Suggestion for sub 6" Hiking knife

C

Clarence Whirley

Joined
Jan 5, 2010
Messages
33
i'm looking for something in this range...
- 6" fixed blade
- @ $75
- decent sheath

It'll be used for prepping firewood, light camping, hiking.
i'm looking at the Becker BK2 and and i'm leaning toward the Ontario SP-46.
Does anyone have experience with either of those or suggest some others?
love the fallknivens, but that's obviously out of my price range.
thanks guys.
 
Get you a good MORA, some versions come with laminated steels if you are a steel buff. Also look at Cold Steel FINN Wolf, nice sheath. I will be the guy that says just go ahead save up a little more money unless time is an issue and buy what you want. Fallknivens are great knives as are the ESEE line. Someone posted on a gun form "buy once cry once" I did not understand what that meant until I tried to save a buck and wound up spending a lot more buying a cheap piece then buying what I should a bought to begin with.
 
I bought mine for dual purpose (hiking/backpacking fixed blade & hunting knife), but despite its name, the Cold Steel Master Hunter is perfect...it can be found for your $75 price , has a 4.5" fixed blade that is thick enough for survival tasks (3/16"), and has a very comfortable rubber handle along with a real nice sheath that can easily be attached to a pack (if not chosen to go on your belt)...just a thought!
 
For under $75 I would buy a Mora and a machete.

If you spent a bit more you could pick up an ESEE-6 and have a great camp chore knife with a lifetime warranty and a handle that won't rot and chip off like the CS rubber...
 
The Buck 119 'Special' has an MSRP of $81 - but is widely available at WallyWorld for $34! It is made in the USA with a 6" x .175" clip point blade of Bos heat-treated 420HC. In this fashion, it comes with a black phenolic handle and aluminum finger guard and pommel. It is widely available with a black leather Mexican made sheath - and clamshell packed with a PRC-made nylon one from WallyWorld - which is likely better for weather, anyway.

You can also get a dress-up one - 119BRS - with a cocobolo Dymondwood handle and brass fg/pommel for MSRP $121. Not as wdely available as the base model - which is just as good a knife - or as heavily discounted (I got one for $75.). My base model is in the kitchen as a butcher knife - it's 7.5" bigger brother, the 120 'General' is with it - and excells at carving Thanksgiving turkey! They are great users. My original 119 was a camping knife. Les Stroud even used one on several of his Discovery Channel 'Survivorman' episodes.

Stainz
 
BK-2 - oh yeah...
IMG00618-20100730-1238.jpg
 
RatDrall said:
For under $75 I would buy a Mora and a machete.

If you spent a bit more you could pick up an ESEE-6 and have a great camp chore knife with a lifetime warranty and a handle that won't rot and chip off like the CS rubber...
Click to expand...

My buddy has an 11 year old Master Hunter in Carbon V, and its handle is in fine shape, so don't act purely on presumptions.
 
RatDrall said:
For under $75 I would buy a Mora and a machete.

If you spent a bit more you could pick up an ESEE-6 and have a great camp chore knife with a lifetime warranty and a handle that won't rot and chip off like the CS rubber...
Click to expand...

Shoot, for under $75 I'd buy a couple of each!
 
thanks Folks...
are you BK2 fans happy with the sheath? not a big deal, just asking.
those Esse knives are absolutely beautiful.
No one has the Ontario SP-46?
 
Clarence Whirley said:
i'm looking for something in this range...
- 6" fixed blade
- @ $75
- decent sheath

It'll be used for prepping firewood, light camping, hiking.
i'm looking at the Becker BK2 and and i'm leaning toward the Ontario SP-46.
Does anyone have experience with either of those or suggest some others?
love the fallknivens, but that's obviously out of my price range.
thanks guys.
Click to expand...

The BK2 is a lot of knife (1-lb) to carry for light camping and hiking. (same for the 119.) I always did fine just carrying a swiss army knife when backpacking. If you just have to have a fixed blade, look at a Becker Necker or an Izula. Much less cumbersome, which means it will more likely be taken along and be there when you need it.
 
Clarence Whirley said:
thanks Folks...
are you BK2 fans happy with the sheath? not a big deal, just asking.
those Esse knives are absolutely beautiful.
No one has the Ontario SP-46?
Click to expand...

I have an older bk2 I love the knife an the sheath, but the new bk2 has a skeltized handel an a sheath that is sopessed to be better than the old one.

But I still like the 119 beter for differnt chores.

Another choice might be a SHORT Ka-Bar USMC, I don't personally own one but the seem to be a good size an carbon steel is a plus.
 
Bobby Craig said:
BK2 Great Idea
Buck 119 Great Idea

Please stay away from Cold Steel...that is just my opinion and many here will disagree with that.

Ka-Bar USMC!

Maybe a Ortario Marine Raider.
Click to expand...

Cold steel makes good knives. They are tools that work well for the money. You just have to ignore the advertising. I have half a dozen fixed blades and folders and use them. I don't know why some people like to talk them down. Why should they care if you buy one?

I don't have a full sized KaBar USMC, but I have the short version. The edge is ground un-evenly and is very obtuse.

The Ontario Marine Raider is a huge knife. It's not bad at all. On mine the factory edge came pretty thick so I had it reprofiled and now it will slice paper pretty well.

Moras are also really good value inexpensive knives. I have an Allround and a Scout. I've used both to split small pieces of wood and they are still in one piece.

As much as I dislike SOG folders, I think they make good fixed blades. You may want to look into them as well.

I own a Buck 119, but have not used it. The factory edge is a little on the thick side. But the fit of the knife and leather sheath otherwise seem very good for the money.

hope some of that helps. :thumbup:
 
Clarence Whirley said:
thanks Folks...
are you BK2 fans happy with the sheath? not a big deal, just asking.
those Esse knives are absolutely beautiful.
No one has the Ontario SP-46?
Click to expand...

I like mine quite a bit. Some folks have reported that the sheath dulls the knife, but I haven't had that issue with my BK-2.
 
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