New to the game. Need a knife for camping!

[cloudpost]

Hey blade forums, new member and new to knives. I am graduating college in a week and will finally have some time for myself before i get a job. I really want to start camping more and hopefully ease myself into "survival" camping as time goes on. I currently have a leatherman wave but no knives in my arsenal. After reading and familiarizing myself with some manufactures I think I am ready to make my first purchase. Currently I am looking to buy one knife and I am torn between the becker bk-2 bk-7 and bk-5. I am however open to different knives/manufactures. My budget is under $80.

 

[buckmaster96]

bk9 a bk9 or a bk9

 

[buckmaster96]

bk4 a bk4 or a bk4 if you can go about 10 dollars above

 

[sqoon]

The Beckers are great, but if you are on a budget, check out the Condor Rodan or the Varan. Solid quality. Good leather sheaths. Cheap enough to experiment with while you figure out what you like. Neither should cost more than about $30, so you have plenty of money left over for other gear.

I've really been getting into Condor lately. You'll find that opinions are mixed on them. For many, they see the value and beauty in the rougher nature of them, but for the perfectionist, you might want to stick with something more finished and less... organic.

 

[Maddogg774]

Look also at Ontario. Sp45 or Rat or ranger series. Great knives great price.

 

[cloudpost]

haha wow the bk4 and bk9 are a little to big i feel. Looking for a sub 8"knife

 

[Quietguy4ever]

Welcome, I'm pretty new myself but love me some Becker. Bk2 was my first Becker though the bk5 looks pretty sweet. The bk7 will be great for chopping.

 

[jbass]

Becker BK2 or Condor Rodan.

 

[Zookie]

Don't pay you're bills and buy a Busse.

 

[razorsdescent]

You know for 5 extra dollars you can get a handmade knife from shadowtech knives. So not only will you get a knife thats handmade youll get a custom fitted kydex sheath and a kick-ass warranty. So not only will you get a great product but you will be supporting the custom industry.

I really dont see how you can ask for anymore. and you can probably scrounge up 5.00 dollars in quarters if you wait long enough or search your couch.

http://stknives.com/HUNTERS.html

 

[dericdesmond]

Don't pay you're bills and buy a Busse.

Or pay the bills, eat raman and get a swamp rat or scrapyard (hint hint SY 711. User or queen, its a safe investment)

 

[GingivitisKahn]

Good list of choices! From that, I'd pick the BK2 for sure. I do seem to take / use my BK9 more but there's no way you are under-knifed with a BK2. Thing is outstanding and will do everything you throw at it from chopping...

... to whittling ...

... and about everything in between ...

---

Beckerhead #42

 

[OrdnanceBubbaUSMC]

You know for 5 extra dollars you can get a handmade knife from shadowtech knives. So not only will you get a knife thats handmade youll get a custom fitted kydex sheath and a kick-ass warranty. So not only will you get a great product but you will be supporting the custom industry.

I really dont see how you can ask for anymore. and you can probably scrounge up 5.00 dollars in quarters if you wait long enough or search your couch.

http://stknives.com/HUNTERS.html

Thanks for bringing this up, like the designs and cost on a lot of these (surprising prices) and might get a couple in the future. Sheaths are pretty important if you actually use and carry a fixed blade and theirs looks like a pretty good set up. If you look at price for separate kydex and micarta scales for some production blades you end up with the price of one of these knives anyway.

 

[BRL]

I started off with a BK2 and got a BK7 later, and would have done the opposite if I could start over. 7 is a better chopper due to length, better slicer since its thinner, the extra length helps when poking at something in a fire, is lighter, has a thumbramp, is still completely bombproof, and I like the nylon sheath better than the hard plastic one. Only drawback is it looks way more like a combat knife and it'll make other people in your campgrounds nervous. Strip off the black; that'll help.

The Becker line is so solid its not even funny. Whichever one you buy will outlast you and your kids. And really, the whole BK2 vs BK7 thing... flip a coin. Heads? You win. Tails? You win.

 

[Axisjoe]

I agree with the majority so far here. I have a BK7 and just traded my BK9 for a BK2. I plan on using my 2 most the time when camping and outdoor activities. And know I can't go wrong after all the reviews and some videos I watched on it.