Durable Survival Knife?

I have hogue Fx-01 5.5 that would fit your needs. Its in your price range and is a solid knife made from A2 with a nice coating that does not seem to wear much. I like the sheath that it comes with. it has many different ways you can configure it for your needs and moly webbing so you can add a small pouch to the front of it. I also use a small hand axe/hatchet from Estwing. Its the right tool for the job when it comes to splitting fire wood and you get the hammering function.

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Thanks for all the options, people. I enjoyed the pics as well.

I'm leaning towards the BK7 with the micarta grips. I'm not 100% sold on the sheath design I've seen on-line (I'll have to check one out in person), but it looks like a great blade! The only thing that doesn't meet my list above is the rust-resistance with the 1095 Cro-Van steel but I'm used to cleaning all of my gear after it hits salt water anyways - taking care of this knife shouldn't be an issue.

Thanks again -

- e
 
I'd buy a Becker or ESEE and just wipe it down. If it shows surface rust you can strop it off with some flitz.
 
Glorymuffin said:
Thanks for all the options, people. I enjoyed the pics as well.

I'm leaning towards the BK7 with the micarta grips. I'm not 100% sold on the sheath design I've seen on-line (I'll have to check one out in person), but it looks like a great blade! The only thing that doesn't meet my list above is the rust-resistance with the 1095 Cro-Van steel but I'm used to cleaning all of my gear after it hits salt water anyways - taking care of this knife shouldn't be an issue.

Thanks again -

- e
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Put a couple coats of car wax on the blade to help it stay water resistant. It isn't perfect, but it'll help better than oil and grease is just too messy to use for most occasions.

Wipe it down after every use and rewax. This should help keep the corrosion away.
 
Becker or ESEE are carbon steel so will rust. Fallkniven are stainless but consider batoning an abuse. And are probably more than 200 for most part anyway. I would suggest to look for something from Cold Steel: plenty of knives that fit your requirements. I would not even know where to start!
 
nuckingfuts said:
Thanks for posting bladescout ive never seen those blades before and I enjoyed the pictures.


@OP I would probably buy a becker and use the extra money for handle material and have a kydex sheath made.
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Thank you. Much appreciated:thumbup:
Im always interested in learning about new and interesting knives as well.

And yes, Beckers are nice. Not that I have any. I have one or two in mind for future purchase though.

I did buy an ESEE - good quality for the money IMO. Wont be the last ESEE for me. Maybe an ESEE-4 next.
 
1095 (the Becker) is a decent steel, but it will require more maintenance than a stainless, especially around water. The Spyderco H1 series is good for water use as are many Cold Steel models (Outdoorsman, SRK) and Fallkniven blades (F1, A1, S1) which fit in the category of high corrosion resistance as well as extreme durability.
 
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ESEE 4 stainless is supposed to be coming out. that could be real nice, but sometimes it takes ESEE a little while to come out with new products.

but i think its 440c, so if you were in a hurry Entrek would be another good choice. I had the forrester and it was a very nice knife in stainless.
 
Well, I have a Becker BK-7 that I love to use, but if you are not interested in having to keep the blade from rusting, I know of a very inexpensive stainless steel knife that will get most everyone here crying heresy...It's the M-Tech MT-151, it's a little bigger than you might be looking for, but what a great piece of utilitarian imported stainless steel. I bought one after seeing Cliff Stamp's review on Youtube and boy am I glad I did. I Para-cord wrapped the handle to give it some more bulk and also to eliminate the problem of the quick wearing kraton rubber grip. The best part is if you lose your 20.00 "Trail Master" clone, order a couple more. I also like my United M48 Kommando knife, but they have discontinued it.
 
Glorymuffin said:
... It needs to be sturdy as I will be relying on this as one of a few emergency survival tools if I ever lose my pack in the wilderness.

