Looking for a fixed blade, help?

S

Shawn7656

Joined
Feb 15, 2012
Messages
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Since I'm new to the forums I figured I'd introduce myself a little bit before moving on with the thread. I'm Shawn and I've been collecting knives since I was around 8 years old. I've never had an extreme amount of cash so most of my knives are cheaper but still of quality. I have a little over 50 blades of varying makers and value. I've lately been trying to get a higher quality knife for each specific type of knife. I have a Benchmade model 42 Bali to rule in the Butterfly world, an AG Russel Damascus for folders, a Bai He switchblade (which I can't find anything on actually), etc, etc. Now, onto the thread...!

I've decided that out of my 9 fixed blades there isn't really a single one that I'd actually want to CARRY, so I'd like to make a generally inexpensive purchase of a reliable fixed blade knife. I'm going to list out my general requirements and hope that I can get some advice on where to look and maybe what to look for that I'm not.


Requirements:
- Fixed blade (obviously ;) )
- Sheath, preferably belt/boot style
- Full length not much more than 9", preferably a bit smaller so as to have a comfortable carry
- Non-serrated (at least on the main edge)
- Tanto point is a plus, but not needed
- I've always been attracted to black knives/blades, so that would also be a plus
- Price: $50 or less
- Steel that can hold a great edge and resist damage

I'm going to drop a couple links to some knives I've been looking at but there are things about each I don't really like (sites are where I've found them the cheapest)

Smith & Wesson SWHRT1 HRT Hostage Rescue Team Tactical Boot Knife
http://www.copsplus.com/prodnum6895.php
This knife is a decent size, but I'd prefer a tanto point on it. Also the handle looks like it may be strange to wield after awhile. At such a light weight I'm not sure how well it would hold up under stress

Smith & Wesson SWHRT7T Black HRT Tanto Boot Knife
http://www.copsplus.com/prodnum6899.php
This is about how I'd like my knife to be, but for such a low price I'm not sure how much quality will be in it. That, and it lacks a bit in features and looks

Cold Steel Kobun Tanto Knife 17T
http://www.trueswords.com/cold-steel-kobun-tanto-knife-p-5657.html
It's a bit long, and sort of boring looking, but when I was really into swords I remember Cold Steel pressed out some higher quality blades at affordable prices.

I've been carrying a Gerber Paraframe (http://goo.gl/jsV5N) lately because it's small and thin, but I'd sort of like to upgrade to something more useful.

A couple questions that carrying a fixed blade brought up -
For a fixed blade carry, what sheath material would be best? I sort of like the molded plastic ones (the name is escaping me) but I've had problems with them wearing down and the knife slipping out after use (or the blade literally cutting the sheath's locking mechanism OFF). This seems to leave leather and cloth. Leather seems to be the classier of the two, but I've a soft-leather sheath that I've accidentally cut before too. Any ideas?

I know the knife laws in Illinois well, but I'm not quite sure what would constitute a knife as a concealed carry. If the knife is around my belt and under a t-shirt, is this concealed? If a boot knife is under my pant leg, is that concealed? Would a horizontally-mounted belt sheath be considered concealed, would it give cops a "criminal intent" argument (as it makes it look like it's like that for fighting)? I carry knives as tools, but I have used one in a self-defense situation (to scare, not as a weapon) and I know that cops can be pretty unforgiving if you use a knife in self defense. I'm just trying to make sure I give cops the least amount of reasons to harass me ;)

If anyone has suggestions, comments, questions or anything please let me know. Thanks in advance for your replies, and I apologize for the length of my post
 
scrap yard basic 3
Specs at a glance(from website):

Overall Length: 8"
Blade Length: 3 1/2"
Thickness: 3/16"
Steel: SR-101 / 58-60 Rc
Handle: Resiprene C
Blade Width: 1 1/4"
Grind: Flat Saber
Finish: Black
it costs about 20 more than your limit but its worth the extra 20
 
you should check out the becker bk2 it's over $50 but it's worth it mine is coming in the mail this week. there are also a couple more bk knives that are smaller and cheaper
 
Most knives with gun names tend to be bad, so I'd cross off all the S&W ones from your list. There are a few exceptions. Cold Steel is okay. Do you have a particular blade length? Are you looking for a knife you'll carry all the time?

I'd look into the ESEE IZULA, Becker BK11 or 14, Bark River Bravo Necker, Scrapyard Scrapivore, or something of that ilk. Small, easily portable, you can make your own set of handle scales for them, or save up and buy some, and eminently useful on a regular basis.

There are a couple types of plasticy sheaths. I suspect you've mostly dealt with injection molded plastic, or maybe you're talking about nylon? Kydex is a much better bet. It molds to the knife, so I can't really see how you'd cut off anything, and if you happen to lose retention (I haven't yet on any of mine), you can just reheat it and reform it to the knife. Good stuff. A well-made leather sheath looks very classy though, and there are a lot of good leatherworkers on here, as well as some great kydex benders.

As far as the concealed carry laws, a good rule of thumb is that if it's obvious you're carrying a knife, it's not concealed. Under the pant leg, under a shirt on the back of your belt (where I carry), etc, can be construed as concealed carry if the LEO is so inclined.
 
