Need help deciding on a camp/survival knife

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inspector gadget

Joined
Jun 16, 2007
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Im looking to buy camp/survival knife and im wondering if its worth spending the extra money on something like a SOG bowie or if something a little less expencive like a Benchmade or KA-BAR will serve me just as well?
 
Welcome inspector gadget! This is surely the place for blade choice advise. But be warned you will soon want more knives than what you originally thought about!
 
There is a very similiar thread going on currently in the Wilderness and survival forums under the Training link.
 
You can spend a lot less than a sog bowie and get a better knife.
The SOG recon bowie lists for $275 but sells for around $175.The Bowie II sells for $140. and it is AUS8. I love AUS 8 but it should be on a cheaper knife.

2 great knives: The Benchmade Fixed Griptilian. A 5" 154CM blade for around $60. The Fallkniven F-1, 3 1/2" VG10 blade for $80-90.
Hell the SOG Seal pup is great too and more reasonably priced.
 
inspector gadget said:
Im looking to buy camp/survival knife and im wondering if its worth spending the extra money on something like a SOG bowie or if something a little less expencive like a Benchmade or KA-BAR will serve me just as well?
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I just recently purchased two knives in the that category, and both are excellent, and in the sub sixty dollar price range complete.

One was one of the new large fixed blade Ka-Bar Utility/ Fighting Knives in foliage green with a black coated combo edge blade, and hard sheath. The blade is 1095 Cro Van, and the sheath is excellent. I got it online from www.tomarskabars.com., and received good service.

The other one was a Buck Short Nighthawk w/ a fixed black coated combo blade. I got mine at Wal Mart for $39.00. Nice size, but not in the "illegal" (generally speaking) blade length area, if you forget and leave it in the car after your trip.

It was actually Buck's smaller version of their submission for the Navy SEALs knife contract. The sheath was very poorly made, so I replaced the factory sheath for mine with a Blackhawk Industries nylon sheath. All in all, they are good knives for the money!

If I were to choose between the two, I would say go with the Ka-Bar, and I don't think you would be the least bit disappointed. :D
 
Try a Bark River Northstar or Gameskeeper. IMHO, Bark river makes about production knives to be found.:)
 
I hear the kabars are great so you might consider that. Or one of Ranger's knives; they always get great reviews. I was about to buy one of the USMC kabars myself but then managed to get a Ranger shank for cheap. Thatll be my camp knife along with a mora.
 
I would say the gerber LMF II Or the cold steel bushman, If you have the money go for the gerber. If not, Get a busman. Its a great knife :]
 
For 60$ you can buy a Mora for a cutting knife, a Cold Steel Bushman as a larger bang around knife and a Fiskars hatchet for chopping and splitting.

Or you could buy a tactical fixed blade that's going to be heavy for pro-longed cutting, too short and light for any real chopping and will need a few hours at the benchstones to cut well at all and still come out spending more $$.
 
Don't forget the Buck line. Some of their fixed blades, like the Buck 119, are excellent camp knives.
 
ziptrickhead said:
I hear the kabars are great so you might consider that. Or one of Ranger's knives; they always get great reviews. I was about to buy one of the USMC kabars myself but then managed to get a Ranger shank for cheap. Thatll be my camp knife along with a mora.
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I had my RD-7 delivered yesterday. I have to admit that it inspires confidence. I think I could cut into a tank with it. It is 1/4" thick though and probably wont slice as good as some other knives. If I'm going to be doing any fine work or slicing I'll need to have another knife with me. Knowing me though I'll have two or three. ;)
 
I think a KABAR would serve you just fine, but the Falkniven F1 is also very popular, or you can spend $12 on a Mora #510. Right now my main go to camping/fishing knife is my Mora. For chopping chores I bring a hatchet, but it doesn't get used a whole lot, but at least I have it. But, if you're looking to spend a lot of money there are tons of choices out there so good luck.
 
inspector gadget said:
Im looking to buy camp/survival knife and im wondering if its worth spending the extra money on something like a SOG bowie...
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To answer your question above, "No." Not in my opinion and not for any sort of normal circumstances. I think a standard Ka-Bar with a plain edge and either a leather or synthetic handle would serve you well. For even less money (about $20), a Bushman from Cold Steel would also be an effective knife for you. I have a good variety of Cold Steel knives that I've used with satisfaction for years, from their Trailmaster Bowie to their Master Hunter, but I ignored the Bushman model until they were on sale just prior to Christmas last year. I bought two for $30 then and now I'm impressed with the Bushman. A good, smaller companion knife would be one of the Mora knives from Sweden, and Frost's Clipper for about $10 is a good choice. Some people look down their noses at all low priced knives. I don't. Certain ones are perfectly good, useful knives.
 
It's hard to get a 'jack of all trades' knife. They most often just end up doing nothing terribly well.

For ~$10 you can get a Mora 510, another $20 gets you a Fiskas hatchet. If you feel you need a few more tools, a decent SAK should cost around $20 more. So for ~$50, you'll have your bases totally covered for pretty much anything you could encounter out in the woods, with quality tools that you're not afraid to get out there and use. They all weigh very little compared to their peers, too. What's not to like?

Vivi said it best though:
Or you could buy a tactical fixed blade that's going to be heavy for pro-longed cutting, too short and light for any real chopping and will need a few hours at the benchstones to cut well at all and still come out spending more $$.
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I found found that for me, those medium-sized blades (5-7" blades, or some 'tactical' blades) tend to be mediocre choppers at best, and not great for carving. The bevels are often too thick to easily sharpen, as well. Certainly not fun to clean small game with.

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FOr me, when I look for a camp/ woodsman/ surivial type knife here is what I prefer:
1. Enough blade thickness to be tough, durable, have some weightiness to it, in case need to cut saplings, etc. I Like 1/8" to 3/16"
2. Prefer tough steels to really hard steels.
3. Quality construction without a crazy price tag. Most of my nicest, best-made knives stay oiled and at home because I don't want to abuse them. They're too pretty.
4. Not too big to be obtrusive to carry. I like a blade from 4-5 inches ideally.
5. Drop-point or close to that design because of its durability, use on game, and I think they're easy to sharpen.
6. Plain blade, non-serrated-- simpler to sharpen.
personally I think 1095 is under-rated as an all-purpose steel, as are the 440's.
 
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