Fixed blade suggestions...survival/camping knife

D

Deep Sea

Joined
Mar 28, 2009
Messages
139
I've been searching around for a good fixed blade knife that'll last for years, and take all the abuse of camping and survival craft can throw at it. This knife I want to last for many, many years without having to worry about things falling off of it.

I've sorta narrowed it down to a one-piece knife, mainly due to the fact that there's nothing to break off or fall off due to wear or abuse (breaking the blade doing something the knife wasn't intended to do, not withstanding).

I'd also like to go with a maker who will have a first-class warranty (hoping I'll never need it of course).

I'd like to also stick with something with a blade length less than 6", but that's not a hard stop.

Some immediate makers come to mine, which are Randall, Busse, and Reeve. Mind you, I'm asking for suggestions about what you would buy, not a debate about different manufacturers/makers.

My budget is $600 or less, possibly a little more if there's a maker who's got a kickin' knife. Looking at the latest Blade magazine, they have a few suggestions in their "Knives at War" article. I especially liked the Brend model 2, until I saw the price...heart failure to say the least.

The ultimate purpose is to use this knife for everything you'd do with a son, from camping to Boy Scouts to hiking to simply farting around in the woods. I'm not big into hunting, so I'm not interested in hunting designs. And, I'd eventually like to pass it along to my son. I have a 70 year old Remington Boy Scout knife with leather ring handle, that my father had when he was a scout, and I'd already have an original Buck 184 (early production) that I'll pass along, so this one will be a user for me that'll be passed along eventually.

Anyway, what do you suggest?
 
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Take a look at the Mission MPS 10-TI. It's good enough for Navy SEALS. It's light, tough, very resistant to the elements, and there are three handle options included.
 
If you have an idea of design, I would suggest getting one of the great makers on this forum to make you exactly what you want. I went through this same search and ended up going this route and couldn't be happier. I bought and sold several Busse, CRK, Strider, etc. and couldn't find a knife that handled exactly like I wanted. Just my experience.

Here is somewhere to start
 
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Busse ASH1, NMSFNO, Tank Buster or just about any Battle Mistress except the NMFBM (Too High) will fit your needs and price range if you look hard enough.
 
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I prefer Busse for nearly indestructable Nuclear Toughness. My favorite all-rounders are the NMSFNO, Sarsquatch, and ASH-1.
 
You cant go wrong with an ESEE (formerly Rat Cutlery). Their warranty actually says that if you cut the knife in half with a blow torch they will replace it no questions asked. And they should only cost somewhere between $120-$150, depending on where you buy it. I purcharsed a RC-6 last year and have used it on a regular basis to process firewood and other camp chores, and it works great. Anyway... thats what I use and I would highly recommend it to anyone wanting a good, heavy duty outdoor knife.
 
Busse ASH1 (LE or Skinny) and from Randall I'd go with a stainless #14. I'd suggest a #5 and #25-6" from Randall too, but you want least 'moving' parts.

All in all... for the fact that it's a heirloom piece... def. the Busse ASH LE (for the fact that it's satin finished and higher grade) or the Randall #14.

Btw, I'd throw in Fehrman knives into the mix too.

:thumbup:
 
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Id go for ESEE or Busse. For busse id suggest the Batac, and for ESEE the RC 4, 5 or 6 depending on what you do.

Good luck
 
I would suggest that you check out some of the fine custom makers in the forums.
 
if you have that much to spend, I probably go with a ESEE knife or a BARK RIVER knife for my hard use. The rest of the money left over I'd invest in a custom made for you to exactly your standards that still can be used, but also pasted on to your kids. :D Otherwise, I have heard great things about fehrman knives also. :thumbup:
 
It might seem kind of basic, but a Buck 119 has been used for decades on end, and they're still going strong. Buck tends to have an excellent lifetime warranty from what I've read. It might not use the fanciest of steels, and the sheath could use a bit of work, but the 420HC sharpens up nice and easy.
 
ESEE RC-6, Busse Ash-1, Busse FSH(my favorite)

All great blades, amazing warranty. Randalls are a great choice but I do not own any of the larger ones to comment on. My smaller Randall is beautiful and one heck of a piece of steel though. In your price range I think you will be getting a great blade no matter which knife you get.
 
Deep Sea said:
My budget is $600 or less, possibly a little more if there's a maker who's got a kickin' knife. Looking at the latest Blade magazine, they have a few suggestions in their "Knives at War" article. I especially liked the Brend model 2, until I saw the price...heart failure to say the least.
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If I had that sort of budget then I would be looking at custom knives. I wouldn't recommend 1 knife, 2 would be much better.

I would think a smaller (3"-4") scandi grind knife would be great for many wilderness/survival/camping tasks.

A bigger (6"-7") knife capable of chopping/batoning and other tasks would be good for the other one.
 
A Swamprat Ratnmandu coupled with a large chopper would still be doable with your budget.

When in the woods I generaly carry 3 knives. A large chopper (either my M-43 kukri or my Estwing model 44a hatchet). A 5" blade usualy my custom from G.L. Drew or my RC5 or Ratmandu; and a small utility blade also made for me by G.L. Drew.

With what you have budgeted you could easily go with two customs.
 
In the woods i carry a 5-7'' tough fixed blade currently a Fallkniven A1 for splitting logs or very light chopping.A small bow saw or folding saw & sometime a SAK or any nice folder.

I don't have any use for a big chopper or an axe.
 
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