Really torn on my next fixed blade purchase

F

frogger42

Joined
Sep 17, 2008
Messages
159
I have a b-day coming up and I've decided to buy myself a nice fixed blade as a gift. What I'm looking for is something for the unlikely TEOTWAWKI/Zombie Apocalypse/WORL. I'm looking for something tough, relatively stainless, possible to sharpen in the field and just cool. I'm thinking something in the 7 - 8" blade size. So far, I have 5 candidates and I'm really torn on which one to get. I'll list MY perceived pros and cons of each and I'd like your feedback. Also, feel free to add a suggestion you think I missed.

1. Ka-Bar D2 Extreme
Pros... Least expensive of my choices, very tough, easy to find
Cons... Least "cool" of my options, hard to sharpen

2. Fallkniven A1
Pros... Reasonable price, very stainless, very tough, easy to sharpen
Cons... Hate the sheath so I'd probably have to replace it, fairly common, smallest of the options

3. Bark River Bravo-2
Pros... Reasonably priced, easy to sharpen, rare enough to be cool, very tough, cool color choices
Cons... A2 is not as stainless as other options, smallest guard of my choices so I'm not sure how secure the grip would be during hard use

4. Zero Tolerance ZT-9 Bayonet
Pros... Most stain resistant of my choice, can serve double duty as a bayonet
Cons... Seems very expensive for a production knife, Grip seems like it could be uncomfortable (I realize the grip shape is so it will work as a bayonet)

5. Busse Combat Team Gemini Light Brigade Series
Pros... Highest cool factor of the choices (I'm a HUGE Walking Dead fan), very tough, pride of ownership, cool color choices
Cons... Most expensive option and does not even come with a sheath which will add more to the cost, Not sure it will still be available by the time I have the money (early September)

At this point, I cannot say I am leaning toward any one of the five more than the others. I am truly stuck. Please help sway me.
 
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If it is still available and you can afford it Busse all the way. However the Falkniven A1 is the best second choice, IMHO. Excellent steel, very nice handle, I personally really like the sheath, and comes very very sharp. Other than that any of the others are also very nice. But I do agree that the ZT-9 Bayonet is very expensive and I believe you can match its quality cheaper, again IMO.

~Zim
 
Zimbabwe said:
If it is still available and you can afford it Busse all the way. However the Falkniven A1 is the best second choice, IMHO. Excellent steel, very nice handle, I personally really like the sheath, and comes very very sharp. Other than that any of the others are also very nice. But I do agree that the ZT-9 Bayonet is very expensive and I believe you can match its quality cheaper, again IMO.

~Zim
Click to expand...

After making the OP, I did some more searching and I just discovered that Amazon has ZT-9's for only about $20 more than the Bravo-2 and $70 less than I've seen them elsewhere. If they are still available at that price when I have the funds, this might tilt me toward the ZT-9 as my choice. However, at the price I normally see them, I do think it is too much and too close to the price of a Busse to not just get the Busse.
 
Get the Team Gem. M version that is coming out soon. It's a little smaller and more reasonable. Plus it gives you some time to get the funds.
 
Id go with the Busse seeing as it would make an excellent investment and serve as a good tool in the mean time.
 
I sorta have done the same thing. I placed an order for a fixed blade that I thought was cool, yet very functional. I know that it will become a wall piece, and a NICE one it will make, but I just wanted something a little different and I think that is what I got. I ordered a Zakasushi from Zombie-Tools. Now it is longer than what you have set your mind on, but they do make smaller knives that fit you size range, and who knows, you might end up wanting something larger.

BTW; from what I've read, and from other's comments, these are real knives, not "costume knives" They are constructed of 5160 diff ht steel, with aluminum handls that are wrapped with black leather. The blade is etched to get the design it has. As I said, I wanted something different, but at the same time, something real.

df3553a3.jpg
 
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Busse any day of the week if you can afford it. If not, I highly recommend the ESEE line of knives. I've got the ESEE 4 and 5 and find myself carrying my orange handled ESEE 4 more often. Speaking of zombies, I was out in the middle of no where and came across what I beleive to be a cow zombie. Sure, he looked dead but you never know with cow zombies. One minute they are laying there looking like a desert decoration and the next they spring on you and the whole hamburger scenario is turned completely around. I used my ESEE 4 to insure my safety.
cowhead.jpg
 
ZT-9 is nice, just saw my buddies, it is a bayonet, which is cool. But i don't hear great things about s30v on big blades (but i won't judge, i'm sure it's fine).

But i opted for the Team Gemini LB. It's a Busse. I wouldn't worry about not yet having the money, either.

Although something could change, looks like it's taking quite a few weeks (i'm reading about some going on 6 weeks for the TGLB), and i don't believe they charge your card until they ship.

So, figure 4-8 weeks in the queue, 30 days grace on your card...

Hey, puts you Septermber, anyway ;)
 
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