Who do think makes the best combat knives?

Bishop85: That is an excellent article & website - thanks!

It's just my opinion but I think it's telling the Cold Steel is the first manufacturer listed on the list of recomendations in the above referenced article. For about $125 delivered, the Trailmaster Bowie or Recon Scout are hard to beat; the Swamp Rat (CT or BR model) knives are also in the price range. Both would qualify as 'sharpened prybars' though.

To my way of thinking, strength, edge holding and overall durability are the most important factors in a "combat" or survival knife. Next in line is price though and I think Cold Steel is #1 when you factor in this element. For example, the UWK, ODA, SRK & Recon Tanto are all 3/16" thick Carbon V steel (as oppossed to sharpened prybars) and most importantly, well under $100 - more like $50.

This means the Carbon V CS models are more closely compared price-wise to Becker, Ontario & K-bar... Ontario is recomended in the article too but not to the degree Cold Steel is recomended. The other two manufacturers aren't even mentioned.

On the other hand, I thought it was also telling that Cold Steel's folding knives didn't even warrant a mention. I'm not sure why that is, but it seems significant.
 
I have to admit I'm quite surprised by this. One's "survival" knife is usually more personal than religion. I expected to see every manufacturer and model listed here, with one person claiming "it's the best I've ever seen," and an immediate post refuting it and offering a completely different make, style, and model.

But as James Green Dragon said, there's a surprisingly small pool of submissions from a wide variety of readers!

All around, I've been quite impressed with the civility here, because fundamentally *each of us expects something different.* The only "best combat knife" is the one YOU depend on.

Personally, my best performer for almost 15 years was an MCR-11 from Lynn Thompson. When I finally retired with full honors, I went with Cold Steel's SRK *and* the Recon Tanto. Both have impressed me for different reasons, and I'm glad I don't have to choose between the two. Quite a few people here have cited these two as good performers, and I can second every claim about them. I'm glad I bought both.

However, I am quickly developing a profound respect for many of the others that were mentioned here. I've been snooping around and looking up some of these recommendations, and you all certainly have some excellent thoughts.

Great work, everyone.
 
For pure combat knife, I'd pick an Emerson, BrantonKnives-Vorpal.

Tim Britton makes some tough combat/tactical knives as well.
 
WHat Glockman said.
THe Camillus CQB1 would be my choice for a brilliant design in an affordable price range.
For your stated purpose and price range and especially since you live up the road Strider would be hard to beat. Randall as well.
But any of the above suggestions would be good.

Now pushing the question of the best combat knives.
I think it's hard to match the mojo a knifemaker can put into a piece of Steel with a production line process.
I haven't held one but I really like the looks of that fighter made by Shiva Ki.
Rob Patton has some tough ass knives.
You might also cruise the Forums here. Blinker usually has some very interesting fighters and I've heard of them taking tremendous abuse.
Jeeze, shoot me before I blather on.....
 
I think I'll stick with my tac pig I just got I think this knife could go through anything you throw at it and in a few months I'll see if it can hold up to Iraq.
 
James Green Dragon said:
On the other hand, I thought it was also telling that Cold Steel's folding knives didn't even warrant a mention. I'm not sure why that is, but it seems significant.
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Like folders generally, Cold Steel's are for slicing, not beating on, since a folder is inherently weaker than a fixed blade. Also, their Carbon V knives are supposedly made by Camillus and the other steels are done overseas, with some much better than others.
 
I would say that it depends on what you are willing to spend. I would say that my recommendations are as follow in this order.

MercWorx
TOPS
Strider

The 3 above are from what I know personally. I personally have a merxworx equatorian which I love and a TOPS Tom brown tracker and scout. Love them all. Stiders are good I think due to the stout blades they have. To me a combat knife should be kinda heavy to let me know that it is going to take the abuse. To me any blade thinner than 1/4" at its thickest point is to little.

I did take a look at the Busse knives and they seem very nice and very practical as a combat knife, but I cant say anything because I dont know much about them. What about Duane Carrillo's AirKat knives. They seem to really good, 1/4" thick blades using 154cm steel. I actually want one of these!!!!!!!!

Lee
 
When money is not an issue...

For fixed blades, mad dog, almost hands down.

Folders? emerson takes the cake in my book simply because of variety and choices. strider pretty much has one design, and you are stuck with it.
 
Whatever Cliff Stamp recommends....
that would be a Busse.
Or maybe Tom Johanning's Survival knife.
very, very tough.
 
To me, this question is very difficult to answer. You see, I own "combat" knives and "tactical" knives, but I've never actually had to be "combative" with them, and the only "tactics" I've used a knife for are listed here:

Chopping the occasional branch out of my way
Fiercely attacking envelopes and boxes to reveal their contents
Assorted campsite cutting chores

That's it. ;)

I would like to hear opinions from anyone who has actually had to use a knife for combat.

If I was to need a combat knife for actual 'combat', I'd likely want a Fehrman Cold Fury. I own one of the Final Judgement bowies, and it is outstanding in every way possible (although, I do wish the handle was a little less wide...but this is a very minor complaint). Fallkniven makes some outstanding production knives, and I think their A-1 is one of the best all-around-good for anything-knives I have ever owned. I would like to try a Busse eventually, but I'm waiting for the Battle Mistress.
 
djolney said:
Quick thoughts on the topic:

Chris Reeve Project I for fighting.

Busse SFNO for utility.

Swamp Rat Ratweiler for hacking anything to bits.

Mission MPK12S to do anything.

Fallkniven A1 strong and sharp.

David
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Highly agree about the Mission knives. their A2 line is exceptional and should one have the need for what beta-titanium affords, those are great too. Many of the troops here use and swear by them (EOD boys for the Ti ones, and everone else for the A2 line).

--Bob

Never to be forgotten: James Mattis, Walt "Doc" Welch, Rob Simonich
 
J I would like to hear opinions from anyone who has actually had to use a knife for combat. [/QUOTE said:
A knife is just like a firearm. Possessing either one, does not necessarily guarantee you success.

Both are entirely dependant upon the user. :D
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I have a question rather than an opinion. The combat knife as I understand it is supposed to be suitable for both utility and fighting. As for the fighting aspect, not long ago I heard a knife fighting expert state that stabbing is more effective in quickly stopping an opponent than slashing.

If that is the case, wouldn't it be best to have a combat knife that is a good stabber? I would think something like the Kabar with a sharpened clip point would be more desireable in a combat knife, versus a knife with a single edge.
 
You might use a knife to stab once, but you're going to use it a million times for general survival tasks. Double edged knives are annoying for survival tasks.

A good stabbing point is not so good for prying, skinning, or whittling, and you can stab with almost any knife if need be.

Training people to stab effectively is time consuming, and if they're trained right any knife they're used to handling will do.

But if you give me a choice I'll carry a Busse, or a Swamp Rat, or a Chris Reeve, or a Mission, or maybe my Ranger RD7 when it arrives.

David
 
I've heard good things about the Israeli knife.

The British knife looks like a good design, but I'd like to know more about the edge geometry and heat treat.

David
 
James Green Dragon said:
What do y'all think of the British MOD rescue survival knife:

http://www.actiongear.com/cgi-bin/t...query.ctx=knife&backto=/agcatalog/results.tam

(hopefully that link will work)

- Anyway, seems like a good near indestructable 'combat' knife to me. I also like the Isreali Commando knife made by Sheffield - I noticed it is sold out on Brigade Qtrmstrs site right now so I guess I'm not the only one!
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I heard a few times that the MOD was a POS!! I don't own one and that's pretty much why.
 
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