need advice on buying high-end knife... with pics.

Status
Not open for further replies.
D

DPC

Joined
Dec 28, 2013
Messages
479
So the knives I like are usually 300-400$ , and I'm not talking about custom made ones, just regular brands.

Here are some that I like and have considered, but they're all ridden with problems. As you will see, I like the military oriented knives (or that is what they were called some time ago) with a hilt, dont mind a partially sharpened back edge.

Notice that I only showcase the problems I see in the knives I like, I take for granted that they are all great looking and appeal greatly to me.

The reason of being for me posting this is to take some advice from any of you that have some of these and / or that have more experience than I do with this type of knife, since as you can tell if you read this I am very lost (not extremely but I mean I'd appreciate some help)

7" randall model 1-7 :

P1080991.JPG


-Too expensive to just buy from a retailer - if it costs that much, I'd rather order it exactly how I want it directly from Randall
-Takes too long to deliver (4 years right now)
-Steel is somewhat outdated (I'd feel bad sharpening it constantly being the workhorse it would become)
-I dont like how thin the tang is (at all)
-I dont like Cold Steel's Military Classic nor Blackjack's 1-7 ( I do but if I bought a 1-7 it'd be a Randall)

Randall model 14 :

getimage.php


-Dont like the blade shape as much as the 1-7 (wider, less choking comfort, less manageable)
-Same other problems the 1-7 has ( - the tang, which is a plus in this model)
-Less utility oriented ( again, I just feel the 1-7 has the superior handling)

Dustar Arad :

large-dsarad1silsfe.jpg


-Very spartan for the money (not very good finishes/design, bad factory edge )
-Not saying Dustar are bad, actually saying they are relatively new and need refinement
-Steel

Dustar Dimona:

large-dsdimonadx.jpg


-Same problems as the Arad + lack of a proper (what I consider proper) hilt, although this may not be such a grievous issue.

Chris Reeve Green Beret (Nope, I think not)

-Serrations (Dont like 'em , dont want 'em)
-This : http://www.cliffstamp.com/knives/reviews/green_beret.html
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...-Green-Beret-Video-Desrtuction-Test-Completed
green_berets_broken.jpg

('nough said)

Strider MK1

1354-1.jpg


-Over the top price (425 USD) for a slab of steel that doesn't even have grips (custom work could be done, but that means extra $$$), IMO
- I actually dont mind the color scheme, it's just that they look too spartan (this time meaning "simple") for such a steep price (not implying they aren't that awesome though, I dont know about that)

Spartan Blades Harsey model 2

spartan-harsey.jpg


-Looks a bit "over the top" maybe?
-IDK what to think of a company that sells a bead for 165USD , but I can be biased of
-I've heard that their steel is brittle for such a big blade (good for folders, bad for wide long blades)

Treeman Knives 2nd Gen LRRP spear point

0000893_lrrp-spear-point-fighter.jpeg


-Dont really like the desingn (Treeman's designs in general) compared to the others
-Looks like it is freaking huge and thick and heavy (same goes for other Treemans)
-Point looks too round

(Also Treeman sells readily available Randalls at a decent price)

Robson Knives x-46

Robson-Knives-Idaho-X-46-courtesy-The-Truth-ABout-Kinves.jpg


-Hollow handle (I have no use for it) HOWEVER: it can be ordered with micarta inserts, thus filling the inside and solving the problem.
-They look plain in comparison to Calico Forge Knives, their cousins (Calico Forge are, like Strider, a bit over the top for my budget)

Entrek Merc Mk II

merc%20mkII%20lg.jpg


-I'm not sure about that hilt
-It is basically a dagger
-I already love and may purchase a Mk II Close Combar, a purpose-built dagger, thus buying a similar (and similarly expensive) entrek seems redundant

Ka-Bar D2 Extreme (I know it's much cheaper)

-Serrations
-I hear it chips more frecuently than a regular usmc ka-bar

So, Again, If any of you have any tips I'de be more than happy to read them. If this decission ends up bothering me I gess I'll purchase a regular ka-bar that I bet will serve me just as well. Am I :jerkit: too much?.

