Fixed Blade Suggestions

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val.c

Joined
Apr 27, 2011
Messages
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Hey,

So I was thinking of investing in a fixed blade knife that can handle some hard use in the outdoors. I've been doing some research on different knives, brands, and blade shapes to come to an educated conclusion, but I was wondering if anyone has any particular suggestions.

I'm looking for something with a blade between 5 and 7 inches, that can hold an edge well despite hard use and abuse. I hear a lot of great things about ESEE knives, and I was looking into the RC6. BUSSE also seems to have quite the reputation, and their current offering, the Boss Jack, looks very similar to the ESEE designs.

I've also looked at the CRK fixed blades, like the Neil Roberts and the Pacific, and they seem pretty bad ass. I'm not quite sure how they would do in the field though.

Anybody have any suggestions?
 
Hey bud, if you get a chance, also look into Busse Kin companies, Swamp Rat and Scrap Yard. High performance at a great price point, lifetime unconditional warenty. If you can wait a little while, all 3 companies I mention will be releasing an affordable line of knives in all sizes, Busse being the Basics, the rodent 11's via SR and the SYKCO 11's through scrap yard.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...0-In-Prizes-Will-Be-Awarded!!!!?highlight=711

pics of most can be seen here

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...g-pics-from-Blade-again.....?highlight=trough
 
You really can't go wrong with Esse. They have very nice offerings, with a great warranty to back it up. I will also suggest Becker Knife and Tool (under Kabar). My BK2 is a great blade for the price. I will warn you it is on the heavy side. Busse, ScrapYard, and SwampRat, from what I hear, are generally awesome. I plan on picking one up soon. Bark River, Fallkniven, and FiddleBack Forge are also some companies to check to as well.
 
Becker BK-7. You won't find more knife for the money.

BK720MED.jpg
 
Another shout for Becker. I have a BK-9, and in all honesty, I use it a lot more than my busse-kins for woods bumming. I really like the 3/16", it actually cuts, hold a great edge, and the high secondary bevel lets it slice like a laser. It simply works better. Will a Battle Mistress chop down a tree faster? Yeah probably, but I've got a 30 dollar sven saw. The BK-9 was mostly used for chopping of limbs and splitting. The lightness was a damn nice plus too.

3/16" is strong enough for batoning. I've battoned some 5" frozen logs with my BK-9. No problems, still shaved after going through some 10 feet of log. Just dont be dumb and try to batton through a frozen knot, that can definetely cause damage.

The only thing I would do is locktite the bolts from the scales. They come off pretty easily.
 
For what's been suggested, you have three different price ranges:
Low- Becker
Mid- ESEE
High- Busse

It all depends on what type of money you're looking to spend, the becker being the best value per dollar out of those three. What type of tasks will you be doing?
 
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Thanks for all the great advice guys. I didn't realize Becker was so popular. As for the tasks I will be doing, I'm definitely going to split wood, take limbs off trees, make feather sticks, notching and anything else I can come up with. If it has a good pommel, I'm probably gonna use it to hammer tent pegs as well. I don't think I will ever need it to pry anything, but you never know. So I guess the real question now is how much am I willing to spend? Will a Busse be worth the extra money, or can I do everything just as well with the competitive options?
 
val.c said:
Thanks for all the great advice guys. I didn't realize Becker was so popular. As for the tasks I will be doing, I'm definitely going to split wood, take limbs off trees, make feather sticks, notching and anything else I can come up with. If it has a good pommel, I'm probably gonna use it to hammer tent pegs as well. I don't think I will ever need it to pry anything, but you never know. So I guess the real question now is how much am I willing to spend? Will a Busse be worth the extra money, or can I do everything just as well with the competitive options?
Click to expand...

That's a question each person would have to answer. The only way you would know is to buy into Becker, Busse, and ESEE, treat each knife the way you would anyway. At the end of the day, sell the two you don't think are for you.
None of them will fail you, unless you have unrealistic expectations, or got your knife education from movies. Plus all three companies have excellent warranties.
Bark River makes excellent knives, and their convex edges are often "thinner" than V shaped edges. They will outcut the factory edge of most other production knives.
 
In the size range you mention, have a look at the Becker BK2. It does what you need done and won't pauperize you in the process...

20110514_img_0217.jpg



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Beckerhead #42
 
+1 on the bk2 or any other Becker that will meet your needs. They're not expensive, are nearly indestructible, easily modded, and did I mention not expensive? The more I spend on a knife then less use it sees and beckers were the right price to start and then once I used em I was blown away by performance
 
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