Looking for cheap fighting/survival knife.

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rachet197

Joined
Jul 16, 2011
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I'm looking for a cheap (under $40) fighting/survival knife.
The cold steel gi tanto caught my eye as well, as the glock field knife.
Any ideas for knives or, thoughts on these knives, ideas on modification of the gi tanto belt loop.


THX in advance
 
Both are incredibly thick and a bit unwieldy. You'll want to completely reprofile the edges upon arrival. Tanto designs are definitely not ideal for a fighting/survival knife-alot of guys still use the GI Tanto but chop off the guard and round out the tanto point. I'd recommend high carbon steel for the most part-it's alot easier to maintain in the field and is much less succeptable to breaking/fracturing etc due to heavy use. Take a look at the Condor Rodan or any Condor product, Mora 840, Schrade Extreme Survival Model 9 (Designed by Mistwalker here on the forums, made out of 1095 high carbon and alot nicer than typical Schrade products), a Cold Steel Bushman, Kabar Heavy Duty Warthog (maybe 10 dollars more than your priceline) There are more, it's just late and I'm tired. There's alot to be said for a Swiss Army Knife and a machete, too...
 
NMpops said:
Your just not going to find one for the price you want to pay.
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He did say cheap so why won't he? If he wants to pay under 40 dollars, he surely will come up with something at least and he has listed two that are under 40 already.
I'd say check out the Buck 119, I know you could pick up a used one for that and a new isn't but a few dollars more at Wal-mart. You aren't going to get the very best of course for 40 and under, but there is tough knives that will hang in there in that price range. I myself have used a Buck 119 for years to cut everything that needs cutting and it's still going strong. Never had the edge turn, or chip either. I know that knife was purchased at least 25 years ago, too.
 
not sure what else to recommend for under $40 other than getting a good deal on a Ka-BAR or something similar... it could happen for sure, and are definitely up to the task I agree. I would also echo the words of Monsieur PayetteRucker above as well in saying that a Tanto point is less than ideal for a survival knife, and you're better off with something more practical... the Tanto is very limited in it's uses compared to other tips and if you have to dress any animals with it, you're going to curse it and remember the advice given in this post. just my 2 cents.
 
jill jackson said:
He did say cheap so why won't he? If he wants to pay under 40 dollars, he surely will come up with something at least and he has listed two that are under 40 already.
I'd say check out the Buck 119, I know you could pick up a used one for that and a new isn't but a few dollars more at Wal-mart. You aren't going to get the very best of course for 40 and under, but there is tough knives that will hang in there in that price range. I myself have used a Buck 119 for years to cut everything that needs cutting and it's still going strong. Never had the edge turn, or chip either. I know that knife was purchased at least 25 years ago, too.
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This^ :)
 
jill jackson said:
I'd say check out the Buck 119, I know you could pick up a used one for that and a new isn't but a few dollars more at Wal-mart. .
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+2. Beg or borrow the extra $10 . The 119 isn't "cheap" it is inexpensive.:thumbup:


PayetteRucker said:
I'd recommend high carbon steel for the most part-it's alot easier to maintain in the field and is much less succeptable to breaking/fracturing etc due to heavy use.
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Too bad I can't use a certain smiley here.:D

There is nothing wrong with a good stainless as a field knife. What you are regurgitating as a "internet truth" was only partially truth-full in the early days of stainless steel. Before you were even born.
 
Check out the Ontario Spec Plus line of knives. They're well-made and can be easily found for the price you have in mind.
 
rachet197 said:
I'm looking for a cheap (under $40) fighting/survival knife.
The cold steel gi tanto caught my eye as well, as the glock field knife.
Any ideas for knives or, thoughts on these knives, ideas on modification of the gi tanto belt loop.


THX in advance
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Maybe if you could give us an idea of what you mean by "fighting/survival knife," we can help you better. At this point "survival" really doesn't mean anything. Also, where and how are you going to do this knife fighting?
 
In my mind, which is a bit off, when I hear fighter/survival knife I think bowie. For the price point you are stating, I would take a look at the KaBar USMC and similar knives. Some may disagree but from my experience it has held its own in the outdoors and feels quick in hand. Depending on where you are located, you can sharpen that back clip and it becomes a mean fighting machine. Sharpened clip limits your survival applications but boy does it look and feel nasty.
Marcinek is right tho, what are you going to be using it for?
 
Haven't we been here before?

+1 to the use of "inexpensive" instead of "cheap".

If I knew I needed a survival knife, ie, one which can be relied on not to break, even if you have to do something other than cutting, I would spend the extra cash to get something good.

Something by Becker, maybe.

Cabela's is selling some decent looking fixed blades by Hogue, right now. I'm sure more than $40.

If Ratchet is just looking for a good utility knife that can be relied on, but can also get scratched up, then yes to Ka-bar or Mora.
 
Shorttime said:
Haven't we been here before?

