Knife recommendation list?

[TheGame]

While I was laying down last night, I was thinking about how we always get one question over and over - a knife recommendation. Of course, each is to ones own needs, however, I thought we could get a good list of recommended knives for each price range. This is not a "one blade do all" recommendation list, or I don't want it to be. If it is designed to be a chopper, so be it. Carver? That is fine too. I just want to gather a list of all the blades you guys recommend in certain price ranges. I believe it may (or may not, as we always love the debate ) help some people out if they read it.

What I would like to see here, is the recommended blade(s), and what you envision it as. (IE, BK9, Chopper. Or Mora, Carver. Or *insert custom maker knife here* as an all around knife.) I prefer if we put all types of blades we like, and not just one. (As in, not all small, or large, but all sizes)

With all that said, I think the ranges should be as fallows -

Under $30 (Preferably not all mora, but moras are fine.)
$30-$65
$65-$100
$100-$150
$150-$200
$200+ (Or perhaps to 250 and 250-300, but not many go that high)

It would be nice if you could state what you envision the knife as. (Such as a Cold Steel Khurkuri of the $20 variety. Inexpensive chopper. Or a David Farmer Golok as a custom Chopper. *Props to Modzilla for the review*)

This is NOT a knife for me. Just a general thing, and I thought it would be a good idea last night.

ETA: Folders and Fixed are both fine

 

[kgd]

So you want me to rate all the knives I like and want and place them into price categories....Hmmm that is going to be a big list...

 

[TheGame]

So you want me to rate all the knives I like and want and place them into price categories....Hmmm that is going to be a big list...

Lol, not all of them. Just the ones you would highly recommend. I don't really care for price categories, that was mainly just for people who come with the request of a knife on a certain budget.

 

[Iboschi]

I'll chime in. I like your concept! However, I may modify the parameters a bit since I have trouble with following directions! Also, taken into account is the forum this is listed in. So with bushcraft skills in mind:
Under $30 : CRKT Drifter. You can almost buy two at this price. Great EDC folder. I use mine daily.
$30-$65 : Ranger RD4 you can find at $65 at some online stores. Great EDC fixed blade.
$65-$100 : Time to move into custom categories with some of our fine knife makers here that sell knives in the $60-$100 range. Really, support small business and buy some nice hand made blades that are a great introduction to the world of custom knives. I found a Koyote for $60 earlier today!
$100-$150 : I like my Cold Steel Trail Master immensely. I would say the price range even leaves enough wiggle room to have it modified, kraton replaced with micarta or G10 and have the top guard filed down and guard weld removed.
$150-$200 : Back to custom knives here. At this range you can start getting some heavy choppers or really fancy stuff with embellishments. Lots of amazing knives in that range.
$200+ : Two options, go custom again, or semi-custom. I wouldn't buy any manufactured knife in this range; not because they aren't good, but because you can get so much more for your money in a custom or semi-custom knife. I just gave Busse a shot, you can find deals on Scrapyard knives, Swamprat knives, and Busse combat that will take you from $150 to $1000. They all make great knives. I love just about any Battle Mistress which happen to be their current production model (sort of) The Bushwacker Mistress or BWM.

 

[udtjim]

Under 30.00 has to go to the Mora SS clipper. Care free and tough enough for all GP knife use.

30-60. I think this will catch the Spyderco Endura or Delica, Probably one of the best choices for EDC.

60-100. There are so many choices in this price range but Maybe I would slip the BK-9 in here for a chopper.

100-150. Here I would pick a all purpose hunting/camping knife from one of out Makers. Just a couple examples, The JK Kephart and Breeden Pathfinder as well as many choices from Koyote and DPK. This just because I have used all of these makers products.

150-200. For me this would be some of the Shun kitchen Knives. I need good kitchen knives

200 and over. Scrap Yard or Custom for Heavy duty abuse or maybe something fancy that is just for show.

 

[BushcraftBrainTrust]

Here is one of my favorite Hortons.

 

[Wabajack]

Under $50: Mora, opinel, Spyderco, Victorinox
Under $100: Roselli Carpenter, Fallkniven F1/U2
Over $100: Bigger Fallknivens

Those are my recommendations. Peace out.

 

[Horn Dog]

Wow, just the knives in my house would take forever to categorize. Make it simple. You need a good folder OR small fixed blade. A chopper.

