High-Value Bush Knife

M

Mr.Bojangles

Joined
Nov 11, 2008
Messages
82
Howdy ladies and gents. As you can all see, I haven't posted too much in the past, but I do quite a bit of reading in these parts. W&SS is one of my favorite sub-forums. Anyway, I'm sure you guys have answered a variation of this question a million times. In most cases, I usually try to do my homework rather than post a "once-a-week" type of thread. However, in this case I'm still stumped as to what to get. Don't worry though--I have at least narrowed my options down, and I'm going to tell you what I want the knife for ;).

Basically what I am looking for is a "best bang for your buck" type of bush knife. I'm sure a lot of opinions are out there as to what that is. A few frequent suggestions have caught my eye. I originally wanted a Bark River or the Spyderco Bushcraft when it comes out. These knives are not exorbitantly priced by any means, however, being a broke college student, the more money I can save the better. Gotta have money for Ramen and beer right? Most of the BRKTs I have seen on the web have been ~$125 and up. If I'm not looking in the right places, please do let me know. I've heard mention of people buying some of the smaller models for around $85? My price range is up to ~$100. Less would be better, but if "the knife" is like $103.00, that's fine. The knives I'm currently considering are the:

RAT RC-3/4 (~$85-$90)
Becker BK-2 Campanion (~$55-$60)
Fallkniven F-1 (~$80-$95) and the
Benchmade Rant DPT (~$55-$60).

The Rant is certainly the cheapest of the bunch, but the Becker is negligibly more. If I did get the Becker, I would most likely be interested in getting micarta scales for it at some point. If that's the case, should I just get the RAT? Anyone know how much the new Becker scales are supposed to cost when they are released? RAT's warranty is also, from what I've heard, an outstanding, no questions asked one. I know Benchmade's is pretty good. I'm assuming Fallkniven's and Ka-Bar's are also? Any opinions on this? For those who don't know, the RAT and the Fallkniven are both full-flat grinds. RAT has a standard V-edge and the Fallkniven is convexed. The Becker and the Rant are both sabre ground with V-edges. The RC-3 and F-1 are probably the smallest of the bunch, with the Rant and BK-2 being the largest. The Fallkniven and the Rant are both stainless and uncoated, vg-10 laminated and 440c respectively. The RAT and Becker are both coated 1095 carbon blades. I know another recent thread discussed 440c as an outdoors-steel. I basically want this knife for short 2-3 day camping trips and day hikes. I generally use a saw or hatchet for any major wood processing. So basically what I'm saying is I won't be doing much sharpening in the field, and that I won't need to do any heavy batoning or chopping. I need something with the capability to do these kinds of things in a pinch, but that isn't the intent. The knife will be used mostly for basic utility tasks and food preparation. Maybe making some hot dog sticks, notching some wood, making feather sticks, etc. The ease of maintenance stainless offers seems appealing. Would carbon steel be preferable for the mentioned tasks? I will be doing some beach camping as well (girlfriend loves the beach). This also makes stainless seem appealing. Is carbon steel a bad idea near salt water? Obviously I wouldn't get it in the water, but would the air get to it just being nearby?

Ok, so in conclusion, basically what I'm debating is carbon steel and micarta scales vs. stainless steel and kraton-like scales?

And within those categories should I get the BK-2 w/ micarta scales or the RAT? The Rant or the F-1? The RATs and the F-1 I have found for ~$20-$25 more than the others. Are they worth the added expense? Once you add the micarta scales to the BK-2 you're probably approaching the RAT's price point huh? Any opinions as to RC-3 vs. RC-4 as an all-around outdoor knife? The RC-3 is certainly more compact, but I couldn't EDC it anyway - no concealed fixed blades in Virginia.

Which of these knives gives me the most for my money? Any other brand/model suggestions are also welcome. The Fallkniven S-1 also looks nice, but it's in Bark River/custom price territory. I also plan to get a couple Moras along with whatever else I get. I want to at least try out a scandi grind. Moras are like one of the only scandi ground knives under $100 (that I know of at least). Let me know what you guys think.

On a side note, any suggestions on high-value 2-4 person tent options are welcome, as well as some quality, affordable summer hiking boots. Right now all I've got are winter boots, trail hikers, and some Doc Martens:rolleyes:. Need a good pack too.

And lastly, any suggestions on fun activities to partake in in Assateague State Park would be greatly appreciated. Visiting there in a couple weeks. Also, if any Maryland residents familiar with their state knife laws could give me a heads up on what not to bring--I'm pretty sure folders under 3 inches are ok. Are fixed blades alright for open carry? Do the parks consider knives to be "weapons?" I would hope not. Don't really want to get a brand new knife taken by the park rangers. Or any knife for that matter.

