Suggestions for a value fixed blade

Ninja speed indeed!

Noah said:

Something more traditional looking would be cool.

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If the OP is willing to lose the "won't rust" criteria any number of Old Hickory knives will do and be well within budget.

Remington

I recently picked up a sub $20 knife at Academy (our local sports store), the 'Remington Sportsman™ Advantage® Max-4 HD™ F.A.S.T.® Fixed Knife' and I'm happy with it. A mass produced knife, but it handles well for a knife of this size. Mine was all black, but the link below shows the same knife in camo.


http://www.academy.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_10051_94455_-1

For a couple dollars over 20, A.G Russell Woodswalker: http://www.agrussell.com/ag-russell-woodswalker-in-leather-hip-pocket-sheath/p/AGPRS/

I throw my vote in for the Mora. I have a military that is used and abused, and I have been nothing but impressed with it. Plus, it's pretty easy to get that thing freaky sharp. Honestly, and I mean no offense, but the Mora is much better knife than the SMKW kinfe that was mentioned. Much better. Cody Lundin carries a Mora regularly and the fact is that he used and recommended those knives long before his TV fame came about.

I have been very impressed with Marttiini knives. I bought one, then bought a couple more for myself and a few as gifts. Then I found out my dad's fillet knife that I learned on was a Marttiini. Good quality, pretty inexpensive, anf they have some very traditional looking models.
Their page on Smoky Mountain -
http://www.knifeworks.com/marttiiniknives.aspx

For me, a good value for a fixed blade is under 100.00 - I've been using ESEE knives ever since I discovered them a few years ago.

http://www.eseeknives.com/

Solidly built.

My initial thought was a Kabar BK-16, but they sell for around $70. My second suggestion is a Condor Kephart which includes a great leather sheath for about $30. It is a great little knife for the money. Take a look at the other Condor products as well to see if something appeals to you.

Another knife that I consider quite reasonably priced but the knife is good quality is the SOG Field Pup. Have not priced them in a while, but I bought them for under $30 on fleabay in the past.

Every one always suggests Moras. My Mora cost me about $30. Thin blade and not real tough but a good cutter.

At the $20 price point, I have no good recommendations as I simply won't recommend junk.

Another vote for Mora. A bunch to choose from on Amazon starting at 8.99, most with free shipping.

$10 to $20 range....

Winchester brand has a lot of full tang fixed blades in 440A which meets a lot of your criteria. Won't rust, cheap, and batonable. They need sharpened more often since 440A is a little softer and in the 55-57 hardness range. I usually see several at the pawn shops.

Batoning with anything less than a full tang is dangerous.

For utility and general use: buy a Mora.

I also like to have a larger "chopper." The least expensive way to get one is a good machete. I like Tramontina, although I'm about to test-drive a Cold Steel Heavy machete.

All my best,
Dirty Bob

Dirty Bob said:

I like Tramontina, although I'm about to test-drive a Cold Steel Heavy machete.

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I'd go Imacasa before a Tram anyday. Much better tools.

Cold Steel/Lasher Tools would be a distant 5th:

How I rank them:

1.Imacasa
2.OKC
3.Hansa
4.Tramontina
5.Cold Steel/Lasher



The Cold Steel "Heavy Machete"/Lasher Tools sugar cane knife in particular is a real dog.

For scale, L-R:

22" Chinese-Seymor Latin pattern
24" Hansa Yegua Tres Canales, work in progress
17" Imacasa bladed prototype
Lasher Tools sugar cane knife
Imacasa 975D14 Burriquito
Imacasa 335 bolo.

Gee, Sam, I wish I'd asked you first!

I have a few older Tramontinas and have been very happy with them. I might just follow up with an Imacasa (2-handed) Brazilian sugar cane knife to compare to the CS. I really like the Imacasa's blade shape. I've learned that the hook of a cane knife is very useful for grabbing branches.

I'm planning to perhaps shorten the CS' blade a bit and add a hook, if the machete seems to be worth the trouble. I'm looking for something that can be used for removing branches from tree limbs after they're off the tree.

Back on the topic: what's the general opinion of Condor blades? Their carbon steel Nessmuk or Bushcraft look like they might satisfy the OP's needs, although they're about $10 out of his $20 price range. Their stainless stuff seems rather expensive, OTOH.

The machete in general is worth consideration for someone needing an inexpensive "big knife". I've been surprised by how generally useful a small-to-medium machete is as a tool.

Regards,
Dirty Bob

Dirty Bob said:

Back on the topic: what's the general opinion of Condor blades?

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Condor is Imacasa's "premium" brand.

For the most part they are quality tools but seem to be plagued by occasional QC issues.

Buying one sight unseen is a bit of a gamble.

Imacasa also makes the "Marbles" machetes.

Dirty Bob said:

The machete in general is worth consideration for someone needing an inexpensive "big knife". I've been surprised by how generally useful a small-to-medium machete is as a tool.

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Agreed 100%.

Dirty Bob said:

I'm looking for something that can be used for removing branches from tree limbs after they're off the tree.