Folder: SAK OHT

Small Fixed blade: Mora 2000

Chopper: Tramontina bolo machete.

Then just go up from there in each category until you can't afford the next level. You find that your original el cheapo selection works as well as your high dollar ones, but that's just the way it is.

 

[kgd]

Folders:
Opinel #8, EDC cutey cutter - $8
SAK Farmer for small, EDC - $30
Buck 110 -$35-$40

Neck Knives
Ratcutlery Izula for $50 - neck knife or Becker Necker - $30 neck knife

EDC 3" fixed -
$60-$130,
RC-3, David Farmer, Koyote EDC, Breeden Kat, JK-EWOK, BRK&T Gunny

All rounder - 4"-6" fixed
($75-200)
RC-4, RC-6
BRK&T Bravo-1, Fox River, Highlander, EDC SEAX, Candian Special, BKR&T Kephart
JK-Kephart, Hudson Bay
Breeden Pathfinder,
Fallkniven F1, S1
Kellam - Slasher
Brian Andrews - Bushcrafter, Taurosaur, Skogkniven
Koyote - Modern seax, Mills Pattern Skinner, Bushcrafter Leuku
Fiddleback - Woodsman, Bushcrafter

Camp Knife - 7"-10"
($75-$200)
Becker BK-7, BK-9
Ranger RD-9
Browning Crowell Competition Knife
Koyote Leuku-Machete
David Farmer Dangerous Curves
Fallkniven A2

Holy Crap Thats Expensive - But I Like It Category
-Rick Marchand - any of his big blades
-Busse Battlemistress - because it is the standard in choppers
-Falkniven Thor - I always loved the look of that one
-Custom BRK&T Bowie
-Fancy Bowie from one of the custom makers...

 

[Chris_Norden]

IMO the trouble with this is everyone has such different tastes in knives, not only in what they like aesthetically but also what they are good with in the hands. I'd recommend anyone to buy ANY inexpensive small, medium and large knife. One pointy, one with belly etc. USE them hard for a month, and I guarantee at the end of it you'll know what you like in a knife and can say for certain what knives will work for you just by looking at them. You can tell how wide your handle needs to be, what shape etc. I would find it very hard to recommend a knife for someone, even if their tasks are exactly the same as mine. The recent thread where someone said that a wharncliffe was their favourite skinning knife when traditionally skinners have a lot of curve is the classic example. I think sometimes people use too many knives and not enough time on each to get used to it and see its shortcomings. Buying knives to try is like having a series of one night stands to find the "one," when if you gave something a real shot, by the time you know you hate it, you'll know exactly what you're looking for. JMO

Chris

 

[Diomedes Industries]

I think I want to do this a bit different. I think I want to focus on just bushcraft knives:

Under 30:
Mora Clipper - 12 bucks
SAK Alox farmer - 20 bucks (on sale)

Around 100:

Walt Davis Bushcrafter - right at 100

100-150:

Dan Koster Bushcrafter - this may be 'most bang for the buck' in the custom range 140

Fiddleback makes a heck of a blade around this price as well - 140 or so

I am not a fan of his aesthetics - but Stomper makes a BOMB proof knife in this range. (The have been a few lately I have seen that have even made me think they were kinda pretty.... who knows?)

Koyote makes a real cool rustic thin knife in this range.

A lot of Bark River knives can be had for this price. I almost always pay 100 or less for lightly used BRKT knives. Tops on my list would be:

Rampless Gunny
UL Bushcrafter (but it is small)
Aurora (a little large)
Kephart - Full Tang
H&K Forum knife - rare but awesome.

TF

 

[TheGame]

IMO the trouble with this is everyone has such different tastes in knives, not only in what they like aesthetically but also what they are good with in the hands. I'd recommend anyone to buy ANY inexpensive small, medium and large knife. One pointy, one with belly etc. USE them hard for a month, and I guarantee at the end of it you'll know what you like in a knife and can say for certain what knives will work for you just by looking at them. You can tell how wide your handle needs to be, what shape etc. I would find it very hard to recommend a knife for someone, even if their tasks are exactly the same as mine. The recent thread where someone said that a wharncliffe was their favourite skinning knife when traditionally skinners have a lot of curve is the classic example. I think sometimes people use too many knives and not enough time on each to get used to it and see its shortcomings. Buying knives to try is like having a series of one night stands to find the "one," when if you gave something a real shot, by the time you know you hate it, you'll know exactly what you're looking for. JMO

Chris

The point I was trying to get across is knives we recommend. If there were a lot of recommendations, surely at least one would meet said persons criteria, no?

