Good daggers in a ~5" blade with good modern steel?

S

Sid Post

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Oct 14, 1998
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I am looking for a Dagger style (deep penetration with low effort) profile. I do not want a stamped blade (no 420, AUS). I also want something not overly heavy that has a slight rearward handle balance that is quick in the hand.

I found a Boker N690 4.5" knife that runs ~$250 street pricing which is bit more than I would like to spend. I also would like a bit more length.

440C and 1095 are good blade steel choices but, I am also open to other blade materials. I like Micarta handles but, anything other than cheap slick plastic is acceptable. I expect to spend more than $50 and would like to keep it under $150. What do you recommend? What have you used that worked well and why?

For a little background, I have been jumped by two different dogs that are ~40~50 pounds. A firearm would be preferred but, isn't a practical option. I need something more than a Buck 110 and less than a traditional field knife. I have plenty of heavy knives but, those aren't going to be on my belt when I need them. Practicality rules here as I can't predict when I will need my knife (if I could I would have a firearm on my person).

TIA,
Sid
 
My dagger recommendations for you will look very much like a 36" x 1.25" hickory straight stick or a 4 oz canister of pepper spray.
 
Dogs, no guns or spray, fixed blades? These are my picks:

For dagger style blades:
CRKT Sangrador
Cold Steel Counter Tac I
Svord Pig Sticker
Muela Caribu
Boker Plus Burnley Striker
Condor Boar Dagger
Boker Applegate Fairbarn Dagger
SOG Pentagon Dagger
Kershaw Secret Agent

and worthy candidates, but not dagger shaped

Cold Steel Kobun
CRKT Hissatsu...or you could up your budget, and check out the

Cold Steel Tai Pan
Bastinelli Raptor
older AlMar daggers
Extrema Ratio Operativo

good luck!
 
Not out quite yet, but Cold Steel is coming out with a Drop Forged Boot Knife with 5" blade made of a solid piece of 52100...should sell for around $50.
 
Just a question, are these stray dogs or somebody's pets? Killing a dog can be just as litigious as stabbing a person. There are non-lethal methods that have already been mentioned. By all means defend yourself, please, but you would probably run into less trouble shooting them than stabbing. In addition, you ever tried to stab an angry, vicious 50lb canine? By the time you hit something effective it's gonna tear you up (and you're just as likely to stab your own self in the process). The knife is a good last resort, but not a great primary weapon for your needs. Maybe a Cold Steel Boar Spear on a shorter handle. Otherwise, if you're really set on a knife I would look at a Cold Steel SRK, Spyderco Street Bowie, or a Condor Boar Dagger (per your request for dagger ideas). I feel like the Bowie or single bladed style would serve you better as you could stab AND slash with it. Good luck!

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call the dog catcher/animal control. much easier than stabbing random dawgs.
 
wesmanthetiger said:
Just a question, are these stray dogs or somebody's pets? Killing a dog can be just as litigious as stabbing a person. There are non-lethal methods that have already been mentioned. By all means defend yourself, please, but you would probably run into less trouble shooting them than stabbing. In addition, you ever tried to stab an angry, vicious 50lb canine? By the time you hit something effective it's gonna tear you up (and you're just as likely to stab your own self in the process). The knife is a good last resort, but not a great primary weapon for your needs. Maybe a Cold Steel Boar Spear on a shorter handle. Otherwise, if you're really set on a knife I would look at a Cold Steel SRK, Spyderco Street Bowie, or a Condor Boar Dagger (per your request for dagger ideas). I feel like the Bowie or single bladed style would serve you better as you could stab AND slash with it. Good luck!

