BUDK Knives and Swords

Status
Not open for further replies.

Gun Master

Member
Joined
Apr 23, 2012
Messages
2,520
Location
Wolf River Bottoms
BUDK sent me an intriguing catalog with some low prices.
I couldn't resist, so I ordered some WWII Nazi reproduction dress knives.
Turns out I got some nice looking "Made in China" repros.

Then I saw some interesting looking hunting knives.
I wondered if they are strong, can hold an edge, etc. ?

Can anybody tell me if BUDK products ( especially knives, maybe swords) are REALLY any good?

Thanks.:)
 
the majority of their stuff is cheap flea-market crap.....

if you post up which knives specifically we can give you a better answer....because it does look like they carry some decent knives....

but generally your money is better spent elsewhere if you are looking for a serious knife and not a wall hanger.
 
it depends on the product. Materials used etc. I wouldn't trust stainless "mystery" steel. To many affordable well made knives out there.
 
Are These Any Good ?

1.Timber Rattler Jungle Bowie # 17TR88.
2. Ridge Runner Montana Toothpick Bowie # 17RR466.
3. Ridge Runner Large Wichita Skinner # 17 RR435.
4. Striped Bone Herdsman's Hunting Dagger # 17BK2328.
 
1.Timber Rattler Jungle Bowie # 17TR88.
2. Ridge Runner Montana Toothpick Bowie # 17RR466.
3. Ridge Runner Large Wichita Skinner # 17 RR435.
4. Striped Bone Herdsman's Hunting Dagger # 17BK2328.
in my opinion they are all rubbish.....

they are all made of cheap stainless, which will not hold a decent edge for you.....and chances are the blades will knick or warp with moderate use.

for not much more, you can get yourself a half decent Buck knife which will last you a lot longer, and perform MUCH better than any of those knives will
 
See posting # 5 , the Wichita Skinner and others are said to be made with AUS-6 (6A) stainless steel.
BUDK says its "420 stainless" and I'm sure that's not 420HC or they would have said so. As a general rule, if the maker doesn't tell you specifically what they made it out of its because they don't want you to know.
 
Well they do sell knives, inexpensive knives, cheap knives, and very few of us put our lives on the line with a knife.

I own cheap knives, knives that if I lose no tears are shed. I own collector knives valued past the hundreds, a slight spot on them would make me shed a bucket of tears.

Many cheap knives perform very well for their price point.

But then you can also cheap out with a Chinese made buck knife.
 
Some inexpensive knife steels work just fine. 1095 and 5160 are examples.

Inexpensive stainless, OTOH, generally sacrifices taking and keeping a decent edge and gains only rust resistance
 
If the knives are manufactured in China and marketed as having 420 steel, I would be willing to bet the steel used is actually something like 7Cr13MoV or even possibly as poor as 3Cr13MoV.
 
Years ago I sold knives at the flea market here in No. Indiana. Sold knives by the thousands, anything from Pakistani cheap knives, Chinese cheap knives, German midrange knives, & US mid to high end knives.

The Pakistani & Chinese knives outsold any of the others by the hundreds, never got one complaint about them, so I guess everyone was satisfied, had many, many return customers, so what can I say. It is what it is.

BTW do not get the idea that customers shopping at the Shipshe Flea Market are cashless folks, go there sometime at have a look at the Motorhome parking lot.
 
Then I saw some interesting looking hunting knives.
I wondered if they are strong, can hold an edge, etc. ?

If you're looking for hunting, or outdoors knives for very little money, I think many would point you in the direction of Morakniven. They have some models in the $15 range that are lightyears beyond mystery steel from China.
You also might want to look at the Buck 673. It's 420HC with Bos heat treat. 400 series stainless is pretty basic stuff, but Buck's version of it is well regarded. Those are only about $20.
 
Last edited:
... I think many would point you in the direction of Morakniven.
That's great advice. I fully agree.

Hso nudged me toward Mora's for years, but I didn't take the plunge until I got to Maine -- I have a friend there who sells them through his business.

I now own three: 2 Companions and a 2/0 (great little detail carver). Will likely add more in the future of other styles.
 
Cheap "look alike" folding lock backs are no match for the genuine article. BUCK model 110 has better steel and sturdier build, too. I carried a Pakistan built look alike for a few years because it was all I could afford at the time but it never held an edge very well. I learned how to sharpen it often.

Some of the big bowie knives built overseas are OK for splitting kindling and other camp tasks. I've had good luck with my Outlaw Bowie still offered by Bud K. It's large and heavy featuring "surgical stainless steel" whatever that means. To me that means rust resistant and that's OK with me.

Schrade knives are imported but they're still built well. I have no quarrel with Schrade products from overseas.

TR
 
If the knives are manufactured in China and marketed as having 420 steel, I would be willing to bet the steel used is actually something like 7Cr13MoV or even possibly as poor as 3Cr13MoV.
Well, 7Cr13MoV is actually a better steel than either 420J2 or 420HC; and 3Cr13MoV is just the GB name for AISI 420J2.
 
Budk might be in the same class as Frost? Yes. Mtech, too.

Now that it's mentioned, all three import tens of thousands of knives in hundreds of models in a class of knife which has a lot of other competition, too. Right now the Chinese have it cornered.

Are there outright bargains that will remain hidden from public notice? I'd say yes to that, too. But you have to be very specific about exactly what you are looking for. Spyderco made the Swick in a high grade steel for $70, which is pricey for a neck knife. Mtech? a similar model for $10 on the internet.

Bowie? I wouldn't touch any of the three for one, at any price, and especially in stainless. I will fall apart under use. They make ornamental impulse purchase knives, not working durable ones. Hence the flea market sales as mentioned - it's a quiet form of entertainment with a physical reward and the chance to repeat it again in the near future.

I bought a copy of a switchblade that was originally a Canadian tactical knifemakers upper tier product. It lasted less than 100 flips and broke. I got my $20 worth.

Base your buying decision on the facts, such as the mystery steel, which materials, and how it's put together. Expect to be deceived and you won't get your feelings hurt. I have a US made Colonial "Buck" copy, it turns out the boltsters weren't brass, just plated pot metal. Nonetheless it's still a decent beater knife which is what I do with it.

Buy enough of them, you get an education in value engineering and construction - which then translates into an understanding of what features a knife shouldn't have, and why some American made stuff is equally junk for 4x the price. Like, a collaboration knife from a major maker and tactical knife designer with FRN scales, rivets holding it together, a thin liner, 420HC blade, with a third "tactical expert's" enhancements that make it even worse.

You can buy some really highly rated junk made right here in the USA - or so they claim. I have to wonder if this one skirts the content laws by simply being assembled here.

If someone wants to avoid completely throwing their money away, try the Boker Plus line, or some of the S&W models - of which there are thousands.

You get what you pay for.
 
Well, 7Cr13MoV is actually a better steel than either 420J2 or 420HC; and 3Cr13MoV is just the GB name for AISI 420J2.

I guess I should have been a bit clearer in my post 7Cr13MoV would be more on par with 440A.

Besides the questionable steel being used in the cheap "Made in China" knives is the just as unknown heat treatment in their process.
 
With sword canes, lock picks, nazi repros, telescoping batons, etc., that place looks more like a mugger or keyboard commando supply store than an actual knife dealer.

Did you really expect decent quality from a place like that?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top