Survival/Bushcraft/Work Fixed Blade

Survive! GSO 5.1, 6 or 7/7 with their excellent CPM 3V would be my recommendation, but exceeds your 180 USD budget. Survive! also has a cheaper SK line with S7 steel, that does fit your budget. Only problem is availability then, because of the small batches.

So, then my next recommendation would be SYKCO 511. Has a 5.5" blade, can be ordered immediately (and is not sold out like the 711). Will cost you 120 USD. Enough room left to buy an awesome sheath. For example a Spec Ops for around 40 USD.
 
Sounds like you've done some good research. I agree about the Fallknivens. The F1 is too small and too thick, and I'm not a fan of VG-10.

The ESEE line is good but I hate coated knives and choils. Also the scales are way too thin. For the money it's hard to justify for me since I'd have to put liners or thicker scales on them to make them useful.

The RatManDu is a nice knife but also coated and has a choil. The ergos though are about perfect otherwise.

Personally I settled on a GSO-4.1 in CPM-3V. I use the heck out of it and don't see myself going to anything else for a long time.

Short of that, I'd go with a BK-16 and strip it. The RatManDu needs a ton of work to thin out the edge to be useful. The GSO and BK lines are just right out of the box.

All of this from someone who actually uses his knives and has owned at last one or two copies of each you've mentioned and then some.
 
Sulaco said:
Short of that, I'd go with a BK-16 and strip it. The RatManDu needs a ton of work to thin out the edge to be useful. The GSO and BK lines are just right out of the box.
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Really? I've found all of those knives comparable as far as thickness right behind the edge. The BK17 as well. They were all about the same. Trust me, the Ratmandu needs no work on the edge to be useful....

Also, so what's with the hatred of coated blades, and choils? Just curious...

Esee's scales are too THIN to be useful? Seriously? I always thought they were plenty thick, and in most cases too thick. I've done some contouring to mine to make them thinner in spots , and more comfortable, but I thought they were plenty usable as is.
 
The Survive 5.1 is in stock direct on their website, that's the route I might go. I love my ESEE 6 and will never let it go, its my most used camp knife. I will own a Ratmandu one day as it seems like a great size for what you get . I keep trying to trade for one, just haven't worked the right deal yet.
 
Thanks to AntDog I have a Ratmandu CG with a desert sage blade & tan handle on it's way via a large auction website. Now the wait....
 
Congrats man! You'll love it!

Sage blade and tan handle sounds like a nice looking combo.
 
Got the Ratmandu in the mail today on my day off! Two days earlier than expected. One word: Perfect. Not too big, not too small, not too heavy, not too light, fits like a glove. If I had to pick one knife, this is it. Stropped it up so that I can filet paper, now I just need a chance to use it. Love it!
 
Awesome news!!!!

I had no doubts you'd like it! Now that you've got it in hand, no regrets! Right? Use that sucker with pride. It's one hell of a knife. Sounds like you feel the same way about yours that I do about mine!

Is there any way you could post up a few pics? I'd like to see that color combo. I bet it's beautiful!
 
Bought my Esse-4 back when it was an RC-4 (so glad-I hate the name change still)! It's my "go-to" hunting knife and I have a bunch including Helles, Beckers, Izulas Benchmade, etc. I love the warranty and the fact that you don't have to have the slip or even be the original owner, etc. It says that they have a lot of confidence in their knives as well they should. I find the 4 easier to use for most things I use a knife for.
 
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