Survival Knife Preference Poll

ESEE/BECKER CHOICE If you could only pick one, which survival knife would you prefer?

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Carothers Performance Knives HDFK or something similar if price is not important.

Mora Bushcraft Survival if price matters (or maybe the Mora Pathfinder - the most underrated Mora).

If it had to be a Becker then the 16 (sadly discontinued).
 
I had a customized BK7 with a mirror polished blade and handles that I customized with a textured, 2K automotive finish. It was a terrific knife. It’s my #2 choice. Unfortunately, it was stolen so I have to vote for what I have now.

Find a BK5. You’ll dig it.
 
Bk5 or the bk12 if sticking with becker or esee.
My favorite esee is the expat libertariat machete.

I like Busse (Nano Team Gemini), Beck, Fiddleback Forge (Duke) , Mineral Mountain Hatchet Works (Mini Starlight Fighter), Lt wright (Gen 6), and others.

Also, you can’t beat a Mora, saw, axe/machete combo.

(Honorable mention to the Ontario Blackbird)
 
Ratmandu and p&l come to mind, but realistically a survival knife should chop imo, a 1311 or light chopper may be a better "survival knife"
 
If I had to pick from the list above - BK7 or 9 would be my choice.

The BK2 or Esee 6 would be next coin toss.

Beckers have better edge retention in my experience. The BK7 out chops the Esee 6. The BK9 out chops anything on that list ( besides the “other Esee” Junglas ). The Beckers are reasonably priced, fairly lightweight for their intended purpose, carve decently.

Things to consider.

The Esee will come with a better sheath and micarta scales.

The becker will come with a terrible sheath and plastic scales.

My off the list preference would probably be a Siegel with a 7 inch blade, a Busse basic 7 or 11, Carothers HDFK or FK2, SET with a 5-7 inch blade, Gossman ( any would do ), Reiff with a 5 or 6 inch blade.
 
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I don't have one of each that are comparable (closest would be Izula to Bk-13), so I cannot really speak to it. I also live where several of the timbers I run across have their own RC rating and thus the steels in question just really don't play. But if you handed me any of either line and told me that it was my knife for the next week sleeping rough, I wouldn't feel like I had been hard done by, I can work with them. I think the Becker's have the advantage of Ka-Bar's larger production facilities and spending the money on the heat treat and shape, but Rowen do a fine job with a much smaller facility and thus spend a little more where many consumers also look. So while they play in the same field, they have their own strengths and weaknesses. It sort of becomes a "what do you want at x$ value". Then you also have the factor of "what is a survival knife". Were I am, it better be light and easy to carry, none of the big choppers are going to do much but waste energy that I'm better off using with my 16in Tram, as it's either fluff or iron to chop through. If I was to bother with much of the tougher stuff, well, it better have a cab and aircon, and I'm not exaggerating by much. There are species here that were only cut with two man crosscut by desperation, and only ever cut and milled green when it was "easy". They were left to stand by anyone not working in a crew.
That doesn't answer any questions, and my sig line is fixed from the last forum software change, but I bought ESEE first when they were still dealing with that other manufacturer, and just never got the chance at a becker I liked when I had the cash (would have loved to put a 15 in my collection)
 
If I could only have one? I'd want a Becker BK15. Good luck finding anyone willing to part with one, and good luck getting the mortgage to pay what they are going to want for it.

 
Something made by Rick Marchand Rick Marchand of Wildertools

Heck, isn’t he one of the moderators for the Wilderness and Survival Skills subforum here???

Experienced survival practitioner, bladesmith well-versed in all aspects of knife design for the intended application, and an understanding of the metallurgy required to made the tool work.
 
fuyume said:
If I could only have one? I'd want a Becker BK15. Good luck finding anyone willing to part with one, and good luck getting the mortgage to pay what they are going to want for it.

Click to expand...

Not that I own one (or any of their knives), but Work Tuff Gear makes one that looks pretty close.

Check out their Tayal model.
 
TC said:
Not that I own one (or any of their knives), but Work Tuff Gear makes one that looks pretty close.

Check out their Tayal model.
Click to expand...

This is a good suggestion. The Tayal model is definitely underrated. Excellent knife.
 
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