Best survival knife for under $200???

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Just a 4" mora and a 14" machete, $20-$30 total, are better than any one knife. For a single tool, a properly sharpened Gransfors short axe or hatchet is probably superior to any knife.

Yeah, I know people like their expensive knives, but they're not really necessary.
 
I've never been a huge fan of the multi-hundred dollar knife. I'd be too afraid I'd break it to use it.
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I know what you are saying, but I want at least one custom knife just for the satisfaction of ownership. My wallet draws a pretty clear line at how satisfied with ownership I can be, but I will one day own something cool and custom.

Past that, I try and find the best values available consistent with quality.
 
Chris Reeve

For anyone who's afraid to get a high-dollar knife for fear it may fail and leave him with an expensive relic, may I suggest anything -- anything at all -- by Chris Reeve.

Particularly his Sebenza folders.

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I feel reasonably confident that you would be outstandingly happy with one of those.

Costs more. Lots more, in fact.

But if you spend, say, $400 on a knife that will simply not fail, and whose manufacturer will stand behind the product in the event that it does, and if that knife lasts you a lifetime, was it really expensive?

I don't own one. I haven't been able to marshal the funds for it. I only drool.

Our own hso, does have one and, based on his extensive experience and expertise in these matters, I'm willing to take his word that they are as good as it gets in folding knives.

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I dont mind payng for quality but I dont like paying for a name.
I like the CR sebenza but Its sooo expensive and I dont see how it could be any better than a $100. Benchmade.
I could be wrong, a year ago I thought $100 to much for a knife!

I still think a large bowie style knife along with a smaller knife would be best for survival, you cant process wood with a SAK.
 
I personally like the BRKT Bravo 1s. However for sheer versatility a multitool is hard to beat. Besides a survival knife is equipment and as such supplements survival and does not necessarily faciltate survival to someone who does not know how to use it.
 
Blades for Real Survival?

Want to be prepared for anything, be comfortable and even thrive in the backwoods? Don't think "survival" means having just a big full size knife to save your butt. Pair any of the full-tang knives suggested in this thread with the additional blades below and you should be good to go for less than $200!

In anticipation of an urban survival event, saaay, a major earthquake up here in the pacific northwest while I'm in the city which would require me to hike dozens of miles to get home or to a hospital if the roads are destroyed depending on where I am at the time, I carry a Kershaw folder as my daily and tactical ECD, a Leatherman Skeletool, water tablets and small first aid kit on me at all times everyday. My Tissot watch tells time, has a built in compass, altimeter, barometer and thermometer. My house keys are on a keychain I've made from knotted Paracord so I have roughly 20 feet of full 550 cord should I need to unravel it not including the length of the 7 smaller threads if I needed more. Add to my keys a small but loud storm whistle (in case I get trapped in rubble) and firesteel on the keychain. A small flashlight strapped to my belt rounds out my business suit attire that I wear everyday.

When I hit the woods, I carry the same ECD system (albeit not in business attire) but add a SOG Seal Pup (~$65) horizontally to my belt at 6 oclock. Why not a big giant full sized $200 blade? Because I've got a small Gerber hatchet (~$20) for splitting wood on my belt and a Sven folding saw (super lightweight) (~$25) for cutting up logs strapped to my pack. Should I happen to lose my pack in an emergency I carry a Sabercut saw (~$25) on my belt from survival tools dot com just in case. My pack, of course, carries more gear and rope.

With a full size saw for cutting up dead wet logs, a hatchet for splitting with a baton and full tang survival knife for splitting kindling and shaving tinder I can build a shelter and start a fire even when it's been dumping rain in the woods for weeks by being able to get to the dry heart of dead logs.

There you go! Multiple relatively light weight blades totaling less than $200 sure to help you tackle your heaviest survival tasks. Good luck out there!

;-)
 
I'll take an Ontario SP6 Fighter and put it up against anything for quality and performance.

ontario-fighter-800.jpg
 
Spec Plus Fighter

Yes, I have one of those.

Also a Ka-Bar.

Also a Camillus version of same.

Trouble is, I can't wear any of them when I'm at the office.

 
tomh1426 said:
...I like the CR sebenza but Its sooo expensive and I dont see how it could be any better than a $100. Benchmade...
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Take it from a guy who has a Benchmade in his pocket, one on the dresser, one in the desk drawer at school, and one somewhere else in the house (unknown where at the moment) - The Sebenza is a hell of a lot better. I know, I have and use both. I like both. But if I have to carry just one pocket knife I trust not to fail, it's a Sebenza. I'm not taking anything away from the Benchmade, they're great knives, but Chris makes much more than knives, he makes Armageddon knives.

I posted a thread about a Kershaw Outcast I bought for $55.00. It's a great knife, I love D2 more than just about anything else for knife blades. I don't have any problem recommending them for a larger blade.

