Good fixed blade under a 100 bucks?

22-rimfire said:
How big is the bag? I'm thinking that something like a BK-14 with TKC handles would work very well. Easy to sharpen and very functional.
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can't remember size but it was one of the biggest ones at my local sporting goods store. I packed a week's worth of stuff for summer camp with room to spare for other things.
 
Yonose said:
I don’t understand why op is unwilling to state what approximate length of blade, or what kind of steel(stainless or non) is interested in. This would narrow down choices from several hundred to several dozen. You don’t have a max/min length requirement?
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Non stainless i have no specific blade length. Sorry for not mentioning it before.
 
dirc said:
the op is a teenager, who has posted in the past asking about good cheap (under $30) balisongs, and a schrade karambit for concealed carry self defense...also about making a kiridashi out of 80crv2

My guess would be anything tacti-cool would get his interest. This is in no way meant to be negative, as everyone starts somewhere. I'm sure most of us would recommend some classic & practical blades, but it takes experience to get to that point. He seems to be very much at the initial stages in his journey :)

Here is my suggestion, at under $50 it's a nice steel & good value imho, and good candidate to wrap paracord on the handle. It's also not big or rambo-like so you'll be more likely to carry it and use it often as a tool
https://www.bladehq.com/item--RUIKE-Hornet-Fixed-Blade-Knife--60846
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I like to look around for blade to possibly buy in the future.
 
Knife devotee said:
Non stainless i have no specific blade length. Sorry for not mentioning it before.
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These are Ontario knives; Rat3 or Rat5 in 1095. RD6, RD4 or Afghan are 5160. The RD series is 1/4” thick 5160 spring steel—basically unbreakable and good edge retention. These knives are well under $100, which is good, because you’ll need the cash to upgrade the sheath; total would be around $100. They will also last a very long time under conditions of hard use.
 
skyhorse said:
I agree, a great all around fixed blade.
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What knife is this
 
The ones with a "*" I own and use. The others, I'd consider buying myself if I was looking for another affordable, around $100 fixed blade.

Strangely, of the ones listed, my favorite is the Bucklite Max II, which is also the cheapest at around $25. The grip/ergos on that thing are fantastic, it has a super thin slicy hollow grind, it's an excellent general purpose fixed blade and made in the US. Pretty hard to beat for general knife performance tasks, but obviously, won't want to use this as a pry bar. One catch--and this is how they got the price so low--if you really like it you'll need to get a sheath made for it. I did, and the sheath added an extra $35. Some of the other knives for example the Ruike knives, come with an adequate sheath in the box.

*Buck Selkirk large fixed blade
*Bucklite Max II large
Ruike Jager
*Ruike Hornet
CS Master Hunter 3v
*Mora Garberg
Gerber Strongarm
 
maximus83 said:
The ones with a "*" I own and use. The others, I'd consider buying myself if I was looking for another affordable, around $100 fixed blade.

Strangely, of the ones listed, my favorite is the Bucklite Max II, which is also the cheapest at around $25. The grip/ergos on that thing are fantastic, it has a super thin slicy hollow grind, it's an excellent general purpose fixed blade and made in the US. Pretty hard to beat for general knife performance tasks, but obviously, won't want to use this as a pry bar. One catch--and this is how they got the price so low--if you really like it you'll need to get a sheath made for it. I did, and the sheath added an extra $35. Some of the other knives for example the Ruike knives, come with an adequate sheath in the box.

*Buck Selkirk large fixed blade
*Bucklite Max II large
Ruike Jager
*Ruike Hornet
CS Master Hunter 3v
*Mora Garberg
Gerber Strongarm
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I can make a sheath but I won't be a good
Yonose said:
View attachment 898655 View attachment 898654 View attachment 898654

Looks like a Tops knife, don’t know which one, probably over $100. Here’s a pic of the rd6.
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Thanks
 
image.jpg
This can be found just a little bit over $100. It’s a little bigger than the f-1;it’s stainless but very tough; you definitely want the leather sheath if you get a fallkniven.
 
hhmoore said:
So is this a knife that is going to sit in your pack, "just in case"; not a knife that you plan to carry and use?
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No I will be in my bag but I will use when I go camping, hiking and at home for many things. I use a knife a lot in my garage
 
numbersman said:
An ESEE 4 is going well over $100 at Knifecenter at the moment. It sounds like your mum wasn't all that enthusiastic. Maybe try for a smaller blade to start with, something like an Izula or Izula II. The Izzie 2 is a great little knife! Fabulous handle, and it will take on tasks bigger than you think.
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Will do
 
be aware that the buck mesa (used to be a walmart exclusive, I'm not sure if that's still the case) - it's also 420hc steel. So it's tough for a stainless steel, but still not really bushcraft league. Otherwise, I really like the look of it and it seems like they got the ergos right.
 
