Need Some Advice

M

Moses2792796

Joined
Jun 30, 2012
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186
Greetings,

I need a knife that meets some fairly specific requirements and was hoping to get some advice from the experts - or anyone with an opinion - on this forum.

Here goes, I'm looking for a full-tang fixed blade of at least 5", preferably 6"-8". I need a fairly tough steel with good corrosion resistance as I will be traveling along coastlines fairly regularly. I need a knife suitable for survival tasks such as fire and shelter making, but also a knife which will make an effective self defense weapon, especially against large animals like crocodiles. For this purpose I need a knife with a penetrating yet sturdy point. I would like an ergonomic water resistant handle (ie, not leather), same goes for the sheath. I would prefer a straight edge but don't mind a partially serrated edge. Hammer pommel is also preferable but not required.

Finally I would rather not spend more than $200. If I find a knife that meets these requirements at this price I will probably buy two.

Knives I have considered are the SOG Gov-Tac (although I wasn't sure how effective it would be for penetration), the SOG Tech-Bowie (not sure about how sturdy the point is), the Buck-TOPS Nighthawk. I already own a couple of knives meeting most of these requirements in 1095 steel, but I am a bit worried about how they will hold up in salt-water environments over extended periods.

Just to clarify, I have no intention of deliberately putting myself in a position where I would need to use the knife to fight off a croc or anything else, I would just like the knife to be capable in this role just in case.

Thanks in advance for any recommendations you guys can give me.
 
I'm getting a Hen&Rooster bowie as a graduation present. 8-inch blade, 13 inches OAL, with ram's horn handle slabs and full tang construction. The steel is apparently German'y version of 440C, but I know nothing about the heat-treat or construction (it's made in Spain) except that everyone I've asked who has it likes it.

When it arrives I'll tell you what I think.

hen%2520rooster%25205033%2520bowie.JPG
 
Why dont you contact Alan Davis and have him fix one the way you want it. I promise it will be nice and you can pick the steel, handle and all! If you want a production Cold Steel, Kabar or SOG may have what you need. Good Luck! Kevin :D
 
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If you want a really good knife, I would buy a KA-BAR & Becker BK-7. This knife can be used as a self-defense knife, and a survival knife. The steel is a solid 1095 steel, the only thing I would worry about with this steel is that it may rust, or stain. The handle is a fiberglass one so it will NOT get damaged by water, and the sheath is a sturdy Kydex sheath. This knife is built to take a beating with it's 1/4 in. think blade. But, the best thing about this knife is the price it's a great bang for your buck.
 
↑ The BK7 comes with a nylon sheath. Ka-bar recently improved the quality of its factory sheaths but they're still not made from Kydex.

I love my BK7, though I wanted something more traditional so I opted to beg and plea for the knife above.
 
Another vote for the BK 7. I think the scales that come with it are slippery when it. You can get micarta scales for about 40.00 I think. With these it is a lot better for gripping.
 
Thanks for the recommendations guys. The Hen and Rooster looks good. I like the BK7 but like I said, I'm worried about taking 1095 (and other non-stainless) knives into marine environments for extended periods.
 
Out of curiosity, what are you doing that you might need to use a knife on a crocodile? Sounds wild. What knife (if any) do you currently have? Have you ever used a 6-8" blade for an extended period of time? Maybe I'm just a wuss, but I've found blades that long to be more of a hindrance than a help. I would strongly recommend carrying a knife that large around for a while on your hip (if you can find one to borrow). It can get pretty heavy! Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to dissuade you from your choice.

When I go out into the bush, I like to have a small hatchet and a 4" full tang fixed blade.

http://www.barkriverknifetool.com/B-NorthstarCPM.htm

Something like this is very very useable, comes with micarta scales (grippy when wet) and is a heck of a lot easier to use/carry than a large knife. I live on the west coast of Canada, and spend a LOT of time out doors. I use primarly carbon steel blades, and don't have issues. Granted, I wipe my blade with oil after each use.

Not that I have spent much time stabbing crocks, but I think 4" would do the same job that 6-8" would. I also wouldn't want to rely on a knife to defend against croc's. For that, I'd want a gun. Knives for defense in a wilderness situation is asking for trouble, in my opinion. Obviously as a last ditch option, a knife is better than nothing.

Drop point tips are very useful in the great outdoors. Pretty good at stabbing, penetrating, and very strong. Quite agile as well for a variety of cutting chores.

