Which $40 or under Fixed blade?

baraqyal

baraqyal

Joined
Nov 30, 2000
Messages
860
After reading the thread entitled "The $40 utility folder - some suprises..."

http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum3/HTML/002196.html

I've been thinking about the $40 fighting fixed blade. There sure are alot of different fixed blades out there for $40 or less. As an object for self defense, and ignoring the need for legal carry, which one is best? Assume the knife doesn't need to be used for utility or around sheeple.

I think it's probably best to also ignore concealability. Many knives are very concealable - but may be too small in a real life or death situation.

The emerson la griffe is fairly nasty and close to the price range. The CRKT bear claw works in a similar manner. The CRKT companion is nice, has stabbing ability and more reach than either the lagriffe or the bear claw. The livesay woo is held in high regard.

I'm sure there's many other choices. You're welcome to include others beyond my short list. Which knife is the best overall deal? By this, I mean, the best combination of quality, useability (for self defense), and is just superior overall?

There'll probably be 3 different answer for each post, but I'm interested in a good comparison of cheap fixed-bladed fighting knives. The more info, the better. Thanks!
-- Rob

------------------
-----------------------

Me fail english? Thats unpossible!
 
I feel pretty safe hazarding a guess that of all the fixed blade knives priced under $40 that the one used most frequently and successfully in fights has to be the KA-BAR, Marine Fighter. Since that is what is beside my bed, guess that I'd have to say it is my choice as well.

However, I did buy a Khukuri from Atlanta Cutlery for a bit over $20, that if I'd sharpen up properly, might be more effective in a fight. I got the "standard" model with the full tang. Just didn't feel able to trust a small, hidden tang inside an ox horn. Am sure that if mine were properly sharp, could easily remove limbs from opponents with single slash, or make them wish you had.
biggrin.gif



------------------
Asi es la vida

Bugs
 
ANY of the Cold Steel Factory Seconds!!! I have had many, and they hold up VERY well! KaBar is awesome for the money, and some of those MORA knives are said to hold up well, but I wouldnt compare ANYTHIGN to the value of a $40 CS SRK !!!


Steve in NYC

------------------
What we do today in life...echoes in eternity...
Every man dies...not every man lives...
 
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by DANGELO:
ANY of the Cold Steel Factory Seconds!!!
</font>
Click to expand...

How do you get a factory second from CS? I'd be interested in looking at these for a good beater/utility knife.
 
Schrade Sharpfinger.
I'm not heavily into self-defence with a knife, but I have given it some thought. The Sharpfinger seems to me to be worthy of consideration for this purpose. I recall Fred Perrin speaking well of the Sharpfinger and it's now discontinued cousin, the Wolverine.
I didn't like the tip as it came. It sweeps up too high and is too narrow. I ground the tip down a bit, by hand on a cheap sharpening stone, to make things more to my liking. Now the tip is lower, wider, and points forward instead of upward.
The Sharpfinger offers the possibility of modifying the tip to various configurations without too much trouble. I've done the same thing with a few other Schrade knives. You should also consider the Schrade Guthook. On that one I ground off the guthook, turning the blade into a nice narrow drop point. That was more trouble to do because there was more metal to remove, but still it wasn't an
excessive effort. I was thinking that the guthook could be left on the Guthook and sharpened further on the inside of the hook, for defensive use.
The handles on these knives are nicely done.
Schrade uses delrin plastic, which is strong and stable. I know it's not G-10 or micarta, but delrin works well and it keeps the cost down.
The steel is 1095 carbon, the same thing that Newt Livesay and TOPS use in their knives.
The sheaths that come with the Sharpfinger and the Guthook are leather, and well done. I know people will complain that they're not made with Kydex, but cost is a consideration. I made my own sheaths for these knives out of plastic, using Lexan and polyethelene, just to better suit my own needs, such as smaller size.
 
Your rules discount legality and concealability, and limit the use to combat, right?

Ontario 12"-15" machete, no question.
 
Ok, if its a ka-bar, the question is: Which? Ka-bar makes a bunch a knives. Why is the USMC fighting knife better than the other options? How is the sheath that comes with it?

I'm not asking which knife is the most common in fights, I'm asking "Which knife is best for self-defense in the $40 or under range"
smile.gif


The CS SRK is a really nice knife, and comes with a good sheath. However, it's listed price is $109.99 - and its usually retails around $67.99 (at least where I'm looking). How many factory seconds are available? Especially at $40? Where are they available?
Further, why is the SRK in carbon V superior to a KA-Bar in 1095?

