Which survival knife?

B

barber oregon

Joined
Nov 19, 2000
Messages
234
I've decided on purchasing a fixed blade knife for my large BOB. The choices that I've narrowed come down to either the Cold Steel SRK or Recon Tanto(these choices are a result of both cost and availablity).

A quick search yielded expected results: the SRK is an excellent "do-all" knife while the Recon is an excellent combat knife. However, since the purpose of the knife is for a BOB, I'll need it to be able to do duty both as a do-all AND combat/defense knife.

My quetion: can each of these knives perform the duty of the other (ie can the Recon Tanto be used as a general purpose survival knife and the CS SRK be used for defence)? Is there a significant trade-off?

Which knife would you suggest and why?

Both knives are identically priced at my dealer.
 
Barber,

both knives are good knives, and if I had to decide between those two, I would opt for the SRK, because of the blade profile, and especially because of the shape. The Tanto with its chisel grind tip is very limited for "doing-all-tasks". I have the SRK and I had the Tanto and I sold the Tanto, because there was nothing the Tanto could give me what the SRK not either could in a better way and with much better performance.

If I may suggest you something, please have a look on the Fallkniven A1! I have two of them and this is my no.1 choice for almost everything (except skinning squirrels..... ;) ). Very tough steel (VG10), very good edge retention, very agressive edge, blade shape and geometry is designed to manage almost every possible situation, from digging to chopping, from splitting fire wood to butchering game, from prying to fighting, and so on,...

Tis is my number one knife if I'm outdoors and if i need absolut reliance to a knife!!!

Greetings
sniper
 
The SRK will outperform the Recon for your needs. The Fallkniven A1 or S1 will probably outperform the Recon and comes in a great stainless steel. Another option, should stainless be out of the question, is the Becker BK7 - which gives you the blade length missing on the SRK and a great edge for performing general purpose to combat duties.


Mike
 
The SRK or the Becker BK-7 would be great all around choices. For a little more you could get a Benchmade Nimravus which is a bit lighter but performs both of your needs very well. I like the way it carries. It would not be as good a chopper but with a baton it will do the job.
 
for working knives i buy the cold steel seconds, the hunter second was 25.00, the srk and recon were 29.00, for those prices you could buy a couple of them and have a couple set ups ready for your needs, the blades come razor sharp and they are ready to work, if you lose one you wont cry about it either. call the special projects division info on availability.

alex
 
Between the two, the SRK is a better general purpose knive. If it's for your BOB and you truly have to BO, this knife will not only be your general purpose knife, it will be your every pupose knife.

The Becker BK-7 is an excellant choice in your price range and would like be my choice over the SRK for a BOB.
 
right now the knife in my BOB is a 1/4" thick cleaver that I traded my SRK for.

I had an SRK for 10-12 years. it is great knife I think it lacks the weight for chopping which was necessary for the survival situation I was in. Though it is an excellent fighting combat knife.
though I think for an urban setting the srk would be great.

I chose a chopper, cleaver, hatchett and a few folders as a perfect combo. sak, leatherman etc.
 
If you have to have the CS then the SRK will do the trick.
If a liitle more $$$ is available then the Fallkniven A1 is one of the greatest "survival knives".

But, with price in mind, you really should consider the BK&T CU/7. This knife has survial written all over it and as a fighter it will more then fill the bill!

When you life is at stake and your pocket book is light then just about anything from BK&T will support your needs plus Camillus is just a super company do deal with.
:o
 
I carried a CS Master Tanto for about four years. This tanto was one of the best of its day; but as a utility blade "it aint good" especially out in the woods. My thoughts are you would be better served with a more traditional styled design such as the SRK. SRK's have deservidly a great reputation. There may be better knives out there but few can beat it when you consider the price.

Good advice from the other posts. Handle a few of the sugestions, if at all posible, and then decide which you like best. SRK's are at a price where you could always buy something more expensive later and then have it to lend out to those friends who never seem to turn up with any tools :)

Just a thought, if you want a better survival knife then go for a kukri with a SAK for smaller work. The kukri works in the woods and as a defensive weapon. It may weigh more but it will do a whole lot more than a SRK sized blade, but still be of a smallish package.
 
While tanto "survival knives" seem to have been in vogue for quite a while now, I'm glad that no one here listed one as a good thing to have. A drop point, clip point or spearpoint are ALL better choices for a general purpose knife than is the tanto. You need belly to skin and slice effectively. About the only thing I can see the tanto doing "better" than a more traditional design is drilling holes in wood or penetrating car doors. You can still drill with an SRK, and car doors don't attack many people anymore. Speaking of which, you're more likely to need your BOB knife to split firewood and clean game than to fight with it. No sense getting carried away with the "macho" angle.

If you want a few other inexpensive ideas, the Kabar (either the original or the new "shorty") would suit you fine, as would the Glock Field Knives. None of those would be great choppers, though neither is the SRK.

I second Greenjacket's advice on getting yourself a khukuri. But make sure it's a real, genuine Nepalese khuk. Lots of people like the CS "kukris", but they don't hold a candle to the real deal. Try out http://khukurihouse.com/ for some really low-priced, quality khukuris. You could get a great chopper for $30.00, then buy yourself an SAK Rucksack for all of your small knife and tool uses. Throw in a 4-5 inch Mora for under $15.00 and you could have a complete set of knives for about the price of a first quality SRK.
 
