Recommendation? Unnaturally crazy 'dagger' "Want!"

[MikePotts]

It's been simply WEEKS since I had to silently take out a sentry... but since poniard carry became legal here in Texas I've had a yen to own a modern version.

So far I've seen pictures of the Ka-Bar Ek4:

https://www.bladehq.com/item--Ka-Bar-John-Ek-Commando-Model-4--31057

and a Condor? boar dagger,

https://www.bladehq.com/item--Condor-Boar-Dagger-Knife-Fixed--16774

both of which seem to be in my price range - anything else cool around with a good length blade?

 

[The Aflac Duck]

Spartan George V14

 

[MikePotts]

Yeah...I saw those too but ...$400 might be a little more than I want to spend on a whim - Thanks tho' !

 

[Steely_Gunz]

Daggers are my knife junk food. I have zero use for them, but I always option one as a Christmas gift when my wife asks what I want. I love them.

Maybe something classic? Gerber Mkii is a well balanced sticker. They run about $80. I also really like the Ontario trench knife. It's got that old school park finish and stacked leather washer handle. There is also the Boker Devil's Brigade or the FS British commando dagger.

I'm thinking about picking up a SOG Pentagon myself. I can usually bank on a $50 Amazon gift card from my mother in law. That would just about cover it.

Good luck!

 

[MikePotts]

I'll look 'em up! - Thanks Steely

 

[palonej]

I’m not much of a dagger dude, but that one is absolutely beautiful! I see $400 there, easily! Do you have one of them Tyler??
The only dagger I have is a Mini Infidel. I really like the blade profile, but it is very difficult to get it sharp.
Joe

Spartan George V14

 

[katanas]

Cold Steel has a number of daggers in various price ranges. The Tai Pan is a beaut.

 

[MassMatt]

I agree on the Tai Pan, it’s a great knife. A bit wider than most daggers but great proportions and balance.

 

[BladeScout]

As others have mentioned; the Gerber MKII - a good looking and not too expensive dagger.

 

[Velitrius]

Spartan George V14

Damn you, Blues...

I was surfing the KSF site one day and just about broke into a sweat trying not to click "Add to Cart" on that piece. I had happily forgotten that thing until you just brought it up. I have no use for it, but I can probably say that about 94% of the rest of the stuff I own so back on the wish list it goes.

I've had the Gerber MKII and the Boker Applegate Fairbairn, and thought both of those were fantastic. Wish I had them back. They had good length, handled nicely and won't break the bank.

 

[JJ_Colt45]

Depending on what you want to spend ... upper end Spartan and Fox Cutlery make very nice but more expensive daggers ... Boker Plus Striker or a Fairbairn style (I think Boker Gerber and a few others still make them) ... Cold Steel ... AG Russel and Gerber make some and Sog I believe still makes one ... or if you could find a ZT 150 Boot knife (discontinued) which is the only dagger own any others Ive sold ... or possibly find an older orginal Gerber Guardian Backup ... the newer version weren't great but the older ones were really nice small daggers.

 

[Hickory n steel]

Does it really have to be a dagger ?
What about a double edged clip point ?
It would still be double edged, but have a bit more practicality as a cutting tool.

 

[MikePotts]

Does it really have to be a dagger ?
What about a double edged clip point ?
It would still be double edged, but have a bit more practicality as a cutting tool.

Yeah it kinda does, I've even decided against M7 bayonet style blades, I have many other cool fixed blades...just not a longish slender dagger

 

[The Aflac Duck]

palonej No I don't own one, but I know that Spartan makes a high quality product. I handled the V14 at a shop in Mesa, AZ and it was an impressive knife, just like the rest of their knives.

Damn you, Blues...

I was surfing the KSF site one day and just about broke into a sweat trying not to click "Add to Cart" on that piece. I had happily forgotten that thing until you just brought it up. I have no use for it, but I can probably say that about 94% of the rest of the stuff I own so back on the wish list it goes.

I've had the Gerber MKII and the Boker Applegate Fairbairn, and thought both of those were fantastic. Wish I had them back. They had good length, handled nicely and won't break the bank.

We're in the same boat here. I have absolutely no use for a dagger and I don't think I could even legally carry it anywhere around here. But it's just so frickin' cool I'm almost convinced I "need" one

The Spartan Phrike I own is a fantastic knife, so I can only speak highly about their quality.

