General purpose fixed blade under 75 dollars?

S

Stiletto Raggio

Joined
Jan 29, 2000
Messages
546
I am looking for a general purpose fixed blade, production or custom, to fit these rather loose specifications.

It needs to have a blade between 3.5 and 5.5 inches in length, full tang, flat ground and between 1/10 and 3/16 of an inch thick. It should have a good handle, preferably Micarta, G-10 or Carbon Fiber. It can be of either carbon or stainless steel, but carbon had better be coated because I will use this knife in the outdoors.

Hopefully a good kydex or concealex sheath will be provided, but I can live with most any well made sheath for the time being.

Please keep your suggestions at or under 75 dollars, because I really can't afford any higher.

P.S.- If you are a knifemaker and would be willing to work with me or someone who has private advice to give, my email is araggio@hotmail.com.
 
Good Evening, it is I Vampire Gerbil.
First, allow me to say that I don't know JACK!
(I knew Jill once, but we were really drunk and she thought I was a chick.... but that's too embarrassing to go into)
That said,
I'm really partial to Ka-Bars. Yeah, yeah, they ain't as sexy as most of the blades discussed here, but if they're good enough for Uncle Sam's Misguided Children (and some SEALs too, from what I hear) they're good enough for me.

The blade length on the standard issue blade's a bit larger than you're asking about, but there's newer versions that are smaller.

Also, let me be the first to mention Cold Steel's Recon. I think it's within your price range, so take a look at that as well.

Positive that every other response to Senior Raggio's post shall be 10,000% more insightful than mine,
I remain,
VG

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vampiregerbil@aol.com
 
I like both of Vampire Gerbil's choices. I also like the Cold Steel SRK. The only prob with these CS knives is the kraton handle, which I'm not sure about for long-term, heavy use. But it's a great grip for chopping. Check out the CS Special Projects catalog http://www.ltspecpro.com for their 2nds, which they sell a lot cheaper. I have no idea why they rated my SRK as a 2nd, but I was happy with the discount!

SRK 2nd is $40
Recon Tanto 2nd is $45
Recon Scout 2nd is $100
 
There aren't many fixed blade knives(if any) that are under $75.00 that have the handle material(micarta, G-10, especially carbon fiber) you would like. The only general purpose fixed blade that comes to mind is the Newt Livesay ICU which goes for $100 and has a nice micarta handle and a 5" blade.
 
Definitely Fällkniven F-1 would match your specification at most points.
It has Thermorun Elastomer handle but think it would serve you better than Micarta one in outdoors conditions.
BTW, it's quite difficult to find Micarta handled model within your price limit. Carbon Fiber is somewhat too slippery for outdoors knife handle and definitely runs out of 75$ price limit.

If knife strength is not an issue for you or if you would prefer very light piece think about SPYDERCO Bill Moran Featherweight. If the knife should be used for cutting only it is very sensible choice for lazy guys like me
wink.gif



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Sergiusz Mitin
gunwriter
Lodz, Poland

[This message has been edited by Sergiusz Mitin (edited 07-26-2000).]
 
Take a look at the Ray Rogers and Terry Hearn Series under Fixed Blades and also Tacticals at "The Custom Knife Directory". There are highly detailed images of the "available for immediate delivery" pieces they have there, as well.
http://www.customknifedirectory.com

These are "hand-made originals", priced under $100 and come with Kydex sheaths ... with warrantys!

Both of these guys are "professionals" and you can read all about them at the site and on the CKD Forum. They also have current testimonials that will give you an idea of how solidly they transact their deliveries!

Hope this helps...
Alex
Atlanta Virtual/CKD

[This message has been edited by VirtualEdge (edited 07-26-2000).]
 
I would go with the Spyderco Moran or the Falkkniven. I think they are in that price range and good cutters.

sing
AKTI #A000356
 
Don't overlook Ontario's Spec Plus line of knives. Great buys even at retail and unbeatable if found on sale.

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You could put nacho cheese sauce on it...
 
