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Good, Affordable Survival Fixed Blade?
- Thread starter Lock1454
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The Ka-Bar is a good blade, on most accounts, however in my opinion, it is good at a lot of things, however not great at many things. It also has the tradition of behind it, but tradition doesn't mean much when you are in the woods.
In the >30 I would get a M2K, or any other mora for that matter. You can also have many machetes for under that price, most notable a Tromontina. They have a great following, and I believe RAT uses them a lot.
From $30-50 I like the Buck 119.
From $50-$75 check out some Beckers. The BK7 is in this price range. The BK 9 might be, but I am not positive on that.
Up to $100 I would definately look at RAT Cutlery for an RC 4. BK9 may be here, but it is for sure under $100.
In the >30 I would get a M2K, or any other mora for that matter. You can also have many machetes for under that price, most notable a Tromontina. They have a great following, and I believe RAT uses them a lot.
From $30-50 I like the Buck 119.
From $50-$75 check out some Beckers. The BK7 is in this price range. The BK 9 might be, but I am not positive on that.
Up to $100 I would definately look at RAT Cutlery for an RC 4. BK9 may be here, but it is for sure under $100.
Good heavens! Those Tramotinas! That's like $.50 an inch! Kind of big though, and no sheath - could be a problem. 12" is the smallest one I could find =\
As for the Moras, I was looking at these the FS640 and FS740BK . The 2000 looks like, but at $30, that seems to get into the area where I'd think about maybe just going a bit further for one of the BKs or all in for a RAT. Mind you the BK or RAT (or the KaBar USMC for that matter) aren't out of the picture, but where the Moras are cheap quick answers that I don't
Also probably snagging a couple Rough Riders to wet my feet in the traditional slipknot pocket knife pool
As for the Moras, I was looking at these the FS640 and FS740BK . The 2000 looks like, but at $30, that seems to get into the area where I'd think about maybe just going a bit further for one of the BKs or all in for a RAT. Mind you the BK or RAT (or the KaBar USMC for that matter) aren't out of the picture, but where the Moras are cheap quick answers that I don't
Also probably snagging a couple Rough Riders to wet my feet in the traditional slipknot pocket knife pool
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- Sep 4, 2007
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Well......
If your any thing like me, its going to be impossible for you to decide. That said, I can show you some pics of the knives that have been mentioned.
I personally gravitate to the 5-7" range of blades, I find them to be a good compromise from carrying a knife thats too small, and a knife thats too large, one piece of steel that can handle everything, thats shelter, to preparing fire wood to skinning game if need be.
To start, we'll go cheapest to priciest.
Ka-bar USMC.
I have used this knife alot before I sent it to a friend here on the forums, it was my primary blade for a while, it with a SAK and an axe would cover anything that came along, but most of the time it worked fine with just the sak as a companion.
With a few mods, it can become a great woods knife, but if thats not your thing, I would say it would do you fine as a first fixed blade, ka-bar I think set a standard as to what a fixed blade should provide.
Next would be the BK7, one of my favorite blades, it has seen more field time than any other knife I own. Its solid, can shop well for its size, good slicer for its size and over-all a step-up in terms of over-all ability from the USMC.
6" log of maple took about 5 minutes. One thing about the Becker is that it has a full tang over the USMC which is something I think every Fixed should have.
Never failed getting food cooked for me.
Next up is the RC6, In the end would be my choice of blades out of the three. It chops with less authority than the BK7, but has better slicing capability, feels sturdier, sports a trendier sheath then either other knife, 1095 carbon steel, nothing special but the heat treat is. Plus, it carries the RAT name, which I would trust my life too.
Great knife over-all, and again my man sugestion, if the price is too much, BK7 will be no slouch, just a uglier sheath, and its a little thicker.
Let me know if you have any more questions.
If your any thing like me, its going to be impossible for you to decide. That said, I can show you some pics of the knives that have been mentioned.
I personally gravitate to the 5-7" range of blades, I find them to be a good compromise from carrying a knife thats too small, and a knife thats too large, one piece of steel that can handle everything, thats shelter, to preparing fire wood to skinning game if need be.
To start, we'll go cheapest to priciest.
Ka-bar USMC.
I have used this knife alot before I sent it to a friend here on the forums, it was my primary blade for a while, it with a SAK and an axe would cover anything that came along, but most of the time it worked fine with just the sak as a companion.
With a few mods, it can become a great woods knife, but if thats not your thing, I would say it would do you fine as a first fixed blade, ka-bar I think set a standard as to what a fixed blade should provide.
