Best field knife under $150 contest

[BlackCat]

Let's see what we come up with here.

And since I KNOW some wiseass will wander in and start yammering about "Best is subjective, do you mean which has the best....etc"
What I mean by "best", is which knife offers you the most value for the money. I don't give a shit if its pretty, I don't really care about speculation, I don't give a shit if its collectable, and I damn sure don't want to hear about it if only 2 were ever made in 1942 by a blind hermit living in a culvert in Nepal.

My vote, due to real world use: Cold Steel Recon Scout at $100.
Price quote from www.1sks.com

I've used this knife fairly roughly for six years with only some nicks in the handle rubber and rubbing of the enamel on the steel to show for it.
My only gripe is the garbage sheath Cold Steel issued it with. It looks like the shitty handmade goatskin slippers I bought in Morocco, sans pee smell.
I'm looking hard at the TOPS line of knives as I've heard good things, but I have a hard time believing they can beat what I've come to expect from my Recon Scout.

[vmtz]

Well cheap and functional I would vote for the Swiss Army.

Vince

[BlackCat]

Touche' Vince.

[ER]

vincie is right on there......mine`s been from Quebec to Honduras, Boston to LA, and ain`t failed me yet

[vmtz]

Even carried mine in Socialist England and it didn't scare anyone.

Vince

[RT]

SOG Seal pup. it is a work horse...~R------------also U.S.M.C KA-BAR....i can Kill with ether . they are very good in the field. they can take abuse. i keep the seal pup on my LBV. very handy small not to big. great for hunting, gutting etc.my 2 cents Semper Fi ~R good blade for your Bob or GMHB.:skull:

[Andy the Aussie]

Mmmmm.....hard call, there are many great knives available in that price range these days. I have recently aquired several Puma fixed blade hunting knives and so far all have been under $100. Great deals on great knives. Some of the cold steel stuff seems to be good value for money as does the SOGs.

So many choices.

Andy:cool:

[1gewehr]

I'll vote for the USMC Kabar, too. When I was young and dumb, I tore up several knives in the field. I broke a Randall #2 at the hilt.
Granted, I was abusing the knives. But, they are tools!
The knife I never broke was the Kabar. Sure, I bent one, and the edge on that one looks like a saw. But it is still serviceable.
I keep several now. One with each set of gear, one in my BOB.
1gewehr

[bozoracing]

My vote goes to the Fallkniven A1. I picked one up for about $130 new with the Kydex sheath about 3 years ago. And I have not yet had to sharpen it.
The best description I've read about it was from a Swede who suggested it could be used to change the tread on a T-72.
At 6mm thick it is definitely a hefty piece and I like the laminate blade. VG-10 sandwiched between 420j.
Compared to Cold Steels laminates its a definite bargain.

[Temp]

Schrade Sharpfinger,... around $20,... try to wear one out.

[BlackCat]

Anybody try the D2 Kabars?

[Sword of Laban]

If you like your knife and only hate the sheath why not get a custom Kydex for it to your specifications. Lots of people doing that kind of work. Then again any reason for a new blade is a good reason.

[762 shooter]

I have a machete that an ex navy seal friend of mine gave me. He aquired it in the philipines after watching it forged from a leaf spring. I have had it for about 8 years and it has, ahem. skinned a pig, chopped wood, cut rope, pryed a pully off of my ford, cut sandwiches, thinned bamboo in numerous clients yards, opened coconuts, I could go on but it seems unnecessary. It was purchased for $8 US. While large, it is my most used knife. Second would be my SOG seal. The theme is just coincedence.
$150.00 buys alot of knife. I would suggest lowering the price to around $75.00 maybe?

[RT]

Originally posted by 762 shooter
I have a machete that an ex navy seal friend of mine gave me. He aquired it in the philipines after watching it forged from a leaf spring. I have had it for about 8 years and it has, ahem. skinned a pig, chopped wood, cut rope, pryed a pully off of my ford, cut sandwiches, thinned bamboo in numerous clients yards, opened coconuts, I could go on but it seems unnecessary. It was purchased for $8 US. While large, it is my most used knife. Second would be my SOG seal. The theme is just coincedence.
$150.00 buys alot of knife. I would suggest lowering the price to around $75.00 maybe? seal pup and ka-bar both under$75.00 each~R

[762 shooter]

seal pup and ka-bar both under$75.00 each~R
My point, exactly.

