I'm looking for a large fixed stainless knife that's less expensive than BRKT

KingMC

KingMC

The Pun-isher
Joined
Jul 25, 2014
Messages
11,600
Hello all,

So my younger brother is looking for a new fixed-blade knife for his backpacking/SHTF kit. He wanted a 6"+ blade and a price under $200. I started off pointing him towards the mainstays: Becker, Ontario, ESEE, Condor. Then he said he really wanted a stainless blade as he didn't like the stress involved using his old ESEE 4 worrying about whether it'll rust or not, and he also preferred a FFG as liked the shape of it better than a high saber or similar grinds. So that really narrowed my search field. Other than BRKT and some of the local custom makers here on the forum, I haven't seen many large stainless blades that aren't Busse, and his budget doesn't allow for that level of knife. Since BRKT is mostly out of his price range and Busse most certainly is, the only option he's found is the Boker Arbolito El Gigante, which isn't currently in stock.

I figured i'd ask here after searching the forum for threads on this issue and not finding any, and drawing a blank outside of the forums as well. Any suggestions are welcome, he's not in a hurry so I'm helping him do the research and am generally curious myself. (I own a Gravelle FK5 that I love, but he wants something a little longer for a little less)

Thanks.
 
The Boker Vox Rold has a FFG 6 1/8" blade and is made of D2 which is close to being a stainless and has a street price around 130. I don't have this particular knife but am a big fan of D2 tool steel. My personal choices for knives in the 6"+ SHTF knife under $200 category include a Fallkniven A1 and a Becker BK7. I typically don't carry a knife in that size range when backpacking.
 
Brisket said:
The Boker Vox Rold has a FFG 6 1/8" blade and is made of D2 which is close to being a stainless and has a street price around 130. I don't have this particular knife but am a big fan of D2 tool steel. My personal choices for knives in the 6"+ SHTF knife under $200 category include a Fallkniven A1 and a Becker BK7. I typically don't carry a knife in that size range when backpacking.
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Yeah, I'm not a fan of longer blades, but he seems to want something quite large, so I'm doing some digging for him as it's not gonna be my knife and thus not my decision. Both of those knives look very good, I'll certainly point him in that direction.
 
The Boker Arbolito El Gigante appears to be in stock on Amazon.

Boker also has a smaller version of the same knife with a 6 1/2" blade called the Esculta.
 
Tell him to keep an eye on what comes up for sale in the forum knife makers area. Handmade/custom knives can be less expensive than you think. These days there are quite a few in quality stainless steels like CPM154 and N690.
 
killgar said:
The Boker Arbolito El Gigante appears to be in stock on Amazon.

Boker also has a smaller version of the same knife with a 6 1/2" blade called the Esculta.
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Interesting, just noticed that. He told me it was out of stock everywhere yesterday, And I didn't find it in stock anywhere when I looked.

The pointed him towards the Esculta when he mentioned that he wanted something like the El Gigante, but he seems intent on getting a longer blade than that if possible.

I also just saw the Spyderco Schempp Rock, I wonder if he's checked that out yet.

Chris Larrikin said:
Tell him to keep an eye on what comes up for sale in the forum knife makers area. Handmade/custom knives can be less expensive than you think. These days there are quite a few in quality stainless steels like CPM154 and N690.
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I told him that, I've been watching there for a while so I see the deals that show up there. I hope he gets a good knife and that subforum is a great way to do that.

spikebot587 said:
If he likes the esee 4, they make a stainless version
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He found the size lacking, hence why he was looking for a bigger knife. Also, the stainless ESEE doesn't have the warranty he had with the carbon one, which was one of the selling points when he got it.
 
Fallkniven A1---the best choice IMO. If you need some entertainment, look up some of the A1 torture tests on YouTube.
 
Cold Steel Master Hunter or SRK in VG1 are made in Japan. Going that direction, I'd get over the carbon steel fear and look at the Master Hunter in coated 3V. 3V's edge wont' rust as easily as 1095, and the coated blade will minimize corrosion.