Next would be the BK7, one of my favorite blades, it has seen more field time than any other knife I own. Its solid, can shop well for its size, good slicer for its size and over-all a step-up in terms of over-all ability from the USMC.
6" log of maple took about 5 minutes. One thing about the Becker is that it has a full tang over the USMC which is something I think every Fixed should have.
Never failed getting food cooked for me.
Next up is the RC6, In the end would be my choice of blades out of the three. It chops with less authority than the BK7, but has better slicing capability, feels sturdier, sports a trendier sheath then either other knife, 1095 carbon steel, nothing special but the heat treat is. Plus, it carries the RAT name, which I would trust my life too.
Great knife over-all, and again my man sugestion, if the price is too much, BK7 will be no slouch, just a uglier sheath, and its a little thicker.
Let me know if you have any more questions.
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Here's a Mora under the Bahco brand flag. That's worth about five quid here. So you can stir paint with it and throw it away.
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Yeah, I believe Frost's does that every once in a while. I watched a video tour of there factory, and they had a bucket of "Dewalt" branded knives. Same model as that bahco, but in yellow. I wish I could find one, that would be awesome for my tool box.
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I could be wrong but that Bahco is model #2444 and is identical to the Frosts #860-F
Before my 'enlightenment', ie, intro to Bark River, I did my camping with my late Dad's old WWII KaBar and either a SAK or a Buck 110 or 301 in my pocket. A Plumb camp axe (hatchet) accompanied me on several car/van/tent camping trips, too. That KaBar could do anythings, although I never made a successful flute with one. Come to think about it, my pocket knife ones didn't work, either - but they looked better.
An interim choice was the Buck 119 - with the 192 Vanguard actually being better appreciated here - love that grip. The 119 is still $33.84 at Wally World up the street - and very effective for the price. Les Stroud could be seen on some of his 'Survivorman' series carrying one. The 192 Vanguard is a mail order goodie around here - $55-$65. Get a good 'useful' pocket knife. My latest 'favorite' is the Victorinox Alox 'Farmer' - $16 - $30 - and many quite useful goodies, including a knife!
I'd probably opt for the Buck 119 and a Farmer for a start. Save the remaining money for your 'next' goodie - maybe a hatchet or saw - or another fb.
Stainz
PS Don't start with a Bark River... they are too addictive - you'll end up sitting at home, buying Barkies...
An interim choice was the Buck 119 - with the 192 Vanguard actually being better appreciated here - love that grip. The 119 is still $33.84 at Wally World up the street - and very effective for the price. Les Stroud could be seen on some of his 'Survivorman' series carrying one. The 192 Vanguard is a mail order goodie around here - $55-$65. Get a good 'useful' pocket knife. My latest 'favorite' is the Victorinox Alox 'Farmer' - $16 - $30 - and many quite useful goodies, including a knife!
I'd probably opt for the Buck 119 and a Farmer for a start. Save the remaining money for your 'next' goodie - maybe a hatchet or saw - or another fb.
Stainz
PS Don't start with a Bark River... they are too addictive - you'll end up sitting at home, buying Barkies...
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- Feb 28, 2006
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Personally, I like brians idea of the Benchmade Rant the best. It's a size and style of knife that I like along with Fallknivens, Bokers and Linders that pitch at the same niche. In common with those it has a practical if not pretty handle. 440C is certainly a better steel than 440A or the stainless used on a Mora in my opinion. The design of the blade looks plenty good for a utility pattern to me not so scrawny that it is only good for slicing yet not so ground as it won't slice yet stout enough for other knife tasks without winning votes with the headbutts as a brick chopper. In short, looks like something one would enjoy interacting with rather than just cutting with.
random bloke reviewed it here compared to a mora with pics
Dunno what the best price is for them where you are but I know here - $52.95
If you move from hiking to camping you might want to wind in a saw/ax/golok or something later. You may well never need to.
random bloke reviewed it here compared to a mora with pics
Dunno what the best price is for them where you are but I know here - $52.95
If you move from hiking to camping you might want to wind in a saw/ax/golok or something later. You may well never need to.
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- Apr 13, 2007
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If I were going for a medium budget production blade I think one of these takes some beating !
http://www.newgraham.com/detail.aspx?ID=6005
http://www.newgraham.com/detail.aspx?ID=6005
@ Fonly: Isn't the USMC full tang? Thought the buttcap was pinned to the bottom of the tang
it is, but only a rat tang, not a full, full-tang knife which I would prefer, but the ka-bar has held its own.
Curtsy of Knife Center.
You can see the broken line in the handle, thats the tang, where as a BK7 or RAT is like pictured here.
(My pic before I removed coating)
That is the style I prefer.