 

[J_Curd]

Your criterion leaves room for EVERY knife in the given price ranges. I don't see that making much sense.

 

[Chris_Norden]

The point I was trying to get across is knives we recommend. If there were a lot of recommendations, surely at least one would meet said persons criteria, no?

But how would the uninitiated know which is going to meet their criteria with out trying them all if they have no experience. I see your point, but I respectfully disagree. I think its pointless to recommend anything more than a mora, opinel, tramontina machete and a fiskars hatchet to a newby. Maybe a BK9 for a heavy chopper. These are far from perfect (I approached my tool selection like this myself), but when I used them for quite some time, I know what knives will work for me. The beauty is these are only inexpensive tools that are more than capable and will give the user a knowledge base on which to personally judge his preference, not what works for someone else. The scandi versus convex is a perfect example of two perfectly practical edge profiles, with some hating one, both, or none.

But hey, different folks, different strokes.

 

[The Government]

I like the idea!

I think the first objective should be to list the different classifications of knives and put them in the original post.

I think it would lessen the ambiguity of different words that mean the same thing, like "carver" and "woodworking knife" -not a great example, but you see what I mean? After we come up with the classifications we can stick to them.

Here are some classifications that seem different enough:
Chopper
Splitter
carver
skinner

anyone want to elaborate?

 

[TheGame]

But how would the uninitiated know which is going to meet their criteria with out trying them all if they have no experience. I see your point, but I respectfully disagree. I think its pointless to recommend anything more than a mora, opinel, tramontina machete and a fiskars hatchet to a newby. Maybe a BK9 for a heavy chopper. These are far from perfect (I approached my tool selection like this myself), but when I used them for quite some time, I know what knives will work for me. The beauty is these are only inexpensive tools that are more than capable and will give the user a knowledge base on which to personally judge his preference, not what works for someone else. The scandi versus convex is a perfect example of two perfectly practical edge profiles, with some hating one, both, or none.

But hey, different folks, different strokes.

I suppose it may be interpreted as being for newbies, however, I wasn't gearing towards a newb. I was rather going for someone with a little experience, just wanting a new blade for the outdoors. I doubt any newbie would look past a $30 dollar knife, anyway. At least from what I have seen. When I started, I bought cheap knives to see what felt good, so I totally understand that.

Your criterion leaves room for EVERY knife in the given price ranges. I don't see that making much sense.

Not true. I believe I specified that you have to highly recommend it. I doubt anyone will highly recommend a frost cutley knife, for instance.

I like the idea!

I think the first objective should be to list the different classifications of knives and put them in the original post.

I think it would lessen the ambiguity of different words that mean the same thing, like "carver" and "woodworking knife" -not a great example, but you see what I mean? After we come up with the classifications we can stick to them.

Here are some classifications that seem different enough:
Chopper
Splitter
carver
skinner

anyone want to elaborate?

That is fine also. I was just trying to get some categories. First thing that popped up was $ amounts.

 

[moonwilson]

I'll play. I'm just recommending my favorite knives in each price category.-

Under $30 (Preferably not all mora, but moras are fine.)
Moras. Tramontina machetes, SAKs

$30-$65
Condor Machetes

$65-$100
RAT Izula, RAT RC3 & RC4, Great Eastern Cutlery

$100-$150
Spyderco Paramilitary

$150-$200
Bark River Bravo 1

$200+ (Or perhaps to 250 and 250-300, but not many go that high)
Busse Battle Mistress, Chris Reeve Sebenza

 

[TheGame]

$65-$100
, Great Eastern Cutlery

Never heard of them. I will have to look them up. Maybe give them a test drive, so to speak.

 

[moonwilson]

Never heard of them. I will have to look them up. Maybe give them a test drive, so to speak.

If you're into slipjoints, they're the best game in town. :thumbup: I didn't narrow it down to a particular model, since I like them all. I haven't tried the new "melon whittler" yet, but I have at least one of each of their other patterns- and they're all excellent. The #73 "Scout", the #53 "Cuban Stockman" in particular are great, heavy-duty patterns.

 

[Flipincanadian]

Fixed under 30

Cold steel roach belly(As much as I dislike the company I like some of the products)

Fixed 100ish range

Browning Crowell Barker Competition knife