What is the right knife for camping/bear attacks/wild mountain folk kind of knife?

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blue8

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Right, it sounds silly, but seriously. I need a knife that i can rely on. I know I want something that can do more than just pop hairs or cut cardboard. I bought a Buck Strider Solution thinking that with those two names and a higher end steel that I would not need another knife as long as I lived. Wrong! This is not a knife you can use and abuse. It broke on a small shrub oak. I want something in the $50 range that can take digging, chopping, an accidental slam, etc. If it had to get nasty, which it probably won't, it would have enough presence and heft to give me a little confidence in the situation. As a reference to what I like, my dad gave me a Schrade knife I think. It was a bayonet styled knife with a screwdriver styled guard, a hammer on the end of the handle, a fine tooth saw on the spine, and a ceramic handle that withstood heat. The blade was coated, and the nylon sheath had two pockets for a compass, survival items etc. It was low slung with a thigh cord, camo. The metal was obviously soft enough to handle abuse but hard enough to take down small trees and shrubs. I remember that the tip had bent, and I bent it back with a hammer without breaking the tip or any noticeable effects. This knife was the best all around camping/survival knife I ever owned. It unfortunately was lost in the many moves i have made since college. Nowadays I have been looking for a suitable substitute. The Becker BK 10 looks like the right replacement for me so far as it seems simple, I could replace it if it got ruined, The steel seems to be more rugged than fancy, it's coated so I can get away with a little neglect, The sheath has the pocket for whatever. I don't care for the hammer/screwdriver parts as i have a leatherman for the pouch. Does anybody have an opinion On this knife or a better one. The only other knife I have seen that seems desirable is the Swamp Rat Bog Dog although a bit more pricey. I would rather have five cheap knives fail me for the price of one fancy knife failing me, but i don't get the feeling that The BK 10 would.
Thanks,
Alan
PS I want fixed blade ideas. I've got the best folders I could ever want.
 
May not be pretty, but it's got a 7" high carbon steel blade and an integral steel handle. This thing is bullet proof, and dirt cheap. About $20 on e-bay.

Also, if you're out in the bush and worried about wildlife, the hollow handle fits nicely onto a stick as a spear point. My walking staff is filed to exactly the right profile so I can do just that in a jiffy.

Not that I would want to hunt with it, but when I'm hiking in the back country I do run into black bears and I do take a little comfort in having something pointy on a 5' pole just in case.

Worth a try.
 
blue8 said:
I bought a Buck Strider Solution thinking that with those two names and a higher end steel that I would not need another knife as long as I lived. Wrong! This is not a knife you can use and abuse. It broke on a small shrub oak.
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While aggressively promoted as a heavy duty tactical, in reality this is a very thin ground blade more suited for cutting meat.

I want something in the $50 range that can take digging, chopping, an accidental slam, etc.
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Becker Crewman is in that price range and a fairly solid blade.

-Cliff
 
Get a Ka-Bar USMC with stacked leather handle. It is a durable and inexpensive knife fit for the kind of abuse you described. The leather sheath is well made, and will last for a long while. The price is usually about $50. In my opinion, it is the best knife available for that amount of money.

TheSurvivalist
 
without a doubt the Ontario Marine Raider Bowie in that price range is perfect. Massive, solid hunk-o-steel. Looks nasty and will inspire confidence.
 
Thanks fellows. I am most concerned with bears. not really scared of them, just don't want to be fetal while it's gnawing on my backside. I've been miles into the woods and never encountered anything fiercer than a field mouse and a garter snake. The cold steel looks like an ideal balance between not too much weight but pure confidence and a real nice pricetag. The Becker Tac tool looks like what i want only too big for hiking. It's hard to find a good balance between non cumbersome and reassuringly big. the Ka Bar is well not quite in my taste range. A bit too common. The Ontario 494 M7 is practially the same knife I got from pop.
 
Get the toughest you can get, and be confident they will not break on you. Swamp Rats are individually tested for cracks before they ship out. (right?)
OR go one step further and get a Busse, you get all the strength of a SR, actually a little more, AND you get a better corrosion resistance, but the SR coating on the blades will help this also.
 