Another one to look at is the Gryphon M35. I'm pretty sure that the Gryphon knives are made at the same factory that Fallkniven uses in Japan.
 
MatthewSB said:
Cold Steel Master Hunter or SRK in VG1 are made in Japan. Going that direction, I'd get over the carbon steel fear and look at the Master Hunter in coated 3V. 3V's edge wont' rust as easily as 1095, and the coated blade will minimize corrosion.
Another one to look at is the Gryphon M35. I'm pretty sure that the Gryphon knives are made at the same factory that Fallkniven uses in Japan.
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Nope. All Fallkniven fixed blades are made by Hattori. And historically the discontinued M30/M10 ATS-34 Gryphons were actually made by Hattori as well.
But the current Gryphon Aus8A M35 and VG10 M10 are not.

OP- You can't go wrong with the Fallkniven A1. But the Cold Steel SRK Sanmai VG1 and well as the Aus8A Gryphon M35 will leave a lot of money leftover.
 
KenHash said:
Nope. All Fallkniven fixed blades are made by Hattori. And historically the discontinued M30/M10 ATS-34 Gryphons were actually made by Hattori as well.
But the current Gryphon Aus8A M35 and VG10 M10 are not.

OP- You can't go wrong with the Fallkniven A1. But the Cold Steel SRK Sanmai VG1 and well as the Aus8A Gryphon M35 will leave a lot of money leftover.
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The CS San Mai blades are also made by Hatori. No wonder the NL2 and the Trailmaster look so much alike, lol
 
Lots of good options mentioned already. Another one not brought up much is the SOG Force. It is basically the Seal Team but with a more bushcrafty blade. I'm happy with the Seal team (as you know, Just bought a second one from you!) and have had a force.

Of course, if it were me, and this was my one go to knife, I would get something in 3v. I know he may not want that but perhaps a little convincing could help. It really is one of the finest steels going right now.
 
Cobalt said:
The CS San Mai blades are also made by Hatori. No wonder the NL2 and the Trailmaster look so much alike, lol
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Actually, the CS SM Trailmaster, SM Recon Scout (now D/C'd) The SM Tantos, Black Bear Classic, Ghurka are definitely made by Hattori.
The Taipan and Outdoorsman are also most likely. Basically any of the expensive larger SM models that are currently backordered are Hattori as they
will now be made in limited numbers.
But the smaller SM SRK and SM MH are made by Kinryu. Who makes the Aus8 (soon to be solid VG1) SRK.
Yup, The CS TM and Fallkniven NL5 Thor do look alike, the Hattori H-160 is the basis.

DSC_0248-2_zpsgoe72i0b.jpg


Although SOG ended their contracts with Hattori and Kinryu in Seki in 2006/2007, they do offer 6-7 inch Aus8a bowie options made in
the Taiwan factories. As pointed out above these too are something to consider.
 
KenHash said:
Actually, the CS SM Trailmaster, SM Recon Scout (now D/C'd) The SM Tantos, Black Bear Classic, Ghurka are definitely made by Hattori.
The Taipan and Outdoorsman are also most likely. Basically any of the expensive larger SM models that are currently backordered are Hattori as they
will now be made in limited numbers.
But the smaller SM SRK and SM MH are made by Kinryu. Who makes the Aus8 (soon to be solid VG1) SRK.
Yup, The CS TM and Fallkniven NL5 Thor do look alike, the Hattori H-160 is the basis.

DSC_0248-2_zpsgoe72i0b.jpg


Although SOG ended their contracts with Hattori and Kinryu in Seki in 2006/2007, they do offer 6-7 inch Aus8a bowie options made in
the Taiwan factories. As pointed out above these too are something to consider.
Click to expand...

Good info on hattori. I just checked it out, you are right the 160 is exactly the same. Very cool.
 
I'd second checking into some options from Buck. He could have a nice, USA made knife and money left in his pocket.
 
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