Please help me choose a budget fixed blade or axe combo..

BellaBlades

BellaBlades

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Jul 12, 2013
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So I have been researching fixed blades and I've narrowed it down to the following companies. Tops, Ontario and Ka-Bar-Becker. I primarily have carried folders my entire life and a cheap machete. When it comes to folders I know plenty and can easily research the rest.

But when it comes to fixed blades. I have to admit I'm a little lost. I'd really like to get Bob Dozier fixed blade or a Chris Reeve Pacific but I'm trying to buy a house so that is not in the budget at this time.

I am kind of torn. I am not sure if I want a small fixed blade something around 4 in of cutting edge and a hatchet or a larger fixed blade to get it all done.

I will be doing plenty of hiking, fishing, yard work.... etc.

What are your thoughts and I would also like to know if one of these companies stands out above the rest.

I'd like to keep it around 100$ no matter what I do. If there is anything I missed please lmk.

I sold my Bk16 as it was not very good at chopping.

I currently own CRK ti-lock, BM AFO II, Custom Dozier , Cold steel Pocket Bushman , Mora companion and a few machete, nice Kai kitchen set and cheap slippies.

Thank you.
 
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Esee 6 should be a good choice either that or a bk2. I'd probably go with the esee for the extra blade length and less weight but either will serve you well as a general camp type knife. What kind of things would you be doing with it?
 
I have been carrying a TOPS Wolf Pax hatchet/small knife combo that I got off the exchange for 100 even, and I have been really enjoying them. Before that I used a BK 4 as a do-everything blade, or a BK 10 if space or ease of getting in or out of vehicles was an issue. Most of the Beckerheads seem to swear by the 2 instead of the 10, but I had a really good coupon on the 10 and have been quite happy; both are under $100. If you have time to wait, an occasional BK 9 will come out at the Exchange in the 100 dollar range, and those are really nice for just about everything. I don't have a 7, but the 9 is one fine tool and I don't regret the extra length at all.
 
ESEE 4. Perfect size that fits into your criteria and it runs right around $100.00

Best part is it comes with a FOREVER warranty. NOT lifetime. FOREVER.
 
Depends on the length or style of knife. Becker and Ontario each are amazing for value, but each has something the other doesn’t. Ontario doesnt have anything like the bk9. Becker doesn’t have anything like the rtak2. Ontario knives for the most part come with micarta grips, Becker’s come with plastic but once you upgrade to micarta, it is one of the most comfortable and ergonomic handles ever invented. For the under $100, Becker knives with micarta upgrade is out. The rat5, tak1, or rd4-6 by Ontario will come with micarta handles. The rtak2 is at .2” thick a great chopper/machete combination. You may be able to find a bk5 with micarta for under $100, this blade is 8 1/2” and can do everything.
 
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Great information folks. I figure my Dozier folder and Mora can handle anything medium duty that needs to be cut in the sub 4 inch range.

I realize every tool has a purpose.
Some knives are meant for chopping and some are meant for utility. Which is kind of where I'm stuck. Maybe Fiskars axe plus)
 
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BellaBlades said:
So I have been researching fixed blades and I've narrowed it down to the following companies. Tops, Ontario and Ka-Bar-Becker. I primarily have carried folders my entire life and a cheap machete. When it comes to folders I know plenty and can easily research the rest.

But when it comes to fixed blades. I have to admit I'm a little lost. I'd really like to get Bob Dozier fixed blade or a Chris Reeve Pacific but I'm trying to buy a house so that is not in the budget at this time.

I am kind of torn. I am not sure if I want a small fixed blade something around 4 in of cutting edge and a hatchet or a larger fixed blade to get it all done.

I will be doing plenty of hiking, fishing, yard work and I'm a first responder.... etc.

What are your thoughts and I would also like to know if one of these companies stands out above the rest.

I'd like to keep it around 100$ no matter what I do. If there is anything I missed please lmk.

I sold my Bk16 as it was not very good at chopping.

I currently own CRK ti-lock, BM AFO II, Custom Dozier , Cold steel Pocket Bushman , Mora companion and a few machete and cheap slippies.

Thank you.
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If you feel like parting with that Ti-Lock, I have one of the best options out there. Unlike other Busses, this one is ready to carry, custom sheath and all.

Check out my sig. I can make an exception to my trade stipulation.

That being said I truly feel that the Busse Park Ranger is one of your best possible options. Though it is above your cash limit.
Within your budget look for a Becker BK5.
 
