Need Help for Survival Knife - PLEASE

S

SEALTeam6

Joined
Mar 9, 2015
Messages
15
Hi BladeForum!

I'm a newbie here, so please take it easy on me :-). I'm looking for a survival/bushcraft knife that can be used for SHTF and for campaing/wildnerness/survival use (processing wood, cutting ability and the occasional baton). I already have an ESEE 6, but am looking to add another. I have been looking at the Becker BK2, Condor Crotalus (gorgeous knife), Schrade SCHF9 and Schrade SCHFN3. However, I know there are others that I'm not looking at, purely by nature of how many choices there are in the market. Here's my criteria:

<$75
0.188" - 0.25" thick (0.20" ideal)
5.5" - 6" blade (5.5 ideal)
1070 Carbon Steel/1095 Carbon (Heat Treated)
Micarta/G10 scales
Kydex/hard plastic type sheath
Exposed pommel for hammering (i.e. BK2, ESEE 6) preferred but NOT mandatory
I prefer black coating on the blade to help prevent rusting

I absolutely love the look of the ESEE and Condor Crotalus knives, so if there's something that is similar in look/feel to those, please let me know. I'm not 100% sold on the handle material and ergonomics of the BK2, hence my hesitation. Unfortunately, no retailers around me carry the Beckers for me to "feel it out".

Thee Condor Crotalus is on delay from the manufacturer (as per Knife Center), so don't know when that will be in-stock...that's why I'm debating on something else to get. Anyone have any experience with the Crotalus and/or Condor in general? Are they as good in terms of quality and warranty as Kabar and ESEE?

Apologies for all the questions but I appreciate you helping out a fellow knife lover.

SEAL Team 6 out...
 
I would lean toward the Kabar Becker BK-10 versus the BK-2. The thickness of the steel makes the BK-2 into a prybar and as a result, I never carried mine. The BK-10 is a more reasonable choice along the same lines. The factory handles are a little slippery but are very comfortable especially if you have large hands. You can always change out the handles if you don't care for them after using them a bit. Believe it or not, one of my favorite woods knives is the BK-15 which has a slimmer handle like the BK-16/17. It may not look cool relative to the tactical craze, but it is sure a good user. By the way, the BK-16 and -17 are great knives and very very useful. They are a pleasure to carry and plenty strong enough for most woods activities.

Condors make a very affordable product. I love their machetes. The Pack Golok is one of my favorites as is the El Salvador. The Condor knife that I am pondering is the Moonshiner which is a much larger knife than you are looking at.
 
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My favorite carbon steel fixed blade is the Becker BK12/ RSK Mk2; its big but has great geometry and can still cut like a smaller knife.
 
As always my 5.8'' Mora Allround is my go-to survival knife, it's $20 and has most of what you're looking for. The handle is more comfortable than your G10/Micarta options, and there's no exposed butt to hammer with, and it's not coated with DLC.

Yeah, it's not a very sexy option, but for a budget survival knife it's among the best options for the price.
 
KingMC said:
As always my 5.8'' Mora Allround is my go-to survival knife, it's $20 and has most of what you're looking for. The handle is more comfortable than your G10/Micarta options, and there's no exposed butt to hammer with, and it's not coated with DLC.

Yeah, it's not a very sexy option, but for a budget survival knife it's among the best options for the price.
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Appreciate the Mora suggestion, but I am just not into their knives. Very thin blade and looks like a kitchen knife. I have no doubt it's a good knife, it's just not for me.

Any other suggestions?
 
Ontario knives RBS-9.

0.188" thick 1095 steel, 9 inch blade, Micarta scales.
Right around $70-$80 most places.
 
Beckers are neither 1095 nor 1070. They are better steel than either, if that matters.

What are the other guys in DEVGRU using? ;)

A regular Kabar is tough, has a pommel and is made of the same steel as the Beckers.
 
Baryonyx should have that Condor you referenced (shows in stock right now actually). I would just stick with that, since you like it, and since it is actually available...
 
