i admit it, i'm a serial knife abuser. i work my blades into the ground and i really wanted opinions on the toughest blade type, i'd like opinions on the most durable:
1. steel types
2. point type
3. blade shapes
4. handle materials
5. overall knife designs (bowie, dagger etc.)
6. models (your recomendations would be helpful)
so in short, help a brother out, need a big strong blade that's going to keep up with relentless outdoor use (don't worry about the outdoors thing, i maintain my knives religiously, they need not be stainless).
If you work your knives as much as you say you do, then take off the price limit. You can get one hell of a knife for about 350 USD that'll last a lifetime. That's 3 or 4 nights out with your wife or buddies. Not bad considering you want a good tool to withstand some pretty severe abuse. If it's something youre going to throw in a drawer and forget about, then yeah, keep it cheap. If you're going to use it all the time then spend some extra money and get something good.
Your question is like a race car driver asking which car is the fastest that he can buy for 5,000 dollars. Well, sure, there are a couple of mediocre options at that range but not many and even those options arent great. If you'd open your price range up a little you'd get some real options and not have to compromise such an important tool. It's up to you, but if you really use that knife as much and as hard as what you say you do, you owe it to yourself to consider something at a more reasonable price range.
If you don't really want to open your price range up then I'd suggest getting a bench grinder and belt sander for 200 bucks and making a lawn mower blade into a workable knife for yourself. Wrap the handle in paracord and call it done. Go out and beat the snot out of your cheap knife. If you want something better, then open yourself up to better stuff. Most of these knives that can handle rough work for about 70 USD are basically lawn mower blades with handles, that's why I mention what I do. I don't advocate taking a lawn mower blade and grinding out a handle, but for that price you might as well, that's what the companies are doing and selling it as a rough use knife for cheap.
Here, I know you want stainless but stainless and rough work don't normally mix. The best you can do is coat the blade with something:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...alworks)-52100-Hard-Use-(Updated-with-results)
And
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1305088-ZT-0180-Hard-Use
Both of these are over your stated price range but are completely capable of handling the type of work you state you do. And when you're talking about a work knife, does appearance matter over pure performance? If I was a race car driver I'd take the ugliest, most beat up looking car if it won races for me over the prettiest car that didn't.
Rust can be an issue, no doubt, but with regular use like you say you do rust likely won't form as long as you keep it wiped down sometimes. And most times if you're out somewhere and you see some rust forming it's minor enough to where you can take some dirt, rub it where the rust is, and it'll come off. You have to ask yourself which is more important, continued pristine looks or continued pristine performance. You sound like a guy who probably want performance. Show me a carpenter's hammer or a plumber's wrench that isn't beat to hell after a year. On the same token show me a carpenter's hammer or a plumber's wrench that's been used for a year that can't do what it's supposed to do.