That should be enough homework for you guys for a while. This post has gotten quite long...sorry for rambling. Maybe I should do this more often rather than save all my questions for one massively long post. Thanks in advance for your help. Have a good one.
 
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Ask yourself what the others can do that the Rant can't and if that has any real world use to you.

From the brief I'm hearing hiking, food prep, light cutting, and low maintenance. That's the kind of stuff that many do with a decent folder. Ramping that up a bit to a good FB makes sense to me but there's a danger of overkill when you do that. The F1 is one of the most spectacular designs ever devised and is very compact in that plastic sheath, but do you need any of the extra properties that brings? I'd wager not.

Thickness and weight do not seem to be your allies when fulfilling this brief. Low maintenance, lightness, and cutting ability are the order of the day. Hell, I wouldn't even let the crappy little nubbin of tang poking up the Spyderco Temperance put me off that knife to satisfy this brief.

What could adding adding rust, or extra strength, or extra thickness, or extra bulk offer you that has any use to you without changing the brief?
 
Honestly bro - you can find a GREAT deal on a used knife that you have mentioned having your eye on if you are patient.

I saw a G-11 BRAND NEW Aurora go for 120 shipped last week. KEstela must have REALLY needed the crack money!

I snagged TWO BRKT's for 120 shipped on here.


If you have a REI near you - become a member and ONLY buy at high discounts or at their garage sales. I picked up a 290 tent for 80 at one and a 260 bag for 16 dollars once. You can outfit yourself - be patient.

TF
 
If it were me, I'd go for the RAT or the Becker. Both are good, tough blades that would serve you well. You say you're a "broke college student", so I assume you are trying to save pennies. In that case, get the Becker and put the money you saved towards some other type of gear. :thumbup:
 
I've been in your shoes before. This is what I'd buy.

Knife: Breeden KAT from Off the Map Outfitters $85.00 (these are really tempting me right now!)

OR just get the Mora's for now and wait for a good deal on a used Bark River or something else you really like in the for exchange. You could also buy a SAK and a folding saw or hatchet and have a woods ready trio!

OR get an Enzo Trapper from ben's backwoods you can get just the blade or a finished knife. The blade in O1 steel is $49.98.



If you have decent ankles I'd just hike in running shoes. That's what alot of the thru hiking crowd does.

OR I've got a pair of Merrell Moab XCRs that seem to do alright and I think they were under $100.00.

OR High Tec Altitudes (I think thats the name) are a great budget hiker (my college hikers).



I wouldn't buy a tent just now if I were you. Instead buy a tarp and learn to set it up effectively, it'll be alot cheaper and lighter. When I started in college I just used a 8x10 poly tarp from walmart, but if you want something nicer check out the tarps that Ben's Backwoods carries.

As for a pack I'd buy an internal that fits you in the 3000 to 4000 cubic inch range. Thats plenty of room for anything you need to take for up to a 5 day trip. If you buy a larger pack now (say 5000 cubic inches) you'll fill that thing up with crap and end up toting too much weight. I think I'd get this one from campmor:

http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___92812

Brandon
 
I would get the Swedish Army version Mora. It is tougher than some of the other blades mentioned and cuts better to boot. I really like using my BlackJack/Becker Campanion but it is not quite as fine of a cutter as the Mora and you probably don't need to spend the extra money unless you want to. With the Mora and a well sharpened Fiskers hatchet you can tackle just about anything and not be out alot of money if they get lost or stolen.
 
Out of what you mentioned, I'd go for the RC-4, or the F1.

I am pretty sure the F1 is convex not Flat ground. It is a wicked cutter.

The BK-2 is too thick for a knife of it's size if it's gonna be used as an general woods knife IMO.

I never used the BM, so no oppinion there.
 
So far I've been getting by fine with a tarp, a USMC Ka-Bar, an old US made carbon Schrade Sharpfinger, along with various other folders, and a pair of New Balance trail runners and my Doc Martens with a pair of insoles and some good socks in the summer. I've got some alright North Faces and some Hi-Tec Magnums for the winter time. I've got a day pack I can fit a decent amount of stuff into for now as well. The girlfriend wants a tent to sleep in though, and I figure it may come in handy for camping in inclement weather. I'll probably try and find a decent one on sale somewhere. I probably don't really *need* any heavy duty hiking boots, but I figure I should at least have some decent ones on hand. I want to do more off-trail adventuring. As far as the knives go, I just want something a little smaller and more utility oriented. I will probably honestly never need anything more than a Mora. Something a little more stout may be worth it's weight in gold some day though. I guess it's kind of a paranoid, mental security kinda thing. Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. Spending a little more for a knife you'll have the rest of your life doesn't seem so bad. The Enzos on Ben's Backwoods look pretty promising. So do those KAT knives at OffTheMap. I would love to get a bushcrafter from one of the custom makers that frequent these parts. Putting one of those Enzos together could prove quite interesting as well. Decisions, decisions. Thanks for the advice guys. Keep the ideas coming.:thumbup:
 