[Forrester]

Buck folding hunter. Mine is almost thirty years old and still going strong. Also Buck is a great patriotic family run business.

[wandering_ronin]

For cheap blades that function pretty well, I have to nominate two: the Cold Steel SRK, and the Glock field knife. Both well under $100, and I would feel comfortable with either.

[BlackCat]

+1 for the Glock knife. I put one through HELL for $30. Nice little knife.

[50 Freak]

I just bought a new Cold Steel Trailmaster Second for $60 bucks. Carbon V steel in an almost industructable knife.

Don't think you find a better field knife for that money.

I'd also look into a Himalayan imports Khukuri. Can be bought for less. Good chopper, all around utility knife for about $100 bucks.

[BlackCat]

I had a HI Sirupati for a while, and ditched it at a gun show. Just too big for what I was doing.

Great knife, though. Forged from a Mercedez Benz truck spring in a heathen land.

[RT]

Black cay why did you call this a Best field knife under $150 (contest)what did i win LOL?you got alot of good knive ideas. i like ka-bar. who am i kidding i like them all Andy now made me want a puma. i thank what you get you will be happy. i have a truck load of knives some cheap and some cost me a arm and let.let us know what you get and what i won ~R LOL:biggrin:

[Powderfinger]

BlackCat,
Your Recon would be hard to beat. Should last a lifetime and is virtually indestructable. 50 Freak has good advice on the seconds. The last second I ordered from Cold Steel (Master Hunter) was a lot of bang for the buck. $45 IIRC. There is a ton of good knives out there. You can pay way more than you need to.

P.S. What if that hermit was from Tibet...?:D

[shogan]

Chopped bush and dug catholes all over the planet with my Camillus (K-Bar clone). Cost me $27 (1980 dollars) from Clothing Sales. Attached to my Molle Vest ready as ever:D

[gunplumber]

kbar with drop point reground to tanto style. with 1st inch at hilt serrated.

I had a $300+ custom knife made for me - similar to a randall #3. Sold it. It was too nice.

But I don't think you can really get by with only one.

So I also carry a leatherman, a leatherman micra (use the scissors most), and a hatchet and/or a short bolo machete in the ruck.

Can buy all for under $200

The Kukri is a nice tool, but I think its size to weight ratio makes a thinner machete with a bolo tip more economical. The kukri and the hatchet both have the advantage of q wide back that can be hammered for splitting wood

[BlackCat]

Ah just a fun spot of mental masturbation for us knife-lovers.
I like to see what the other guys have and love to see if *I* need one too.

[Rat-30]

I like swamp rats. Camp Tramp is my favorite field knife right now, however the Howling Rat is the most usuable size for my present needs.

Both are tough, made from SR101 and the larger Camp Tramp is differentially tempered.


Item B. is Camp Tramp (Desert):

http://www.swampratknifeworks.com/images/desert_rats.jpg



Howling Rat:

http://www.swampratknifeworks.com/images/howlingratsm.jpg


See more info, here:http://www.swampratknifeworks.com/knives.html

[Terick]

Becker Knife and Tool seems to make a lot of knife for the money. I really like the BK9, but they have several sizes to choose from. Nice, but not toooo nice.


http://www.1sks.com/store/becker.html

http://www.1sks.com/store/becker-knife-and-tool-combat-bowie.html

[BlackCat]

I gotta hand it to you, that's one impressive set of claims made on that site.
An even more impressive lineup.
I ordered a Ratweiler.

[Rat-30]

Originally posted by BlackCat
I gotta hand it to you, that's one impressive set of claims made on that site.
An even more impressive lineup.
I ordered a Ratweiler.

In my experience, the knives are just as advertised... Congrats on the Ratweiler purchase! That knife is very similar to the Camp Tramp, with a Micarta handle instead of a resiprene-C handle. That may be my next purchase, as well.

I had a Battle Rat - really too much knife for me, I hate to say. I bought the Camp Tramp to replace it, after reading a personal account of a guy that used one to cut his way through the roof of his overturned 4x4, and seeing the pictures of how the blade fared. I hope I don't need it for that purpose, and I don't intend to abuse my CT, but I need a knife that is 'Marine-proof'- I've been known to stress an anvil...:biggrin:

I really wanted a knife that I could use hard, maybe miss a limb and hit a rock and not chip/break the blade. This knife will do that, in spades.

It's a well kept secret, in my opinion.

