Which big knife & why ???? :)

Centurian

Centurian

Joined
Mar 22, 2001
Messages
575
I am looking for a large fixed balde knife (normally not my thing) but several have caught my eye. I would love to hear your opinions on these knives and feel free to give some suggestions that I have not mentioned. Oh yeah,I should give some guildlines. By BIG I mean atleast a 9 inch blade that is atleast .25 inch thick. Other than that I am open for suggestions. So far I like:
TOPS Steel Eagle
TOPS Anaconda
Busse Battle Mistress
Entrek (can't remember the modle)
Cold Sttel Trailmaster Carbon V

Look forward to your opinions, and thanks.

CEnturian:D
 
I have the Camillus OVB Bowie designed by none other than Jerry Fisk. It is the nicest production fixed blade piece I've ever owned. I like mine, and I'm sure you would like one as well.
 
I'd get a Battle Rat....someone posted a link to a comparison between the Battle Mistress and the Battle Rat...the BR was overall the better of the two, in the end. Besides, the BR is $150 and the BM is $300+.

Warthog
 
SOG Tigershark. 9 inch-long blade. 1/4 inch thick.

Why the Tigershark? It's a tough knife, with a comfortable (Kraton) handle, and a price that won't "break your bank". Also if you ever happen to want the same knife in a slightly smaller size, there is the SOG Seal 2000 (7 inch-long blade. 1/4 inch thick).
 
Velitrius


I looked at one of those yesterday. It seems to be a sturdy blade in some high carbon steel I've never heard of. The burl handle seems solid and the overall fit and finish seemed ok, but the fit between the blade and guard seemed to have some gaps. How is yours?

The OVB I looked at had nice flat grinds but seems to have been finished to around a 220 grit finish at best.

It seems like a nice knife from a prodouction house and was designed by a master, but for not much more money, my Lile combat seems like a better buy. It's got a 7" D2 mirror polished blade, a full tapered tang and a soldered guard. There's no gaps anywhere.

I like the OVB from a collectors's standpoint, but is it really a $300.00 knife?

jmx
 
Warthog said, "...someone posted a link to a comparison between the Battle Mistress and the Battle Rat...the BR was overall the better of the two, in the end."

Warthog, are you referring to my comparison? I didn't mean for it to sound like the Battle Rat was definitively better than the Battle Mistress. I like them both a lot. They're different, and fulfill different needs. It depends on what you need and value in a knife.
 
I have 2 CS Trail Masters, a carbon V and one in San Mai III. :D

The Carbon V is around $150. 9 1/2"

Very, very good balance, 5/16" thick blade. The blade shape is perfect for a fighter, pretty good chopper too, but Lynn designed it as a fighting knife.

For the money I really don't think you will find a better Bowie than the CS Trail Master.
 
EntrekDestroyer.jpg


Entrek (can't remember the modle)
Click to expand...

The Entrek Destroyer perhaps.

n2s
 
Now, if you want a really big knife, try a Himalayan Imports Khukuri. Nothing can chop like a khukuri. It makes all of the knives on your list seem as insubstancial as a pen knife. They are reasonably priced too.

You should also look at some of the stuff made by some of our custom knife makers. You would be surprised how many of them will make knives like these at very competitive prices.

n2s
 
jmxcpter,

This is where the "what's it worth" question starts to get blurry. I spent alittle over $200 for the OVB, manufacturers suggested retail price and actual price being 2 different things and all. Do I consider it worth the money? Absolutely.

Not to try and bring about another bout of Sebenza hysteria here, but I liken this situation to the never ending 'benza thing. Could you buy a custom for the price of the Camillus/Fisk piece? Yes you could, and a damn nice one too. It's just that the OVB struck a chord with me. Will it be worth money down the road? Considering the fact that it was designed by a National Living Treasure and there are only so many out there, maybe. But mine won't. It's gonna get the hell (and the value) beaten right out of it. Then I'll turn around and get me another one.

There are many good fixed blades in this price range. I could name off a pile of custom makers who would brew you up one, and I could rattle off another huge list of production pieces that are similarly priced as well. It all comes down to personal taste, and my tastes ran with the Camillus OVB Bowie.

To answer your questions though, the fit and finish on mine is wonderful. The handle is very solid and the balance is sweet. Keep in mind that mine was from the first run with the fiddleback maple. It is not only a nice piece from a production house, it is from a production house that will stand behind it 100% and not be satisfied until I am satisfied. I like it not only from a collector's standpoint but from a user's standpoint as well. Is it a $300 knife? That is up to you. But if you know where to look, you will not pay full MSRP for it.

One last word on it. I was chatting with Jerry Fisk one night, and I told him that the piece I had was so nice I didn't want to use it. His reply was: "It's built to work, Vel... Go forth." Ya gotta love that.
 
I'll add my vote for the Trailmaster. It's affordable, readily available, brutally strong and takes a frightening edge.

Use it, abuse it and - if you manage to Donald Duck it - get another without having to put the wife on the game to pay for a replacement.

maximus otter
 
I'm with the Trailmaster. You can get one for about $120 online with a coated carbon V blade. Pick up an Eagle Industry's sheath for $25 for it, and you've got a great little package.

I know everyone is gung-ho for Busse, but they also cost a lot more than the Trailmaster. I've used mine to chop about everything you can think of, and it's never failed.

I've had a Tigershark before, I traded it for a Livesay, because I hated it. The handle was extremely uncomfortable, there is no give and it feels like you're just holding a unergonomic hunk of plastic. I spent one afternoon cutting sandbags a few years ago with one, and I had blisters all over my hands.

To know for sure though, you're just going to have to buy them all and see for yourself. ;)
 
Well I appreciate the replies. The Trailmaster has been a consideration, I had a Stainless version that I sold off it was a great knife. I hear that Carbon V is the way to go.

I really like the looks of the TOPS, however I don't know if they are worth the extra $$$. I will check out Swamp Rat, sounds like they make a great knife for a decent price.
 
Originally posted by Bladeswinger
Busse or swamprat is tops!
Click to expand...

I don't think Busse, Swamp Rat or TOPS would appreciate this one!

:D :D :D ;) ;) :eek:

Sorry -- couldn't resist....

~B.
 
NOT2SHARP: That was the model Entrek I was talking about. Totally cool looking knife. How think is the blade? Also, what is the handle made out of?
 
Funny thing about big blades is that they can have a wide range of intended uses and even more variation in terms of balance and handle ergo's. Sheaths are important too. You may have to play the field a little to find the one that does it all for you.

I am surprised that no mentioned either the Becker BK9 or the Ontario RTAK. Great knives that have their share of fans. The kicker is that you can get BOTH for less than the price of one of the other knives mentioned.
 
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