 

[Hickory n steel]

Yeah it kinda does, I've even decided against M7 bayonet style blades, I have many other cool fixed blades...just not a longish slender dagger

Well then there are loads of options out there from the Case V44 to the Gerber mk2.

 

[Makael]

Left field for you is a Buck dagger.

 

[Gaston444]

If you want something sharp and solid it will probably cost more than a $100.

Typically only Gerber daggers are near-zero ground, and so have any kind of real sharpness to them out of the box.

However Gerber Mark IIs often have these serrations that are totally useless. The un-serrated wasp waisted ones tend to be expensive, and are not as sharp in the "waist area". A much better choice, that would be under $200, is to go on Ebay and wait for one of the numerous mint Guardian IIs to come up. Even the camo painted ones have a very good baked on finish that is quite durable, and they go for way under $200 depending on condition.

The sandpaper grip offered by the gray handled Mark IIs is quite extraordinary however (superior to the Guardian grip): Just that secure feel alone would be worth a lot me... But the Guardian II sheaths are always outstanding, while often the more recent style of Mark II leather or plastic sheaths are junk, even on some anniversary models, like the one below.

The Guardian II tends to have a stronger point, but may need a light edge touch up.

There are many other daggers out there, but these are the only ones that I can vouch for their sharpness and edge geometry out of the box. I don't know about the Fox or Spartan ones, but a hollow grind is no guarantee of edge finesse. It is nearly impossible to correct geometry yourself on a dagger, and do this consistently on both sides by hand: It has to be sent in to a professional sharpener if it is the usual dull junk.

Most will say sharpness doesn't really matter on a dagger, but in fact it is even more essential to its basic functionality, as explained by William Fairbairn himself. Unless you just want a wall hanger...

Gaston

 

[BladeScout]

both of which seem to be in my price range - anything else cool around with a good length blade?

Have you checked out the CS Drop Forged dagger - its 5"and about $45?

I have many other cool fixed blades...just not a longish slender dagger

As for long slender blade - and very budget friendly - take a look at the Swiss M57 bayos on the surplus market. Blade is app ten inches long.

I bought 3-4 of these. One I left original, on one I cut down the guard and the last one had the guard cut and the blade cut down. Just for the heck of it. I dont carry them.

The beauty is, that you decide the configuration and that the bayos are cheap as chips ... or at least, they were, when I bought the bundle for not a lot of dough.

 

[uxo2]

Get an original still made in England.

 

[The Aflac Duck]

If you want something sharp and solid it will probably cost more than a $100.

Typically only Gerber daggers are near-zero ground, and so have any kind of real sharpness to them out of the box.

However Gerber Mark IIs often have these serrations that are totally useless. The un-serrated wasp waisted ones tend to be expensive, and are not as sharp in the "waist area". A much better choice, that would be under $200, is to go on Ebay and wait for one of the numerous mint Guardian IIs to come up. Even the camo painted ones have a very good baked on finish that is quite durable, and they go for way under $200 depending on condition.

The sandpaper grip offered by the gray handled Mark IIs is quite extraordinary however (superior to the Guardian grip): Just that secure feel alone would be worth a lot me... But the Guardian II sheaths are always outstanding, while often the more recent style of Mark II leather or plastic sheaths are junk, even on some anniversary models, like the one below.

The Guardian II tends to have a stronger point, but may need a light edge touch up.

There are many other daggers out there, but these are the only ones that I can vouch for their sharpness and edge geometry out of the box. I don't know about the Fox or Spartan ones, but a hollow grind is no guarantee of edge finesse. It is nearly impossible to correct geometry yourself on a dagger, and do this consistently on both sides by hand: It has to be sent in to a professional sharpener if it is the usual dull junk.

Most will say sharpness doesn't really matter on a dagger, but in fact it is even more essential to its basic functionality, as explained by William Fairbairn himself. Unless you just want a wall hanger...

Gaston

Sharpness is important on a dagger? It's meant for stabbing, I don't care who is supposedly "qualified to explain its basic functionality". Sure, sharpness might be icing on the cake, but I doubt any legitimate soldier who has actually taken a life with a bayonet was worried about sharpness.

Go ask any prison guard about a shank made from a toothbrush, they are going to tell you it was deadly because it's pointy, not sharp. Even a piece of rebar can be lethal, which is why OSHA requires us to put rebar safety caps on exposed bars.