tom born tracker or benchmade csk?

SIRGALANT

SIRGALANT

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i really want the tracker , but then again i really want a benchmade CSK (usually i`m an advocate for just buying both , instead of deciding , but this time i`m not sure if i can afford both) so , in your opinion , which one would make a better camp knife? i`m planning on going campiong this year once i`ve got a job and can afford it

any help appreciated , thanks

i`ll get both eventually , i just wanna know which one is the better camp/survival knife.
 
I've had the Tracker and I think you would be better off with your other choice. Whats the price on the Tracker? $250? The Benchmade is around $125 right? Tell you what, grab the benchmade and if you still want to throw away the extra $125 I'll send you my address. lol All jokes aside I think a 5 to 7 inch knife is plenty for camping depending on what you are going to use it for. Hope this helps.
 
I have a Tracker. It looks cool but feels not so good in the hand and only works well if the bevels are re-ground.

Go with the other.
 
ok , so you reckon get the benchmade first . and actually from new graham the CSK is $70.
 
Neither but I guess if I was forced to pick one I'd take the Tracker. It has tough carbon steel and can chop all day long. I'm not sure about the benchmade with D2, serrations and a false edge. Looks to me like it's more of a fighter than a camp knife.
 
and it does say its supposed to be a combat knife as well as a survival knife.
 
SIRGALANT said:
and it does say its supposed to be a combat knife as well as a survival knife.
Click to expand...


I don't care what it says. I look at the blade shape, the steel and judge for myself based on experinece what works outdoors and what doesn't. A brittle (59-61RC) and hard to sharpen steel wouldn't be my 1st choice for a camp or a survival knife. Give me good heat treated 1095 any day of the week.
 
well really i want both knives to play with , and occasionally use if i have to. for the price of the tracker though i could have the CSK and a fixed blade griptillian to back it up . (i`d get plain edge CSK and combo edge fixed griptiallian) i really asm planning to go camping once i can afford it too
 
either one i buy would be coming with me . if i get caught carrying it won`t matter because where i`m going my uncle is the head CALM ranger
 
The CSK is roughly the same profile as my Randall Model 5 "Camp and Trail Knife", but there's O-1 steel in the Randall. Benchmade does good D-2, but as long as they were going to BT coat it, they could have gone to a tougher steel.

Other than the 1095 steel which I like, I have zero appreciation for the Tops TB Tracker. Even if you like the blade profile, the edge geometry needs a major redesign.
 
I'll be honest, I've only handled both of them, never used 'em.

That being said, I'd go with the BM CSK.

1. it's a conventional styled knife with conventional wisdom, using the same basic principles that have worked for centuries. It's small enough to be adept for making fuzz sticks, but large enough to baton plenty well for firewood. It's more sheeple friendly in design too.

2. it's lightweight, and easy to live with. that whole "best survival knife is the one you have with you" thing. The Tracker felt like a dang cinderblock on my belt. There MUST be a few outdoorsmen out there that have been "de-panted" by the Tracker. (Not that it's the kind of incident most of us would care to mention...)

3. it's less than half the price. It's always nice to have some beer money left over. Heck, with that much money left you could buy a decent hatchet too, and STILL have a lighter, easier package than the Tracker.

Both steels are good, sharp working steels that have proven thier worth.
 
what runs with scissors said.

while i haven't handled or used a csk i did have a tops tracker when they first came out and used it alot. big, thick, heavy, expensive, not really good for much except flailing around imo. the things tom brown claims the knife is useful for seems to be mostly hype or gimmickry, and the features that have promise are poorly implemented.

buy a csk if you like it and use the extra money for more outdoor toys or put it in the bank.
 
Macclint said:
I have a Tracker. It looks cool but feels not so good in the hand and only works well if the bevels are re-ground.

Go with the other.
Click to expand...

The handle is quite ergonomic and feels great in the hand and while the edges aren't as thin as I'd like em to be, it's not a bad chopper at all, it chops like a small hatchet due to heaviness in the front. No it's not a great slicer, that's what the smaller knife is supposed to be.
 
another point on my behalf is that i`m looking to get my first benchmade as well . i have spyderco , sog , cold steel , buck , leatherman , victorinox , wenger , muela , ontario , just off the top of my head, now i want a couple of benchmades
 
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