Production 4-5" camp knife

GibsonFan

GibsonFan

Joined
Jul 7, 2006
Messages
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I'm looking for a fixed blade, single-edge belt knife for camping chores and whatnot. Not for splitting wood or anything, just general handy-dandy stuff. I'm partial to 1095 steel, because it's always held up very well for me and it's easy to get it razor sharp. Clip or drop point is fine. Handle material isn't a big deal, I'm happy to put a nicer handle on a good blade. Cost must be under $75.
I had a USAF pilot's knife in the past, it was strong as a crowbar, but hard to get a decent edge on it since it was so thick. I love my trusty ol' 7" Ka-Bar, and I'm thinking the newer "short" 5 1/4" Ka-Bar would be my best bet from what I've seen so far, assuming the steel is similar thickness and the bevels are similar. Has anyone here used one?
 
I also am partial to the 10 series steel having grown up with it. Have a look at the Ontario RAT series knives. They are a bit spartan in appearance and have a nice feel in the hand.

http://www.cumberlandknifeworks.com/catalog.htm

I traded a couple of weeks ago for a RAT-7 and was impressed with it and I'm now in the middle of trading for a RTAK.
 
If I had 75.00 to spend, I'd be tempted to get a Mora 2000, a Victorinox SAK w/saw and a tank of gas. :)
 
If you're not going to insist on splitting wood, etc., with it, why not hop over to Ragweed Forge and get 7 Moras? Try out a couple and see what you like. The Frost carbon steel Clipper is one of my favorites, for the grippy handle--though the Craftsman models can be rendered non-slippery with a couple minutes' work with coarse sandpaper, which turns their too-slick plastic handles into something that feels almost like Kraton. Those traditional Mora knives are also good, though they, too, benefit from some roughening of the handles. Best thing is they're so light and inexpensive that you can buy a few different ones and compare--and then leave the spares around in survival kits, fishing tackle boxes, car emergency containers, etc., where you otherwise might someday wish you had a knife. Light enough that you can carry an extra in your pack and not notice. And if you do actually reconsider and decide to CliffStomp one too hard, and it breaks, you're out ten bucks.
A hard deal to beat. And I've got absolutely no complaints about the steel.
 
I get one of the larger heavier Mora's for brush, a small carving one and a decent folding saw. You can do all of that for under $75 easily. Or a small Mora for carving, large and light one for fish/foods and Wetterling/Fiskars for wood. If you want the one knife approach, Swamp Rat has a new line out which is made out of SR101 which should work well for anyone who likes carbon steels.

-Cliff
 
Is there even a sub-$75.00 Swamp Rat knife anymore?:D Ice picks don't count.
 
Hmm how about a Cold Steel mini Bushman ?
http://www.coldsteel.com/fixed-blades-bushman.html

Before anyone bites my head off , I am neither for or against Cold Steel , it's just a suggestion.
I own the larger model and it's a dandy knife for the price , hardy enough for what I need and cheap enough to easily replace.

Otherwise I also say Mora's are a bargain , the cheaper models arent the sturdiest things in the world but for many camp chores (cleaning fish , twine , veggies , fishing line etc) it will more than fit the bill.
Hell, buy a mini Bushman and a Mora , both would set you back under 45$.
 
Take a look at the Grohmann DH Russell #1 and #3….both are available in carbon steel.
 
Hit the flea market and pick up as many $2 - $5 butcher knives as you can carry. Some of the best camp chore knives I have owned have been acquired this way. Old Ontario, Shur Edge, even Case and Ka Bar are common at the markets in my neck of the woods. Great steel.
 
I'd second a CS Bushman (but make it a full-sized).

All you need to do is Plasticote the handle and you're off to the races.

Cheap, Solid and takes a wicked edge :D
 
pageophile said:
I'd second a CS Bushman (but make it a full-sized).

All you need to do is Plasticote the handle and you're off to the races.

Cheap, Solid and takes a wicked edge :D
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Good suggestion. Cheap, durable, easy to use. Only thing I don't like about it is the round cross section of the handle. Plasticote helps, though.

I've been looking for a 10" Tramontina machete. I have a 12", which I think is fantastic, and a 14" bolo, very nice chopper. I think a 10" would be great for all around, especially camp, use. A little bigger than the Bushman, with a better handle, and even lower cost, if you could find one. :(

Plain old Mora knives are fantastic, too.
 
Wow, lots of great suggestions, thanks. I've been hearing an awful lot about those Moras, gonna hafta check into those.

woodsmoke said:
Hit the flea market and pick up as many $2 - $5 butcher knives as you can carry. Some of the best camp chore knives I have owned have been acquired this way. Old Ontario, Shur Edge, even Case and Ka Bar are common at the markets in my neck of the woods. Great steel.
Click to expand...

Doh! Why didn't I think of that? Cool DIY idea... can always grind an ugly knife into something smaller and handier.

pageophile said:
I'd second a CS Bushman (but make it a full-sized).
All you need to do is Plasticote the handle and you're off to the races.
Cheap, Solid and takes a wicked edge :D
Click to expand...

I already have a Ka-Bar and a Trailmaster, so I'd want the mini. Looks interesting for $17... how heavy is the wall of the handle? Would it be possible to hammer it flatter? I hate round grips. (my Ka-Bar has a homemade handle on it.) That Ontario TAK-1 looks like a nice knife too.
 