Welcome to the forum!
I'll start with the end of the post and work back...
Concerning legal knife carry, self-defense, and police:

1) Any time you wield a knife in a threatening or even semi-threatening manner it is considered "assault with a deadly weapon" for which you can be arrested and prosecuted. Never draw a knife on another human being unless you are ready to injure/maim or be injured with it and also be arrested - i.e. if you or another person is not being attacked and if your "self-defense" argument might not hold-up in court, then don't escalate the situation by pulling a knife.

2) Police do not like large and/or "tactical"-looking knives on civilians, esp. civilians too young to legally drink. Police don't like "weapons" of any kind. Police have no problem with tools. If your knife looks like a tool, then it is not a "weapon".

3) In my experience, police will not bother you about a knife unless you give them reason to - i.e. you are carrying it in suspicious fashion, openly or poorly concealed in "tactical" fashion, specifically on your ankle, wrist, under-the-arm, etc. Carry your knife completely concealed or in your pocket or on your belt as a tool. Again, if your knife looks like a tool, then it is not a "weapon".

4) Any manner of carrying the knife in public in which it is not openly and immediately visible to all passers-by (generally unacceptable if not illegal in most places) qualifies as "concealed carry", including under any article of clothing or even in a pocket. If you are carrying a "weapon"-looking knife is a poorly concealed location on your body and pass an edgy officer in a rough area, do not be surprised if it gets you into trouble. Again, police do not like "weapons". And again, police do not generally bother non-suspicious individuals in non-sensitive environments.
I have been questioned only 3x about my knife: once when a female officer insisted on driving me (in the cage) from my snow-stranded car to a gas-station (I had a 4" balisong horizontal on my belt, she took it, asked if I knew that they were illegal, I told her that they were not, she gave it back when she let me out); once when I entered a courthouse and asked the guards to keep it (and my bag) in holding until I returned, they did so; and once as a teen in a parking garage where my group of friends appeared suspicious to the officer and he noticed the clip on my pocket - he asked to see it, gave it back, and then showed his own, turned out he was a knife-nut as well.

5) Finally, respect your local ordinances regarding carrying fixed-blades and folding knives in public. In most locations, it is illegal to carry a knife of the size listed in public locations (except for work or hunting). If you intend to violate an ordinance, do so in a "respectful" manner (i.e. do what is necessary to keep your violation to yourself - don't tell others, don't show others, don't make it easy for others to discover the violation). For example, if you happen to be carrying a over-sized blade in your pants in public, keep it in your pants unless you are using it for its intended purpose, just like other tools you may or may not have in your pants, if you get my drift. Don't whip it out in public just for fun - toys are toys, tools are tools.



Now, onto fixed-blade recommendations:

First, how do you intend to USE the knife? Many hunting knives fit the description given, many available from Buck, Gerber, Kabar, Cold Steel, Kershaw, SOG, Condor, and others for the price requested. Reputable companies providing sheaths can be depended upon to back those sheaths, whatever they are made of. You get what you pay for. I recommend you find a local sporting-goods store and handle some of their offerings, get a feel for what handle, blade, and sheath features you prefer. Let comfort, quality of workmanship/materials, and purpose be the deciding factors in your choice.

Good luck! And again, welcome.
 
In regards to conceald carry, however you carry a fixed-blade, make sure that at NO TIME any article of clothing accidentally covers your knife. I know from experience (in San Diego) that even if the bottom of a jacket or the tail of your shirt accidentally covers the knife, even for a moment, that qualifies as "conceald".

A cop once stopped me because my jacket accidentally covered my knife for a brief moment before I could zip it up. He explained to me that it was technically conceald but he was otherwise uninterested. He knew it was an accident. He didn't even ask my name or to see my ID, he just sent me on my way, with my knife. His lack of interest is all the more interesting because I ride a motorcycle and look pretty "rough". I was about to zip up my jacket, get on my bike and ride away when the cop saw me and stopped me.

Sorry I can't help you in your knife search. The only fixed-blades I'm familiar with in your price range and size requirements are the short Kabars. And from experience I would never recommend one of them.
 
Thank you for your suggestions guys. I've looked at all of them and I'm still looking more :)

@Chiral.grolim: I appreciate the info there. All of it makes sense. I guess maybe I should think about getting a more rugged folder instead of a fixed blade for my EDC, as I think fixed blades are easily more weapon-like (as I don't hunt or have a job that would require such a knife). As far as local knife laws go, I know in Chicago the blade length limit is 3.5" but everywhere outside of that the law is that you have to touch the blade to open it, which, I've been told, still doesn't make fixed blades illegal for carry. I live 50 miles away from Chicago, so the size limit is no problem.

So if I was to change to a folder for my next purchase, what is the best design to insure ruggedness? My Gerber Paraframe is nice and light but it's so skinny and thin it feels like it'd crack in half under any pressure, and bulky knives can be awkward to carry around... Hmmm So many choices... hahaha

The Benchmade 522 is pretty sexy... Man I wish I had more money!!

EDIT: 583BK...Totally awesome. Why is Benchmade so amazing?!!
 
The Boker Kwaito looks pretty sweet. I think it's just over 8 inches OAL, very lightweight, and has a nice kydex sheath too. I came very close to buying it, but settled on a BK2 instead :P
 
If you're looking for a durable folder, consider Spyderco Manix 2, Zero Tolerance (anything), Benchmade Ritter Griptilian, etc. There are a lot of good options, and if you're used to Gerber, you're going to be stunned how good a knife can really be.
 
I've found a site that has the Benchmade Griptilian with black drop point blade for $76.50 (using a coupon code). I seriously hope this site is a legit dealer...
 
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