Smaller, Lighter, Backpacking Knife?

L

Lover of Blades

Joined
Nov 9, 2010
Messages
197
Wow, this is a tough one. So many to choose from! Haha. Anyway, my budget is $70 MAX. Also, the sheaths aren't crucial, as I can make my own, but that's another $10, and it's much more convenient to have a nice factory sheath. I'm looking for a knife that is light, and I can take it on my 12-or more-mile bivouac-backpacking trips. I like 5 inches or more. It needs to be large enough to chop, but small enough to do fine chores. I'd like it to be a thicker blade, nothing too thin, because I plan to chop and baton with it. Also, I'm a big fan of choils, for choking up. Does anyone know how to grind out a choil on your knife, by any chance? So, with these prerequisites, I've found a few that I really like.

BK7 - It's a Becker, 'nough said. I like this blade length, and I like Becker quality.

Ka-Bar USMC 1213 (comes with sheath.) My only problem with this is that it's 3/4-tang, and I don't know how well it would hold up. I always hear about the durability of these knives, but I also hear reports of people bending them at the tang, and of the knife breaking on them.

Scrap Yard DM - I really like these, because they're very thick, they've got the Busse stamp of approval, and they're inexpensive. I'm concerned about the weight, though. Too much?

Ka-Bar FIN - looks good, but is it? Its POU is tactical, and I'm going to be abusing it in the woods. Will it hold up?

Cold Steel SRK - I know this would be a great knife, but it may be too lightweight, you know? I need it to be able to chop and baton. Also, I'm not a fan of AUS8.

Ontario SP46 - Nutnfancy likes it, but I don't like going on one guy's opinion. If you like it, what are some good things about it?

Thanks, guys. I know, it's a lot of choices, but this is one of the two knives I'm taking FAR away from civilization - it HAS to perform, or I'm SOL. Also, you guys can recommend anything you like that fits into my parameters. ($70 or lower, 5+-inch blade, thicker blade)
 
If you find a Dumpster Mutt for $70, buy it, because they're going for about twice that on the exchange, being that they're discontinued.

On you're list, my preference is the dumpster mutt. If I had to stick to $70, I'd figure out a way to get another $70, and get the dumpster mutt. :)

For $70 & on your list, I'd get the BK7. If you can up your budget to $100-$150, you'll have a lot more options. But I guess you already know that. :)
 
Lover of Blades said:
Wow, this is a tough one. So many to choose from! Haha. Anyway, my budget is $70 MAX. Also, the sheaths aren't crucial, as I can make my own, but that's another $10, and it's much more convenient to have a nice factory sheath. I'm looking for a knife that is light, and I can take it on my 12-or more-mile bivouac-backpacking trips. I like 5 inches or more. It needs to be large enough to chop, but small enough to do fine chores. I'd like it to be a thicker blade, nothing too thin, because I plan to chop and baton with it. Also, I'm a big fan of choils, for choking up. Does anyone know how to grind out a choil on your knife, by any chance? So, with these prerequisites, I've found a few that I really like.

BK7 - It's a Becker, 'nough said. I like this blade length, and I like Becker quality.

Ka-Bar USMC 1213 (comes with sheath.) My only problem with this is that it's 3/4-tang, and I don't know how well it would hold up. I always hear about the durability of these knives, but I also hear reports of people bending them at the tang, and of the knife breaking on them.

Scrap Yard DM - I really like these, because they're very thick, they've got the Busse stamp of approval, and they're inexpensive. I'm concerned about the weight, though. Too much?

Ka-Bar FIN - looks good, but is it? Its POU is tactical, and I'm going to be abusing it in the woods. Will it hold up?

Cold Steel SRK - I know this would be a great knife, but it may be too lightweight, you know? I need it to be able to chop and baton. Also, I'm not a fan of AUS8.

Ontario SP46 - Nutnfancy likes it, but I don't like going on one guy's opinion. If you like it, what are some good things about it?

Thanks, guys. I know, it's a lot of choices, but this is one of the two knives I'm taking FAR away from civilization - it HAS to perform, or I'm SOL. Also, you guys can recommend anything you like that fits into my parameters. ($70 or lower, 5+-inch blade, thicker blade)
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Can't go wrong with the BK-7 for sure or if you want to save a few more ounces, the BK-11 or BK-14 or ESEE Izula will all help there. You should be able to add scales if you wish to any of those neckers and still get under your spending limit.

If you could get your hands on a BK-10, that might be the ultimate backpacker knife - the blade length of a BK-2 and thickness of the BK-7.

---

Beckerhead #42
 
Tom Brown who runs the Tracker/Survival school equipped his instructors with William Henry B-15 Survival knives. The blade is a ZDP-189 sandwich construction. The handle is milled out Titanium. The blade length is 3 1/8". The weight is 52 gm.
 
I've done a lot of backpacking. I take a tent for a shelter and use debris for the fire. None of the knives that you listed are really small or light. You would be better off with a Baco folding saw and a small knife than wasting energy chopping with a 5 to 6 inch knife. Just my opinion.
 
Sargent 666 said:
I've done a lot of backpacking. I take a tent for a shelter and use debris for the fire. None of the knives that you listed are really small or light. You would be better off with a Baco folding saw and a small knife than wasting energy chopping with a 5 to 6 inch knife. Just my opinion.
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I was thinking exactly the same. Some kind of folding saw, and then perhaps the wonderful and light Spyderco Bill Moran (drop point variant) for all the normal cutting.
 
Dagon said:
I was thinking exactly the same. Some kind of folding saw, and then perhaps the wonderful and light Spyderco Bill Moran (drop point variant) for all the normal cutting.
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The Moran would be a good choice and would save weight and space for a bottle of Affligem Triple!
 
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Sargent 666 said:
I've done a lot of backpacking. I take a tent for a shelter and use debris for the fire. None of the knives that you listed are really small or light. You would be better off with a Baco folding saw and a small knife than wasting energy chopping with a 5 to 6 inch knife. Just my opinion.
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I agree, unless you really want to chop and baton with your knife, I'd take a Bahco Laplander folding saw and a bushcraft knife, a Mora for example. The folding saw is about $30 and a Mora is about $15, but I'm not sure about prices in the US though.
 
Lover of Blades said:
Wow, this is a tough one. So many to choose from! Haha. Anyway, my budget is $70 MAX. Also, the sheaths aren't crucial, as I can make my own, but that's another $10, and it's much more convenient to have a nice factory sheath. I'm looking for a knife that is light, and I can take it on my 12-or more-mile bivouac-backpacking trips. I like 5 inches or more. It needs to be large enough to chop, but small enough to do fine chores. I'd like it to be a thicker blade, nothing too thin, because I plan to chop and baton with it. Also, I'm a big fan of choils, for choking up. Does anyone know how to grind out a choil on your knife, by any chance? So, with these prerequisites, I've found a few that I really like.
Click to expand...

A lightweight chopper with a thick blade that can do fine chores. That's a tough combination. I think it is safe to assume that you already know you can't meet all of those criteria 100% so there will be some tradeoffs in performance.

The Beckers are always good knives. Another knife that I've been happy with is the Blackjack Grunt.
 
That's a confusing question in that you want a light, but thick blade. The BK-02 would be great for you, but it's not light. The BK-07 would be great as well. Depending on what you are looking for, I would say the between those two or the BK-14. The tasks of the blade dictate what you need.
 
BK-7 for what you need :thumbup:

Best knife in that price range for general bush use , Imo of course:)
 
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