Help me spend my money! (recommendation for a $120 budget)

S

Samot

Joined
Nov 1, 2009
Messages
103
I've collected $100 in amazon gift cards this holiday season and I'm interested in buying something sharp. I'm willing to go up to $120 including shipping. My front runner so far is the Ontario RD pick hawk because I don't really have a good hawk yet. But I'm also interested in a RAT-5, A Condor Toloza, or a Sog Tsunami.

I want to consider as many options as possible before I make my choice. This is mostly for a collection, I'm not filling a specific tool purpose, but value and quality are important to me. I'm just looking for something cool for my money which is why I'm leaning towards the hawk. What would you buy with this budget and why? Can anyone recommend alternatives to my list above, especially the hawk or the RAT-5?

Thank you
 
The kwaito is beautiful, thanks for the reply. Probably still looking at the hawk, but the kwaito is going on my wish list.
 
I suggest you take a look at ESEE knives. Basically, for $20-$30 more they blow Ontario knifes completely away, and I don't dislike Ontario knives.
 
Becker BK-5 or BK-2? Either those or a Spyderco Moran... I mean, if we're talking fixed blades. You could probably nab two for near $120.
 
Reasoned1 said:
I suggest you take a look at ESEE knives. Basically, for $20-$30 more they blow Ontario knifes completely away, and I don't dislike Ontario knives.
Click to expand...

Sounds good, I'll take a look. Is there one you recommend which is similar in size to the rat 5?

Edit: Duh, just realized they are different qualities of the same designs. Unfortunately it seems on amazon theyre out of my price range.
 
Last edited:
The RAT-5 falls between an ESEE-4 (GREAT medium sized blade) and an ESEE-6 (GREAT larger blade). Let me say, too, that ESEE sheaths are terrific--especially the Kydex one on the ESEE-4. Amazon's prices are high--try Knifeworks.com. With rare exceptions, I find they have the best prices on ESEE products.
 
I thank you for the info and reccomendation, but my gift cards are for amazon so I'll have to wait on the esee knives.
Edit: I'll check out bark river right now.

Edit: bark river knives look very nice but the ones in my price range on amazon are too small.
 
Last edited:
Reasoned1 said:
Oops--forgot about the Amazon gift cards. Sorry.
Click to expand...

No problem, I still appreciate the recommendations, they'll be useful when I get more non-amazon money. I just saw a beautiful winkler-like hatchet in
910065-D2-Plataxe-from-Platatac-Downunder
as well, but $350 is considerably out of my range, though better than 600+ for a winkler. I wish I could find a sub $200 axe in that shape.
 
Samot said:
No problem, I still appreciate the recommendations, they'll be useful when I get more non-amazon money. I just saw a beautiful winkler-like hatchet in
910065-D2-Plataxe-from-Platatac-Downunder
as well, but $350 is considerably out of my range, though better than 600+ for a winkler. I wish I could find a sub $200 axe in that shape.
Click to expand...

Check out the JKknives subforum here for some very interesting hawk designs under $200. I have a belt hawk and you get great craftsmanship and utility and you can specify exactly what you want. John is currently working on a more 'tactical' hawk that I'm very interested in, and he's a real pleasure to do business with. He doesn't take Amazon gift cards, though. ;)
 
Insipid Moniker said:
Check out the JKknives subforum here for some very interesting hawk designs under $200. I have a belt hawk and you get great craftsmanship and utility and you can specify exactly what you want. John is currently working on a more 'tactical' hawk that I'm very interested in, and he's a real pleasure to do business with. He doesn't take Amazon gift cards, though. ;)
Click to expand...
Wow, he makes beautiful pieces and his prices seem really reasonable. Thanks for the tip. It's a damn shame he doesn't take amazon money. :) I'll keep an eye on that new hawk.
 
If you search there, you'll find the KaBar/Becker BK-2 for <$60 shipped. You can also find several small hatchets, like a Kershaw Camp Hatchet or a Plumb lath hatchet, either for ~$25 - with the same free 'super saver shipping'. Spend the remainder on a Fenix EO1 1xAAA LED flashlight - or a DVD. C-note of gift cards gone $20 s/h saved for a Buck 110 from a local discount store. It's fun spending the money of others... now I know how it feels to be in congress! Of course, it all depends on what you want the most.

Stainz

PS I just noticed a few Arno Bernard knives, like the small Meerkat with a giraffe bone handle and cape buffalo sheath for <$120 inc s/h. They are custom made knives from Bethlehem, South Africa - real quality.
 
Last edited:
Stainz said:
If you search there, you'll find the KaBar/Becker BK-2 for <$60 shipped. You can also find several small hatchets, like a Kershaw Camp Hatchet or a Plumb lath hatchet, either for ~$25 - with the same free 'super saver shipping'. Spend the remainder on a Fenix EO1 1xAAA LED flashlight - or a DVD. C-note of gift cards gone $20 s/h saved for a Buck 110 from a local discount store. It's fun spending the money of others... now I know how it feels to be in congress!

Stainz
Click to expand...

I like the becker line, they're just lower on my list than the stuff in my OP. The hatchets you recomend are both nice, but I really want a hawk. I'm good on flashlights (I have a SS LD01, a Preon 2, and a Sunwayman Titanium V10R). Thanks for the response though!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top