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Ontario TAK1 D2 or Becker Companion or?

Radjxf

Radjxf

Joined
Apr 8, 2006
Messages
288
Hello guys. Great forum you've got here. I'm looking for opinions on a good fixed blade knife with 4-5" blade that's preferably under $80. It'll be used for general camping/outdoor duties and probably not called upon to do much finer work such as food prep. Would like something tough that holds an edge well. I've narrowed it down to the Onatario TAK1, Becker Companion, OR ?? I must admit I'm new to all these steel types, and have never heard of 0170-6C (Becker). Any opinions on these two or recommendations are very welcome.

p.s. I know many will recommend a Swamp Rat, but I'm not interested in the wait or the cost right now.
 
I have no experience with the Tak1 but I do have a Campanion and it is one heavy duty knife, no problems there. I think the blade style and shape are perfect for the job you describe but must say though it is on the thick side. This makes it not the best for fine slicing/cutting chores. The handles are something else, some people love them, some hate them. I find the Campanion handle to be a too bulky for my taste and have plans to re-do mine. If you have big hands you might like it just fine. 0170-6C has gained a lot of respect here for being a good blade steel. So has D-2, but I'll wait and let others give you a better comparison of the two than I can. You probably can't go wrong with either for your use.

Hope this helps, and welcome to the forums.
 
Can't speak for the Becker BK2, I have the TAK1 and it is a solid knife for the price. You mentioned that you are looking for "about a 5" blade" The BK2 meets that criterion, the TAK1 is a 4" blade. I don't think you can go wrong with either knife for general outdoor use. You might want to consider the sheath as well, Kydek with the Becker vs Cordura with the TAK.
 
I guess my thoughts on camping tools are evolving a bit. You mention that it is needed for general camping/outdoor chores...but I'm not sure I know what that means anymore. Chopping? Whittling?Food prep?

I used to think that I needed a big knife for camping so I bought a Camp Tramp. It is fine for heavy work, but not great at food prep and a bit too much too carry on a hike (which is often done from a campsite). Truth is that there really isn't a lot of "heavy work" around a camp site. Fallen branches are fine for fires. Shelter building can be done with smaller knives as well. Food prep is a big one though. Cutting open packages, veggies, meats etc...the tramp is cumbersome and the tip is harder to control than, say my Fox River.

So I guess I feel like you are in a strange blade size for really useful stuff. 5" is a bit too small to be an excellent chopper usually, yet a little big to be an effective fine worker. I think a good 3.5 - 4" blade would suit most outdoor needs short of chopping. I just don't chop nearly as much as a I thought I did while camping. If I really need to chop, an axe is far superior - even a little one...

Sorry for the unsolicited opinions...back to your question:

I think the Ontario is a better choice as the Campanion would be too wide and cumbersome for some things and not big enough for other things. That is just me, of course, YMMV.

Also consider:

http://www.dlttradingcompany.com/index.php?cPath=24_166
http://www.dlttradingcompany.com/index.php?cPath=24_111

These blades are big enough for some heavy work, yet small enough for general use. Won't chop too well, but you can baton the hell out of them. The clip point is something too look at too... Unconditional warranty is nice.
 
Appreciate all the info so far. I'll clarify a bit. "about 5" means more like 4-5", probably not larger since I don't want to deal with the weight. I'll speculate that the main uses will be cutting small branches, whittling, etc., not a lot of chopping. Really looking hard at the Ontario TAK1 and RAT5, but next decision is 1095 or D2? D2 appeals to me since I'd like something that holds an edge longer, but 1095 seems to have more fans overall. Decisions, decisions...
 
My vote is for the BK&T Companion. This is one tough little (5") knife and with your price range set I doubt if you would be sorry you bought it.
I do have several BK&T models and I can't find fault with any of them. I have small hands and at first I did not think I would like the BK&T handles but after you hold it for awhile it turns out to feel pretty good with lots of support in your hand.

Ciao
muzzleup
:thumbup:
 
I had a Becker Campanion. I think the handles are great on the BK9 sized blades but way overkill on something the size of the Campanion. Honesty, I thought the whole knife was overkill for its' size, if that makes sense. For only a five inch blade, it was incredibly bulky and heavy. It has the heft of a good 7" camp knife while not providing the chopping power of the bigger blade. In short, I felt like it was a huge knife, masquerading as a small knife, not able to do the job of either one.

For an economical price, you could consider the BK11... I think that's the right number. It is the Crewman/Utility knife. It has a more narrow blade than the Campanion, cutting down on weight and increasing sliceability (probably) but it still has the large grips.

I EDC a SRKW Howling Rat that is only a lil shorter but is the perfect knife in that size for me. Your thoughts may vary. There is the wait to consider for that one, since you'll be waiting for the "new line."

Another to consider is Bark River Knife and Tool. They make awesome convex, carbon blades that are really suited to what you are looking for... many of their models can be had for under your budget of $80.

Good luck!
 
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