Knife devotee said:
No I will be in my bag but I will use when I go camping, hiking and at home for many things. I use a knife a lot in my garage
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Have you said, yet, what size knife you want? It's a lot easier to make recommendations when we know how to filter the options.
 
22-rimfire said:
Generally for fixed blades the break down of small (<4"), medium (4-6"), large (≥ 7") works. Most of us could be very comfortable carrying and using a "small" knife in he woods and I think for "survival". Personally, I'm comfortable with a SAK in most cases, but I generally choose something around 5"-6" as my normal woods knife size and keep the folder there for more delicate tasks.

Large are generally categorized as 7"+ blades, with the 7" sliding into your 6"-8" category. I would group the 6-8" fixed blades as utility knives (The BK-7 would be a good example.) and useful as a camp, or survival knife (whatever that means in reality). Years ago, I viewed a survival knife as a big fighting knife (Rambo-esk); essentially a strong 1/4" bar steel knife designed for both fighting or and woods use that you would be hard pressed to break. The smaller BK-2 or ESEE 5 would be a more compact version and mostly personal preference (but same application). I pretty much view the mixed use (fighting and woods) as a fantasy now. But fantasies are fun too. A lot depends on your experience and comfort level, and the knife itself being important relative to your feel for what you can use for cutting versus chopping. Anyone can chop with a knife but can they use it for much else conveniently? Does that make it a camp knife?

One might ask... what's so special about a "camp knife"? I mean you can split kindling, cut tent stakes, cut small trees for tarp supports or if so inclined or if you have to a shelter, chop food, cut meat, perhaps process meat, all with a 4" fixed blade. Your average Mora can do all of this too and probably better overall than many of the 6-8" knives. Personally I don't see anything particularly special about a camp knife classification. It's a catch all term where as many consider the medium to large size range suitable for a "camp knife". You use what you have the way I look at it.

The 8"+ knives are generally kind of beastly. The BK-9 is an example. Useful if you are willing to carry such and not so long that it's a royal pain flopping around on your belt. I generally want 10"+ for choppers which you could use to skin a squirrel or a deer, but not conveniently. Certainly for "survival" this size of knife has the most flexibility in the woods if you are willing to carry it and you are comfortable safely cutting stuff other than chopping limbs and small trees. In my opinion, you still need a folder for cutting small. The important thing is "Are you willing to carry it?" Are you willing to suffer the snickers by other hikers or the big eyes/looks by day hikers. It is much like choosing a folder for urban use.... size matters relative to use and other people.

There is a huge overlap in theoretical application for the small/medium/large size range. A lot depends on what you're used to or experienced with. Folks in Central and South America will only carry a 18" machete and use it for everything from cutting grass to vines to trees to field dressing or skinning an animal or fish to preparing food. They have no folder for cutting small.

Relative to this thread, the OP needs to decide what he plans on doing with the knife, what he's comfortable with, what his Mom is comfortable with, and if he would actually use it other than fondling it in his bedroom. I do that a lot by the way and one of my favorite activities for fixed blades.

I liked Creek Stewart's discussion on a survival knife quite a bit. His knife is a 5" spear point. Currently mine is my new BRKT Wilderness Explorer model (5.75"). My previous one was the Dozier Pro Guides knife. Self defense is always a possibility in the woods.... a bear or 2-legged predator if you are so unfortunate to encounter such without a firearm.
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hhmoore said:
Have you said, yet, what size knife you want? It's a lot easier to make recommendations when we know how to filter the options.
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5 to 12 inches preferably but smaller is fine.
 
That's a huge range to work with, lol.
For camping, have you considered the BK4? It's been discontinued; but I might know a guy...
There's also the BK5, if you prefer a more traditional blade shape. I use mine in the kitchen; but its said to be quite capable in the woods, a well.
 
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