Looking for a BIG knife.......................

Brigadier

Brigadier

Joined
Nov 2, 2000
Messages
413
I've been wanting to get a BIG knife for camping/survival. I've narrowed the choice down to three in my price range:

Cold Steel Trailmaster in Carbon V
Becker Brute
TOPS Condor Alert

I can't believe the Brute sells for around $100.:eek: Is there a reason? I mean usually you get what you pay for. The Condor Alert looks like a really nice knife, does anyone have any experience with one? I read TOPS is a top notch company.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.
 
I have been putting some thought into this big knife thing for a while, and the choice for me has been narrowed down to the Becker Brute or the Mineral Mountain Hatchet Works 12" survival bowie. I am leaning towards the Brute because it is flat ground, which should make for a better chopper, but I have never heard any complaints about the durability of Mineral Mountain Knives. I won't be able to get one till later this year, so hopefully I will have my mind made up by then. There have been a few great reviews of the Brute-- one was in the wilderness/survival forum, and I think the other one was in the Camillus forum. You might want to do a search.
--Josh
 
Have a look at Ontario brand knives. They make some really excellent users at VERY affordable prices.
You can buy a large blade of your choice to try on your next trip and not break the bank. Their knives
are all 1095 steel which is a good user steel that's very easy to sharpen. I own an Ontario sp5 bowie, a
machete, and a kukuri. All really good users that have never failed me.
 
this is one of my picks....there are a ton of nice knives out there to choose from....good luck picking "one" out ...I chopped down a 7" diam. hardwood tree with this one...blade remained razor sharp after I was all done...no effect at all on the coating either....

this is the "La Duena" by John Greco...289.95 ( but I saw one for sale on the forums for 225.00)

9" blade.....15 5/8" OAL......weight 19 OZ. have fun shopping around!!

forgot to add, the steel is 8670 which I have read is excellent stuff..

:)

la_duena.jpg



(photo courtesy of Bladeart.com)
 
I recently received a Brute. It's an excellent heavy duty knife for chopping and heavy camp chores.

It's made with quality materials, blade, handle, and sheath.

What's more, it's got Ethan Becker and Will Fennell standing behind it. 'Nuff said.
 
Personally, I'd go with the Brute.

Cold Steel Trailmaster is made of 5/16" stock. It's a really heavy knife. That is ok for chopping. Good quality mind you, just pricey unless you find one well used and it'll still be over $100 usually.

Cold Steel's mysterious Carbon V is really just 0170-6 or a tiny tweak on that steel.

That is exactly what you get from Becker also, 0170-6 with a tiny tweak of some kind, except they are totally up front about the whole thing...no cloaked secrecy BS like you get w/ Cold Steel. Plenty good, relative simple carbon steel, totally appropriate for a big knife.

I have both the BK&T Bush Hog (now called Patrol Machete), 14" bladed machete, blade shape like a longer Machax, sort of) and a BK&T (Fisk) Magnum Camp Knife. I like them both, they are keepers. Handles are comfortable to work with, which is a big plus for hard use.
Good pic of Patrol & a sheath by Bob Bailey here:
http://www.darrelralph.com/ddr/bobt/beck1.jpg.html

0170-6 is a mildly enhanced version of 1095. 0170-6 adds 0.4% chrome and 0.2% vanadium (refines grain structure if given a good heat treat). Both are good choices for big knives that need to be relatively tough.

Agreed....Ontario makes good quality-for-the-price, low-hype stuff at pretty low prices ($30-$50). Check out Ontario's SP-5 Bowie for $50. See also SP-10 Marine Raider.
http://www.jtknives.com/ontario-knife.htm

The Condor Alert looks like one of TOPS lower-hype offerings, mercifully, but $225 is a lot of money for micarta and a simple, non-differentially heat treated blade of 1095, and a black powder coat finish. Personally, I wouldn't want an index finger notch/cutout in the handle for a big knife that I was going to chop with. That just means another place bash your finger on, and/or wear a blister while chopping. At least it's not a tanto.

I like the looks of Greco's LaDuena ("The Boss"), but again, a big chunk of money for a simple knife w/ simple steel (simple isn't bad, just comment on construction...it's looks like a very useful design). Don't think Greco differentially heat treats either, for that price. I can't find an alloy makeup for 8670, but Greco normally uses A2, which I'd think would be tough enough for a big knife, so if he is using 8670, I'm guessing it has a lower alloy mix than A2, and is tougher, more shock resistant...so it would not hold an edge for cutting/slicing quite as well as A2 but I'm sure it is tougher. It's like 1095 with a mild tweak, so it'll hold an edge w/ 1095. I'll dig a bit and see if I can find something on 8670...

[All I could find: 8670 is a "high" carbon, "high" nickel steel also containing chrome, used for saws, which means it's tough, from nickel's contribution. L6 also used for saws, as it is tough.]

