Whats A Good Camp Knife??

Joined
Mar 8, 2001
Messages
73
I am wondering what a good choice of camp knife would be, something along the lines of a Battle Mistress or Rob Simonich does a large knife also, then theres the Becker Brute I think, but what else is there out there, its for shelter preping, clearing debris and other large chores, thanks guys. By the way don't go to high with the budget, about $350 is tops.

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You are the weakest link!!

GOODBYE!!
 
First off, since you don't include a lot of fine work, I would suggest a simple 12" machete. It will handle all of what you have described and if you decide to go high end, especially custom you can use it as a sound starting point to get your custom blade by simply telling the maker what kind of performance you want that the machete doesn't give, or what areas you want it improved. Barteaux makes solid machetes, you will have to sharpen it though.

For a lighter use camp knife, a 12" machete is not the greatest for such work and you want something smaller. Barteaux does offer smaller machetes, but for a lot of work the geometry is far from optimal. Becker offers the Magnum Camp which is a 3/16" "bowie" class blade. It has a full flat grind which ends in a thin edge (for its blade class), is relatively light and neutral balanced to be easy to work with - and yet from most of the posts on the forums can chop decently well.

The Basic #9 would be a blade if you want something heavier than the Magnum Camp, it should easily outchop it, but because of the extra weight and further blade balance will cause fatigue faster than the Magnum Camp. The extra stock thickness also makes it a better splitting tool as well as reducing binding in thicker wood, and of course makes it much stronger for prying / digging.

Most custom makers will produce camp knives, if you pop into the custom forum you can see many such discussions about them such as :

http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum4/HTML/002416.html

You might also want to drop in on the HI forum as there are a very wide variety of khukuris and there is sure to be one that will handle any work required.

-Cliff
 
The Battle Mistress is a great choice.
I own one and it is one of my favorites.
You also can't go wrong with a chris reeve project 1. I am selling projects for cheap over on the exchange -275.
Thanks, Jeff
 
You can get an RTAK or a similar piece from Newt Livesay for something like $150. They should handle all of your chopping needs! In fact, you could get and Air Assault and an RTAK and you'd have a chopper/small fixed blade combo from Newt for $300.

As already said, there are a lot of options out there! Good luck deciding.

Oh, check out Trace Rinaldi too. He makes a big choper called the armageddon. I forget the price but I think it is in your range.

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"Come What May..."
 
I just want to second Cliff's recommendation of the Becker Magnum Camp. I had a chance to examine one briefly, and was amazed at how good it felt in your hand. I strongly recommend that you try to get your hands on one, to check it out. It is designed by Jerry Fisk, one of the pre-eminent bladesmiths in the country.

With your budget you can't help but get a nice knife. Enjoy!

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Asi es la vida

Bugs
 
I have a Becker Magnum Camp knife that i did some custom work on.....I rehandled it in cocobolo and added a brass guard. I removed the black finish and have it a hand rubbed finish. It is a great performer and nice looker. I can sell it to you. You can email me for a price.

<img src=http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1188191&a=8751736&p=43038480>

[This message has been edited by XRAYED (edited 04-24-2001).]
 
A good one to look at (and cheaper) is the 'Ontorio - Quartermaster'/presentation version or NEW version. I have found it even handles the heavier camp chores as well as smaller tasks and even better than I expected.

Hey EXRAYED,
your link did not work for me mate, is it up and running?

I am keen to have a look at your mods to the knife...

cheers / GUNDY
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Lots of room to play with that budget
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I would personally opt for an Allen Blade Combat Patrol Bowie. Blade lengths up to 13" are available (I went with 10" on mine). Differentially heat treated 5160 (with temper line). A heck of a lot of knife for your custom dollar and looks better than any rubber handled production knife out there (especially if you opt for a nice wood over the black canvas micarta). And I still have not found a rubber handle that will not tax your hands after a heavy bout of chopping. Kick ass Kydex sheath. Lifetime refinishing of the blade as well. You get the picture. Check them out @

http://www.geocities.com/bladecutlery/blade_cutlery_site001.htm

Take the money you have left and buy yourself a MT LCC in black micarta and you would have yourself an awesome, do anything, matching pair (get a stainless guard rather than the brass on the CPB) that would come in under your budget.
 
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