Again, congrats on the Ratweiler purchase - be patient on the delivery, it is worth the wait - and the wait is measured in weeks, not years like a Randall.


http://images.complete180.com/nbpics11.jpg

[gunplumber]

Interesting knife. My confidence is boosted by the history with Busse knives. My one other "fighting knife" is a Busse combat made from fiberglass. It used to be my "traveling knife" (if you know what I mean . . .) before 9/11 security enhancements made it impractical.

[RT]

Originally posted by gunplumber
Interesting knife. My confidence is boosted by the history with Busse knives. My one other "fighting knife" is a Busse combat made from fiberglass. It used to be my "traveling knife" (if you know what I mean . . .) before 9/11 security enhancements made it impractical. Mark will you post a pic?i would like to see what a fiberglass knife looks like . thanks~R......Rat -30 thanks for the link i thank i got to get me 1 swamp knifes~R

[BlackCat]

Like a Delta Dart, I'd imagine.
Cold Steel's newer plastic stickers are a bit better than the old models. I think Choate also makes one or two.

[rigormootis]

During my final few years in the 'Corps, I carried a Swamp Rat Camp Tramp. It was one of the best knives I have owned. I do like Gerber's new knife with the hammer back (like on the K-Bar). I do like to have a hammer pommel on my field knives, but that aside, the CT fit all my needs very well.

[gunplumber]

Originally posted by BlackCat
Like a Delta Dart, I'd imagine.
Cold Steel's newer plastic stickers are a bit better than the old models. I think Choate also makes one or two.

NOT!

I said fiberglass, not injection moulded plastic. I had a delta dart I kept in the shower (the knife, not the plane) and still have a plasti tanto but they arenhot anywhere near the league of this busse. I'll see if I can dig it up and snap a picture.

[gunplumber]

I didn't find anything on sheathes on the SwampRat Website so I 'm waiting for an e-mail reply.

[keiser]

Anybody use ceramic knives? I have a couple of Mad Dog ceramics that are sharper than shit. They can be chipped or broken I suppose if you abuse them but are supposed to be pretty tough. The feds have to hate them as they have no metal in them just like Mark's fiberglass knive.

Not sure if they would show up on an airport scanner or not. I don't fly anymore since the gestapo took over, so it is a mute point for me.

[BlackCat]

Mark, from what I gather, you can either snag a $20 nylon cheapo with your order, or prowl their list of regulars for some handmade sheaths (read- expensive). I'm opting for the Spec-Ops jump sheath, as I've had good results with it in the past.
I also have a relative that makes saddles. I could rough him up and see how he fares at sheath making- should fellow Fal-o-philes be interested in the end result, I may can have a run made for us.

Sorry to tread on your fiberglass tootsies, I had no idea.
:wink:

[gunplumber]

its a jump sheath I had in mind. I have one for my k-bar, which I think was made by eagle. Just a simple cordura sheath with lots of attachemnt points and an ABS liner

[Rat-30]

Originally posted by BlackCat
Mark, from what I gather, you can either snag a $20 nylon cheapo with your order, or prowl their list of regulars for some handmade sheaths (read- expensive). I'm opting for the Spec-Ops jump sheath, as I've had good results with it in the past.

Do note that the CT and RW blade is wider in profile than sheath liner... requires slight modification (heating and molding) to fit the Swamp Rat in the Spec-Ops sheath... takes time, heat and patience, not too difficult, even I can do it ;)

Best regards,

John

[762 shooter]

:| I just ordered a Ratweiler. Please, for the love of humanity, no more links to cool sites with cool stuff for sale for at least a month. :|

[gunplumber]

Answer to my sheath question

Sir,
The sheaths for the Camp Tramp, Battle Rat, and Paul's Ratchet are cordura
sheaths that have kydex liners on the inside. If you want an all Kydex sheath
you could contact David Brown at 1-520-747-5902. He makes really nice kydex
sheaths.


Tonya

[762 shooter]

I will be making my own leather sheath for the ratweiler. I don't usually find myself jumping out of planes so a quality leather sheath will fit the bill just fine in my case.

[BlackCat]

So are you ordering one too or what, Mark?
The outlook on the line we're in doesn't look good. I hope- but don't forsee- this knife gets in before Christmas.

[gunplumber]

I don';t think so. there is nothing wrong with my KBAR and the next knife I need /want is going to either be a dedicated skinner or a traditional style bowie to go with my cowboy/SASS garb.

Gotta be a bit more conservative with discretionary funds . ..

