Need a quality tough-as-nails fixed blade

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338 Stalker

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May 2, 2008
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Hi all I'm back needing more advice. This time I'm chasing a quality TOUGH-AS-NAILS fixed blade for hunting & camping.
I'm a keen deer hunter so I'm usually backpacking up high. Being out for two or three days at a time & camping on the side of hills. I need a treat-em rough knife!

I broke(popping the rear leg socket on a deer) the end of my old 6" fixed blade Black Jack. Plus I've never really warmed(gift) to that blade. Great for around the campfire but I must say it would be nice to have the blade features of the SOG Pup Elite at times.

The two knives I'm seriously looking at are the SOG Seal PUP Elite & Gerber LMF II. I basically want a light or as light as these fixed blades come in, in a strong down & dirty package.

Any others brands worth a look?

By the way I only want US made, no China or other crap. I don't mind some of the other countries. I have just found knives coming out of the US being built in the US are of solid design. If you think otherwise please tell.
Willing to spend around $150.

Thanks in advance.


338.
 
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Since you seem to be looking for a combination survival - camp - hunting knife, I'm going to recommend a few companies that sell the same basic design: a straight back with a bit of belly, within 6" with shorter available if you like.

*RAT Cutlery (US) http://www.ratcutlery.com

These guys have a very active forum here at http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=816 so you can talk over any ideas their knives give you with the owners themselves, Jeff Randall and Mike Perrin.

* Ranger Knives (US) http://www.rangerknives.com

Justin Gingrich can customize any of the models he makes, for example, reducing the thickness of some of his herculean blades.

* Fallkniven (Swedish made in Japan) http://www.fallkniven.com/

Fallkniven has a new one you should take a look at, even if you decide it's not quite right, the Professional Hunter's Knife at http://www.fallkniven.com/phk/us-phk.htm
 
Anza Knives. About as American in design & make as you can get. No fancy doo-dads, just rugged design & dependable. Not light though.

Take a look at the large skinning & camp knives.

www.anzaknives.com
 
I wasn't impressed at all with the seal pup, felt too delicate and fragile IMO and wasn't very ergonomic (it is made in Taiwan BTW). I have heard that the handle material on the gerber lmf is not very tough but I have never handled one so I can't say anything about it. You might wan't to consider a RC-4 or RC-6, fallkniven, Ranger, bark river, and if you can find them, a scrapyard or swamp rat.
 
Take a look at Bark River's Bravo-1 or Gameskeeper. I think they'd fit the bill and more.... Rye
 
I'd highly recommend Scrapyardknives Scrapper6 if you can spot one on the exchange forum. Tough as hell and the most comfortable handle. Also, Ranger knives has some tough knives as well in the 1/4" thick category.
 
Four inch blade - Bark River Bravo 1.
Five inch blade - Fallkniven S1
Six inches & longer blade - Ranger Knives & Scrapyard knives.

TOPS also makes some really nice knives in 1095.

Then there's Busse...
 
I should of mentioned this knife will be mainly used for survival/camping purposes. I already have two other knives(Benchmade 710D2 & my Muela Cobra) for boning-out deer. It will see some use but not that much compared to the other two.
Like I said on the other thread I started. I bone-out my deer on the ground as they are bloody heavy critters(up to 750lbs). This is why I use blades ranging between 3-4", it just works better for me.

I also should of mentioned I must have an serrated area on this next blade. A spine rasp feature will be handy as a grip point at the base, down the entire knife I can't see this getting used. But saying that if one had this feature so be it.
I don't see any need for a blade over 6" for my purposes. So I'm leaning towards 5-6". But I'm open to other suggestions.



338
 
Get something that is tough but cuts. Rat Cutlery.
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This one is made in the USA and is definitely well made and tough as nails.

I am not sure if it is the design that you are looking for but check it out. It has a full tang handle, g-10 grips and a 5" D2 blade and a pretty nice sheath.

Microtech Curahee. I can get you one close to your price range. If you don't find it elsewhere email me.

Curahee1.jpg
 
Check out the EnTrek line. USA made, simple, stout and tough. I have an Elk and love it but they have designs more in line with hunting-skinning. You don't see Entrek mentioned much on here but they are worth a look. Don't let the list prices scare you.
 
I like my BRK&T Gameskeeper, with it's 4.25" x .215" A-2 convex ground blade. Also - check out John Greco's knives - great bargains in today's market for a well made and stout knife. He has some nice ones for <$150. John worked with Jimmy Liles (Original 'Rambo' knife maker.). Interesting fellow - he still lives & works in Kentucky.

Stainz
 
This is a little over your price range, but American Made, TOUGH as nails and better warranty than you will find anywhere...

Swamp Rat Uncle MoJo:
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Fallkniven F1 or S1, Bahco folding saw and multi tool. That is about what you need.
http://hem.passagen.se/nodh/trio.jpg

Stay away from the LMF II. I have one and I have not found any good use for it, except making a five stitch cut in a pizza guys finger :( You also need so EXTREMELY much power to pull it out from the sheath so you will likely injure someone/something.
It is a "combat" survival knife.

The Fallknivens have a protruding tang and no fancy stuff. They are "outdoor" survival knives. Bark River or RAT are useful too.
 
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