Quick question on blade shapes

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I'd say the main difference is that one is a recurve (double-edged), and the other is a clip-point bowie. The recurve has more edge, but a little more difficult to sharpen, while the bowie should be easier to sharpen. I'd be curious to see the "wetstone" that's included with the recurve. What do you plan on using it for?
 
I'd think the bowie has more practicality for my uses. Outdoors field work type :)
Hi Zenghost! :) :)
Tom
 
To be honest with you, I wouldn't recommend either Aitor. Those stick tangs are a bit fragile IMO.

If you want a rugged outdoor knife with a hollow handle, go with Chris Reeve's One Piece Line. Yep, they are significantly more expensive than the Aitor blades, but CRKs are the only hollow handle knives I would trust on an outdoor trip when a broken blade would be a true disaster.

If you are interested in a more inexpensive outdoor knife that offers great performance, I would recommend the Swamp Rat Camp Tramp. Good alternatives would be a Fällkniven or a Becker.

If you absolutely want to go with one of the Aitors, I'd say buy with the Bowie, but don't be fooled into thinking that those spine serrations might be very useful.

Just my 0.02$.
 
I'm with Quiet Storm on this one. I ordered a Jungle King II from the same company a year ago, and while I found CTG to be a great company to deal with, and that they themselves had excellent customer service, the knife came dull as dishwater, and really wasn't all that high quality. One thing I will say though is that the saw does actually work pretty well. This was in my pre - Sharpmaker days, so I suppose if I could have taken a Sharpmaker to it the knife would have taken a decent edge. I started a whole thread about this and somebody did say that their Cuchillo De Monte which is roughly the same blade style as the JK II, was a fairly decent knife, and it doesn't have the hollow handle, and therefore a brittle tang is less of a worry. Good Luck.
Lagarto.
 
I'd avoid that double edged design like it was radioactive. Those style of blades are very impractical and not well suited to utility use.

The bowie is considerably better, but in this price range there are several superior alternatives.

I'd take a look at Swamp Rat, Becker, and John Greco knives if you want a real utility fixed blade.
 
Thanks for the info guys, looks like the JK will be my choice then!

Just how weak is the tang? I mean i will only be using it for general outdoor use (hiking, hunting, climbing etc) i wont be prising car doors off or anything. I cant affords a cris reeve knife, and the waiting list is huge. Im not a knife nut like you guys, i dont need the 'best' knife around just one that is decent quality and does the job (and im tempted by all the bit and bobs with it as well, i must admit to been a git of a gadget nut! :rolleyes: )

Oh yeah and if it does break surely its guaranted amd they'll replace it?!?

Thanks for your time,
MAT
 
The SR Camp Tramp costs $128.95. IMO one of the very best production knives out there. Its smaller counterpart, the Howling Rat goes for $88.95.
Swamp Rat Knife Works offers an unconditional lifetime warranty. You decide whether they have to replace your knife or not. No kidding. Check their website and forum.

1SKS currently sells the Fällkniven F1 for $74.99 with a leather sheath. This is a knife without all the bells and whistles, but with a great blade steel and good ergonomics. Simple, yet extremely functional.

Or what about the Becker Crewman Utility Knife? They offer it at a bargain $44.99. Great value as well.

Check out the Knife Exchange. You're likely to be able to get one of the above-mentioned knives slightly used for considerably less money.

How much is a JK? Probably not much less.
 
I feel Aitors are good knives for the price, I have the smaller Jungle King, it´s cute.

However, I believe the hollow handle is a disadvantage, making the knife as strong as a folder, not as strong as a fixed blade should be. and I don´t see much use for the hollow handle, whatever you put in it you could easily carry elsewhere.

Assuming that you are in the U.S. I would say that you can get a better deal with a knife made in USA. If I was to go out in the woods like I used to do in the 70´s I would take one of my Bucks, 105 or 119, rather than the Jungle King.
 
Hi,
Thanks again for the help. I understand that it is not as strong as a good normal fixed blade but what i want to know is is it suitable for general outdoor use or is it a overpriced weakling of a knife that will break straight away? Does anyone actually own one that broke or is it all theory?
Also what is the quality of the stuff that comes with it, are they any good?

Thanks,
MAT
 
Originally posted by mat
Hi,
Thanks again for the help. I understand that it is not as strong as a good normal fixed blade but what i want to know is is it suitable for general outdoor use or is it a overpriced weakling of a knife that will break straight away? Does anyone actually own one that broke or is it all theory?
Also what is the quality of the stuff that comes with it, are they any good?

Thanks,
MAT

What EXACTLY are you planning to do with it outdoors?
 