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Get yourself a Mora 2000 and save yourself a bunch of dough. I've used one for a good while now and love it, and still have trouble justifying $200+ customs when it does such a fantastic job. Handle is pretty full, and comfortable. Blade is extraordinarily sharp scandi grind in stainless. It is not a 'pry a tree open' kind of knife. At ~$30, it's hard to imagine a better value.

See here, about the middle of the page:
http://ragweedforge.com/SwedishKnifeCatalog.html

Pics (can't access my own, these are googled...)
MoraSAK.JPG

3815_1_197_1.JPG
 
In a different direction I've wondered a while about Ken Warner's SGG. He's been on the scene professionally writing about knives for decades and it's no surprise that he is offering up a functional looking convex at a realistic price. If you remember the old Blackjack days pre-BRKT...

Fits your budget well and is a little different from the usual suspects. http://kenwarnerknives.com/fixed-blade-hunting-knife.htm
 
Mora 2000....$29.50 and a BlackJack Grunt.....$20.97 so there ya have a knife with a nice scandi grind and another with a nice sharp convex grind. Then take your change and treat your girl to a couple of beers and a bar meal !!!

PICT4389.jpg
 
You couldn't go wrong with either the Becker or the RAT (I favor the Becker), but for what you've described, A Mora is probably all you really need. Can't beat them at the price point.

The Micarta scales for the Becker should be around $30-$40 when they come out (soon, they say).
 
The Mora is all you need. However, of the mentioned, I would get an RC 4, but that is because it is one of my favorite blades.

Of your uses, though, I'd definitely consider the M2K for a blade choice.
 
12" Tramontina Machete and a Mora Triflex.

Whole thing should set you back a whopping 30 bucks at most.

Spend the rest on something "educational". And by "educational", I mean a "girl". And by a "girl", I mean "poontang". And by "poontang", I mean "sex". And by "sex", I mean the "horizontal mambo."
 
Heh, some interesting replies, i like the guys comment above.

But seriously if you want something good and strong then i would go with the rat out of your choices - seems like a good size and weight and well built, for a using blade you do not really need to worry about rust in salt conditions - if you look after your blade, i.e. clean it and oil it, wipe it when in the field and then wash it and rub it with an oiled rag when you get home.
The RAT seems made for what you have in mind - add a small SAk or latherman to your kit and you should be sweet.

Your other option, and its a good one, is to see if some of the custom guys would make you one - your cash flow might be a little low for say a siegle but you might be able to afford something else - and something that is custom made for you is trully worth it! there are a few guys here who do custom work and they might take pity on a student. No harm in asking...
 
Mr.Bojangles said:
Moras are like one of the only scandi ground knives under $100 (that I know of at least).
Click to expand...

There are a huge number of scandis available for less than $100. Look through the entire Ragnar site in the link provided above.

tonym said:
The BK-2 is too thick for a knife of it's size if it's gonna be used as an general woods knife IMO.
Click to expand...

+1 It's the only one mentioned that I own so it's the only one I can comment on.
 
You look like your on the right track with some good quality knives. If you haven't check out Ragweed Forge take a minute to check out what Ragnar offers. I have a Helle "Harding" that's light in weight compared to the F1 and some of the other custom bushcrafters but cuts and carves very well.
 
Bang for the buck from your three listed would be the F1.
The Aurora, not listed, gets my vote. Great do everything knife.
 
Mora triflex
or get an O1 Enzo blade blank and add grips.
Bensbackwoods has the Enzo blades for $49.98 U.S , corby bolts included.
Cut and shape some wood grips, drill holes for the bolts,attach grips with gorilla glue,put in the bolts, sand them and the grips down, put on some tung oil or urethane,
VOILA!
Nice knife!
 
im a huge fan of the tactical tailor 3 day and day packs i own and use both i also have the 3day plus pack usually tho i have the ormal 3 day pack slung on m sholder i mean ycoming from someone who has had over 100 hours wit a pack on his back this is by far the best bang for thebuck you can ge tin a pack UMO of course but godamn a quality hand made bag made in the u.s for a little over 130 shipped seiousl thats really something.

its not fancy or gimicky at all but itll hold everything you need and the pads are realy comfy wether yuor in body armor or have t epack on bare back i actually have tan lines from it :D

buy one and youll never regret it.
www.tacticaltailor.com
 
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