Inexpensive fighting/combat knife?

The Boker AF is a sick knife, I love it. EK knives are also beautiful and extremely capable fighters. The SOG Seal Pup is also a fine, well balanced blade and takes a surgical edge rather easily. RYP is working on a fighter as well.
 
moonwilson said:
That thing looks cool! I've never seen one of those before. You don't see things like that in American hardware stores. The general trend seems to be to only try and sell the lamest, most useless "knives" possible. It's like our culture is trying to erase the fact that good knives even exist.
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I used to see the AC guys use em all the time for fiberglas duct when I was an electrician. They didn't have the fancy orange handles, but same basic blade shape, etc.
 
kebely said:
Nope, it's got a full tang. I confirmed it with Ontario before I bought.
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Interesting to note, but I still think that by "full tang" they meant "rod tang that extends all the way to the pommel," which is technically not a full tang.
This is not to discount your word at all, but more to say that I don't think the rep you spoke with knows the difference. I'll believe him/her when I see it. Guess I'd better order one for myself now to find out. :p :)
 
Crap a lot of great choices here, but I will 2nd, 3rd....7th? The Ka-Bar fighting knife and the Becker BK7. I would give a slight edge to the BK7 (even though I don't own one yet).

I do own the BK2 and if the 7 is anything like that it would be an easy decision.

Vinny
 
Several years back, 'Blade' magazine published the results of their poll for the top five knives of the Vietnam era. The KaBar and the Buck 110 were in there! I submit a Buck 110 for your consideration, whether a Custom Shop goodie (See below!) or a basic Wally World <$30 variant, as a great choice - for a utility knife. For protection, my choice is the S&W 296 5-shot enclosed hammer .44 Special AirLite Ti, shown with it's pocket holster and Speer 200gr Gold Dots:

IMG_0596.jpg


Of course, not all of our brethren live here in Alabama, where a CC license is easily had and, for now at least, you can still buy handguns. If you must have a defensive type knife, I feel a fixed blade is indicated - see some decent such choices belo:

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Top dowm: KaBar; Gerber LMFII; RAT Cutlery RC-5; Buck 650 Nighthawk. I think the Nighthawk and the KaBar tie for top honors here. The LMFII, a gift from my son, is partially serrated - not a 'proper' knife to me - and my only such edge. Probably perfect for emergency egress in a thin skinned fuselage. The RC-5 is fine - just a better 'survival' knife - in the 'bushcraft' style. YMMV.

Stainz

PS I am from the 'Indiana Jones' school of knife-fighting... bring a revolver!
 
puukkoman said:
Interesting to note, but I still think that by "full tang" they meant "rod tang that extends all the way to the pommel," which is technically not a full tang.
This is not to discount your word at all, but more to say that I don't think the rep you spoke with knows the difference. I'll believe him/her when I see it. Guess I'd better order one for myself now to find out. :p :)
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I was specific in my request for info. Here's the question and their answer:

Greetings,

I'm having difficulty finding a definitive answer to a question about one of your knives.

Does the Freedom Fighter 6 (FF6) come with a full tang or a tang rod similar to the Marine Combat knives?

Thanks,

XXXXX XXXXX


Dear Mr. XXXXX:

The Freedom Fighter 6 is a full tang knife with a screwed on butt cap.

Thank you,
Diane Stanbro

Given that the Marine OKC3S has a full tang at the Corps request, and that this knife is the same blade as the OKC3S, it makes sense from a production line efficiency point of view to make them the same. The rep at Ontario Knives didn't hesitate with the answer either. I had a reply within 10 minutes.
 
Here's a photo of the prototype Ontario sent to the Marines that was rejected in favor of a full tang version.
OKC_Mystery2a.JPG

Interestingly, the M-9 bayonet that Ontario makes for the US Army does utilize the tang rod that the Marines rejected.
 
I would be amazed to learn of a full tang that was made to accept a screw-on butt cap. It seems to me that the rep you got an answer from doesn't actually know what a full tang is.
Example:
Kephart_FT_Top_View.jpg
 
If you've ever taken apart one of the Swiss surplus bayonets that have been floating around everwhere for cheap, you'll see a full tang with a threaded pommel end. Granted, the tang does not follow the same line as the upper or lower edge of the blade as the knife in your photo, but it is an extension of the blade just the same. I suspect that the tang on the FF6 is similar to this.

I wasn't planning on taking my new FF6 apart anytime soon, but in the interest of full disclosure, I may have to now....:D
 
Haha, indeed.
There was a thread some time back, wherein a poster showed pics of X-ray-ed Mora knives, and a couple others I think, for comparison's sake. Anybody have access to an X-ray machine? ;)
 
puukkoman said:
Haha, indeed.
There was a thread some time back, wherein a poster showed pics of X-ray-ed Mora knives, and a couple others I think, for comparison's sake. Anybody have access to an X-ray machine? ;)
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It's funny that you mention that...

I had a passing thought about bringing the knife by the office of one of my doctor friends to see if I could get it X-rayed. Even though he's quite familiar with my "hobbies", I thought that might be a little much to ask.

Now, who do I know who works at a security checkpoint...courthouse/gov't building, nuclear power plant....;)
 
vba said:
Crap a lot of great choices here, but I will 2nd, 3rd....7th? The Ka-Bar fighting knife and the Becker BK7. I would give a slight edge to the BK7 (even though I don't own one yet).

I do own the BK2 and if the 7 is anything like that it would be an easy decision.

Vinny
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The BK series are great IMO. THE USMC kabar is great as well.
 
Teague said:
To me, a fighting knife must be long enough to provide superior "reach"; sharp and heavy enough to cut through flesh and bone; and durable and easy to sharpen and maintain. So, that's why I like the Ontario Spec Plus line, and especially like the Ontario Spec Plus 6 fighter.

__1_Grand-COUTEAU-Ontario-SPEC-Plus-Fighter-ONSP6.jpg


Not only is the blade of the knife razor sharp, but so is the top of the blade from the tip and then about 1/3rd of the way back. It is fast, easy to maintain, easy to grip and easy to sharpen. It has great reach, thrusting and cutting capabilities. And, it's priced right at about $45. Besides all that, it's also made of superior 1095 high carbon coated steel.
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Santa brought me one!! Loving it.
 
If you want to go with a kabar take a look at the D2 extreme version. I have one and it's a bit more substantial and more robust with a superior steel and construction then the normal usmc. I also second the response about the coldsteel oss..possibly the most well designed combat knife in it's price range period.
 
If you are in australia (which you are) I don't think you'll have any luck getting daggers past customs. It might be different because you are in a different state.

I think the cold steel recon is a great blade for combat. Kabar d2 is nice as well (well all kabar are sweet IMO).

Kukris are also combat knives so you just have to decide what way you want to go..

I have an applegate fairbain and I cherish it. Its not a high end knife, its just unlikely that I'll ever find another in australia...
 
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