Need a hard use knife.

A

always_an_eagle

Joined
Jun 29, 2014
Messages
43
Hello Blade Forums, this is my first post in the forums. My birthday is coming up and I would like to treat myself to a gift. I would like to get a hard use knife; a blade that is between 5 to 10 inches in blade lenght, FULL TANG (I had bad experiences of stick tang knifes breaking in the cold while I was batoning wood :( , I learned my lesson.) And my price range is between 50 dollars to 150 dollars.
I would like to hear other members of the forum on some great suggestions on what I should purchase. Thank you.
 
It always comes down to budget, but I would break it down like this...

<$100 - Becker

$100-$200 - ESEE

$200-$400 - Survive! Knives

>$400 - Busse


So, with your stated $50-$150, I'd say look at Becker and ESEE.


ETA: Welcome!! You'll probably get 100 people tell you that there's been 1000 threads just like this, which is true, but don't sweat it, just poke around a bit and you'll find more info than you can process in a lifetime.
 
Here's some knives that can take a beating
100$+
Buck hoodlum/punk
Buck CSAR-T "I've seen this pry open a car door and not break"

70-50$
Buck reaper
Buck intrepid
Ka-bar big brother

Welcome to bladeforms man

ZTD
 
Ontario RD4

P1060097.jpg
 
Hey, a "hard use" thread that is referring to fixed blades. How refreshing! Beyond sarcasm, I don't have much to add, except I have some cheap 1055 Cold Steel beaters, like the True Flight Thrower and the barong machete. You can pound on those guys pretty hard. But, there is nothing glamorous about them, except that they work.
 
ESEE 4, i have the 3 and the 4 is a tad bit bigger it comes in at 9 inches. 1095 carbon steel, can be had for easily in your price range. Full tang, .188 of an inch thick, weighs in at 8 ounces, a good all around usa made knife, your choice of color combinations, and edge type. Micarta scales, and a no wuestions asked warranty; you break it, its replaced.
 
I'll put Becker out there for you! I have a few, and love them all! For batoning I'd say get the BK2, or the BK9 for the extra langth.
 
I really like my TOPS B.O.B. TOPS has a few other knives in your price and size range you may want to check out.
 
Don't have one but would get a Swamprat Rodent 6 or 7. Also like my Ontario Rat 7, Buck Punk, Cold Steel GI Tanto. If you got $150 though would get the Swamprat.
 
straitr said:
>$400 - Busse.
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While this may be true, don't forget about the Busse Kin, Swamprat and Scrapyard. A Scraprard Regulator or similar offering will run about $175 on the exchange here. A little more than your budget but they are some ridiculously tough knives.
 
Becker. Any of their line. I have a 16 and it is an outstanding knife; however, for a bit of a longer blade, you cannot go wrong with the BK9.
 
While most of the knives that have been mentioned are really nice knives, I think I have at least held them all, I would go another route. I would go with a Becker, kydex sheath, micarta handles, and esse pouch. You could make a pretty sweet setup right around the top end of your budget. The BK-7 is a great all around knife. ESEE makes some great stuff as well.
 
For your price point get the BK-9 and look on the Becker Knife & Tool thread for all the fun you can have with it. You can modify it with all types of stuff, those Beckerheads have a lot of excellent information about the BK-9. I personally own the BK-2 and can field dress a Buick with it... the Beckers are excellent batoning knives.
 
Hello once again, I just might want to clarify some things I said. I am considering hard use as a knife that can baton wood of various diameters in adverse weater conditions like below 0 degrees Celsius. I once broke a 7 inch KA-BAR Fighting Utility Knife batoning various pieces of wood in below 0 degree Celsius weather. It broke for multiple reasons, 1: It had a stick tang 2: I'm assuming 1095 carbon steel gets brittle in very cold temperatures 3: I was abusing the knife. Now I will still baton wood with a better knife that has a full, expose tang. Also, does the KA-BAR Beckers and the ESEE knifes give off shock in the handles when you chop or baton with the knife? I might go with either a Becker or an ESEE, not sure which model yet.
 
always_an_eagle said:
Hello once again, I just might want to clarify some things I said. I am considering hard use as a knife that can baton wood of various diameters in adverse weater conditions like below 0 degrees Celsius. I once broke a 7 inch KA-BAR Fighting Utility Knife batoning various pieces of wood in below 0 degree Celsius weather. It broke for multiple reasons, 1: It had a stick tang 2: I'm assuming 1095 carbon steel gets brittle in very cold temperatures 3: I was abusing the knife. Now I will still baton wood with a better knife that has a full, expose tang. Also, does the KA-BAR Beckers and the ESEE knifes give off shock in the handles when you chop or baton with the knife? I might go with either a Becker or an ESEE, not sure which model yet.
Click to expand...

Any full tang knife is going to transfer shock to your hand, so if you want full tang that's something you are going to have to live with.

I like ESEE because they are made in America and their warranty is really hard to beat, 100% no questions asked full replacement for any issue you have. I would recommend a 4 or a 6 or a Laser Strike. The 5 is great for batoning but isn't very good for other bushcrafting chores because its pretty thick.
 
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