Help me decide on a fixed blade for BOB (surplus sog or something else).

While you're deciding, you could always pick up one of these for less than $20...

moracmg01.jpg

Mora Companion MG in carbon steel.
 
I don't want to skimp too much. Not all carbon steels are equal. I'm prepared to pay around $60 for this knife, and I want to get good quality. That seems like a great bargain knife, however.
 
Samot said:
I don't want to skimp too much. Not all carbon steels are equal. I'm prepared to pay around $60 for this knife, and I want to get good quality. That seems like a great bargain knife, however.
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I hear ya, but I'll say this: there are some guys who'd rather go into the bush with a Mora than any other knife... Just some food for thought ;)
 
Samot said:
I don't want to skimp too much. Not all carbon steels are equal. I'm prepared to pay around $60 for this knife, and I want to get good quality. That seems like a great bargain knife, however.
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Cant go wrong with a Becker. The 7 is a great knife like said before slip a ranger band onto the grip or rough it up with a solder iron.
 
Mine contains an old Camillus Pilot's knife, Leatherman Wave, and an old Sears Craftsman hatchet strapped to the side. Combined with what I have on me, that should suffice.
 
If you are really just looking for function then a BK2 can't be beat. Put some tubing on the handle for grip.

Also look at the Buck 119, condor rodan, Kabar USMC, cold steel bushman
 
I would recommend Condor for this type of situation, they're decent knives and very inexpensive.
 
My B.O.B. Contains my Ontario MKIII, Its grippy and tough. And my CRKT M60 SOTFB, Grippy again and has a great sheath. This is just me, but I really love my MKIII, its survived everything I've put it through and still gets razor sharp.
 
I picked up a minty rat 7 D2 for 70 bucks at the pawn shop. I wont go with anything smaller for my BOB. But I carry a CF large sebe for edc so I like the larger knives. I now am looking for a good boot knife. Yeah always on the hunt.:) AKWILD
 
BK-2.

Find an old bike tire tube (i'm sure you could mooch a busted one for free). wrestle that over the standard grivory handles and you now how a nice grippy handle. not to mention, who knows how useful something like a piece of rubber tubing could be in a survival situation? Use your imagination there. add a 550 cord lanyard that can be unwound and used in a pinch, and the knife is almost its own survival kit.
 
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I don't own any Beckers. Here are a couple possibles for your purpose: SOG Seal Pup Elite, SOG Northwest Ranger, or Condor Bushlore. You already are comfortable with SOG and I have the SP Elite. It is a good blade. The Bushlore is cheap and a heck of a knife. I doubt you would feel too bad leaving it with your kit. You might want a couple. ESEE blades would work well, but they are a little more pricey. I like the ESEE-4. Look at the Condor blades. They are very reasonable in price.
 
Late to the party, but the Condor Toloza is one i was going to recommend that you've already mentioned. (the Hudson Bay, Rodan, & Varan are also good values) Condor 1075 is a good, tough steel, but it's not going to stay as sharp as long as some others might. (as in, it may not shave hair, but it'll still make fuzz sticks, split kindling, and dice up meat & taters for dinner with no problem)
Ontario also has a wide range of knives in your price range, in the spec plus & freedom fighter lines, and a personal favorite, the TAK1.
Becker is good value for price if you like the handles and not if you don't.
The Kabar Mk1 is a great knife, but you may feel at 5" of blade that it's not big enough. (I personally love mine)
Kabar makes several other "rubber" handled knives under $80 that should work for you as well.
The CS roach belly or finn bear are good "light duty" knives -- they'll handle any camp chore you want them to other than heavy wood processing - great for making fuzz sticks or small kindling, but do not baton these. :)

all that said, there's also nothing wrong with SOG if that's what you like.
 
Honestly if i had to have just one knife id want the standard Kabar usmc, boring for sure but the camillus one i have is a fantastic all around knife.
 
I'm still really appreciating the responses to this thread, thank you.

However, theantihero brings up an excellent point. The knife I'm asking for advise on is actually going to be in addition to a Kabar Kukri style machete also attached to the BOB. In light of this, which blades compliment the kukri best? For instance, I'm not going to need a knife for chopping or path clearing, because I already have the machete.

Anyone have any input on this?
 
Any of those i already posted, or Mora or other 4"-5" bushcrafter.
If you want to go custom, check out JK, Backwoods, or KFU for solid work, good customer service, & reasonable prices.
 
As people before me have said, if you're just getting 1 and you're spending around 60, the Becker BK2 is a great choice. The versatility you get for the price is amazing.
 
I saw a lot of guys reccomending Ka-bar and Becker, so I'm amazed someone hasn't said anything about the "KA-BAR Becker Magnum Camp Knife 8" Blade, Nylon Sheath" 87 bucks seems high though

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The Buck 119 has several advantages over the BK2, the main one coming in to play while your BOB is stowed in a car trunk or behind the seat in a truck. It is made of Bos heat treated 420HC - a SS - instead of 1095 CS - it's edge won't easily tarnish. Also, a stop at WallyWorld, Academy, Dick's, etc, can likely land you one for $40 or less. My BK2 is fine in a BOAC (Bug Out Attache Case... left over from my college teaching career.) stowed under my bed. I actually prefer my 192 Vanguard for most camp chores. I also have a little used 650 Nighthawk, a bargain at the time, and a bit 'tacticool' for my taste, but very nice size... and a coated 420HC blade, too.

Shop around for the BK2, if you decide on one - I've seen them <$60 shipped. If you want a smaller fb, and use your existing machette for chopping & clearing, look over the new in 2011 Buck 113 Ranger - 3 1/8" blade/brass bolster/ebony Dymondwood handle. It apparently replaced the 005 'Gen5' series, which I have carried as a 'hiking' knife - great size/very functional. The 113 should run <$50. Another decent 'bushcraft-lite' type small fb is the PRC-made Boker Plus Dozier designs - like the 2 7/8" bladed/olive wood handle Arkansas Traveler or the 3 1/2" Anchorage Pro Skinner, in either green or black Micarta scales. Both are AUS8, not my favorite, but it takes a good edge and seems to last as long as Buck's 420HC. They list for <$80, so should be available in the $50 range.

Stainz
 
Samot said:
I'm still really appreciating the responses to this thread, thank you.

However, theantihero brings up an excellent point. The knife I'm asking for advise on is actually going to be in addition to a Kabar Kukri style machete also attached to the BOB. In light of this, which blades compliment the kukri best? For instance, I'm not going to need a knife for chopping or path clearing, because I already have the machete.

Anyone have any input on this?
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The KaBar is still a good choice as its not really that great of a chopper anyway. You can always take a quick look at Condors stuff as well, they make many cheap and good knives.
 
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