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For me, when doing light snedding, it is generally easier and faster to skate the flat of the blade along the trunk/branch and just pop off the branch rather than bother with a hook.

For me, when doing light snedding, it is generally easier and faster to skate the flat of the blade along the trunk/branch and just pop off the branch rather than bother with a hook.

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Agreed. I find the hook useful for pulling branches toward me or for grabbing stuff off the ground, or for reaching branches just out of my reach to draw them down and cut them. I also love the look of a hook on the back of the blade, sort of like the Orc swords in Lord of the Rings.

Thank you for the info!
Dirty Bob

(who is placing an order for an Imacasa Brazilian cane knife)

Dirty Bob said:

(who is placing an order for an Imacasa Brazilian cane knife)

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Another option, more machete and less cane knife but still has the hook:



http://www.baryonyxknife.com/im22catagrop.html


The cat that owns that site does visual inspection on every order and offers a sharpening service as well.

No affiliation but seems like a solid dude.

Rolled the dice and went with the two-hand cane knife from Machetespecialists. I really like the blade shape of the Brazilian Cane Knife. Although my machetes are "users," it's always great to use a tool that gives some aesthetic pleasure. One of my other faves is a pair of old 13" bolo Tramontinas. I made a sheath of trash can plastic, and one of them is always close by when I'm working in the yard.

I do my mother-in-law's yards every two weeks, and it's comforting to have a machete sitting inconspicuously over by my water bottle.
EDITED TO ADD: I'm not saying that I fear seeing my MIL come racing out of the house like Grendel. I was extremely lucky with my in-laws. What I meant to say was that even when you try to avoid trouble, sometimes trouble comes to find you, and although I prefer a pistol, that machete is both a useful tool and a great backup weapon. She lives in a very good neighborhood, but goblins have figured out how to drive cars.

Machetes are among my favorite inexpensive knives, along with Moras and "Rapala" (Marttiini of Finland) filet knives. Walmart sells the 4-inch Rapala, BTW, for just $14. It's a very practical little pocket or belt knife. The thin, narrow stainless blade is much more useful than many folks might expect, and it weighs just a few ounces. I carry a Buck Caper that's similar in size in my lunch bag every day. It has cut plenty of fruit, veggies, and meat over the years, with a price of $20. What's not to like?

Any of the above could serve the OP's purpose of an inexpensive -- yet useful -- fixed blade. Thank you Sam Cade! You seem to know a lot about machetes. Who, BTW, is the company Lasher? Are they Chinese?

Respectfully,
Dirty Bob

Dirty Bob said:

Thank you Sam Cade! You seem to know a lot about machetes.

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I like to cut stuff and machetes are the tool that facilitates the most cutting.

Dirty Bob said:

Who, BTW, is the company Lasher? Are they Chinese?

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South African believe it or not.
http://www.lasher.co.za/show_products.php?make=Knives&category=Agricultural

42Blades (his BF handle)/baronyx is a solid retailer and inspects everything that goes out of his shop. He also does some improvements which are generally worth the price.

That's awesome to know! I have recommended Ragnar at Ragweed Forge many times, and when I go to purchase a Condor Hudson Bay knife, I know who to call. I see that he picks through and finds the "B-grade" knives, and sells them at a discount, and that he's also a source for Douk-douk knives. Cool!

Thank ya'll so much (even though I'm not the OP, I learned a lot from this thread)
Dirty Bob

One thing you can say about Imacasa/Condor is that they actually know how to properly pin wooden scales.

Tramontinas at least the one I got back in the 1980s been great and worked hard on the Farm and in Constuction work.

SAM you keep finding great looking blades.

Sam Cade-

I really like the Imacasa 335 bolo in your picture. Do they come with sheaths? Price? Where could I get one?

ECS

Elm Creek Smith said:

I really like the Imacasa 335 bolo in your picture. Do they come with sheaths? Price? Where could I get one?

ECS

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You have options as that Model has several minor variants.


The Imacasa 335 is the base model. I like them very much and it is probably my most commonly gifted bladed implement. The distal taper on these makes then fantastic snap cutters.


The "Marbles bolo" is the same critter with a coat of orange paint and canales only on the left side. Some have identical handle scales to the 335, some have a lanyard tube and are painted. Strangely, all the tangs have holes punched for either option. Edge out of the box will be better than the 335 but that is of negligible benefit.


Baryonyx or Machete specialists should have either in stock.

The Marbles and 335 should be under $20 most places. There is a Marbles branded canvas sheath that will fit either.
http://www.amazon.com/Marbles-Bolo-...373065200&sr=8-1&keywords=marbles+bolo+sheath

Machete Specialists also offer the 335 with canvas sheath for $17.


Handle scales with be very proud of the tang and require quite a bit of rasping to get close enough to sand flush. The grip is quite svelte on these once the scales are properly fitted. Very knife like.

I usually knock off the rear edge on these and give them a more pointed profile.

This one was the subject of some experimentation yesterday: