Recommendation? First time noob, looking for a decent fixed blade knife

Cutting wire? Maybe an AK 47 bayonet would work? There's a built in wire cutter on the sheath... If I was concerned about wires and the like, I'd buy a leatherman wave + and a cold steel SRK-C for the knife jobs. Oh, and they would both comfortably fit in your budget as well!
 
Thank you all for your responses. I'll look into a few of them for sure. I appreciate all your time and effort. The reason for stainless and low maintenance is primarily because I work in wastewater. It will be cutting plastic covered in raw sewage. The wire cutting is done as an emergency fix during snowstorms. Sometimes (often) I'll break a pin (or pins) in my wing plow from hitting a manhole cover or curb hard enough requiring me to limp it back to my garage. In this case its usually easier for me to clean up the broken electrical lines and chain up the plow to prep it for transfer, once it's back at my garage I obviously have more appropriate tools. A single tool is in my opinion just more convent and reliable as I have already built a solid habit of taking it with me year round. I could leave tools in the truck, but I feel it just adds complexity and the opportunity for things to get lost.
 
You have to choose looks or performance this time around.

3V SRK is best thing I can reccomend otherwise.

Anyways as someone who uses his knife hard (some would say I am abusing my blades) I'll tell you this:

1. Your knife will get schratched
2. Stainless steel will always show scratches while they'll be covered by patina on carbon steel blade
3. Carbon steel kinda gets "character" whether you like it or not
4. Any knife will wear our with use. Stainless one will look schratched, carbon one will look old.

Your knife won't look new and shiny for long if you use it.
Pick your poison.
 
Norakniv, Buck, Condor Knife and Tool, all have something that will fit your criteria. The Cold Steel "G.I. Tanto" might be worth a look, too.
Also a Ontario 499 "Jet Pilot Survival Knife" without the saw-back spine, since you're planning on beating it through something. (I know the one sold at "the store everyone loves to hate, but they shop there anyway" has the Ontario 499 without the saw-back spine.

All are well under $200 each. You could possibly buy one of each to see which you like best, and still have enough money left over for a beer and pizza.. :D
 
Applemush said:
Thank you all for your responses. I'll look into a few of them for sure. I appreciate all your time and effort. The reason for stainless and low maintenance is primarily because I work in wastewater. It will be cutting plastic covered in raw sewage. The wire cutting is done as an emergency fix during snowstorms. Sometimes (often) I'll break a pin (or pins) in my wing plow from hitting a manhole cover or curb hard enough requiring me to limp it back to my garage. In this case its usually easier for me to clean up the broken electrical lines and chain up the plow to prep it for transfer, once it's back at my garage I obviously have more appropriate tools. A single tool is in my opinion just more convent and reliable as I have already built a solid habit of taking it with me year round. I could leave tools in the truck, but I feel it just adds complexity and the opportunity for things to get lost.
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I believe that you may be expecting too much from your knife. Any knife that you use will be marred; and, if that use includes cutting through steel cable, it will likely be heavily damaged or destroyed and may injure you in the process. Knives are designed to cut wood and relatively soft materials. Pounding a knife through cable can fracture the edge and lead to a stress fracture of the entire knife. Also, always consider what Surface you would be pounding the knife against.

Having a good reliable knife with you can be a big help; but, unless it’s an emergency, use the right tool for the job.

n2s
 
Applemush said:
Thank you all for your responses. I'll look into a few of them for sure. I appreciate all your time and effort. The reason for stainless and low maintenance is primarily because I work in wastewater. It will be cutting plastic covered in raw sewage. The wire cutting is done as an emergency fix during snowstorms. Sometimes (often) I'll break a pin (or pins) in my wing plow from hitting a manhole cover or curb hard enough requiring me to limp it back to my garage. In this case its usually easier for me to clean up the broken electrical lines and chain up the plow to prep it for transfer, once it's back at my garage I obviously have more appropriate tools. A single tool is in my opinion just more convent and reliable as I have already built a solid habit of taking it with me year round. I could leave tools in the truck, but I feel it just adds complexity and the opportunity for things to get lost.
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Part 1: Going into wastewater to cut up plastic covered in raw sewage sounds like a great way to get hepatitis or worse. I would spend that knife money on shots/extra health insurance.

Part 2: Any piece of machinery I've ever run that used shear pins also had a rack right on the machine for spares. Trying a haywire fix to drive a broken machine back to the garage instead of fixing it on the site is going to be what adds complexity.
 
Ran wastewater plants for years. Always used these little Victorinox blades...

paring-knife-325-red-stainless-steel-serrated-victorinox-50631s.jpg


If they end up slathered in raw sewage, into the dumpster they go.

Grab a fresh one for the next job.
 
justjed said:
I think you may have over-corrected and crossed into the oncoming lane....
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Sticking to what I'm good at!

I've tried to cut that corrugated black plastic drain line with a knife, and it's a dreadful suffer of a job! Anything stouter, like schedule 40 PVC, is just going to make it worse. Add cold, darkness, and some nasty sludge trying to slop it's way into your boots? My back hurts, just thinking about it.

Maybe add these for finer jobs.

BtZImxX.jpg
 
Thank you all! I really do appreciate the input. I have made a selection based on the info in this discussion and I think it will work out very nicely for me. I really do appreciate you guy's time and effort.

On a personal note, I definitely don't feel like I have the skin for the internet, and I feel like I failed to communicate. If anyone knows about a blade 4-8 inches long that can cut through 1.25 in braided plow cable or sc 40 pvc then please let me know, cause thats some superhuman stuff right there. If my plow breaks I need to dress 20ga wire for led warning lights and maybe dot tape. If a system has an issue its usually roots or a failed filter/tank gasket. If it's more major I can return to the site with specialized equipment at a later date, sometimes you just gatta make it work for the customer with what you have as best you can though. The note about pin racks is actually the best idea I've heard all year, no sarcasm at all. I'll be checking all my equipment for that in the morning. I've never heard of such a thing or noticed it on my farm or work equipment, but that would be amazing. It would also help me be more organized, and it's so simple I literally can't believe I've never thought of it. I'll tell you what, if I don't have those I'll definitely be adding them to everything over the winter.

I don't know how to close a thread, but I have found the info I was looking for. Happy holidays and I hope everyone has a great New Year! Sincerely, thanks for the constructive input.
 
Applemush said:
I don't know how to close a thread, but I have found the info I was looking for.
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You can't close it bro - you can check out any time you like but you can never leave. This is the Hotel California for edged weapons and tools, such a lovely place...guitar solos etc.

This is why it's called the sickness.
 
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