Want opinons on a decent yardwork/camp knife

DH1 said:
I'm looking for a fixed blade work knife for doing basic yard chores, and the occasional camping trip. The hardest I'll use it is to probably mallet it through some logs for firewood.
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If you are backpacking, then OK. But for car or RV camping, why put a nice knife through such a job. I alway carry a hatchet (among many other things) in my SUV for such chores. I'll save my camping knives for other work. But hey, it's your knife.

If it has to stay under $100 dollars, Cold Steel Recon Scout for a large knife and the Onterio Rat-7 for a medium sized knife. Another $10 bucks and you can get the Rat-7 in D2. For a great small fixed blade, Ontario Rat-3 in D2. I have one and absolutely love it.

Apologize if these knive have already been mentioned. I didn't have time to read the thread.

Regards
 
I vote for a Ranger Knives, since you don't want to do the Scrapper 6. Or, how about a Bark River? They ARE excellent knives!!! And do I have anything against the Gerber LMF? Yes, it is a Gerber.
 
I assume Gerbers are considered 'low end' and hyped up too much, but the LMF does look cool:D

If it was a toss up between a regular Ka-Bar or the Gerber LMF...which would you all choose?
 
Yep. If you just want a bare bones worker with no frills that will hold an edge, sharpen back up easy and do all the regular and then some jobs around a camp site look no further and spend no more. Either of those knives I recommended will out perform many knives four times the cost in both cutting and chopping and edge holding.

STR
 
If I had to choose between Geber and Ka-Bar; I would choose Ka-Bar. I like their knives!
 
Ka-bar. Ive never had a gerber ive liked, and my Ka-bars are really some of my favorites. As for your earlier question, the blade tang goes all the way to then end of the handle where its pinned, though it does thin out partway into the handle. I cant see how youd get the blade out of the handle, and I think the blade would snap before you did so I think thats what was meant. Someones always going to manage to break a knife, no matter what it costs...they arent indestructible...

Ive never had any problems with any of the Ka-bars ive owned. They're simple, cheap, and easy to find. Mine always sharpen up nice pretty quickly, no matter how hard I use them, and they hold their edges reasonably well. You might want to look at a black ka-bar with the kraton handles. The leather handles are okay, but they require a little more care and sometimes dont offer the grip that the kraton does.
 
STR said:
Just go here http://www.ragweedforge.com/SwedishKnifeCatalog.html and scroll down about half way and get you one of these #C223 or the #173 knives. You can thank me later when you get it and use it a few times. Its a heck of a worker and a deal at what it costs. Heck get two or three and still not spend as much as any other knife that probably won't cut as well
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I've never used either of those two models, but I think it's a real safe bet you'll be getting a very good knife and an excellent value if it satisfies any one of the following three conditions:

1. Made in Sweden by Frosts or Eriksson

2. Sold by Ragnar

3. Recommended by STR :)
 
I'm almost sure I'll get a basic Ka-Bar...it looks like a good first 'real' knife from which I can learn to sharpen and the like...and I can handle it at the store before I buy it...if it's too bulky, I'll probably order another brand online.

which brings me to the next questions..

Serrations or straight blade? I assume straight is good for pounding through dead wood, and serrations are great for cutting rope..although if the regular blade is kept sharp, rope and the like shoulden't be an issue.

And what's a good starter stone for sharpening it? Nothong fancy for now, just a stone or something I can use after some use.
 
Wetdog1911: You still got those Straight Handled Busses I unloaded on you?
Hope your beating them up and they arn't acting like your ka-bars:)
 
I use a DMT diafold and a bench stone, which work pretty well. As for the serrated edge, its really up to you. I rarely find myself intentionally using them on mine.
 
I'm changing my mind too much now...For $60 I can get the Becker combat/utility online...I'll probably order that...I'd like to own a Ka-Bar at some point, but $70 for something I want to use daily, and isn't highly reccomended isn't what I need now.

www.ridgeknifeshop.com has them in stock..same guy that a few of you ordered from through ebay and liked. I emailed him last night about availability and he responded this morning.
 
DH1 said:

I'm almost sure I'll get a basic Ka-Bar...it looks like a good first 'real' knife from which I can learn to sharpen and the like...and I can handle it at the store before I buy it...if it's too bulky, I'll probably order another brand online.

which brings me to the next questions..

Serrations or straight blade? I assume straight is good for pounding through dead wood, and serrations are great for cutting rope..although if the regular blade is kept sharp, rope and the like shoulden't be an issue.

And what's a good starter stone for sharpening it? Nothong fancy for now, just a stone or something I can use after some use.
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Fine edge, no questions about it. For camp/yard chores, that is your best bet.

Now, I do not know if you already bought your new knife, but if you haven't consider the Cold Steel SRK. Same steel as the Becker, but in a profile I find more camp friendly and with a Kraton handle, which absorbs the impact and vivrations of choping and batoning. You can get it for $52.00 from wholesalehunter.
 
Gerber to Ka-Bar, then to Becker, now this Cold Steel SRK...Each looks better than the last:thumbup:

Any comments on the SRK? I like the handle and overall shape better than the Becker..
 
I bought a Cold Steel SRK from ebay this afternoon for just under $68 shipped. The seller returned my email right away and said he had already shipped it!
 
DH1 said:
I bought a Cold Steel SRK from ebay this afternoon for just under $68 shipped. The seller returned my email right away and said he had already shipped it!
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.......Great !....but the work has just begun....you must test it and report back to us your impressions of the SRK's performance. I own an SRK and am always interested in what other have to say about its design and utility.

-Regards
 
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