- Joined
- Sep 5, 2005
- Messages
- 2,826
We're fortunate enough, most of us, to live in a time and a place where good knives are available for
almost nothing, great knives available for bargain prices and superb knives available to even the most
economically challenged. That said, we've also become very discriminating in what we buy, and that's
as it should be. Why buy a crummy knife when almost anyone can afford a decent knife?
The truth is, however, that even the many of the el cheapo knives for ten to twelve bucks would be
lifesavers in situations where there were no other knives or tools available. Many of them are strong
and can be socked away where owners need not worry about them. Some, in extreme emergency
situatons, would be even more valuable than a five-hundred dollar Sebenza. However nice Sebenzas
may be, they make poor weapons, poor camping tools and only so-so survival tools.
About a year ago, I bought a cheap $13 Delta Force Tanto, just to see what kind of a knife could
be had for well under twenty bucks. It did not disappoint. I turned my nose up at it, but over the
next few months, I found it to be an
extremely effective yard knife. It dug up weeds, chopped up and cleared vegetation, cut branches
and even served as a pry bar. Sharpening took only a few swipes of a course stone and the plastic
grips have not chipped, cracked or loosened. The knife would cut twine, weeds and open bags of
fertilizer with nary a commplaint. Plus, the knife was substantially lighter than the S&W Homeland
Security Tanto, which was the knife it was copied from and which is an excellent bargain
for thirty dollars, delivered.
The blade also is quite rust resistant, though, even rusty, it could serve in an extreme emergency.
It's great that we afford better, but sometimes I think we underrate the lower tier knives that
seem to have a legitimate place in the knife world.
The Frost (top) is not nearly as good as the S&W knife it was copied
from, but it performs suprisingly well under duress. Both of these
are bargains, even the oft-maligned S&W.
.
almost nothing, great knives available for bargain prices and superb knives available to even the most
economically challenged. That said, we've also become very discriminating in what we buy, and that's
as it should be. Why buy a crummy knife when almost anyone can afford a decent knife?
The truth is, however, that even the many of the el cheapo knives for ten to twelve bucks would be
lifesavers in situations where there were no other knives or tools available. Many of them are strong
and can be socked away where owners need not worry about them. Some, in extreme emergency
situatons, would be even more valuable than a five-hundred dollar Sebenza. However nice Sebenzas
may be, they make poor weapons, poor camping tools and only so-so survival tools.
About a year ago, I bought a cheap $13 Delta Force Tanto, just to see what kind of a knife could
be had for well under twenty bucks. It did not disappoint. I turned my nose up at it, but over the
next few months, I found it to be an
extremely effective yard knife. It dug up weeds, chopped up and cleared vegetation, cut branches
and even served as a pry bar. Sharpening took only a few swipes of a course stone and the plastic
grips have not chipped, cracked or loosened. The knife would cut twine, weeds and open bags of
fertilizer with nary a commplaint. Plus, the knife was substantially lighter than the S&W Homeland
Security Tanto, which was the knife it was copied from and which is an excellent bargain
for thirty dollars, delivered.
The blade also is quite rust resistant, though, even rusty, it could serve in an extreme emergency.
It's great that we afford better, but sometimes I think we underrate the lower tier knives that
seem to have a legitimate place in the knife world.
The Frost (top) is not nearly as good as the S&W knife it was copied
from, but it performs suprisingly well under duress. Both of these
are bargains, even the oft-maligned S&W.
.
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