The knives I'm looking for a comparison of are: 1) $40 retail
2) With sheath
3) Better than other options

Why are they better?
Thanks!
-- Rob
 
I would spend $45.00 (plus shipping and tax) and get an Ontario SP18 Spec Plus Frontiersman bowie (with 10-7/8 inch blade) or SP11 Bolo (with 10 inch blade) on sale at knifeoutlet.com.

I would expect to have to sharpen the blades and maybe sand off a couple rough spots, but these make serious combat knives for very little money.
 
Camillus has made more "Ka-bars", marine combat knives, than Ka-bar has for the military. I have one and it is a workhorse. It takes whatever I put it up to and keeps going. Definately one of the best deals around, everyone should have one.
 
Cold Steel Mini Tac, hands down.

------------------
Spydies... Bet you can't buy just one.
 
I'd be looking at the Ontario Spec Plus line too! All kinds of styles for $40. An Ontario machete is a good idea too, actually! But for something shorter, a Spec Plus blade would do the trick.

------------------
"Come What May..."
 
I really like the idea of a machete, especially given the parameters I've set. You would have a huge reach, and lots of sharp blade to use.

The schrade sharpfinger is one I hadn't even thought of - pretty nasty looking, nice sheath, and only $25 at knifeoutlet, and a decent steel.

The ontario knives look nice also. The bolo has a good recurve, but probably lacks the ability to stab. What kind of steel do they use?

Lots of good ideas. I can't believe the number of companies I've overlooked.
-- Rob

------------------

Me fail english? That's unpossible!
 
i just got the CRKT companion, and want to strongly recommend it!
The only wish i have is having two, to use both sheaths !!

@marty123: the sharpfinger pleased to me for long but wasent avilable here.
Could you show pics of yours please?

smile.gif




------------------
*so is life : hard but unfair*
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
~bigbore`s knives~
 
cpirtle: Go to www.coldsteel.com and click on the "mail order catalog" link at the left (6th knife from the top on the left of the screen). Fill out the request form & you're good to go--the newest catalog came out a few weeks ago so the response time should be rather quick.
 
The current Cold Steel Special Projects catalog has factory 2nds of the SRK for $44.99. The bush ranger 2nd is currently $49.99.
 
Wasn't thinking only of military issue on KA-Bar USMC fighters. I know you aren't interested in utility, but at least twice, I've read that the USMC is the most common "survival" knife in the Australian Outback. Have read once that it may enjoy the same status in America too. I believe a great deal of that is that it is the best available at its price mark.

It has the top edge sharpened 2-3 inches back. In other words, a great stabber. It doesn't have a whole lot of belly to the blade, but with 7" blade is still pretty good slasher. That 7" gives better reach than many of it's "competitors."

It throws pretty well. It is tough enough to handle hundreds of throws, in my experience. The sheath is a good, stout, leather one. Sure, Kydex might be better.

While I would agree that a good machete has its merits as a slasher, few are much good for stabbing. If it comes to that, my 2nd recommendation of the khukuri will certainly outslash most machetes in combat terms -- not in the jungle. It is the only knife I know of with a significant history of being used to behead enemies with single slash in combat.

If I recall, the USMC has the military designation MkI. The MkII is very similar, probably as good. Of course Camillus and Ontario made/make USMC fighters. I'm just prejudiced by the one I carried and threw for 19 mos in "Nam. I simply haven't compared it to other knives made by KA-BAR, cause haven't been interested.


------------------
Asi es la vida

Bugs
 
My question is, "If you actually expect to use a knife to defend yourself, what are you doing trying to save money?" It would seem that, if there is such a real possibilty, price would be no object. What seems to be the real question is, "What would make the best inexpensive "emergency knife", i.e. a knife that one hopes one will not have to use and for which one does not see an immediate need. Under that set of conditions, perhaps the best response may be similar to that taken by the world traveler who purchased a 6-inch boning knife at every port of call, made a sheath for the knife out of cardboard, and then carried that knife and sheath until it needed to be used and/or "lost". Cheap "Wally World" Old Hickory butcher or slicing knives would work well for this kind of "disposable knife" application, as would the cheapest Mora knives. Anything "better" might be "too tough to lose".

------------------
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top