looking for a strong knife

[Dr. Thor]

Swamp Rat!!! Or Ranger Knives, and then yoy still have cash for a custom leather or kydex sheath, and some sharpening stuff!

 

[gorlank]

Get thee a Manix, it eats lesser folders for breakfast at a bargain price.
Ooops, sorry thought it was a folder thread.

 

[JD Mandrell]

The Becker CU/7 is cuts well and overall is a solid utility knife, but isn't up there in regards to strength.

-Cliff

I wold love to know on what basis you think so?

 

[Matthew Gregory]

I wold love to know on what basis you think so?

.... oh, boy. This ought to be interesting.

(puts on helmet)

 

[JD Mandrell]

.... oh, boy. This ought to be interesting.

(puts on helmet)

HA HA!

I'm not trying to start a flame war, but I would like to here from someone who has managed to break a CU/7?

 

[Cliff Stamp]

I wold love to know on what basis you think so?

I broke it
[*], and the Bowie from Becker, the steel had low flexibility but decent impact toughness. The strength is also a *lot* lower than the other two knives I listed due to a much thinner cross section.

-Cliff

[*] Actually I didn't, read below for details. Point still stands for other reasons as noted.

 

[JD Mandrell]

I broke it, and the Bowie from Becker, the steel had low flexibility but decent impact toughness. The strength is also a *lot* lower than the other two knives I listed due to a much thinner cross section.-Cliff

Can I ask what was the circumstances of the break?, what task were you performing when the CU/7 broke?

 

[neetones]

jesus...that Manix is huge. I thought my SERE was too big for my pocket, now that beast comes along.

Nitin

 

[Matteo Escobar]

the blade should be about 7 inches.

If you can come up with an extra $100, the Busse Steel Heart-E would be optimal.

 

[Cliff Stamp]

what task were you performing when the CU/7 broke?

I justed checked, I didn't break the CU/7, I had planned on it, but sent it out when someone asked about the performance. The Bowie broke during a pull up (250 lbs), little flex, it just cracked, and a Patrol Machete broke also with little set to the blade as described in the reviews.

In any case the CU/7 is significantly thinner both in blade stock and grind to the RDK, and slimmer in stock than the Camp Tramp, the strength would be a lot lower, and thus obviously not the "strongest" blade, plus the Camp Tramp has a differntial temper with a spring spine so is a lot more durable. Solid utility knife of course.

-Cliff

 

[James Green Dragon]

Bladeofwind said: "i want the strongest fixed blade i can get. by tactical i meant the appearance."

I'll second the Swamp Rat Camp Tramp recomendation. Partly due to Cliff's review & partly because I recently acquired one and think it's 'the bomb'.

However, for about half the price on-line and next day delivery, I would recomend Cold Steel's SRK, ODA or similarly priced Recon Scout. However, if you are not into rubber handles, the Becker product line, especially the BK7 or Companion. Ka-Bar also.

Regarding Ka-Bar, I really like the design of their new Bowies. As has been said before, they are 1085 steel & unfortunately made in Tiawan (to me, being American made was a major selling feature for Ka-Bar). Knife Center has them for less than $40 - preorder only, supposedly delivery will be this month though. Has anyone heard anything about this and or has anyone had the chance to handle the new knives??!

Other than that, Ontario has some tough, cheap tactical designs - QC is known to be an issue sometimes though. Still, I have one of their 8" blade Spec-plus fighters - the grind lines on it are not perfect but the knife is tough as nails - I've even thrown it a bunch of times with no ill effects....

I'm very interested in Ranger Knives but have no experience with them personally (yet ). I would tend to take Cliff's recomendation seriously though.

 

[JD Mandrell]

I justed checked, I didn't break the CU/7, I had planned on it, but sent it out when someone asked about the performance. The Bowie broke during a pull up (250 lbs), little flex, it just cracked, and a Patrol Machete broke also with little set to the blade as described in the reviews.

In any case the CU/7 is significantly thinner both in blade stock and grind to the RDK, and slimmer in stock than the Camp Tramp, the strength would be a lot lower, and thus obviously not the "strongest" blade, plus the Camp Tramp has a differntial temper with a spring spine so is a lot more durable. Solid utility knife of course.

-Cliff

I gotta go back through the post, you've got me curious about the one you recomended now! I have always been pretty impressed by my CU/7, but I admit I have never put it or any other knife to that kind of flex test. I see Cold Steel to that stuff in their DVD's, but I have never understood what "real life" knife task that simulates.

What steel does the RDK use?

 

[Will]

Another vote for the CS SRK. Strong, tactical looking, cheap, and an excellent knife for the price...but only 6 inches.

 

[Knifeclerk]

Bladeofwind, man you just have to watch the Cold Steel "More Proof" DVD!!!!1 Yeah, they make some really strong, tactical looking stuff.