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With skill and patiences any knife will do, without that even the chunkiest knife can fail. How does your requirement suppliment the rest of the gear that you and your group will have with you, and how well does it fit the needs of the particular environment? One of my pet peeves is that someone is always asking about survival in case they somehow end up with nothing but a knife in a middle of nowwhere; but there is no such place, and where ever you are, you will likely have others with you, as well as additional supplies and equipment; and if the environment were truely challenging you would have done the right thing up front and left a copy of your trip ittinerary with friends and family. So there would be an exit strategy if things went dramatically wrong. The best knife will always be the one that best compliments your collective kit and best fits your intended use.

n2s
 
I would not use 1095 high carbon near the ocean. Perhaps have a look at the Fällkniven A1? It's an incredibly strong knife.
 
I think that.1095 on the Becker should be fine i have two one still with the coating and one with a vinegar forced patina and I regularly use them on cape cod around the ocean and they are fine, so don't worry about the bk7 its amazing, tops knives were also amazing I love my Alaskan harpoon
 
I didn't realize you're willing to go up to 200$, I'm getting a 6 inch camp knife in 3v from a custom maker on the forums within your price range. Try Big Chris.
 
I found a brand new BK7 for sale in the older model which includes the small companion BK13 Remora. I snatched them up - last pair available at this store.

I love the feel of the big blade and think that the companion knife will come in handy for detail work and finer bushcraft.

The money I saved will probably go towards new scales and a kydex sheath but for now I'm going to get a feel for the knife as-is.

Thanks for all of your help ~

- e

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trapper78 said:
ESEE 4 stainless is supposed to be coming out. that could be real nice, but sometimes it takes ESEE a little while to come out with new products.

but i think its 440c, so if you were in a hurry Entrek would be another good choice. I had the forrester and it was a very nice knife in stainless.
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I do believe I saw the ESEE 4 advertised in stainless somewhere just a few days ago. As I was only "window shopping," I didn't pay attention to whether they were currently available or just advertised for preorder.
 
Get a scrap yard 711 I batoned enough 4 to 5 inch pieces into quarters to do 2 good size fires with my 911 and it would still shave hair off my arm. It will rust where it's not coated and it won't drive tent stakes with the butt, to that I say beat the surface rust off of it and use a rock for hammering pegs.
 
I would say Ontario 498, Gerber BG ultimate pro (fixed blade) which is stronger steel, doesn't have the serrated blade, and is a visible solid full tang construction, and much better then the original model. Also I love my condor crotalus ! Alot of knives like K-bar are contracted of 1095 to hold a good edge, but at the same time 1095 is a very hard steel and can break or chip easily. Condor uses German 1075 steel which has the benefits of lower and higher carbon steel. It's hard and keeps a good edge, but not overly hard where it breaks and chips easily like 1095. Personally I love my Ontario 498, good blade length, and tough steel, even the leather handle is coated to prevent it from dry rotting. There is a reason the Ontario 498 has been used to the military for the past 50 years. Ontario is the only knife company to have an actual contract with the us government, and with all the different versions of the military K-bar, Ontario has obviously held up to the military's tough requirements and expectations..
 
The beck bk7 is good, but won't do well around water. For all your requirements the only knife I know that is truly reliable and can withstand a ton of abuse, and can be in and around water, is the newer Gerber BG ultimate pro. The original Gerber Ultimate BG knife was made of soft steel, and didn't hold a good edge, and the aerated teeth wore down easily and the pommel and blade were not one solid piece of steel. But the newer ultimate pro, has ditched the serrated edge, and is now made of a tougher steel, that can be used in and around water, it has a finger choir that works very well, the case even has a dream plug for water to escape, the blade is visible full tang all the way down into the pommel which is all one solid piece of steel. I have thrown this knife at trees, cut through metal, dropped it in creeks, chopped trees, gutted deer, and this thing has taken everything I've thrown at it. I have had 1/4" thick 1095 survival knives break like glass just by throwing them into a tree. But I think the new Gerber ultimate pro survival knife is one of the best all around knives for under 200$, and meets everything you listed. None of the other knives I have seen named have meet all the requirements you have listed above.
 
Pretty bold claims Freddy....and evidence to back them up?

Why does the BK7 not do well near water? Does it turn to red powder and crumble? This is news to me.

And tell us more about the knives you have shattered, and how thowing a knife at a tree is something one might do in a survival situation.
 
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