[STGThndr]

My personal choice in a field knife is the Cold Steel Carbon 5 Master Hunter. NOT the stainless and NOT the gut-hook version. Didnt care for the feel of the SRK in my hand so passed it on.
Also have a selection of bowies, kukris, daggers and so forth, "just because". Still the old Master Hunter does what I need from a smaller belt knife. Should I ever need to decapitate someone with one blow, I prefer a shotgun.... Was taught long ago that a small sharp blade that comes out unexpectedly and slashes long and deep- like the old straight razors- works wonders.
The Kabar USMC in its various versions is a good knife too.. got one in 1970 and used it for years until I stupidly (youth and inexperience) traded it for a Buck 120 General. Dumb on more than one count, that was. The leather grip on the Kabar had to be waterproofed once or twice (soaked it either shellac or spar varnish, I forget), but the blade showed NO sign of diminishing with use. Someone had chromed the blade and so rust was no problem.
Short of high-end damascus, Carbon 5 is the BEST knife steel in my experience. Buck knives (difficult to put a good edge on, quick to chip or dull) cured me of any desire for stainless blades. The Trailmaster in C-5 is a nice blade for those who want/need a Big Ol Knife. The Recon Scout looks to be a more useful 7.5 inch version of same. I make my own sheaths from saddle or sole leather obtained from local shoe repair/saddleshop. Got tired of cheesy sheaths....

[Hebrew Battle Rifle]

I recently purchased a Kershaw Avalance assisted opening knife. It had the features that I wanted (including being US made) and had a decent price. So far, it has been a dandy. I like my KBARS, but they are impractical for everyday carry. The Avalance clips to my belt loop and I can have it off and opened quickly.
I never realized how often I need a blade until I started carrying this one.

[redbear]

I would have to humbly suhhest the olst fashioned straight edged KA-BAR The serrated kind are a little too hard to sharpen in the field. Teh strtaight is fairly easy. Mine is sharp enought hat I can literaly cut bread with it and not squish the bread. The has served well enough to work as a:
Can Opened
Bread knife
Meat knife
Tank tread puller
Fighting knife
Make Shift Bayonet [in a pinch]
screwdriver
hammer [use the pommel]
utility knife
letter opener
Gun sight adjuster [no, really]
Throwing knife
And many more!

I've Found That Straight Edge KA-BARS can be had for around $50 all over the place, as well. I think EVERYONE should own a full size, straight edge KA-BAR, and keep it in teh B.O.B., G.M.H. bag, around the house/car/camp...wherevere! just a GREAT knife!

[gunplumber]

I found the Busse Combat fiberglas knife with its paracord handle and kydex sheath. If anyone wants it, its $150, or I'd consider trading for an old-west style bowie for my cowboy/SASS attaire.

[RT]

Mark are you going to post a pic of that knife~R

[gunplumber]

OAL 9.25", 4.5 " from the notch to the blade tip.

In the demo - they had driven it through the side of a 55 gal steel drum

http://www.arizonaresponsesystems.com/webpictures/busseknife.jpg

[NineseveN]

Dammit, there you go, now I want a Ratweiler!

My bank account hates you.

[BlackCat]

BAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

IT HUNGERS!!!



:devil:

There's been scuttlebutt over at the SRK website that the Ratweiler's might be shipping sometime fairly soon.

In the meantime, quitcher bitchin and savor the wait like the rest of us. Im working on my long-developed Pavlov response to the UPS truck these days.

[hso]

If it's bang for the buck without the BS then you should look at the humble Frosts Mora differntially heat treated carbon steel knives. $11!!!

http://ragweedforge.com/SwedishKnifeCatalog.html

I have the laminated Frosts Mora and it does yoeman's work while holding an edge.

I also have other very expensive field knives and many of the knives "nominated" here and the little Mora is the best value of anything I've got.

[Jack Russell]

I recently purchased a Cold Steel UWK in carbon V. It's a kraton hafted version of the SOG bowie. Got mine for around $60 with shipping. Incredibly sharp with a nice blade configuration and the Kydex sheath is nicely set up.

[randyj]

i've been hunting with a blackjack red stag stalker for over 10 years now. dressed alot of game with it and its as sharp as the day i got it. just under $100.00. great knives they made. to bad they went out of the bizz.

[DOCLOVE]

I like these.You can fight,clear jungle,cut your dinner steak or butcher the cow.
http://thekhukurihouse.com/