Fieldcraft What's a good knife
- Thread starter Big joe
- Start date
Agreed. The EESE knives are good for that. They sharpen easily and hold an edge pretty decent.
Joe, I would look into procuring a few Moras. I prefer the Erikson Models. They have great steel, they are very affordable ($10-20), and they are expendable. As a companion to a few of those the EESE knives are great, as are the Ontario Ranger Series. My person favorite would be a 4"-5" (this size blade is far more usable without unnecessary weight) knife like the following:
Rodent 4 - Swamp Rat Knife Works Store
Rodent Solution - Swamp Rat Knife Works Store
SYKCO 411 - Scrap Yard Knife Company
SYKCO 511 - Scrap Yard Knife Company
Chip
P.S. If I haven't said it to you recently, Thank You for Your Service! I appreciate the freedoms you afford the rest of us Americans, and the Sacrifices you make for us!
P.P.S I appear to have confused you with the other Big Joe. None the less if you served I do thank you.
Rodent 4 - Swamp Rat Knife Works Store
Rodent Solution - Swamp Rat Knife Works Store
SYKCO 411 - Scrap Yard Knife Company
SYKCO 511 - Scrap Yard Knife Company
Chip
P.S. If I haven't said it to you recently, Thank You for Your Service! I appreciate the freedoms you afford the rest of us Americans, and the Sacrifices you make for us!
P.P.S I appear to have confused you with the other Big Joe. None the less if you served I do thank you.
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Moras are good cheap knives! I use a Mora Outdoor 2000
Mora 2000 Outdoors Knife Review - YouTube
Another good, but more expensive Scandinavian option is the Fallkniven. Here is a link to their website: Military knives
Mora 2000 Outdoors Knife Review - YouTube
Another good, but more expensive Scandinavian option is the Fallkniven. Here is a link to their website: Military knives
They are great knives. I forgot to mention that they do not come with sheaths. There are several Sheath Makers out there for the Busse family of knives. Mashed Cat is on good example.
Scrap Yard Sheaths Products - Mashed Cat Outfitters Inc.
Scrap Yard Sheaths Products - Mashed Cat Outfitters Inc.
In a BOB should go no expensive equipment IMHO. It sits around most of the time.
Mora knives are great for the price. Add a good pocket tool and a parang and you have all cutting works covered.
Here are some cheap but very useable examples Parang Bidor
Mora knives are great for the price. Add a good pocket tool and a parang and you have all cutting works covered.
Here are some cheap but very useable examples Parang Bidor
BK2 & Moras are my choices that I've put through some decent bushcrafting. My BK2 has been used very rough at times and it's a tank.
The Ontario Rat series of knives are great for the price. I have a RAT 5 that has served me well though I haven't exactly beaten the shit out of it.
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Don't overlook the Kabar knife made out of D2 steel. It is a bit big for some things, but it there are some tasks that a smaller knife just can't be made to do. (Obviously, the same logic applies to big knives)
$200 bucks........Bark River Bravo 1. Comes with a nice leather sheath too.
I've got both Mora and Helle knives around and you can't beat them for the money! I've got a pile of blades but 99% of the time I walk out the door with a rifle or shotgun, one of the Helle's is on my belt. Laminated stainless that holds a razor sharp edge through 4 whitetails and well under a hundred bucks..what's not to like?
I bought a Bullnose Skinner from Ben at Fallen Oak Forge and it is solid. His prices are really good for a custom knife, and if you don't see something you like, or want to make a change you can just ask him.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/FallenOakForge
https://www.etsy.com/shop/FallenOakForge
I like my Gerber LMF II, its light, has a sturdy sheath with a sharpener and lots of mounting options, good grip surface and a strong blade.
Benchmade bushcrafter
http://www.amazon.com/Benchmade-162...8&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=Benchmade+bush+rafter
http://www.amazon.com/Benchmade-162...8&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=Benchmade+bush+rafter
The bark rivers are great! I have a Bravo 1 in 3V steel that's my go to fixed blade.
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Go to Smokey Mountain Knife Works, and spend some time going through the selection, they have the biggest selection, and best prices around. One other thing, they actually have what you want IN STOCK, if they say they have it, they have it! They aren't one of the many, re-order houses that don't seem to actually have anything in stock, but will take your order any way! BTW if you are in one of the seven Free states, you can also now purchase Automatic knives! Good luck.
During wilderness survival courses ive tried several knives and ESEE has become my favorite. They are a little pricey but well worth it in my opinion. A little over your budget but a Junglas with a piggyback ESEE 3 is my go to. I also agree with not putting a bunch of really expensive stuff in your BOB though if it rarely gets used. I keep a Kabar FIN in mine. It's like a sharpened D2 crowbar. The Mora is a good backup too for general bushcraft.
Cold steel tanto. Cheap. Tough. You really wouldn't want to use it all the time so it fits right at home as a jik.
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Bark River Bushcraft and Bushcraft II.
They have a "Scandivex" grind and are made of CPM 3V steel - not quite stainless but won't rust very easily at all.
Outstanding edge retention but one cannot sharpen it with Arkansas stones.
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They have a "Scandivex" grind and are made of CPM 3V steel - not quite stainless but won't rust very easily at all.
Outstanding edge retention but one cannot sharpen it with Arkansas stones.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
https://www.amazon.com/Cold-Steel-Natchez-Bowie-Knife/dp/B004MN5EXE - NACHEZ bowie - good for under 200,
or you can order a Hells Bells Bowie From master crafter Bill Bagwell - although that will cost you about 10x as much -
then there in the onterio knockoff of the hells bell for about 200
or a Bob Dozier - Keating designed Crosada but once again probably about 1.5k
if you want a knife that will do it all - i like a good ol fashioned bowie -
or you can order a Hells Bells Bowie From master crafter Bill Bagwell - although that will cost you about 10x as much -
then there in the onterio knockoff of the hells bell for about 200
or a Bob Dozier - Keating designed Crosada but once again probably about 1.5k
if you want a knife that will do it all - i like a good ol fashioned bowie -
I agree with not tying a bunch of money up in a bag I hope to never use. I have this Mora I got on sale:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BFI8TOA/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
There are a lot of good knifemakers out there these days. It's hard to go wrong. Even harder if you go with one of the ones many people have good experience with.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BFI8TOA/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
There are a lot of good knifemakers out there these days. It's hard to go wrong. Even harder if you go with one of the ones many people have good experience with.
Don't be lured by the high priced thing. I have three Mora Companions that cost $12 each and they have been golden for 15 years. In some ways better than more expensive blades I own. And because they are cheap they get a lot more use!
