Search for ideal fighting/utility knife!

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ScottHere

Joined
May 16, 2001
Messages
31
I am asking for suggestions in purchasing the
perfect fighting/utility knife, taking into
consideration edge retention, toughness, handling, balance, rust resistence etc. I am looking for a knife that will hold up under rugged use on land and underwater. Thanks.

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S.A. Surgner
ssurgner@bellatlantic.net
 
While you might have some very good reason for posting "go away", it still seems rude to do so; especially to a brand new member. Would you care to explain things?
If you want a knife that holds up pretty well underwater, I think you'll probably wanto to get a Titanium blade. Mission knives is said to have some of the best.
 
Welcome to BladeForums! Could you give us some idea of what you've been looking at? i.e. price range, fixed blade vs. folder, custom vs. production, blade length required, etc. This might help us get a better idea of what you have in mind.

--Matt
 
Scott,

I believe most of us are looking for that knife. It does not exist. The best you can do is to find a good knife that meets your needs. We can help you with that if you are willing to share some of your requirements with us.

Tell us how much you plan to spend, and how big a knife you are comfortable with. Let us know whether you are willing to maintain the knife, or prefer a low maintenance knife. Tell us how do you plan to use the knife?

Steve-O, probably thinks you're a troll, and the open nature of your topic lends itself to that interpretation. If you give us a little more detail you will be taken more seriously.

Welcome to the forums.

N2S

[This message has been edited by not2sharp (edited 05-16-2001).]
 
With most steels, edge retention and corrosion resistance are total opposites.

For a folder I would get a Mission or a Tom Mayo TNT as the Talonite and Titanium both resist corrosion pretty well.

If you are looking for a fixed blade, you can pick up a Sog Seal knife for pretty cheap, aand hey the SEALS use it. (although it won't hold the best edge)

Also for a fixed blade you could get the Mission MPK or MPT in 100% Ti.

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Marc
 
Welcome to the forums Scott!

And N2S, very well done. Not talking about the steak either.
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AL
 
Scott, it sounds to me like you're looking for a Strider Custom Folder. Stop by the Strider forum and you'll find plenty of pics and info to wet your appetite.

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Eric - Usual Suspect
"The best toys are the ones that you can put an eye out with."
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ScottHere,

I apologise for being so abrupt, but I agree with N2S...more imformation is needed...at the very least.

Your question does not make sense, there is not such a thing. One knife cannot do everything. There ARE knives that meet SOME of your vague specs.

Stay here and learn, my friend.
 
Strider, Strider, Strider, Strider, Strider, Strider. You might want to check out Striders forum in the makers & manufactors forum's. Strider, Strider, Strider!!!!!

Ps did I mention Strider knives??????

--
"Defensor Fortis"
See we've got a kool latin motto also
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[This message has been edited by Shrike9 (edited 05-17-2001).]
 
Scott:
I've been looking for the perfect knife for 25 years. There's a lot of good choices available. The only limit is the amount of money you are willing to part with. Tom Mayo, Darrel Ralph and Chris Reeve all make fine utility knives that will fill that bill to a certain extent. You need to be aware that drawing a weapon can lead to profound legal difficulties and the use of a blade for self defense could lead to a "use of a deadly weapon charge". Stick to the utility aspect. I always carry a folder and I hope I never have to use it to defend myself. Just my $.02 and welcome to the forums!
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Welcome to the forums, Scott. Thin skin doesn't work well here. A lot of knowledge and help is available, if you ask specific questions.

Please don't pay much more attention to zealots than to flames. Fans of a particular brand become quite enthusiastic. Fervor often replaces information.

There are special dive knives out there. Not many are also considered top field knives. You may want to seriously consider getting 2 knives. If not, believe your best answer will lie with a knife made of titanium or talonite/stellite.

The well-known and highly regarded custom maker Kit Carson makes a dive knife -- believe Buck or somebody may have done a collaboration on it -- and he has used stellite for years. Simply don't know if his dive knife has stellite blade. His URL is:
http://www.carsonknives.com/

Mora of Sweden sells knives with stainless blades and rubber/composition handles and plastic sheaths that everyone swears are pretty good knives. Several sell for under $10. There's a heck of a lot of dollar difference between those and a Carson custom, tho his prices are regarded as bargains in the custom world.