Oh, just noticed that you live in the UK...check your local laws. IIRC it's illegal to carry all kinds of knives in Britain.
 
Hi,
I would take it when hiking, camping and climbing and use it instead of the cs voyager i have now, i cant tell you EXACTLY as i dont know! General outdoor use is as close as i can get. I also like the idea of all those survival tools in case i get lost (i often go on multi-day walks on the moors, with no-one around for miles) But to be honest the main reason is for the cool factor, like i said before i cant resist a cool looking gadget! :D I just want to know if it can do its job as well as look cool!
Laws wise, i figure its fine as long as i dont carry it near other people basically.

Cheers,
MAT
 
I personally have never seen a hollow handled knife other than the CRK series that was what I would consider acceptably sturdy. They may exist, but if so they are certainly an endangered species.

For the $150 that they are charging for the Aitor you could get a superior knife from somebody like Swamp Rat or Greco and still have money left over to buy what would almost certainly be higher quality survival equipment.

If you like that style you can get a similar solid handle bowie from Kabar or Camillus for roughly thirty US dollars, buy lots of fun equipment, have dinner at a nice restaurant, and still have money left over. You'll probably get a better knife, to boot.

According to the link you provided the knife includes:
fishing kit, sewing kit, scapel, clips, adhesive dressings, pencil, 5m nylon cord, pillbox, compass, SOS symbols, signalling mirror, ruler in mm and inches, magnesium block with flint, latex tube for use as a tourniquet, doser flask, 8m cord, catapult fork, and wetstone.

There is nothing in there to make it a good deal compared to the other manufacturers who have already been mentioned. The total value of that stuff if purchased retail is less than twenty bucks, assuming that it is good quality (a rahter big assumption, considering that they aren't willing to put it in the picture).

If your goal is to get a knife that will be neat and gadgety and won't simply "break straight away" this one will probably do. I would recommend you reconsider if those are your only criteria.

However, there are better products that cost less money.
 
MAT
The basic problem with a hollow handle with a stick tang through it is that the handle isn't made out of the same quality material as the blade. I don't know what those particular handles are, but even if its steel and not aluminum it won't be hardened to the same degree as the blade. So when you get to chopping things with it, or doing really heavy cutting, like might come up out in the woods....the possibility is there that the blade will work loose in the handle. The softer metal deforms around the tang from the impact of chopping etc. and pretty soon the blade wobbles if it doesn't break loose all together.
I'm not saying that is a common occurance with those knives in particular, I'm saying its a possibility with that design.
 
WHAT!! the aitor is $150. That's pretty steep. I thought it was a lot less. I had no prior info other than what I read here.
Let us know how the Aitor holds up. I know when I get somethin I just gotta have I get it and I think you're gonna get it.
We'd be interested in the use you put it thru. and the results of the knife.
I hope you put it thru a good test for us. Batoning firewood, stripping bark ets.
Good luck with it
I've used my BK7 ~$50 and it's great! you can see what some have done to put survival kit in the handle and sheath
HERE
You can also do a search here if you're looking for survival kit knives.
Tom
 
I personally have never seen a hollow handled knife other than the CRK series that was what I would consider acceptably sturdy. They may exist, but if so they are certainly an endangered species.

Try to find an old BUCKMASTER!
 
Originally posted by TOB9595
WHAT!! the aitor is $150. That's pretty steep. I thought it was a lot less. I had no prior info other than what I read here.
Let us know how the Aitor holds up. I know when I get somethin I just gotta have I get it and I think you're gonna get it.
We'd be interested in the use you put it thru. and the results of the knife.
I hope you put it thru a good test for us. Batoning firewood, stripping bark ets.
Good luck with it
I've used my BK7 ~$50 and it's great! you can see what some have done to put survival kit in the handle and sheath
HERE
You can also do a search here if you're looking for survival kit knives.
Tom
I'd second Tom's BK C/U 7 suggestion (what's up, Tom?)--great deal. Fallkniven's nice too (along with some of the other suggestions).
 
hhhhmmmmmmmm tough one well i suppose i am gadget nut rather than a knife nut so i think ill still HAVE to get it! I'll let you know how it goes. However if it does break do you think it'll be covered by the guarantee and i can send it back? Also anyone in the UK know where i can get one from?

Thanks,
MAT
 
If you're truly a gadget freak, get one of these instead:

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And then get this Aitor to go with it:

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Heckuvalot more sturdy than a survival knife.


Of course, if you really want to appeal to that "Wow!" factor, get one of these instead of the Aitor: (actually costs 1/3 as much :rolleyes: )

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