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The two dogs in question are owned but are not what I would call a pet. I have already dispatched a third one and warned my neighbors to lock them up or supervise them. And yes, I realize what an angry dog can do to a person and what an angry homeowner can do if you kill their pet. Personally I'm more concerned about the homeowner's rifle than their lawyer. If I'm in an unplanned fight for my life, I want more than pocket knife as a last ditch resort. We have had 3 cattle killed by these dogs so, it's not a mall ninja or Walter Mitty fantasy for me. I also have no hope for support from a third party if I find myself in trouble. I will worry about lawyers if I survive a deadly encounter with these dogs. As for dog catchers, dream on considering we can't get law enforcement to respond property theft.
 
jbmonkey said:
call the dog catcher/animal control. much easier than stabbing random dawgs.
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I live in a rural area so, no luck there. The county resources are already stretched pretty thin. Ideally I would have a firearm with me but, that isn't always practical.
 
Sid Post said:
I live in a rural area so, no luck there. The county resources are already stretched pretty thin. Ideally I would have a firearm with me but, that isn't always practical.
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gotcha. my uncle lives on a farm and his nearest neoghbor has pit bulls and lets them run around. so he got tired of getting his mail and looking over his shoulder for those dogs. he bought a 9mm pocket pistol and told that neighbor to lock up the dogs or he was gonna put them down. neighbor locked them up.

id carry a pistol easier and faster and more humane than stabbing dogs. i hear ya saying you cant but much easier than carrying a big stick which is how i deal with violent feral dogs where i am. if ya think you have to have the knife id carry something much bigger and longer like a cold steel oss. to hit vitals and to maybe dispatch before they really tear you up once stabbed up close. i still think its a bad idear, but too each their own.
 
why didn't you tell us you're a cowpoke? works while on foot or on horseback.

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jbmonkey said:
gotcha. my uncle lives on a farm and his nearest neoghbor has pit bulls and lets them run around. so he got tired of getting his mail and looking over his shoulder for those dogs. he bought a 9mm pocket pistol and told that neighbor to lock up the dogs or he was gonna put them down. neighbor locked them up.

id carry a pistol easier and faster and more humane than stabbing dogs. i hear ya saying you cant but much easier than carrying a big stick which is how i deal with violent feral dogs where i am. if ya think you have to have the knife id carry something much bigger and longer like a cold steel oss. to hit vitals and to maybe dispatch before they really tear you up once stabbed up close. i still think its a bad idear, but too each their own.
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I hear you with the humane aspect and carrying a firearm. However, the reality is that I won't be carrying a big stick or have a rifle slung when I really need it. Handguns have their own legal restrictions. Then there is the issue of having law enforcement called about the 'crazy nutjob checking his mailbox' with a rifle slung and other similar forms of harassment.

So while a compact rifle or even better, a shotgun, is preferred that isn't practical while I am out and about taking care of things. Having a rifle or shotgun in the pickup or on the tractor is nice but, only if I can get to it when I need it.
 
You are in Oklahoma and Texas? Carrying a small pistol shouldn't be that much of a problem

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In most areas there are more legal restrictions surrounding carrying a dagger or fighting knife than a handgun assuming you have your CCW. If you're barred from owning firearms I can see going to edged weapons but even then I'd pick something with more general-purpose usability than a dagger. Having seen attack dogs go after people I can't imagine you'd have a chance of against one with a dagger. If you're not going to use a firearm maybe get one of those hog hunting spears and keep it nearby.
 
I'll chime in again, to agree with the ones above who said that if it's got to be a knife, make it a bit more versatile than a dagger while still being lethal and very effective against two or four legged predators. I wholeheartedly recommend these two

CAM02004_zps81iym4p2.jpg


their pointy tips will pierce with the utmost ease, and they're very capable slashers, fast in the hand, really easy to sharpen, good grip and the CRKT has an extraordinarily well made sheath. None will break the bank, and their 7" blades will reach and tear the internals of the largest big cats/dogs out there

IMG_20160328_085227_447_zpsdmvxdxcs.jpg


they will at the same time cut your food, slice that bag open or let you do normal knife tasks and chores around

20150821_093939_zpsyb0egkia.jpg
 
^^^ can you name those models which you have pictured please?
Edit: found them off of their respective catalogs. Nevermind.
 
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