What Do You Look For in a Large Knife?

B

beezaur

Joined
Jul 31, 2002
Messages
430
Hi Guys,

I am thinking of finally getting a large knife for backwoods-type survival. (I have always gone with 4-5" blades.)

I tend to like thinnish blades from stainless and smooth handles that slip instead of give you blisters.

What do you guys look for in a large knife, say 6 to 9 inches?

Tasks might include light chopping, game processing, fire duties, defense, and general repair work. I personally am not interested in digging with my (only) cutting tool.

Can anyone make a recommendation for me? Say less than $300, custom makers are ok.

Scott
 
Good cutting geometry and a decent steel. :)

Seriously, as obvious as that sounds there are many knives out there that are very poor cutting tools.

I think you will hear recomendations for Ranger and Swamp Rat stuff.

A Cold Steel Trailmaster cuts pretty well, as does the BK&T range, especially the BK9

I would say go for a full flat grind or full convex and a non-stainless steel.
 
I'm partial to Ranger's for a larger hard use blade. The steel is 5160 and easy to maintain without much fuss.

I had the edges thinned on my RD's as I use them more for cutting than chopping which they will also do well.

Another plus for me is value and price. I have a hard time taking a three of four hundred dollar blade and putting a baton to it.

Even a customized Ranger will be well within your price range.

Here's mine:

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b185/t_reyes/xx.jpg
 
Its a Ranger RAK. The current photos on the Ranger website still show the thumb grooves. Look closely and you'll see them,

The ones on the website feature cord wrapped handles but you can ask Justin Gingrich the owner to put micarta on them as well. The finish I believe is green GunKote. The blade length is 6".
 
If you allready have a 4 or 5 inch knife for your utility cutting, why have a second larger knife. I'd think a small hatchet would be a better choice, like the old Nessmuck trio- pocket knife, sheath knife, hatchet.
 
In a blade 7 to 9 inches I would prefer a convex grind and edge as my first choice or flat grind with convex edge. Steel would be carbon or tool steel. O1, 5160, L6, S7, 52100, D2, A2, you get the idea.:D
Scott
 
hatchetjack said:
Its a Ranger RAK. The current photos on the Ranger website still show the thumb grooves. Look closely and you'll see them
Click to expand...
Thanks, I found it. Yours still looks somewhat different. Perhaps my eyes are deceiving me, but it seems to me on yours the hollowed part of the blade is about 2/3 of the width. On the original it looks like 1/3 of the width. Did you change that? It looks MUCH better.
 
Id suggest a Battle Rat or BK9. I have both. I look for a strong, broad blade & something thick, the BR must be nearly quarter of an inch thick. You need to feel its a blade that could take some abuse (maybe even misuse) and not let you down. But, hey, Im preaching to the converted here, arent I?
 
hwyhobo- i see what you mean. mine came that way. i bought it from another guy who had it modified a bit which is why i scored on it. If you order one directly from Ranger, just tell Justin your needs. He even did one in titanium with a flat grind tiger stripe that looked really sweet for an outfit that did a lot of work near the salt.
 
jackknife said:
If you allready have a 4 or 5 inch knife for your utility cutting, why have a second larger knife. I'd think a small hatchet would be a better choice, like the old Nessmuck trio- pocket knife, sheath knife, hatchet.
Click to expand...

The smaller knives have always been my preference, but I am looking into a large one. It would replace the small knife, and would be my only cutting tool, except maybe a small folder (3" blade) as a backup.

Scott
 
jackknife said:
If you allready have a 4 or 5 inch knife for your utility cutting, why have a second larger knife. I'd think a small hatchet would be a better choice, like the old Nessmuck trio- pocket knife, sheath knife, hatchet.
Click to expand...

I'm not an advocate of large knives but there are some jobs a large blade will do 'easier' and be safer to the user than a hatchet. This of course all depends on where one intends to use it.
 
Why do you guys like non-stainless steels?

I'd prefer to avoid them as the ones I have leave a bad taste in my food.

Scott
 
In a large knife, I want good quality carbon steel, thickness of min 3/16 max 1/4", full tang, flat ground or a very high bevel, comfortable handle and a finger coil.

I realy like the medium to large blades for bush use as they are so versitile. My most used knife is my Swamprat camp tramp. Some other good knives/brands that come to mind are all of the larger swamp rats, ranger RD7 and 9, Busse, Fehrman knives, Becker bk7, 9, brute and Ontario Randall knives.
 
beezaur said:
I tend to like thinnish blades from stainless and smooth handles that slip instead of give you blisters.

What do you guys look for in a large knife, say 6 to 9 inches?

Tasks might include light chopping, game processing, fire duties, defense, and general repair work. I personally am not interested in digging with my (only) cutting tool.

Can anyone make a recommendation for me?
Click to expand...

That sounds like a leuko :

http://www.ragweedforge.com/5229.jpg

-Cliff
 
beezaur-
i use a ranger rd7, and carry a small folder for food prep. the larger blades don't fare that well in slicing food, as they are generally of thicker stock for strength. i prefer the 5160 because it takes more abuse than stainless would, especially in a blade of this size, and rust hasn't been an issue for me yet. IMHO, i don't mind a bit of staining on a working knife anyway, considering i have a stainless folder for food prep.

if you like slippery handles, you may want to look at the leuko cliff mentioned or a larger mora...not sure they come in stainless though.
 
Ragnar has both stainless and carbon leuko's, I have this one :

http://www.ragweedforge.com/749.jpg

Nice large knife for really light brush, lots of reach, very inefficient for thick woods, chopping or splitting. Not what I would want to carry here, but is the description posed. Personally I'd rather have something like this :

http://www.rakerknives.com/Bebach Bowie.jpg

without the top edge and upper guard. Tons of cutting ability, chopping and splitting, and any digging/prying as well, its a 1/4" of tempered quality tool steel, it is a job to functionally damage them even if you try.

-Cliff
 
RickJ said:
Very Nice Ruger Bisley! and Very Nice Knife Too!! Hope the Ruger is 44 Mag!
Click to expand...
Thanks.:D 41 mag. love that caliber.
Scott
 
Busse Satin Jack TAC does all these things for me. IMHO, the best knife I've found for the $. I've used mine for light chopping, fire duty and I haven't skinned or processed game yet, but it did a great job on the Thanksgiving turkey. It throws well (although I wouldn't do this regularly) and is incredibly fast and comfortable in the hand at just about any position. My $.02. Good luck.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top