What's your favorite "beater"?

That one's easy. Koster BushMaster takes the win. It's a FANTASTIC knife, 3V steel, the bead blasted micarta handles are warm to the touch in winter/offer improved traction when wet/are bombproof, its just big enough for tons of work and just small enough to easily belt carry. It was my first high quality semi-custom knife. It's sentimental because my wife gave it to me as a birthday present. Dan Koster is mentoring me as I dabble in the hobby of knife making. It's been through the thick and thin of it with me for many miles of trails, through many fires, and processed lots of animals. It is, from a utilitarian perspective, a high mark in the industry in my opinion. There are tons of knives that are prettier, but man when it comes time to grab a user this one is high on the list and an incredibly durable and versatile design...
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I use a lot of different knives, but my normal use isn't very demanding on them.

On weekends I'm more likely to have to cut up a bunch of boxes, carve some wood, etc. I use this M4 franken-manix as one of my weekend knives. It isn't in perfect shape so I don't mind giving it a little harder use. I have another Manix that I keep in my garage for cutting up boxes and whatever, an older 154CM version that I bought used for a good price.

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Kershaw Strobe, budget ball bearing flipper. Cheap enough to use as a beater and not be worried about breaking or losing, thou I do like it and it cuts well with a nice useable belly.






 
Spyderco delica. Also the most expensive knife I own but I use it just like I would a $5 knife. I was planting seeds earlier and dug with it. The reason I bought a more expensive knife was so it would handle more abuse. Not to keep it looking nice and use a cheap one. Also used it to cut wires and I cut up an old shower with it.
 
Emerson Mini CQC 15, I carry it everyday and use it for whatever I need it to do.

As well as either a Spyderco Military or Paramilitary 2. They get carried in my coat pocket at work so I have a knife handy to use without taking my gloves off.

I'm not worried about "beating" on any of those three.
 
I use my HK Mini Axis for any task that I hesitate on about if a knife should be used. Would a box cutter be better for this? HK. Should I use a hatchet for this kindling? HK. Should I not twist/pry this with a knife? HK.

It's such a tough bastard that if I manage to chip/break/bend it, I'll: A) be surprised and B) buy another.
 
My mora, my opinel, my sodbuster (thats dedicated to garden work bc it's the sodbuster :D) and my electrician knife. They handle the heavy and abusive stuff, to keep my nice knives sharp and ready for everything else.

Connor
 
My Emerson cqc7 has been beaten and abused, but keeps on going! It is the knife that I had the longest out of my current collection, and has been terrific:thumbup:
 
For really dirty and nasty things I like to use my chinese knives, or those cheapo gas station pieces I bought when I didn't know anything about knives.

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My Ganzos, Enlans, and other no-branded chinese folders are put to hard use. Till they break! I also have this small slipjoint, from a Spanish Bank that doesn't exist anymore...

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I converted this $8 Karambit into a fixed blade with some welding glue and screws, and it's my dedicated package opening knife...

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Can't beat the hawkbill shape for that task!
 
ZT0452. Seems like it is gathering a following. Never wished for a bigger knife after I got this one.
 
The Peacent:

Now that's what I call a one-off customization right there!
 
Becker BK2 and a Martindale machete. I have no qualms about chopping/cutting into dirt with whatever might be hiding in it with either of them and the Martindale sees lots of unintended impacts with concrete.

I keep a Vic Alox Soldier handy for whatever random thing might need opening, cutting, reaming, light prying, etc. That knife is just about bombproof.
 
If I know I'm going to need a knife for some hard use, I'll grab my Spyderco Gayle Bradley or Benchmade 710. Both can take a good beating. I just won't abuse them.

I also keep several knives around for when the worst abuse is likely. These are knives I either don't care if they're ruined (like a cheap Kershaw-Emerson folder) or they are reliable and tough-as-nails fixed blades (an old Camillus-made Becker BK9, a beat up KaBar USMC model and an even more beat up Ontario military model).
 
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