In IMHO forget the tantos and stick to the drop or clip points. Since I like flat grinds, I would prefer a CS Bush Ranger or Becker CU/7 to the SRK, for a knife of this size/price range. If the knife is to be used for chopping I would stay away form stainless. For my BOB, I have a CS LTC for chopping, a Spyderco Moran drop point for general cutting chores, a Swisstool for utility/tools and a Micra for it's scissors.
 
http://www.ragweedforge.com/

Go here and look at the Leiku/puukko combination under the Finnish knives listing.
I just got one of these great combos a couple of days ago and I can see how the Saami people could do just about anything with this combo of knife. The leiku is 18cm long the the puukko is 8cm long and they are both carried in the same sheath.

Ragnar of Rageweed forge will just blow you away with the level of customer service....the fastest deliveries in the USA I think!
 
Another BK7 fan here. Can't beat it for the money. I haven't owned a SRK, but I don't see anything wrong with it aside from the Kraton handles.
I had the chance to check out the Fallkniven A1, S1, and F1 for the first time this weekend, and was very impressed. Definitely worth a look.
 
Originally posted by V Shrake
I second Greenjacket's advice on getting yourself a khukuri. But make sure it's a real, genuine Nepalese khuk. Lots of people like the CS "kukris", but they don't hold a candle to the real deal. Try out http://khukurihouse.com/ for some really low-priced, quality khukuris. You could get a great chopper for $30.00, then buy yourself an SAK Rucksack for all of your small knife and tool uses. Throw in a 4-5 inch Mora for under $15.00 and you could have a complete set of knives for about the price of a first quality SRK.
Click to expand...

I have several Ghurka House/Khukuri House knives, and they are great. The problem with Khukuri House is that Ghurka House (The US importer) seems to be in limbo, so you have to have the knife shipped from Nepal. I did it once, just to have one shipped direct. Getting the certified check and the shipping from Nepal to Seattle added up to close to $50, IIRC. Shipping was also pretty slow, but it may be worth it if you buy two or three.

Another alternative would be Himalayan Imports. Generally their knives are much more expensive than Ghurka House, but they are having a 20% off sale due to the unstable political climate in Nepal. They are trying to raise money fast for a possible move to India. Check out their forum here a bladeforums, some of their markdowns on blems are really astounding.

Regarding the Mora knives - get one. Heck, the shipping costs more than the knife, so get a couple. Fantastic deal for the money.

Patrick
 
Check out my two test result postings in the Reviews forum. There are semi-extensive comments on the SRK and the BK7 there.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=191387
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=191388

In that review both the SRK and the BK&T BK7 showed well working on green maple wood. There was a very large advantage to the BK7's longer blade and extremely comfortable handle over the SRK's somewhat uncomfortable handle and shorter blade that ran out of steam pretty quickly as the branches to be chopped got larger, which the BK7 did to a much lesser degree. But the SRK blade was very very sharp, which helped compensate for the chewing of the handle on my hand. Wrapping that handle in tape might ease the aggressiveness of the checkering on the handle. SRK seconds can be gotten from Cold Steel for under $30, as noted, which is a heckuva deal on a good all-around blade IMHO.

But I'd recommend doubling that price and getting the BK7. At ~$50 it is great value for the price and struck me as a better all-around blade, particularly if chopping is anywhere in your considerations.
 
Outdoors, I thought Khukuri House was providing GH with khuks, looking at their produts, but I didn't have confirmation until now. I have a Bhojpure I bought from GH, and it's a fantastic chopper. I sent KH an e-mail, asking about s/h charges and the like, but still haven't heard from them. If it turns out that you'd be better off ordering a few at a time, I guess I'll either have to save up my money for a big order, or find some other folks to go in with. But $30.00 for a Panawal is a great deal, depending on shipping, of course. Thanks for the info.

One of these days I'd love an HI, but that's WAY out of my price range at the moment. They do have some great khuks, though, and it looks like their chakmas and kardas are actually usable; can't say that about the karda that came with my Bhojpure. The chakma's alright, if a bit small.
 
V Shrake,
if you ever want to see one of the HI ones, let me know - I have a few :) As for prices, While the HI proces are much higher, Bill's current sale is just nuts. He's got a 25" blade going for $95 today. Even better deals on blems. I saw him let go of a 15" khukuri for about $50 last week. Can't see how he stays in business that way.

Regarding Khukuri House, you may want to ask them about Cargo rate shipping. I got it delivered to my house, and it was pricey! The owner is a good fellow, but isn't too prompt about returning emails. Maybe worse now, with the unrest in Nepal.

Pat
 
Outdoors;
I will go along with you...I have a 15"AK and an 18"UBE with slab horn handles I will let him get the feel of too.

Ron
 
Thanks a lot guys. Of course, if you let me start fondling your khuks, I'll be planning various felonies so that I can afford to get one for myself. :~} "Guilty by reason of khukuri insanity" may be an innovative defense, but not likely to get me off. I guess I'll have to *suffer* with my GH Bhojpure.

When I do get the money, though, I'm looking at a 16.5 WW II, with horn handles. I'll also ask for a left handed sheath, which should make things harder. Actually, by turning the frog around I can use a right handed sheath, but that places the chakma and karda on the outside of the sheath, which is in the way. Oh, well, one day.
 
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