I've always found it useful to have at least two: one large, 7"-10", and a smaller one for kitchen duties and small chores., even neck knife size so it always with me, but I'm usually also in a canoe or kayak.
I switched from Cold Steel Trailmaster to Busse for the large knife: the BM is a beauty, but it's quite alot of knife. My regular is a Steelheart II although the Natural Outlaw is a helluva lotta knife for the size.
Busse really deserves its reputation, but if you are taking just one you might want something with a little thinner blade for cooking. Fehrmans fit the bill very nicely. I have Doc Ron Hood's custom version which is outstanding and less massive. If that's representative of regular Fehrmans, they might be the ones
 
HJK said:
I've always found it useful to have at least two: one large, 7"-10", and a smaller one for kitchen duties and small chores., even neck knife size so it always with me, but I'm usually also in a canoe or kayak.
I switched from Cold Steel Trailmaster to Busse for the large knife: the BM is a beauty, but it's quite alot of knife. My regular is a Steelheart II although the Natural Outlaw is a helluva lotta knife for the size.
Busse really deserves its reputation, but if you are taking just one you might want something with a little thinner blade for cooking. Fehrmans fit the bill very nicely. I have Doc Ron Hood's custom version which is outstanding and less massive. If that's representative of regular Fehrmans, they might be the ones
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All very true, but I think you and Waliking man missed the point. He wants something in the $50 range. That is where some CS (SRK, Tanto), Ontarios and Beckers( CBK7-9) fit the bill.

Of course for a few bucks more a Ranger RD6 might fit the bill as well and it would be near $60.

But I totally agree with the Swamp Rat and Busse reco's, knives just don't get tougher or better, if you can afford them and afford the wait as well.
 
thebladeguy said:
Well for bear attacks you might want to consider a 500 Magnum:D .

TBG
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LOL, true if it is a Brown Bear you can throw the knife at him to distract him while you scoot up a tree, if your lucky. You would have more luck with a Blackie as they are more cowardly and usually back down, unless startled. I have run into many blackies in the woods where we both got surprised and they always ran off faster than me.
 
blue8 said:
I am most concerned with bears. not really scared of them, just don't want to be fetal while it's gnawing on my backside.
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I'd get a can of bear spray if it was me. A nice knife too, of course. BTW, I've read that if attacked by a black bear you should never go fetal, fight like hell because it's generally looking for lunch. On the other hand, if attacked by a brown(grizzly) always go fetal since it's usually defending cubs or a carcass and will often leave you alone once it thinks you're no longer a threat. Lace your fingers over the back of your neck while you're fetal to increase it's diameter.

I'm really glad that I can't report how well these tactics work!:eek:

Gordon
 
I thought Rd6 as well, but it is significantly out of his price range unless you catch one on ebay. The Ontario's are in that price range but considering the demands and the QC os Ontario they are not something I would recommend.

-Cliff
 
blue8 said:
Thanks fellows. I am most concerned with bears. not really scared of them, just don't want to be fetal while it's gnawing on my backside. I've been miles into the woods and never encountered anything fiercer than a field mouse and a garter snake. The cold steel looks like an ideal balance between not too much weight but pure confidence and a real nice pricetag. The Becker Tac tool looks like what i want only too big for hiking. It's hard to find a good balance between non cumbersome and reassuringly big. the Ka Bar is well not quite in my taste range. A bit too common. The Ontario 494 M7 is practially the same knife I got from pop.
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If your scared of bears buy a gun, why would you be using a knife on a tree anyways?
 
as they say, the best knife for a bear attacks is a dull one, it hurts less when the bear shoves it up your @$$
 
don't bring a knife to a bearfight.

But if you have to, try an HI khukuri...is there really any edge weapon that would be better?
 
Martin,

You owe me a beer. I spilled mine reading your dull knife advice. :D

Best,

oregon
 
Hi Blue,

Are you planning on "slashing" this bear, or "stabbing" the bear?

If you are planning on stabbing, you might look into the Spyderco Temperance. Double distal taper on a 4.5" VG-10 blade. Or some other similar blade geometry that will penetrate deeply and can slash on the way out. Reverse-grip, edge-in.

If you are planning on slashing, I cannot offer a suggestion.

sal
 
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