As others have urged you, tell us what you use a knife for. Then, you can tap into the brains of some real knowledgeable, helpful folk. You might try the search feature near the top of the page. If you do, remember that this forum was archived just a month ago today, and you'll need to go to the archives to go back farther. One last suggestion -- if you know the names of knives, or can identify characteristics that you're particularly interested, I'd suggest using the search feature on the Reviews forum. That, more than this, is the forum where people really express themselves about their knives.

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Asi es la vida

Bugs
 
Scott, welcome to the Forums!

Second, I'm with N2S - you really should specify your requirements somewhat more precisely. A lot of good knives are available, some of them could be considered as very good but no one knife is ideal for everything. Also you can hit the knife which is the result of following fad with no care (or at least little care) for performance. Here I will dare to quote you:
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">I am asking for suggestions in purchasing the perfect fighting/utility knife...</font>
Click to expand...
Believe me, something like this doesn't exist. The knife optimized for fight usually behaves poorly being used as utility tool and inversely. So your question is unanswerable by its nature. Maybe this caused Steve's somewhat impolite response...

If I might try to make this your choice (and probably subsequent choices because if you are here - greatly probably it is not your last choice problem) easier I could suggest this way to go:
  • Point the amount of money you could spend
  • Think about environment you are going to use your knife in (for ex. urban or outdoors)
  • Determinate activities this knife is intended for (for ex. hunting, fishing, general camping, backpacking, urban daily carry etc.)
  • Specify knife's intended use (for ex. light cutting, heavy cutting, cutting and light chopping, prying etc.)
  • Not the least is to evaluate your own liking and disposition (for ex. are you careful man with calm, well controlled movements or are you violent fellow with impulsive disposition)
When you answer these questions honestly for yourself you probably could be surprised how narrowed your choice became. When point the knives you simply do like and search Knife Review & Testing Forum for particular reviews. Last but not least - try to handle some knives you are thinking about to check is it Your Knife...

If this wouldn't be enough please ask your questions on particular knives and I'm more than sure you will get great and valuable response.



[This message has been edited by Sergiusz Mitin (edited 05-17-2001).]
 
Everything other than excelling at rust resistance could be accomplished with the Chris Reeve Project 1. A Busse Combat Grade is also a great knife for the uses you describe and is supposedly a step up in corrosion resistance compared to A2.

For value, you may want to look at the Buck Intrepid. To a certain point, you will get more for the more you spend.

Unfortunately, rugged conditions sometime lend themselves to jettisoned gear; intentionally or accidentally. These are times where you have to ask youself is 2, 2.5 or 3 of knife "X" as good or better than one of knife "Y" ? I factor this into the considerations when I am the one paying for the gear.

BTW: Welcome to the Forums. If you're legit, hope you enjoy yourself and learn.

[This message has been edited by Nimrod (edited 05-17-2001).]
 
Welcome, Scott.

Here's a new one from Jerry Busse that should strike an outstanding balance between fighter and utility and will likely excel in both realms:

View


If underwater use and corrosion resistance are major concerns, go for the standard Combat Grade model. You'll get the extremely corrosion resistant black crinkle coating and save a hundred bucks in the process. Good luck!
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Semper Fi

-Bill
 
Scott,
Long, long ago, in a galaxy far, far away, I was a Green Beret. And we were all looking for that knife!!! I guess that's why we broke everything we carried. Most of us ended up carying 2-5 knives on us. And even then, some didn't come back. You could say, they were thrown in the woods.
A few years ago, I started making knives suitable for combat, this might be what you're looking for. And today, I'll put them up against any knife in the world. I mostly use ATS-34. 1/4 in. thick, and yes, you can wack on Rebar and then cut paper.
When I sell to people that go swimming for a living, I go with a Black "T" coating, to prevent rust.
You've gotten some good suggestions so far. But some of the knives listed don't balance well, and don't feel real good in your hand.
Serrations are usually wanted on a dive knife because you can't chop underwater. I add them when the customer wants.
If you want, check out my website: http://www.ICCKnives.com.


Dennis Phillips
 
If you are looking for an ideal fighting/utility knife try looking at Jones Knives they are afordable come with a custom Kydex Sheath and their attention to detail is incredible.
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Barry and Phillip are Awesom
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Welcome!
Sergiusz has pointed out the most important factor: handle the knife you are thinking, as many things can't be judged from the specs/pics, i.e.weight,handle texture, balance.

I was not thinking that Gerber Chameleon is so light and found out it didn't feel right for me. But that was just my preference, nothing to put Gerber down at all, I just prefer a solid feeling of a knife.
 
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