BellaBlades said:
Great information folks. I figure my Dozier folder and Mora can handle anything medium duty that needs to be cut in the sub 4 inch range.

I realize every tool has a purpose.
Some knives are meant for chopping and some are meant for utility. Which is kind of where I'm stuck.

What is the smallest fixed blade that will still have the geometry to chop? I feel if I go above a six inch cutting edge. Utility will be an issue.
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That really depends on how hard you want to work. The BK 9 is 15 inches long and eats wood like a starving beast. But my 10" long Wolf Pax with a 3" blade also chops quite nicely, because it is an ax. Your 16, while a nice knife, lacked the mass to really deliver energy like a heavier blade. I used my BK 10 to chop down small, shade-grown Birch trees in Alaska, and that 5.5" blade is as small as I want to go with a knife like that. Yet all the while I was doing it, I was thinking, "Dammit, next time I am packing the 4 or the 9 in my luggage." If you want to drop a bit of weight off, the BK 5 is an awesome choice. I use mine basically in the kitchen, despite my wife's rolling eyes, because it takes a hell of an edge and has a nice choil to choke up for fine work. They are discontinued but still available for $90 at BHQ, and pop up on the Exchange at wildly variable prices.

A great budget chopper that hits way above it's cost, is--okay, bear with me here--the Zomstro. They are on clearance at the Ka-Bar website for $45. I got one to practice engraving because of the wide blade, but it has proven to be hugely useful at yard work chores. I did have to grind the handle a bit to make it more friendly, but I have yet to actually mod it further simply because I keep it in use so much. Yes, it looks funny, and the name is....well, laughable. But the performance is no joke, and if you do get that house, having the extra $50 in your pocket is going to be useful.
 
BellaBlades said:
So I have been researching fixed blades and I've narrowed it down to the following companies. Tops, Ontario and Ka-Bar-Becker. I primarily have carried folders my entire life and a cheap machete. When it comes to folders I know plenty and can easily research the rest.

But when it comes to fixed blades. I have to admit I'm a little lost. I'd really like to get Bob Dozier fixed blade or a Chris Reeve Pacific but I'm trying to buy a house so that is not in the budget at this time.

I am kind of torn. I am not sure if I want a small fixed blade something around 4 in of cutting edge and a hatchet or a larger fixed blade to get it all done.

I will be doing plenty of hiking, fishing, yard work.... etc.

What are your thoughts and I would also like to know if one of these companies stands out above the rest.

I'd like to keep it around 100$ no matter what I do. If there is anything I missed please lmk.

I sold my Bk16 as it was not very good at chopping.

I currently own CRK ti-lock, BM AFO II, Custom Dozier , Cold steel Pocket Bushman , Mora companion and a few machete, nice Kai kitchen set and cheap slippies.

Thank you.
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I would pick the smaller type fixed blade of your choice and pair it with a hatchet.
Council tools is known to make a good affordable hatchet, so does Vaughan.
Vaughan uses a better 1080 steel but leaves their standard camp hatchet a bit rougher than CT does as theirs is only $22.
Because of this I'd probably go with Vaughans half hatchet available at most hardware stores which is a good general use tool that has an actual hammer for the poll that could be really handy.
It's also got a much thinner bit.
It's edge is straight though so you may want to give it a bit of radius while sharpening it.
 
I'm going to read over this when I wake up for my shift. Right now it is time for bed and I will check in later. Thank you for the help.
 
The mora companion is actually a really nice fixed blade for the camping stuff, IMO. It works decently for other stuff but I do think the scandi grind has it limits in terms of fine slicing of softer materials. It's great on wood.

For a cheap hatchet, fiskars.

Hiking, fishing, and yard work suggest different knives, especially the fishing. It does depend on the yard and fish and such but fishing knives, which I usually think of fillet or bird and trout knives, are all about slicing. Yard work knives tend to be more of the wood processing, weeding, or similar variety when I'm at. Hiking depends on the type of hiking I guess, I know many hikers that carry little more than a SAK or small folder, maybe something closer to the mora. If we're talking hiking that focuses more on the camping aspect then I think the larger 4-7" blades come into play.

Sending a PM to see if you're close enough that I could see about getting some knives in your hands to try. I've been demo'ing a lot of different knife setups and found myself polarized with a small knife and a big knife and moving away from the middle are for my carry style. Or, if I get out the hudson bay axe then the middle knife gets more use.
 
