Where can I find a good Camp knife?

F

farmboy

Joined
Aug 31, 1999
Messages
731
I noticed with great interest that Becker Knife & Tool has introduced the Magnum Camp. I have been wanting a good camp knife for many years now, and I like what I see, but I would like to weigh my options. What other companies/individuals make a knife of similar style that are worth a look?
 
Take another look at BK&T's line. Their Campanion is an all around chore beast that will last a lifetime. The only complaint that I hear about them is that the handle is not a great fit for people with small hands.
 
farmboy, if you only want to do this once, and want to be 100% satisfied, go with a Busse. They are tough and worth the money. Which isn't that much considering the knife you get. If you don't want to spend that much the Beckers don't look bad, but I have no experience with them. Jeff
 
my opinion...if you want a GOOD camp knife that will last the rest of your life...get an ABS smith to make you one out of 52100. You wont regret it.....ever.
 
I didn't think I would live to see the day, but MAYO IS RIGHT

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I have to second the BK&T Campanion, great knife for camp chores.
 
I like the Campanion but the handle is not conducive to inverted use as when using the spine to tap or bang something. So, once again, a thread appears which allows me to extol the virtues of Chris Reeves One Piece knives. Select the size, shape and color (as long as it's black) that best suits your uses and your grandchildren will still be using a great knife. Other than fine slicing food prep they are tops.

BTW: I like Marbles as well. They are good looking, 52-100 steel and reasonably priced for what you get, IMO. If they ever gave a decent sheath with their knives ... they'd be onto something.
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The Beckers are great and I would also look at Newt Livesay's stuff, you'll like it.

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Although it does not mindfully keep guard in the small mountain fields, the scarecrow does not stand in vain
Bukkoku
 
There are good camp knives all over this place, and if you want to find a really great one (from your perspective), you are going to have to tell us a little more about what you like and how you prefer to use it.

 
If you want to save money the Cold Steel Bushman cannot be beat. And now they have that smaller veersion if your looking for something more handy. A good "Old Hickory" butcher is also a very good chioce for this kind of knife.

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Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get me.
 
I bought a Becker Magnum Camp from Will Fennel at the Mesquite show.Think it was $75.00 or so.Great knife.trimmed some branches off some of my trees.Cut a chicken up yesterday.Short work of both.Going in my camp box.
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have a"knife"day
 
First the questions:
Where can I fand pictures and info on ABS Smith & Newt Lifesay? I appreciate the suggestions so far on Marles and Busse, and I want to make the most objective decision possible. For the money, I'm leaning towards the Becker, but nothing is ruled out so far. I love the style of the Marbles, and all of those loyal Busse customers can't be wrong!
Now, the answers:
The knife will be used primarily for food prep, but I would also like to be able to count on it to help build a duck blind in a pinch, or even to help trim branches for kindling. I normally have acces to a hatchet or axe in the truck, but I'm not always in the truck. Your suggestions are appreciated. Keep 'em coming!
 
BK&T makes great stuff! I have a Brute, and that puppy is an awesome heavy camp knife. BUT; it is kinda rough as far as the weight aspect is concerned. I would still rek'mnd ANY and ALL of their products, after the workmanship evident on my knife.

Cold Steel makes a few really great knives suitable for camp-pieces, at real good prices. I would def. advise your considering a BUSHMAN. No matter what camp knife you decide to buy. This knife could mathc and in some instances BEAT the performance of many knives 10x the price!!!

My current maker of choice is John Greco. Go to BLADEART.COM for a few good pics of all his work. His knives are thick, and hard working, and the grey mystery coating provides suprising corrision protection.

This weekend I was SUPPOSED to go upstate for the long weekend. I had 3 main knives packed; REKAT PIONEER, GRECO COMPANION, and my large and slightly modified Cold Steel Recon Tanto. All of these knives are awesome, and would keep me just fine ON THEIR OWN in the bush.

By the way, after her having lost my Cold Steel Bush Ranger, my fiance is only allowed to carry one of two hip knives, either a KaBar Marine Classic, or my Bushman. SHE ALWAYS TAKES THE BUSHMAN!!!

Steve in NYC

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What we do today in life...echoes in eternity...
Every man dies...not every man lives...
 
Why would you need to build a duck blind in a pinch? Isn't that something that you would plan for?

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"Dream as if you'll live forever, Live as if you'll die today"
-- James Dean

-Jesse Foust
 
Originally posted by farmboy:
I love the style of the Marbles, and all of those loyal Busse customers can't be wrong!
Now, the answers:
The knife will be used primarily for food prep, but I would also like to be able to count on it to help build a duck blind in a pinch, or even to help trim branches for kindling. I normally have acces to a hatchet or axe in the truck, but I'm not always in the truck. Your suggestions are appreciated. Keep 'em coming!
Click to expand...

Ok. You may be interested in the following:
http://www.idahoknifeworks.com/hfishing.htm
(see the Cliff knife) http://www.pe.net/~thrblade/ttkk.htm
or the pack river campknife I posted above.

All of these knives are versatile.

But...you could buy a nice butcher knife or chefs knife for food prep and then buy a "chopper" for whacking around in the bush (for the most part, I see food prep and woodchopping as a job for two entirely different knives).

Such as a:
RTAK
Battle Mistress
Steel Heart II
Magnum Camp or one of the other Beckers
(I love my Magnum Camp!)
etc,

Here's how to have a lot of fun for not a lot of money: buy an Old Hickory butcher knife and a Barteaux Machete. You will slice and dice your way through the veges and the wilderness and still have money left to buy something to sharpen your blades with.
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I used a Barteaux for over 20 years and didn't realize I was handicapped by not having a Battle Mistress or RTAK. I now have a BM but it's the Barteaux that is in the back of my truck and still sees lots of field work.
Decisions, decisions...
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Hoodoo

I get some pleasure from finding a relentlessly peaceful use for a combative looking knife.
JKM
 
Cold Steel Recon Scout (a shortened Trail Master Bowie), or for less money, a Cold Steel Bush Ranger or a SRK would be GOOD choices. (I have all three, and they are all great knives.).
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Dann Fassnacht
Aberdeen, WA
glockman99@hotmail.com
ICQ# 53675663
 
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