Good, Cheap Survival Knife

C

ctg1231

Joined
Oct 5, 2009
Messages
19
Hey Bladeforums-

OK, looking for a good, all around survival knife. It will be used along side a Cold Steel Frontier Hawk, so chopping/splitting isn't really an issue. I already have an Ontario Sp2 USAF survival knife, but am looking for something a little more capable. Needs to be under $100, but cheaper is always better. Also, light weight would be nice, since I'll be carrying it while hiking. What do you guys think?
 
If you want a folder, for that price range you should look into an Ontario Retribution. 120 new for the small one. You can find them on the exchange for under a hundred.

http://www.cumberlandknifeworks.com...tegory_id=170&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=28

If you want a fixed blade, you have more choices IMO. ESEE (formerly RAT Cutlery) knives (they have a couple in that price range). RC-3 can be had for 95.95 shipped. A HEST can be had for 91.96 shipped. http://www.the-knife-connection.com/eseeknives.html

Bark River has a few fixed blades right around the 100 buck range. http://www.the-knife-connection.com/closeouts.html
 
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Mora Knives
ESEE RC 3
Becker BK 7
Becker BK 9
Becker BK 10
Buck 110
 
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For $100 or less:

- RC-4 from ESEE (formerly RAT Cutlery)
- Becker Crewman or Campanion
- Cold Steel SRK
- Gerber LMF-II or Prodigy

For about $125, you can get the RC-5 from ESEE, a very heavy duty blade and knife. You can't go wrong with ESEE, or Becker.
 
SAK or Multitool... That would be my pick.;)

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:)
 
Get a wooden handled Mora for like 10-15$, they're light, great steel/heat treat, cheap and easily replaceable, and they feel great in the hand!
 
Can't go wrong with an RC-3MIL. Small, light, tough, & various carry options.
 
you've got a chopper, so I say go small- 2.5-3.5"- Fallkniven WM1 would serve you well and you still have a little extra $ :)

take that extra $ and get a small folding Fiskars (or the like) saw and you'll have all your bases covered
 
thanks for all the suggestions!
Just to clarify, I'm more in the market for a fixed blade.
Falkieven (sp) is nice, think its a little out of my price range.
Those rats look nice... So does the SRK...
Like I said I have an sp2, how do these knives compare with it?
babakanoosh45 : I'll probably carry my MT anyways...
mtwarden: I have a fiskars saw, and will probably throw it in if I feel I need it.

Any other suggestions?
 
What about a standard Ka-Bar? Solid design, good steel, and an excellent price. Probably cheaper than anything else posted, with the exception being a Mora. Everybody should have a Ka-Bar.
 
Kabar short heavy bowie or a Becker. $50-60 range + s/h.

A RAT is a great knife but would put you right up against your limit.
 
Dude, take the saw, it is so lightweight and useful.

Knife pics:
ESEE-4
Fallkniven F1
Cold Steel Master Hunter
All near the $100 mark.

Most personal tool you could have is a small belt knife. I'd go right to the exchange and look for a secondhand custom. Stomper comes to mind, Andy from Fiddleback Forge, a ton of others. Good luck.
 
Either the SRK or the RC-4 would serve you well, but I think the RC-4 is out of your budget. The SRK would compare favorably with your Ontario. It's light for a knife of it's size and thickness. The current one is made of AUS 8-A. It's a strong stainless, so rust or hard use are not a problem, and since its matrix has vanadium, it has excellent edge retention.
 
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