There are basically two main schools of thought with "outdoors/survival" knives, the first is basically a "jack of all trades" knife. Knives like the BK2, BK7, ESEE 5, ESEE 6, etc. These types of knives can do pretty much everything. They may just not be the "best" tool for every task

I own a BK2, and over time and use I've found that I prefer to split up the tasks between two (or more) different tools, so then they can be a bit more specialized (the second school of thought). For the weight of a BK2, I can have a BK9, and a Mora, or a folding saw and a BK16/mora. Any of those combos are more efficient/gratifying to use to me.

My take, is that for a knife to be useful/"good" at chopping, it needs to be 8+ inches in blade length. This also means that typically, I don't take a knife like that "hiking", as first of all, I really have no need, and secondly, it's a lot of extra weight on the long hikes. For hiking i bring a mora and a saw. More camping and less distance I bring a mora, BK9, and the corona folding saw.

For what its worth, I prefer big chopping knives to hatchets, as I get more uses out of them (ie, not just chopping). Experiment, and find what you prefer.

Oh, and I'd also strongly recommend that you also consider a folding saw. I find them faster than chopping, and they also don't tire me out as much. They may fit into your system somehow.

Good luck :).
 
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That is a very good point. I do have a folding saw and I do have a machete so at this point maybe what I want is a do it all fixed blade.

Typically when I go hiking, it is with my 4 and 5 year old daughters therefore I typically have my firearm strapped anyway along with a folder and my Mora.

We do having bear, rabid raccoons occasionally and random weirdos :).

How about the combat kukri in that case? By Kabar Becker.
 
Kuhkri's can be interesting beasts but they certainly add a lot of versatility into a single package. I feel like kuhkris are somewhere between a hatchet or boys axe and a machete. I've read that the type of handle material can be a bit of a pain to some people but that obviously varies. The blade hitting in front of the handle can add a bit of an interesting aim challenge when you start out. The sweet spot is at the curve or forward, towards the tip, based on the discussion in a youtube video with Ethan Becker about the Reinhardt/Becker kuhkri, the BK21.

I know a lot of people like them and I'm just not one of them, having grown up with axes and splitting mauls. You swing it differently, holding it more loosely and allowing the momentum to do a bit of a whipping action like a machete. The concept with machetes it to keep the arm from getting beat up, I imagine it's similar with the kuhkri. Ethan shows it at 1:30 in the video below and calls the swinging action out specifically later in the video.

 
bikerector said:
Kuhkri's can be interesting beasts but they certainly add a lot of versatility into a single package. I feel like kuhkris are somewhere between a hatchet or boys axe and a machete. I've read that the type of handle material can be a bit of a pain to some people but that obviously varies. The blade hitting in front of the handle can add a bit of an interesting aim challenge when you start out. The sweet spot is at the curve or forward, towards the tip, based on the discussion in a youtube video with Ethan Becker about the Reinhardt/Becker kuhkri, the BK21.

I know a lot of people like them and I'm just not one of them, having grown up with axes and splitting mauls. You swing it differently, holding it more loosely and allowing the momentum to do a bit of a whipping action like a machete. The concept with machetes it to keep the arm from getting beat up, I imagine it's similar with the kuhkri. Ethan shows it at 1:30 in the video below and calls the swinging action out specifically later in the video.

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Food for thought.

Thank you. Btw. I am going PM you very soon regarding one or two of those knives.
 
The Buck mesa is another good one for less than $50.
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If you need something for house work I would highly suggest a saw. If you have to trim branches on trees that you want to keep around then you want clean cuts. Only a saw can do that. Saws also do a better job at cutting up branches of fallen trees within thickets where you can’t reach the base of the branches.

A saw and a 4 inch blade will do everything. I’d recommend a silky gomboy and whatever you like for the fixed. I’d go with a mora unless you fancied something else. The bk16 would be perfect here too sad to say.
 
BellaBlades said:
Food for thought.

Thank you. Btw. I am going PM you very soon regarding one or two of those knives.
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I think if you get a stock Becker BK9 you will not regret it, I used a BK9 as my do-everything knife for over 2 years of backpack camping, and the only reason I don’t still use it is because I upgraded to the BK20 (I would recommend the BK20 if it was still available). Don’t be afraid of the stock Becker handle, it’s amazing how effective it is at allowing prolonged chopping sessions with no chafing while still being grippy enough for fine work.

I’ve shaved curls to start fires with the BK9 as easily as I’ve chopped or batoned through a tree; it may be a big blade but its more than capable at doing the fine work in a pinch.
 
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