Need a new cheap fixed blade for hiking season

Fuori said:
Out of curiosity how does the 420HC of the Buck compare to the Krupp 4116?
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Like many steels, how 420HC depends hugely on the heat treat it gets from the knife maker. Buck does an excellent job with 420HC.

I can't tell the difference between Buck's 420HC and Opinel's Sandvick 12C27 or really good 1095. They are fine carbide steels, take a keen edge, are reasonably tough but won't have the abrasion resistance of course carbide steels. But then, they sharpen up very easily on crude stones.

I think the big issue with knives like the Bucklite Max is the difference in the grind. I find hollow grinds like on the Bucks to be good cutters (of rope or meat) but horrible slicers (cardboard, potatoes). In particular, expect the Bucklite Max to bind more when batoning wood. This has to do with the grind, not the steel.

Buck makes a great knife. I wish they offered more knives with a flat or convex grind.

I think the Bucklite Max is a screaming deal.
 
What knife is that^

I have the folding knife itch again and may need another prescription filled ;)
 
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Is the Pacific Salt worth getting in the plain edge? I know the serrated is a tougher knife, but I'm not a fan of them.
 
Most people who suggest them are usually talking about the serrated version, so I wonder if I'd get a knife edge that rolls with the soft steel and plain edge.
 
I would never buy the serrated version unless it was specifically for rescue or cutting rope/nets in a water environment. I think the steel is fine (chips and edge rolls) as long as you don't abuse it. Treat it like a pocket knife not a Becker BK-2 or ESEE 5.
 
I'll get one, dullone. I'd still like to know what's in Pitdog's picture as well. Those are fixed blades, but I still am a sucker for those.

Any other folders? I'm having fun with all the ones I purchased.
 
Take a look at the Kabar Becker BK-15 (fixed blade). You can find them pretty cheap now since they are being discontinued by kabar. I much prefer it to the lighter Moras and so forth. But they cost a bit more too. It feels like a knife you take outdoors, versus a kitchen knife. Frankly, it is all the knife a person needs for normal knife tasks. But we all play and it's fun playing with big knives.
 
Wow, they did go down in price. Why would they drop because they are discontinued? Shouldn't they go up?
 
I've been very pleased with Cold Steel's Krupp line of fixed blades. My favotie is definitely the Pendleton Light Hunter. I like my Moras also but prefer the Pendleton Lite's high hollow grind to the scandi for more general purpose use. The steel on the Pendleton lite hunter has been very decent performer.
 
Fuori said:
Wow, they did go down in price. Why would they drop because they are discontinued? Shouldn't they go up?
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As most things that are discontinued, they (BK-15) probably aren't selling in sufficient volume to keep them in the lineup. I would guess that this blade design has lost a bit of favor to drop points, but I have always liked a pointy blade. Depending on how many knives you have, once you really hold a BK-15 and use it a bit, you'll see it's a good effective design and plenty strong. I doubt they will go up in price much in any reasonable time frame.
 
22-rimfire said:
As most things that are discontinued, they (BK-15) probably aren't selling in sufficient volume to keep them in the lineup. I would guess that this blade design has lost a bit of favor to drop points, but I have always liked a pointy blade. Depending on how many knives you have, once you really hold a BK-15 and use it a bit, you'll see it's a good effective design and plenty strong. I doubt they will go up in price much in any reasonable time frame.
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I like the looks of them. I'm not a fan of a choil, but I don't have a dedicated skinner, so that would fill a need in my collection. The only drawback is would I like that knife for $40 or will I be holding it saying for $35 more I could have had a BK(7,10,2). There are two BK16s in my possession already or that would be on the list too.
 
I doubt you'd be thinking for another $35 or $50 more you could have had one of the others. But, Becker knives are a bit infectious. I like the BK-16 too. I purchased it before I picked up the BK-15. I really can't explain it other than personally I favor the BK-15 blade for general use. For hunting, I actually prefer something like the Cabelas Alaskan Series Buck 192 blade shape; still pretty pointy and yes, it has a choil. It runs about $110 from Cabelas. I like the classic Randall look. I like choils although sometimes they look a bit large. A example of that is the Blackjack 124 which I purchased shortly after it's release in May. I love it (Cost me a bit however, $225 I believe in stag from DLT) and it would in fact be my general purpose hunting blade now even though I own the Alaskan Guide Buck 192 and a number of other similar shaped/sized knives. I carry the BK-15 as a general purpose woods blade when I don't have any particular use reason in mind along with my SAK such as a general woods hike for the day. Heading to the Smoky Mt in a week or so, and I wll probably have it on my belt. Doubt I'll use it for anything, but it's light.
 
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Wow, I'm surprised you carry it more than your 16. You really have me interested now.

Is there a way to strip the finish off other than sanding so it's still safe for food prep? I'm not sure how I feel using paint stripper on it.
 
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Not an expert on stripping the finish, but they talk about that frequently over in the Becker forum. Just clean it good when your done stripping it. I highly doubt any of the chemical will absorb into the steel. I suppose they talk about that too there. It is a pretty good food prep knife, good boning knife, and wouldn't be a bad general hunting knife as long as you can deal with the length. Of course, Mora's will do those things too; I just like slightly more heft and solid feel that the BK-15 gives you.
 
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