At this price range ($150-$250), Newt Livesay does differentially heat treat 1095 and so you get a tough pry bar in addition to edge holding. His web page is an example of a barely navigable, poorly planned arrangement by a guy who is a better knifemaker than web designer, and an example of how not to do a web page, but persevere and see what this knifemaker has:
http://members.tripod.com/~Newt_Livesay/index2.html
 
Thanks for all the replies.
rdangerer, thanks for all the info on the alloys. I figured CS Carbon V was similat to 1095 or something. And now I know what 0170-6 is.
And as far as the pricing difference, my suspicion was profit margin. Looks like that was confirmed.
I was really hesitant on the Trailmaster becuase of the leather sheath that ships with it. I would have to spend the $$ on a kydex sheath.

Same for the LaDuena, although I know greco makes some good knives, it is a bit pricy though.
Thanks again.

So how does BK&T sell the Brute for what they do?
 
BK&T is owned by Camillus. Sizeable outfit. Can bring economies of scale to bear in materials purchase and production methods.

That, and it seems like when I've read quotes from the Becker guy (Ethan?), his approach is exactly what appeals to me for this niche: no hype, just good quality stuff with good, useable designs, with a good heat treat, for a good price.
 
'Zackly. ;)

rdangerer hit it squarely on the head.
 
By the way, for $17 - $25, Ontario Machetes are nice, black powder coated, carbon steel (I think 1095), and better and predictably so compared to some Home Depot special. The D-guard variety hurts my pinky finger under heavy use (I mean bruised and hurt so bad I had to stop), avoid D-guard handle, and then use a lanyard. I have these in 12", 18", and 22" machetes (the 22" is pretty damned heavy though, out of proportion to 18"). They get a quick bath, and then a quick coat of WD-40 (crappy lube, fine for cheap cutlery protection) and then they hang in garage. Powder coat helps, edge get's WD-40.

A 9" to 12" big knife, an 18" machete, and a 4" drop point (stainless) go a long way, in the truck or out in the boonies.

Ok, fun's over....back to the salt mine for this kid... gotta make some bacon to take home. ;)
 
I predict that you'll be stunned at the quality of the Becker, especially taking the price into consideration. The Brute is a chopper with few rivals!
 
I have carried a Brute in my truck now for almost a year and I really use it "HARSHLY".

If you need to chop small trees it will do it. If you need to cut the bed off of your pickup; It will do it. If you need to peel rocks; it will do it and come back for more.

By far the BEST Bang for the Buck IMHO. It's name is right on. It is a Brute.
 
Newt Livesay makes a wonderful large bowie called the HKR-$200 in a great Kydex sheath
 
The Ontario Spec Plus series are excellent bang for the buck using and abusing knives.

But, I use my Brute waaaay more than I do any of the Ontarios. The BK&T Magnum Camp knife and Patrol Machete are extremely good knives for the money. Actually, Becker has nothing but winners in their line-up to me. Get one and you'll see for yourself.;)

If your interested in a really decent chopper for low bucks, try out the Ontario "Survival Bowie". IMO, a real nice knife for the money. 10" long clip point 1095 blade, 1/4" thick, full height flat grind, heat treated to Rc56-58. Under $45.00 usually.
 
Saw a Gerber "The Ultimate" Bowie style knife last week while on holiday. It's B-I-G and has a very functional appearance.
 
Cold Steel Trailmaster and the Ontario line have rubber handles which will blister your hand very quickly when used.

The TOPS stuff is expensive and ackwardly shaped.

The Brute is good. A well designed knife.

The Greco is even better. Nice lined leather sheath + very good steel, balance and ergonomic handle. The performance of L6 is solid (just do a search under knife reviews).

N2S
 
I've been wondering which large bowie to get also. Right now I am leaning toward the Cold Steel Trailmaster. One factor that has not been pointed out here is that the Trailmaster is lighter than many similar knives - 16.7 ounces for the Carbon V version. Also, the factory second version doesn't cost much more than a Becker and has a coated blade.
Very important to me is the fact that the CS knife has a double guard. I have accidentally cut myself with two different Becker knives owing to the slippery handles and lack of, IMO, an adequate guard.
 
I have used the trailmaster to good effect, and find it easy to sharpen and takes a great edge. I also think that the factory seconds are the way to go, much more reasonably priced, and a good value. The kraton works well when wet, and is more comfortable in my hands than most others, it's a personal decision based on your hands, after all they're unique!

If you are looking for a REALLY big camp knife, check out the HI khukuris, sounds like you want an Ang Khola.:D It will definitely outchop any of the knives listed here, and is a lot of fun to boot. They come standard with a small knife and sharpening steel, all 3 fit in the scabbard. They also have a lifetime warranty, and are tough, tough blades. This is a time-proven design, check it out!
 
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