IMO, one of the main reasons to get a Becker knife is the ergos. The handle designs are just oh so comfortable to me, and the rest of the knives are very well thought out. I even like the stock handle material, since its just the right balance between grippy, and smooth (ie, you won't loose it out of your hands while chopping, but it also won't give you blisters).

You already own an ESEE 6, and most of the knives you've listed are very similar. So if it were me, and I already had an ESEE 6, and wanted something similar, I'd get a Becker BK12 (Ritter MK2, whatever you want to call it), or if you're looking for something a bit cheaper, I'd get the BK10.

Also, personally, if I was looking for a knife to do lots of wood processing, it would be something bigger. I also am a big fan of carrying two blades, each one more specialized than the general ~5-6in blades you're looking at. I have a BK2, and like it, but find that I use my Mora and my BK9 better in the woods, it hardly weighs any more, and does a LOT better at each extreme. Something to think about at least.

Good luck with whatever you do.
 
CapitalizedLiving said:
Baryonyx should have that Condor you referenced (shows in stock right now actually). I would just stick with that, since you like it, and since it is actually available...
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Thanks for the heads up on this. I checked the site and it looks like it's also out of stock. Added the knife to my cart and received an alert that is not in stock.
 
RX-79G said:
Beckers are neither 1095 nor 1070. They are better steel than either, if that matters.

What are the other guys in DEVGRU using? ;)

A regular Kabar is tough, has a pommel and is made of the same steel as the Beckers.
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Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the Schrade SCHF9 and the becker line uses 1095 steel (kabar adding Chromium and vanadium).

The kabar usmc is s nice knife but I'm looking for full tang. Appreciate the help.
 
SEALTeam6 said:
Thanks for the heads up on this. I checked the site and it looks like it's also out of stock. Added the knife to my cart and received an alert that is not in stock.
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You should go fishing on the "Big River" site.
Seems like the Crotalus fish are biting there. ;)
 
SEALTeam6 said:
Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the Schrade SCHF9 and the becker line uses 1095 steel (kabar adding Chromium and vanadium).

The kabar usmc is s nice knife but I'm looking for full tang. Appreciate the help.
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According to Mr Ethan Becker, and a few others that seem to be a good source, 1095Cro-van (CV) is distinct enough to be considered its own steel, which is why its labeled as such. It behaves slightly differently and many say it behaves closer to O1 (and old Cold Steel Carbon V) in its performance. Another name for the 1095CV is 50100B if you'd like to look that one up for more help knowing the difference :).
 
ocnLogan said:
According to Mr Ethan Becker, and a few others that seem to be a good source, 1095Cro-van (CV) is distinct enough to be considered its own steel, which is why its labeled as such. It behaves slightly differently and many say it behaves closer to O1 (and old Cold Steel Carbon V) in its performance. Another name for the 1095CV is 50100B if you'd like to look that one up for more help knowing the difference :).
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I agree. Have always considered Cro-van to be it's own steel. My experience with it has been good, particularly when used for outdoor activities of all kinds.
 
Bk2 is hard to beat... but the sheath stinks lol.
 
levernutt said:
Second the recommendation for the BK 10 although I think it is slightly north of $75.
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It does tend to hang around the $70-80 mark. But other than that, its pretty much spot on for the specs that he's looking for. I don't have one of these, but if I had to do it over again, I'd be buying a BK10 instead of a BK2.

Also, its worth noting that for the full sized becker knives that are 3/16in thick, I much prefer to add handle liners under the scales to give the handle a bit more girth. Once I do that, I love the fit they have.
 
50100B (1095CV), W2, Cru Forge V, O1, A2 and 52100 are all going to be a step up from 1095 in carbon steel performance while still largely behaving the same.

An Enzo Camper in O1 might be another possibility. Or one of the Schrade one piece hollow handle knives, like the SCHF1SM. Depends what you expect the knife to do.
 
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