GibsonFan said:
Looks interesting for $17... how heavy is the wall of the handle? Would it be possible to hammer it flatter?
Click to expand...

About 0.095" thick. Kinda heavy for hammerin'.

You made me remember, I've wondered if the CS True Flight Thrower would be a decent camp knife? Cabon V, so I suppose it's a Camillus product, with the paracord wrapped handle. They're pretty thick stock with a spear point.
 
Not production or 1095.
Do a search in the custom knife makers forum for knives by "NWA". He has offered some gorgeous custom knives in O1 tool steel and Corian slabs for $75.

If I had to pick a production blade(s) for the tasks at hand(for under $75), I'd look at the Ontario knives at Knifecenter.com. For $75 you can get the following:
Vegtable/field knife (3 3/4" High Carbon) - $3.95 [I'd love to see Cliff's review of this one]
onw5115.jpg

and the Ontario Randall TAK1 in 1095 (4.25" blade) for $64.95
rtak2.jpg


Both available from Knifecenter.com for under $75 total.
 
Don't forget if your get mora's you need to sharpen them first the leuku like knife model C-223 at ragweedforge looks nice.Add a smaller knife too if you choose the craftsman or one with a slippery handle bicycle inner can make them nice and grippy.
 
+1 for Mora knives, and +1 for Ragnar at Ragweed Forge. The knives are a great value, and Ragnar is great to deal with. Very quick with the turn around, and an excellent communicator.

My current go-to lighter duty camp knife is a Cold Steel Master Hunter in Carbon V (same as 0170-6, maybe). It is a great size, takes and holds an edge pretty well, and can handle a broad range of tasks including light wood splitting. I have several of the Frosts 760 series Craftsman knives, but I am partial to the 780 Triflex carbon steel model. I also have one Eriksson 946 (sstainless steel) which I really like alot.

Left to right: Frosts 746 with a 5 3/4" stainless blade, Cold Steel Master Hunter, and the Frosts 780 Craftsman (Triflex carbon).
SimpleKits.jpg


I suppose the pic isn't all that helpful, as the knives are in their sheaths :rolleyes: Anyhoo, with some smart shopping, all three blades can be had easily for under $75. Good luck with you quest, be safe, and have fun!

And Gibsons are awesome, but I've always been partial to Fenders (two Teles and a Jazz Bass)
 
The Mini Bushman is a good choice as is the Mora 2000. But my recommendation would be the CS Master Hunter. This knife is my production camp knife of choice. It will do anything a camp knife should do, including batonning. It is easy to sharpen and has great edge holding power. Its profile and full distal taper makes it an exceptional cutter, but without sacrificing strength. Also, its point is much tougher than its distal taper would suggest. It is one of Doug Ritter's recommendations for a production survival knife, and I guess that says something about it.


Shecky said:
You made me remember, I've wondered if the CS True Flight Thrower would be a decent camp knife. Carbon V, so I suppose it's a Camillus product, with the paracord wrapped handle. They're pretty thick stock with a spear point.
Click to expand...

I keep a True Flight in my car emergency kit, and it is extremely tough. Gets a good edge and is a better pry bar than the SRK. It would make a good camp knife. Its only two drawbacks are its profile and heat treatment.

Its profile does not make it an excellent cutter. It is a good cutter, but just good. Its edge holding suggest that it is heat treated differently than the other Carbon V knives. That makes sense since it was design as a throwing knife. It does not hold an edge long. Now, not holding an edge long for 50100 steel is a different equation than it would be for say 1095. Still, you would not get the edge holding you would normally expect from 50100 steel.

If you do not mind re-sharpening every so often, a good cutting ability is all you need, and you would like a knife you would not doubt to abuse then the True Flight may be the camp knife for you. Just may want to re-handle it, though.
 
Consider the SOG Seal Pup Elite. It is available with plain or partially serrated edges. I have the plain satin blade and have been impressed with the knife overall. It runs around $70 and hard to beat for the money. Comes with a kydex sheath that is quite functional. A nylon sheath will be available as well. This knife was razor sharp from the factory. Have not had to sharpen it yet.

Link to factory site:http://www.sogknives.com/Fixed-Blades/sealpupelite/E37T.htm
 
*whew* ! I sure opened a can of beans with this thread :)

The SOG Seal-Pup caught my eye, looks like a great knife *BUT* I want something more traditional-looking. I camp mostly on public grounds and you get different reactions from people depending on what you carry. Blue jeans and a Buck knife? No one looks twice. Cammies and a "tactical" knife? "Oh look it's Rambo" :rolleyes: The Ontario TAK-1, Ka-Bar short model and Cold Steel Master Hunter are the ones I'm narrowing it down to. If I put hardwood on the handles they'll look like old-fashioned hunting knives and they all fit my requirements.

In the meantime I've ordered a CS Rifleman's Hawk and a mini-Bushman. Guess I'll just have to live with the round handle on the Bushman; prolly wrap it with paracord.

Anyway with shipping, I spent about $50 on the CS stuff, so I think I'm gonna spend the other $25 on Mora's :) My woman likes small light blades like that anyway.
I think I'll end up getting the TAK-1 or Master Hunter next payday.... you guys have addicted me, I've bought more blades in the last 6 weeks than in the last 15 years!! LOL. Anyway when this is all said and done I'll have knives in every size from 2"- 9 1/2" plus a reputable 'hawk... only thing left is a machete and maybe a filet knife... a nice medium/fine 2-sided diamond stone would be handy... any recommendations?
 
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