what is the best 6 inch tool steel/carbon steel suvival knife

KellyGlanzer said:
If you've ever had to choke up your grip on a larger knife to do finer work like cape out an animal you would be very happy the choils was there. I have been in that situation many times. I don't always have a specialized knife with me only the one at hand and it is more versatile to be able to do that IMHO. :)
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I understand the basics behind that design, but for me the tradeoff is loosing the most effective part of the blade. Also, most of the time a choked grip is not needed when you have a knife that has a blade that begins right after the handle. So, IMHO, sometimes (definately not always though!) the choil can cause a problem which it then solves. But, in the end, it's just a matter of opinion.
 
The standard Ranger RD6 would fit the bill. The RD series do a good job of cutting considering their thickness, will probably still be around long after we're all gone, can be customized by Justin for a reasonable charge, and are well priced.
 
For a commercial knife that is like a custom - especially in that you can choose your handle from quite a selection - consider Bark River. My favorite two are my Gameskeeper and Boone, neither of which comes anywhere near your 6" requirement. If 5.75" is close enough, you can pick out a nice one, handle-wise, from the Gameskeeper II collection at either 'knifesshipfree.com' or 'dlttradingcompany.com' for under your $200 limit delivered - and have a super sheath, too. The Gameskeeper/Gameskeeper II are big (.215" thick) A2 steel blades with a finger guard and a flat choil-like area ahead of it - for choking up on the blade. I prefer the rounded choil - like my B R Fox River has - for choking up on the blade, as it just 'feels' safer. Still, for most of the bushcraft/camping uses I have, that Gameskeeper is ideal. The longer one may just be 'right' for you. They are made of A2 tool steel - which will gain 'patina' without protective oil. Their handles are for medium-large grips - not for smaller hands. Mine is 'just' natural Micarta - and still a work of art!

Here are my Boone (top - Bocote handle - 5" x .187" 52-100) and Gameskeeper (4.5"):

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Stainz

PS You could opt for what Les Stroud, aka 'Survivorman', does - a Wally World $35 Buck 119 - below opposite the B R Gameskeeper - the right length, too!

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I agree with KellyGlanzer. I like Nick's Forum knife a lot.
Mine's a 5 inch blade and feels very comfortable in the hand.
The other choices I would make would be a Scrapper 6, a Ratmandu or a Fallkniven A1.
Of these, I'd go for the Scrapper 6 first.

The pic below is a size comparison with my Ratweiler, Ratmandu and NWA knife.
Haven't got a picture of my Scrapper 6 or Fallkniven A1 yet, but plan on getting a comparison shot of the knives soon.

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I agree with Stainz...Les Stroud's choice of, as Stainz put it...a "Wallyworld" Buck 119 is not a bad one. I have a 119 that is attached to my "bug-out gear" at home. It's a good, solid knife that does a fine job in the great outdoors! It may not have the "panache" of some of the other "high-speed" knives seen around, but it works! Combine it with a SAK or multi-tool (or both), and you have quite a combo for use on the trail.

Just my opinion!
Ron
 
I've never seen Nick's knives before, but they are works of art!

Does anybody have contact info for him or know what wait times are like for his work? I would really like to see more of his work.

I don't own one yet, but Diving Sparrow's Boreal Bushcraft looks like the ideal knife for me. It's high on my short list.
 
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