If you are comfortable with a large knife, then I second the Hen & Rooster bowie. Heard many great things.
 
timbit said:
Out of curiosity, what are you doing that you might need to use a knife on a crocodile? Sounds wild. What knife (if any) do you currently have? Have you ever used a 6-8" blade for an extended period of time? Maybe I'm just a wuss, but I've found blades that long to be more of a hindrance than a help. I would strongly recommend carrying a knife that large around for a while on your hip (if you can find one to borrow). It can get pretty heavy! Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to dissuade you from your choice.

Not that I have spent much time stabbing crocks, but I think 4" would do the same job that 6-8" would. I also wouldn't want to rely on a knife to defend against croc's. For that, I'd want a gun. Knives for defense in a wilderness situation is asking for trouble, in my opinion. Obviously as a last ditch option, a knife is better than nothing.
Click to expand...

Fishing trip along the northern coast of Australia, starting in the Kimberley and heading East. Just to be clear I have absolutely NO INTENTION OF ACTUALLY TRYING TO TACKLE A CROC WITH A BLADE, I'd just like the knife to be capable in this role in case I had no other choice (ie, if one had me or one of my friends by the leg). I made a similar thread on another forum and people seemed to get the impression that I was planning on trying to find crocs and take them out with a knife. That is not the primary reason I am getting this knife. I guess I should have realized that mentioning crocodiles would generate more discussion than anything else.

Anyway, I do actually prefer large knives. At the moment I carry a full-size Kabar on my belt for camping and hiking trips, I also carry an Opinel pocket folder and a camp saw. Pretty much all my woodwork can be done with these three tools. I prefer the larger knife for added chopping, hacking and splitting capabilities. Keep in mind that I do alot of hiking, so I can't carry an axe and even a machete is somewhat inconvenient. I find a good large knife plus a good quality folding knife are adequate for pretty much all tasks. So that said I'm not really worried about the size of the knife. I'd like something like a Kabar but with better corrosion resistance basically.
 
Spyderco Aqua Salt, if you can find one?

Honestly, with very little care you can keep a 1095 blade corrosion resistant. Since this appears to be a 'do it all' kind of knife choice, I would make sure you use food grade mineral oil and keep the blade clean as much as possible.
Hope you have a wonderful trip, and when you get back, pics or it didn't happen!
 
Check out the Fallkniven range. Designed for what you are proposing. Laminated VG10 is resilient & rust resistant. They offer a choice of sheath, plastic or leather. Sounds like you need plastic.
 
I'd say contact a maker to build your knife the way you want it. There's a lot of fixed blade knives under 200 and quite a few makers that will custom build your knife for 200 or less.
 
If you want to go with a production knife specific to your needs check out esse knives. Great knives great people They will have all the gear you need as well
 
Moses,
I don't know if someone has already mentioned this or not. But with your requirements and all it almost seems that this knife along with others I'm sure would fit your needs plus more.

The 1277 Ka-Bar Large Heavy Bowie is an awful lot of knife that can handle ANY type of outdoor camping/survival/ Croc- Alligator etc. etc. scenarios. It comes with a 9" blade/ 0.236" thick / OAL of 14 1/4" * Has an extremely comfortable kraton handle, of course a clip point design.

You can pick up this piece from anywhere between the $45.00 - $57.00 range. Mine had never let me down, never. Good luck with your pick.
 
I have to recommend the Buck 119. 420HC is easy to sharpen on the road and has very good corrosion resistence. I have done quite abit of barra fishing around darwin and the surrounding back waters and i must say more often than not the croc is on your catch (and potentially you) long before you even know its in the area. But that being said if you can get a clean view of its soft underside a 119 would be your best chance of making a mess of him.

Goodluck mate and i hope you catch that 100cm+ barra :thumbup:
 
I believe the new 2012 versions of the cold steel leatherneck are stainless, looks like the basic ka-bar design but using a synthetic handle, priced around $50. 6.75" stainless blade, hammer pommel, synthetic handle.
 
Falkniven S1 would seem to fit the bill, or the slightly larger A1. VG10 blade laminated with stainless steel to aid your corrosion resistance. Have to say I do like the Nighthawk as well though.
 
I don't own one yet but an ESEE 5 or 6 sounds like a good choice for what you are wanting. They are 1095 though so they can rust if not properly maintained but they are coated plus the scales are removable micarta so you can take them off with the right screwdriver and clean off the tang if you need to plu they come with a kydex sheath.
 
Thank for the recommendations guys, I must say I'm still leaning towards the Buck-TOPS Nighthawk, although I now have quite a few other blades to consider.
 
Since you know you like the kabar, how about a kabar next generation? Basically it's the same knife, with stainless blade and synthetic handle.
 
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