That said, if I'm going to rely on one knife for everything, I'm going to choose a medium size blade, maybe 5-6 inches. I've become a big Busse fan since they're about the only thing that's going to be left intact after the rest of the world blows up (well, them and cockroaches.) Their INFI steel is the stuff legends are made of. My one-knife choice would be my Busse ASH (American Steel Heart) like the one pictured on top:

BusseASHSHeSAR.gif

However, I know that a lot of people won't pay what a Busse costs. To me, if I'm in the middle of the Tundra I want to know I can depend on my knife ABSOLUTELY not to fail. But for those who don't want to spend what it costs to get a Busse, I have two recommendations:

RAT Cutlery's new RC5 or their RC-6. RAT makes an incredibly tough knife that is simple, well designed, and high quality. ***PLEASE NOTE*** Don't mistake the Ontario Knives RAT line for real RAT Cutlery stuff. There's a reason Ontario's knives are less expensive: They're cheaper. With respects to other's opinions here about their ASEK knife (I know nothing about them) I can say that from what I've seen, Ontario's quality Control has gone into the crapper recently. I know they got a military contract, but unfortunately to the detriment of some of our servicemen, sometimes the military goes with the lowest bidder and gets what they pay for. Those of you who carried an early M16 can back me up on that.

The other suggestion is a Fighter from Valkman. Don's knives are beautiful and tougher than nails (literally, I'd bet you could cut a nail in half with one of his CPM-D2 fighters.) There are obviously plenty of people here who can vouch for his work, and it's obviously a group who know what they're talking about. You carry one of Don's knives, you'll be proud to show it, unafraid to use it, and grateful for the peace of mind you have from having a knife that defines what a "custom" maker is.
 
for the money you cant beat a USMC Ka-Bar, a mora of sweden 521, and a cold steel kukri.
you can get the whole package for about $60

and stay away from 440, unless its for a dive knife, its too difficult to sharpen in the field.
 
I always liked the TOPS Tom Brown Tracker. Looks well thought out and practical for real use, if you had to depend on it and know how to make it work for you. That thing could build a shelter and scale fish a half hour later. I'm becoming more of an outdoorsman lately probably should invest in one.

A couple months ago I had a side job clearing brush and was provided a Woodsman's Pal for the job. Lemme tell ya, just like I like a gun that multi tasks, this is a one tool wilderness workhorse. Fills in for a machete, hatchet, drawknife, bowie, pruning shears, you name it. Gotta get one of these too.

How much does a Sebenza go for and what is the wait time? I carry either an Endura (plain blade) or Kershaw Leek EDC. Am also a big fan of Cold Steel and CRKT products and like the push dagger as a SD last chance option
 
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The good advice in this thread is that no one knife can be expected to handle all your needs. A small fixed blade knife and a chopper (ax to machete) will handle almost all your needs. Toss in a small detail knife and you have a 3 way win. The other good piece of advice for folks is that understanding the terrain and environment you'll have to survive in will dictate what style of knife & chopper you need.

Pity the Sebenza isn't under $200.
 
I really like my Ka Bar but i seldom take it anywhere. That being said I ALWAYS have either my kershaw blur or CRKT My Tighe in my pocket. I keep a Ka Bar folder in my truck along with a cold steel two handed machete and an E-Tool, flash light, and a length of rope.
 
Hmm. I hope this doesn't constitute major thread hi-jackage, but now I have a question for you, Hso.

You say this:

Pity the Sebenza isn't under $200.
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I am forced to wonder two things. First, could Chris Reeve legitimately make a Sebenza at that price point without losing anything in the way of material quality and worksmanship? Second, if he could, why doesn't he? Now, don't get me wrong, I am not being critical of the knife or the cost as it stands now. You and plenty of others have convinced me that it is one hell of a good knife to the extent that I legitimately might own one some day. That some day would just be a lot closer to reality if they were around 200 bucks is all. I also understand that there isn't a lot of motivation on his part to slash the price in half if they sell at the current price, which probably is all the answer my second question needs now that I think about it....
 
Well, I kind of answered part 2 on my own as I wrote it, but what about part 1? Could he make them at that price while maintaining the same level of quality that they have now?
 
Several of us have said that there's nothing equivalent. Other companies have tried to make their version of the Sebenza at lower prices, but they don't measure up. That's your answer.
 
It all depends.
Ka-bar. Leatherman Wave. Victorinox Trekker. All different, and all carried by me at some point in he year -- in different terrain for different purposes.
 
I prefer the original ka-bar military knife. accept no copycats!
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If it were not for the fact that the Marine Fighting/Utility was first made by Camillus, that statement might make sense.:confused::confused::eek::D
 
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