Looking for a camping/survival or all-around knife

C

C_1

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Aug 14, 2009
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My buddies and I are planning a camping trip and I need suggestions for a camping/survival knife.

I know there are many threads asking the same "What is the best survival knife?" but I actually did some home work and narrowed it down.

I will have a folding pocket knife and Leatherman multi-tool on me, during the camping trip, as well.

Would a KaBar Becker BK11 Necker be suffient? Or do I need something bigger?

Perhaps one of the following?:

Benchmade CSK II
Cold Steel SRK
CRKT M60 SOTFB
Gerber LMF II
KaBar Becker BK7
SOG Seal Pup Elite

I would love a Bark River Bravo 1, a Fällkniven F1/H1/S1, or a RAT Cutlery RC3/4/5, but I dont have money like that to spend.

Is there a different knife that would suit my needs better, if so, please tell; just as long as its in the same price range as the other knives listed ($1-80).

Thanks for any and all suggestions/recommendations.
 
You may be able to find a used RAT RC-3 or RC-4 in the exchange for around $80. They are a great company, I do not have any experience with the knives on your list so I can't really comment on them, good luck :thumbup:
 
Out of those the only one I have used is the CS SRK, it's a great knife for the price and will make a good field knife. Very tough knife.
 
I have the SOG Seal Pup (not the Elite), and the RC-3, 4 and 5. Given the option of taking just one for general camping duties, it would be the RC-4.

I mentioned this in another thread recently, but the Buck 119 is a great value, and would serve your purposes well. You can find them for around $ 40.

If you focus on just the survival aspect, I'd pick the RC-5 above them all. But again, over your price limit.
 
1 vote for the CS SRK and 2 votes for RAT Cutlery..

I like RAT Cutlery knives, something about em.. I dont know. But I want one..

And Ive heard nothing but good things about the Buck 119..
 
C_1 said:
1 vote for the CS SRK and 2 votes for RAT Cutlery..

I like RAT Cutlery knives, something about em.. I dont know. But I want one..

And Ive heard nothing but good things about the Buck 119..
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Their no BS warranty was what first attracted me to them.
 
RAT's no questions asked warranty is great and makes the knives very attractive.

I was looking at the KaBar Becker BK2 Companion, but its a little thick, and slightly heavy for its size. Or am I wrong?

I really like Becker and RAT knives. I dont know why but Im attracted to them.
 
Get an Ontario Spec Plus 5. They're about $45, if you look hard. And, worth every penny!

sp5.jpg
 
dude im begging you do yourself a favor and save up a bit and buy a rat or fallkniven or a BRKT wait a little while and get what you want.

rats can be had for under 100 bucks
 
razorsdescent said:
dude im begging you do yourself a favor and save up a bit and buy a rat or fallkniven or a BRKT wait a little while and get what you want.

rats can be had for under 100 bucks
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I agree your options improve a lot once you get over over $100.
 
Yeah, its always like this. Its better to pay more initially for a "better" product then to get something thats OK or good enough.

If I had the money, I'd get a Bravo 1 or Fallkniven F1, and a RC-5 and call it a day.

But Im kinda new to knives and wanted to start off with some production stuff.

Teague: How do you like the Spec Plus 5? Do you use it a lot? Thoughts..

Votes so far:
4= Bark River, Fallkniven, RAT Cutlery, etc etc
2= Cold Steel SRK
1= Becker BK2/BK11
1= SOG Seal Pup Elite
1= Ontario Spec Plus 5
1= Buck 119
 
I have limited experience with most of the blades on your list of choices. I can say that the BK7 is a very solid design. I have not yet had the opportunity to use Kabar's version of this design, but have one of the Camillus models which has served me well for almost six years now. I stumbled upon a heck of an arrangement with a knife distributor prior to my first deployment to Iraq in '03-'04 and they were allowing me to order blades wholesale for a short period of time. The next thing I knew, I had ordered BK7s for almost half of my company. I have yet to have one of these guys call and tell me they have had any problems with thier blades, but many have called and asked me to get them another one to pass on as gifts to other soldiers, family, and friends.

I wish I still had the ability to order blades at the prices I was getting back then. God Bless the guy who gave me the opportunity when he did. It sure helped out alot of very appreciative soldiers.

Murph
 
I'm not one to bash RAT Cutlery. Jeff and Mike are a class act and their products are the best.

But for skinning and general camping duties, I'd take the RC-3 or 4 over the 5 every time.

Now if I wanted a knife to use should I survive Armageddon, or find myself nekkid and stranded on an uninhabited south Pacific island, it would be the RC-5. In my experience, the RC-5 is just too big and heavy for general camping/hiking applications.
 
SPXTrader said:
I'm not one to bash RAT Cutlery. Jeff and Mike are a class act and their products are the best.

But for skinning and general camping duties, I'd take the RC-3 or 4 over the 5 every time.

Now if I wanted a knife to use should I survive Armageddon, or find myself nekkid and stranded on an uninhabited south Pacific island, it would be the RC-5. In my experience, the RC-5 is just too big and heavy for general camping/hiking applications.
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The RC-5 was made for SHTF or survival situations, the RC-4 and RC-3 were also designed with survival in mind but they are lighter and thinner than the RC-5, making them easier to carry or hike with IMO.
 
I have a cold steel srk and its great for your purposes! the buck 119 is also great but IMO the steel is a little cheaper and the srk isn't much more expensive! I would have to say that Rat is better but I understand your price point and I would say that the srk or any of Ontarios spec plus line would be great! Also look at the Ontario rat line not as good as the real rats but the same designs and the Ontario rat 3 is in your price range!
 
Seems like the Cold Steel SRK is getting a lot of praise. I might have to pick one up. I was looking at the Ontario RAT line but its not the same as the real thing. It is in my price range but I think I rather have a real RAT. Anybody have a Ontario RAT and like it?

SPXTrader: You don't like RAT Cutlery knives? I heard nothing but good things about them. Do you have and use something else that you think is better? Perhaps a Bark River or Fallkniven? Or am I way off? Sorry, Im a newbie..

So if you guys only had a choice of 2 knives, for: cutting, slashing, slicing, dicing, skinning, shaving, chopping, digging, smashing, camping, survival, defense, urban, woods, mountains, etc etc; what 2 knives would it be? (sounds like another good thread topic :) )

I would imagine, ideally, a small knife for delicate work, and a larger knife for bigger tasks.

So would a Fallkniven F1 and a RAT RC5 be a good combo? A poor man's version would be something like a Frost Mora and probably something from Cold Steel? How about a KaBar Becker BK11, BK2 and/or BK7?
 
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You have a saw blade on your Leatherman right?

Then you don't really need a large "chopper" fixed. The BK11 you mentioned can handle any camping chore.But, even with a cord wrap on the handle it isn't the most comfortable knife to use for an extended period of time.

I currently use a 3" blade fixed as my main knife on all my hiking/camping trips.It is even 1/4" shorter OAL than the BK11. With the saw on my SAK I am set.

My BK11 has been passed on to my son to use as his "camping" knife. And as soon as Kabar releases the after market scales for it I'll slap a set on for him.

As long as you have at least some "wood's smarts" you aint gonna die just because you have a BK11 instead of a Rat/Fallkniven/BRKT.

The BK11 is a tough knife.:thumbup:

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