+1 to the use of "inexpensive" instead of "cheap".

If I knew I needed a survival knife, ie, one which can be relied on not to break, even if you have to do something other than cutting, I would spend the extra cash to get something good.
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Just as "inexpensive" doesn't mean "cheap," spending more money doesn't in any way guarantee "good."

Also, "unbreakable" doesn't necessarily guarantee effectiveness as a survival tool. A brick is pretty hard to break, but you can't make a fuzz stick or clean a fish with it.

(Though I guess it would be pretty good for all this fighting that's gonna go down.)
 
I have two GI Tantos. One rides in my go bag, the other I use to split almond logs down to kindling. I have yet to run into a problem with either of them. yes 1095 has more carbon and is tougher, 1055 with Cold Steels heat treating is, in MY experiences, just as good. For about $25, you'd have a hard time finding so much knife else were.

*by splitting logs, I don't mean big ones, 5" tops, batonning the knife. out of the box it makes great feather sticks to get the kindling going...
 
jill jackson said:
He did say cheap so why won't he? If he wants to pay under 40 dollars, he surely will come up with something at least and he has listed two that are under 40 already.
I'd say check out the Buck 119, I know you could pick up a used one for that and a new isn't but a few dollars more at Wal-mart. You aren't going to get the very best of course for 40 and under, but there is tough knives that will hang in there in that price range. I myself have used a Buck 119 for years to cut everything that needs cutting and it's still going strong. Never had the edge turn, or chip either. I know that knife was purchased at least 25 years ago, too.
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I gotta second this. My Buck 119 is probably the best bang-for-the-buck (no pun intended) general purpose survival knife that I have. It's come with me on numerous camping and road trips, and has always performed. Very inexpensive, too, and with a really, really great warranty.
:thumbup: :thumbup:
 
Wow I didn't expect to get so many responses.
I liked PayetteRucker's Condor knives as well as the Schrade SCHF9.
I own a Buck 119, just wouldn't baton with it or use it in a "survival situation" also the buck 119 sheath not so great.......
I agree with rustyrazor's comment about getting something more "hunting" like, but I carry a buck 286k and I've gut deer with it.
I like the Ontario Spec Plus line of knives, suggested by neuron.
Also just to answer marcinek by survival I mean batoning, and knife fighting I mean in case.
SleepyBadger, I've heard to many problems with the tang on usmc fighting knives.
the Becker BK14 is too small and expensive for what your getting I think.
thanks grand594 for posting your comment.

Thanks to all of your for such informative comments.

also what do you think of Cold Steel Bushman since it is far from full tang......
 
save up $20 more and get a BK2 it is well worth it. If you simply cannot for any reason get the extra $20 then go with the condor rodan or bushlore.
 
Okay maybe its just me but do you REALLY want a cheap/inexpensive knife for survival?? Provided you mean it literally. If you have even a slight possibility of ending up in a survival situation you might want to up your budget, not much-even $20 more would put you into the price range of several very good knives that I personally would trust my life to. IE: Becker BK2,7,hell even 11. Or the Schrade extreme survival model-SCHF9 has an msrp of around $65 but you can get it from Smokey Mtn Knife Works for $40, a few other places to if you look online. Then of course Ka-Bars are good-check out the ZK line(apprx $55), the Buck 119 is a great suggestion as well as the Nighthawk($55), a Gerber Gator or Big Rock camp knife is a great buy for around $30, and like a few other s have mentioned Condor rodan(5" blade) or the Varan(8" blade) and Ontario Spec Plus or Mil-Spec line seem to be pretty high quality(airforce survival knife has been going stron for like 50 yrs). For survival you're better w/ carbon steel for throwing sparks and I hear from sharpening, but it can rust without maintenance. Boker's Magnum line has a few models that are around your price range and decent quality, like the Elk Hunter, Great West bowie, and the Highland Ranger which is probably what you would find the best based on the needs you stated, though you should let us know how large of a blade you want and do you really need it for fighting or was that just how you thought to describe that style you're after? Anyway, a few more in your range are Kershaw's Echo or Antelope Hunter, Sog's Fusion Bowie, Aura Camp knife/Aura Seal, Jungle Primitive, Jungle Warrior, Jungle Canopy and especially the Seal Pup though is about $65 and worth every penny. If you really want one that could double as a fighter, the SOG Jungle Warrior, Aura Seal and Fusion Bowie, Boker Highland Ranger, Buck Nighthawk, Schrade SCHF( and the Ontario Spec Plus Fighting Knife will probably be best out of the ones I've listed. I started out buying tons of knives in the $20-60 range when I first started collecting so I know quite a bit about these types. Now I know that the saying is true especially for knives-you get what you pay for. But there are numerous great knives listed here by myself and the others. Good luck in your search. I hope my ramblings are of some help to you. I'd like to know what you decide on so post when you choose one, if you want to.
 
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