Gotta put in another vote for Cold steel. It offers several choices that fit most of your requirements and stays in your price range.
If you get a chance, go to a gun/knife show.It is the best place to combine the benefit of being able to lay hands on a lot of options and still be able to purchase at discount prices.Hope this helps.
David

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AKTI# A000150
NC Custom Knifemakers Guild member
NC Knife Knuts member
 
How about the Camillus BK&T Campanion.
Can be had for about $65, an awesome knife, although a bit on the stout side.

Forgot to add that it does meet most of your requirements:

5.25" Blade
0170-6c Carbon Steel with Black Epoxy Coat
GV6H Polymer Handles (you won't find micarta, CF etcc in this price range)
Multi-Position Kydex sheath

If you search in the Camillus forum there is a lot of good info there.

Walter


[This message has been edited by wkrafft (edited 07-26-2000).]
 
Well Stiletto,

Get yourself a leather handle, carbon steel KaBar and you'll be fine. Or buy two and use the first as a kind of test for yourself. Don't be afraid to "use" it. Tends to rust a little but this only helps you to take better care of it. Perfect steel, enjoy it.
 
The difficulty is the handle material; there are plenty of good knives under $75 that meet your other specifications.

The USMC knife commonly called the KA-BAR has a 7" blade, but the Air Force Survival knife is similar and has a 5" blade. It has saw teeth on the spine, though, which many of us consider unfortunate. Both knives have stackleather handles and are made of parkerized 1095 carbon steel.

The Camillus/Becker Campanion is more than 3/16" thick and very heavy for its size at 15 ounces, which gives it some chopping capability, but it doesn't sound like that's the kind of knife you're looking for. The handle material is something new and nobody seems to have shot any bullets at it yet, but it's probably pretty comparable in durability to Micarta and G-10.

You might have a look at the Schrade Sharpfinger/Wolverine (the Wolverine is the stainless version). Delrin isn't as tough as Micarta but it's much tougher than your basic cheap plastic handle.

Both the Air Force Survival Knife and the Sharpfinger/Wolverine are well under $75; you could buy one of each and have money left over.

You might have a look at the factory puukkos at www.chaicutlery.com too -- handles are either wood or some kind of plastic that isn't comparable to Micarta and G-10, but prices are low and they're very serviceable knives, even the cheapest models.

-Cougar :{)
 
Don't have many of the others mentioned here, but put my vote in for the Fallkniven.

I hear good things about the SRK but do not have one personally.

If you shop around, you might be able to get a Buck 119 Special AND a 110 Folding Hunter for not much more than your budget. That would cover you.
 
another option would to be to come to a guy like me, who is just starting to make knives... i will design the knife for/with you, give you the materials you want, and do it for just over cost of the materials (less than $75 from what you described)... the downsides are that there will be some small mistakes in it (i do try to get them as good as i can for this stage of my skills) and there would be a wait...
like i said just another option
james
 
It's not quite the blade grind your looking for but a Greco would seem to fit your needs. You see them on the for sale forum around this price range.

Or you could pick up a couple USMC Kabars. Can't go wrong there.

Let us know what you get.
 
Colorado Cutlery makes some very nice blades in your price range. Their small hunter is a classic drop point, flat ground, micarta grips, 1095 steel and a good quality leather sheath. They used to have a website www.coloradocutlery.com but I haven't been able to access it lately. Otherwise, F1, or Cold Steel Master Hunter are good choices. For something different you might look at Roselli's puukkos (www.roselli.fi, or www.chaicutlery.com).
 
I love it when a Canadian let alone an Albertan sugjests an American Knife maker to someone!!! Come on!!!
If you want a custom blade, that $75.00 US will get you $110.00 worth of blade in Canada. There are lots of very good makers in Canada with some very reasonablly prices knives. There are also some great top end makers in Canada.
PS I have absolutly nothing against Americans, we just want your money. Its worth more than ours.

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Robert
Flat Land Knife Works
rdblad@telusplanet.net
http://members.tripod.com/knifeworks/index.html
 
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