Looking for the best 9+ inch blade for under 500.00

resinguy said:
l2lku2, who did the work on that good looking Crowell/Barker?
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They were re-handled and re-profiled by Bark River.

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I am personally a fan of the busse DSF, Desert Storm Fighter..

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** NOT MY PICTURE**
 
For that budget, I'd just buy a Becker BK9 (and micarta if you absolutely insist - though IMO grivory is better) and blow the rest on a fancy leather sheath and jelly beans or something. With the BK9, you get:

* outstanding and time-tested steel / heat treat
* a well-balanced, lively blade
* Kabar's outstanding warranty (and BF access to Ethan Becker and Toooj)
* a fantastic starting point if you are into doing knife modifications
* the possibility of becoming a Beckerhead - a benefit not to be sneezed at! :D

I use mine in the field all the time while hunting. Just yesterday, for instance, I was out and had a 2-3" diameter, 10' long limb directly blocking my path. Out comes the BK9, and a quick flick of the wrist later the branch has been snap cut and no longer poses an obstacle. No fuss no muss.

Here's my BK9 commercial:

See it chop!
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Marvel as it snap cuts!
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Cringe as it goes all tactical on your backside!
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Salivate as it prepares snacks!
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Hear the angels sing as it pops its Excalibur pose!
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Heck yeah you want one. :D

Worst case, you could get one of the relatively more expensive ones already recommended in this thread and still fit a BK9 in your budget. It's a user that makes a guy want to use it.

---

Beckerhead #42
 
Just out of curiosity, why don't you want a custom? you get everything you want just how you want it.
As far as production goes, I think the swamp rat looks pretty good, and if you don't like it you can always resell it.
 
I've only fondled one in the store... but I have it on good authority that Mrs. Stainz has me one wrapped under the Christmas tree - either that or a small sword. I am speaking of the Buck 060 Hoodlum, designed by the late Ron Hood. It has a 10" long x .220" thick 'straight clip survival' blade - 15.5" OAL - of 5160 steel with a powder coat. The removable handles are made of canvas Micarta; the nylon sheath is MOLLE compatible and has a front storage and leg straps. Should be quite good - and more useful, for me, than last year's shocker on Christmas - a Benchmade 171 'BladeSport' Chopper. I'll report back my views after Christmas AM... unless it's a sword...

Stainz
 
Last month, Farid had bladesports choppers in D3 going for less than $400. Hard to do better than that.
 
I have checked out everyone's suggestions, and appreciate all opinions given. Anyone have a Fehrman Extreme Judgment? If so what are your impressions? Thanks, cpm
 
Junglas.
No matter what other knives I try, the Junglas keeps finding its way into my hands.:)
(buy it, buy it, buy it, buy it...wait, buy TWO!!!)
 
cpmsteel said:
I have checked out everyone's suggestions, and appreciate all opinions given. Anyone have a Fehrman Extreme Judgment? If so what are your impressions? Thanks, cpm
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I don't have an Extreme Judgment but I do have a Final Judgment. It is a very good chopper for its size and weight. I once did a chop-off with these:

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One thing that I found on the Fehrman was that the rubber lining between the tang and the scales really helps to absorbs shock. The Fehrman transferred much less shock to my hands than even the Trailmaster's soft Kraton handle - but I had to hit so much harder with the Trailmaster to get the same performance as the Fehrman.

The Fehrman 3V is superb. There was a large round protrusion on the side of the tree, which I chopped into with the Fehrman. I did not realize that the protrusion had grown over a metal loop-bolt for a hammock, left by the previous owners of my house. I chopped into it fairly hard, you can see the gouge in the bolt, and this was all that it did to the edge:

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I repaired it fairly easily.

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The reason I don't use the Fehrman as much as I would like to at the moment is because I sent it to Eric to modify the handle for me. I asked for the sub-hilt to be removed and also for the downward facing points (front and back) on the Micarta scales to be removed as they caused hotspots for me. He did exactly what I asked and I much prefer the knife now but unfortunately, behind where the Micarta points were removed, the tang has sharp ridges that hurt the hands. It looks like this now - you can see the sharp ridges on the curves just below the scales:

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I have not sent it to Eric to round those edges yet because I am planning to buy a few more Fehrmans and will send it in for the mods at that time. Once it is modded I am sure I will use it as much as the B11 & Browning.

The fit and finish on my 2 Fehrmans is also superb. The edges on the spine, pommel and guard are chamfered and the texturing on the scales is not too aggressive. Fehrmans are right up there with Busse in my book.

Oh, and Eric Fehrman is fantastic to deal with - a true gentleman.
 
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