Suggestions for an outdoor/utility fixed blade knife

[TheFighter88]

I'm a fairly green knife nut - so please bear with me.

My latest search started when I saw the Rambo movies... go figure. Anyhow, I started looking for a good survival knife that I could afford - under $100. I found good knives, but none that I can afford.

SO, I was wondering what knives some of the more experienced knife nuts in the forum would recommend. My price range is still anything under $100. I'm looking for something good for hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, self-defense, and utility purposes. I was starting to consider the Ka-bar Fighter and Gerber LMF II, but I'm not sure if either of them are quite the knife I'm looking for. I'll appreciate any help you guys (and gals) can offer. Thanks!

P.S. I have a weakness for knives with style and good looks.

 

[huugh]

I will just name brands
Browse their websites and forums here and on knifeforums.com
Then you can choose what fits you most.

Ranger knives, Fallkniven, Bark River, TOPS, Ontario RAT

 

[ml100]

Becker BK 7, Ontario Tak or RAT-7.

 

[Andy_CN]

P.S. I have a weakness for knives with style and good looks.

If you like knives with black blade and black handle you could also consider
the Cold Steel SRK: http://www.coldsteel.com/38ck.html

 

[Joe Talmadge]

You're looking at big inefficient tacticals for some reason? I'd recommend going a completely different way. Super high performance matter separator, tough enough for defensive use, but you won't be prying or digging holes with it (you'd stick with your sharpened prybars for that):

http://www.1sks.com/store/spyderco-temperance.html


Spyderco Temperance.

 

[T.K.C.]

I suggest a Ranger RD6! http://www.rangerknives.com/Knives/index.html

 

[RedEdge77]

Check out the becker lines of knives. Not exactly pretty but they make up for it ten fold in strenght and durability.:thumbup:

 

[wicked1]

ranger and Ka-Bar

 

[Ebbtide]

www.ragweedforge.com
For knives.
Not prybars.

 

[Cliff Stamp]

I was wondering what knives some of the more experienced knife nuts in the forum would recommend.

What do you want the knife to do well, what is most important to you?

-Cliff

 

[huugh]

What do you want the knife to do well, what is most important to you?

Maybe anything necessary for:

...hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, self-defense, and utility purposes

 

[culpritish]

My two cents, given the criteria you mentioned, would be either a Ka-Bar, an Air Force pilot's survival knife, or perhaps a Becker knife. You state you have a weakness for a knife with style and good looks: the Ka-Bar, IMHO has a timeless asthetic to it, and the pilot's knife, made by Camillus or Ontario, two very good knife companies I might add, don't look half bad either, as well as it is shorter than a Ka-Bar, has serrations on the spine, and comes with a carborundum sharpening "stone" in a steel-reinforced leather sheath, usually for about $20 to $30, makes it a very attractive all-purpose knife.

 

[TheFighter88]

What do I want it to do well... good question...

Ok for the good question I can only give this bad answer:

I want the knife to stand up to any task I put it to - durable, versatile, and durable yet again.

So far... I kinda like the TOPS Steel Eagle 107c
http://www.topsknives.com/product_info.php?cPath=3&products_id=136
I could be wrong, but the knife seems like it'd be durable to stand up to most things. I like the micarta handle, and I like the saw edge on top too.
The only problem is it's a bit too pricey for me... anybody know of anything similar to it but cheaper?

I guess if I had to put it in one word, I'm looking for a knife that is...
Durable

 

[Andy_CN]

So far... I kinda like the TOPS Steel Eagle 107c
http://www.topsknives.com/product_info.php?cPath=3&products_id=136
I could be wrong, but the knife seems like it'd be durable to stand up to most things. I like the micarta handle, and I like the saw edge on top too.

I guess if I had to put it in one word, I'm looking for a knife that is...
Durable

Cliff Stamp has reviewed the TOPS Steel Eagle 107D, the tanto version:
http://www.physics.mun.ca/~sstamp/knives/steel_eagle.html

I consider many knives that were already mentioned in this thread as very
durable, too. And their prices are below $US 100.

 

[Cliff Stamp]

Maybe anything necessary for ...

Two users could both want a knife for cod fishing but one fillets and the other splits, heads and steaks. These require two very different knives. One user could prefer a very high corrosion resistant steel which is easily sharpened on natural stones or even a file and the other user want a knife which has to be sharpened the least often, these require two very different steels. Hence the questions I asked.

I guess if I had to put it in one word, I'm looking for a knife that is...
Durable

Check the RD series from Ranger knives, the M6 from Swamp Rat, and the S1 from Fallkniven. These are very different from something like the TOP's steel Eagle in that they look much more basic, very simple. In general all the extra bits and pieces on designs like the Steel Eagle tend to have little functional benefit and they actually reduce efficiency in various uses.

-Cliff

 

[hatchetjack]

The Ranger RD7 might be worth looking in to. If you want primarily a cutter, you may want to consider having the edge thinned when you order as the edge is fairly thick (yet sharp) for chopping. It's a simple design but you may decide once you get it to start doing some personal modifications to suit you.

I sanded and filed the grips on mine to fit my hand and also beveled the edges on the spine. This RD7 started out with an epoxy black finish which I removed and polished. You can request them already with a satin finish if you like.

 

[glockman99]

You're looking at big inefficient tacticals for some reason? I'd recommend going a completely different way. Super high performance matter separator, tough enough for defensive use, but you won't be prying or digging holes with it (you'd stick with your sharpened prybars for that):

http://www.1sks.com/store/spyderco-temperance.html


Spyderco Temperance.

Yup, that's the one I suggest...Excellent steel, and excellent handle.

 

[huugh]

Two users could both want a knife for cod fishing but ...

Sure but has anyone already seen something like utility/camping fillet knife? Hence something versatile that can do (almost) anything reasonably well

Yet I agree with

n general all the extra bits and pieces on designs like the Steel Eagle tend to have little functional benefit and they actually reduce efficiency in various uses.

TheFighter88-Justin from Ranger Knives can do any modifications you want. So you can get something very stylish from him.
What about this:

 

[Andy_CN]

Post deleted by Andy_CN

 

[savagesicslayer]

If your still interested in the Ka-bar line I'd sugest the D2 extreme.it's very nice on the eyes and cuts like the devil and can stand up to the abuse of chopping.
just my .02$