9" overall length is best. The blade steel is AUS-6.

Another good Tanto in this price range is the Ka-Bar model 1462 in 1095. It is very sharp with a comfortable handle and black phosphate finish.

The ultimate Tanto's in my opinion are the Bud Nealy knives starting around $275-$300. They are the best. I am saving up for the Southwest Khonvention at the end of the month, but plan on getting either a Bud Nealy Aikuchi in Tanto style or the spear-point Kinzhal with the 9 position MCS carry system sometime this summer. ATS-34 is standard, or you can pay more and get S30V or quite a bit more and get damascus clad ball-bearing steel.

I want to add that none of these are ideal camp/trail knives obviously, as other blade styles are better for that application, although they can do fine in the right hands I think. The Nealy's are defensive knives exclusively.

An excellent choice for the field and my favorite new carry knife that accompanies whatever khuk I am carrying is the Blackjack Grunt. 5 1/2" convex grind AUS-8 blade with kraton handle and a full tang, designed and sold by Ken Warner. About $80, and 888KnivesRus has great prices. It comes with a snap style sheath, but if you go directly to the Blackjack home at Knifeware.com you can buy an excellent handmade pouch sheath for the grunt that is perfect and a great value at only $25. (Buying the knives direct from Knifeware costs you more as I found out after buying 3 knives direct from him and then finding them for less at 888knives. He was still getting his distribution channel set up last year though, so for a while you had to go to Knifeware to find them.)

Anyway, check the Grunt out at:

http://www.888knivesrus.com/product/BJGR

Good luck!


Norm
 
Think Munks right also, regarding the weapon aspects.

If you're gonna carry another knife I'd suggest something more utilitarian in the woods than a tanto. I myself don't think Bark Rivers can be beat for the price. You might also wanna look at an HI Sarge if you don't mind a slightly shorter blade. It's kinda indecisive whether its a drop point and a tanto. Very rugged, and a surprisingly good cutter. the false edge is handy, and the sheath is very nice also. for 45 bucks or so, it's a pretty good deal.
 
Runs With Scissors said:
Think Munks right also, regarding the weapon aspects.

If you're gonna carry another knife I'd suggest something more utilitarian in the woods than a tanto. I myself don't think Bark Rivers can be beat for the price. You might also wanna look at an HI Sarge if you don't mind a slightly shorter blade. It's kinda indecisive whether its a drop point and a tanto. Very rugged, and a surprisingly good cutter. the false edge is handy, and the sheath is very nice also. for 45 bucks or so, it's a pretty good deal.
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I don't think he was asking about a second knife as a weapon, but something utilitarian (although the term "side-arm" certainly implied that.) ?

Neither a BAS, nor a .44 mag nor a multi-tool is the best choice for slicing up potatoes or making a fuzz stick for the fire. (I could be wrong on the multi-tool, the ones I own have short non-locking blades.)

Of course if you were REALLY good with a revolver I suppose you could make a big fuzz stick out of a tree, but that's a bit of overkill! :D

That said, I think the Bark Rivers are an excellent suggestion, as is the AG Russell bird & trout, which is also very pretty to boot.

Regards,

Norm
 
Svashtar. Your right. I'm not looking for a (side arm) I meant utility when I wrote that. I guess tantos are tactical not utility. You guys gave me a lot of choices. I like the stainless scandinavian thing. I also like the drop point hunter, I like all the knifes suggested. Now that I think of it, I'd like to get just the blade and make my own handle. I like the grip I have on my BAS, It's very useful and safe. I think I'm gonna use that style a lot. Oh. I refinished the handle, Many thanks for helping me with the refinishing instructions. I'll include a pic. So does HI sell just blades without the handle? That would be nice. I'd rather support them. And if so. Who is the best bladesmith in Nepal? And one more question. Who made my BAS? Initials K.M. with a star of David next to it?

Thanks a bunch!
 
I love CRKT. They make folders and fixed in what you want. Give 'em a try. You'll like it.

Nam
 
Ragnar at Ragweed Forge has some nice "Scandinavian" blades for very little money. He is fast, and lots of people on this forum have used hiim. :cool:
 
Josh Feltman said:
KM=Kumar.

For a utility blade to pair up with a BAS, I'd recommened a Victorinox Rucksack.
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Knew we had something in common, besides Aliens! :D

I carry my rucksack, with me every day, attached to it is a compass/whistle/thermometer and micro light. Light cheap but effective from Walgreens.
 
lcs37 said:
Knew we had something in common, besides Aliens! :D

I carry my rucksack, with me every day, attached to it is a compass/whistle/thermometer and micro light. Light cheap but effective from Walgreens.
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It's one of my favorite knives. That thing cuts like a light saber :eek:
 
Josh Feltman said:
It's one of my favorite knives. That thing cuts like a light saber :eek:
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I always find it quite ironic that my SAK Adventurer sets the standard for all of my Benchmades, Microtechs, and so forth to live up to in cutting. :D
 
I think it's one of the ways you can tell when people have been here a while: "Hey, my swiss army knife cuts better than all my expensive tactical folders put together!" :D
 
Problem with SAK is the hardness. Stuff is so darned flexible, that it can make one nervous.

Also, on the normal models, there's no locking blade.

Once upon a time, Nam was on a boy scout campout, whittling a stick, when SNAP, the blade closed on his finger. Nam learned a lesson and gained a paranoia that day.

Nam
 
Rucksack is a locking model. I've never had any problems with blade hardness, though others complain that the steel is soft. They seem to hold a good edge for my uses, and they are a breeze to resharpen to a razor edge.
 
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