Thanks in advance
 
Last edited:
I wouldnt fret about the green beret breaking....it was put in a vice for the sole purpose of breaking it... of course it was gonna break.


Honestly though head to the custom maker section here. For 3-400 you could easily have something nice made
 
in regards to the Spartan blades... i think you might be mislead so far as the steel being brittle. I have personally tested the defensa on numerous occasions and have found it to be really quite tough for a stainless blade and i can assure you i didn't baby it any. I stabbed it into a car door a few times (minor tip flattening ) batonned through a fair bit of wood and hacked a deer antler in half with one and had no damage to the blade whatsoever, so i think it's considered at least "pretty tough" and wouldn't worry about it for any hard use situations.
 
As was said above, the spartan is a tough blade and very well made, s35vn is some tough stuff I've used it hard in other blades with no problems at all. The chris reeve green beret is the same, very tough well made and balanced. I used mine a lot and liked it. The breakage crap is just that crap. The randall knives have been used hard for decades, the tang is not an issue neither is the steel they perform very well. For that matter so do the blackjack versions.

Now if you want a real tough combat style knife the Busse team gemini light bridgade is pretty hard to beat. Infi is very tough and takes and holds a very good edge. Its well balanced, quick in the hand and as tough as it gets. For the money your wanting to spend you can also get a first rate custom from any number of great makers here on the forum. As well as a number of other well known makers who do versions of the randall style blades.
 
evltcat said:
:thumbup: THIS! Get a TGLB and you'll never look back! :D
They come up in the Exchange all the time if you don't want to wait.

Here's mine:
10502233376_3fa77800ff_b.jpg
Click to expand...

Man that knife is beautiful ! ( Well beautiful might not be the right word, but you guys know what I mean)
 
If it is going to be a workhorse then TGLB, Dozier, or have one made to your specs out of cpm 3v at 60 rc. But for a working knife looks are less important than how it performs, in terms of blade shape and geometry and handle comfort. What will you be using it for?
 
Go Busse fo sho. No doubt about it. If you want to spend a little less, get a Swamp Rat or Scrap Yard.
 
What are you going to use it for? If it's for camping/garden work, I use this. It's the BVCAK from H.I and so far it been a great chopper for its size. Hand forged, differentially heat treated 5160 steel, and for $60(65? Don't remember) ya can't go wrong. She may not be the prettiest, but she gets work done.
dLVwBdD.jpg
 
Well thank you, that has been very clarifying.

I always thought about the Busses and I guess I forgot to include them in the first post. Not a bad choice at all I guess, since INFI does in fact look superior to other steels, and for around the same price the other knives I listed have. Not implying that a ka-bar is crap because it has an "inferior" steel, just saying that for a crapload of money (well it's true I've seen knives sell for much much more) you seem to get better toughness out of a Busse than, say, a Dustar or a Randall.

I like the TGLB but I have my doubts, since it looks big and wide and it is freaking heavy. I'm still having a bad time choosing between a TGLB or a Boss Jack, that looks way more manageable, is lighter, thinner (aka less wide) and shorter.

Hmmm.. I like both the TGLB and the Boss Jack but I also love the Kz2 for a chopper and the Active Duty to be used as a utility knife, which means I dont really need any of the previous two.

Well again thank you everyone, I guess now my problem is between two Busses instead of ten or so knives.
 
The Busse TGLB is not that big nor that heavy, I think. 7.75 inch blade and I believe around 16 ounces. I think it is a very good answer to your question. Nonetheless I would also recommend to take a look at Fehrman Knives!
 
The Blackjack Classic #7 compared to the Randall #1 is like comparing lead to gold, they are both heavy, soft metal, but the gold shines no matter what you do to it! I have one of each in my collection.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top