Quality fixed blade under $80?

Steel will puts out some high value blades.

I was looking at some Bokers today like the day hiker...not bad. I'm in a region that often rains a lot, so SS is preferred.

The CRKT Humdinger looks interesting and might suit your needs, when it comes out.

Boss
 
Toomanyquestions said:
I finally settled on a Becker. I found the BK 10 appealing, but given it's weight I just couldn't imagine wearing it for hours on end during a long day hike (I tend to travel light). Hence I bought a BK 16. From what I've seen, there is hardly a negative review to be had. At some point perhaps I'll pair the BK 16 with a bigger chopper (e.g. a BK 9).
Click to expand...

Like the BK-2, the BK-10 is appealing until you really consider how your going to use it. Still good knives for what they are. Hard to beat the BK-16 for the price and versatility. I prefer the discontinued BK-15 myself over the BK-16, but that's me.

Lots of big choppers around. I would look at the BK-9 and Condor stuff when you are ready for that. For actual chopping I prefer something larger than the BK-9.
 
Condor Kephart (1075 steel). Well under 1/2 your stated $ amount. The design was good enough for Horace Kephart, one of the camping gurus and the author of Camping and Woodcraft.The problem with many of the knives recommended in this thread is blade thickness. 3/32" or 1/8" thick spine on a flat grind blade is probably all around best for camping chores.

Meets well all of your criteria:
*Under $80~: the Condor Kephart can be bought for less than $35.
*4 - 5.5" blade: the Condor Kephart has a 4.5" blade.
*Good camping steel (e.g. 1095): Condor is 1075 steel.

True Kepharts are just a great all around design for camping.

Condor%2520Kephart.JPG


Your initial inclination to look at Condors was a good one. Do consider them, and get your hands on the Condor Kephart. It's inexpensive but well suited. Just be aware the sheath is crap. Some sort of plasticized leather that the knife spills out of and that resists wet forming. You'll read many posting about how great Condor sheaths are, but I disagree. Good designs and put together well enough, but their leather treatment just sucks. You can get a replacement fairly inexpensively. I use a JRE from LT Wright that cost about $20.

Condor in JRE sheath:
Condor%2520Kephart%2520in%2520JRE%2520Sheath.JPG
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: vba
Cold steel master hunter in San mai . I'm not really a fan of their products but what a nice knife at a good price . If u want bigger, srk in vg 1
 
Just had an idea, if you get an LT Wright bushcrafter HC without a sheath, it can run you around 80.00, and I figure you can find a sheath for it, I have a few of of my BHk sheaths and it slipped right into one nicely. It is in 1075, and he does his heat treat right. Kephart knife may seem plain Jane, but the design works.
 
A Mora Robust or a Companion Heavy Duty, plus a standard Companion for accurate slicing, and you will have enough dollars left for a nice folding saw...
 
  • Like
Reactions: vba
I just stopped back by. Since the date of my last comment I bought a BK 9 and a Mora Robust. Last summer I upgraded the BK16 handle scales (including a custom dye job); now I have to find a new sheath for the BK16. And when I can find my BK nine those handle scales may be next.... :)
 
What about the Kabar Mark 2 (USMC fighting knife)? Its in your budget, great 1095 crovan steel, there are multiple options for handles and sheaths (with no upcharging), they are tough and classic and they cut well unlike a lot of survival "knives".
 
Toomanyquestions said:
I finally settled on a Becker. I found the BK 10 appealing, but given it's weight I just couldn't imagine wearing it for hours on end during a long day hike (I tend to travel light). Hence I bought a BK 16. From what I've seen, there is hardly a negative review to be had. At some point perhaps I'll pair the BK 16 with a bigger chopper (e.g. a BK 9).
Click to expand...

Becker's are some of the Top/Most Popular of brands of knives for being in the woods....And the BK16 could be one of the top rated Beckers……. So I think you did well with your pick. :D

They have an informative sub-forum here, that many Beckerheads would Love to share their knowledge with ya.....
Very Friendly group!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top