I was wondering if anyone could help me pick out a good quality field/utillity knife. I am going to S.A.R. academy, so it will probobly take a beating, so it has to be strong. Also, i would like the keep the price no higher that 30 dollars. Thanks.
good all around field/utillity knife
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Der Stro
Member
http://www.amazon.com/Sweden-Classi...3OPM/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1325461228&sr=8-4
Can't recommend it highly enough, not quite as sturdy as my issue ka-bar, but a hell of a lot cheaper. Only downside is the cheap quality of the sheath it comes with, but that's not why I bought it.
I went to NESA back in the day, hope you enjoy.
Can't recommend it highly enough, not quite as sturdy as my issue ka-bar, but a hell of a lot cheaper. Only downside is the cheap quality of the sheath it comes with, but that's not why I bought it.
I went to NESA back in the day, hope you enjoy.
zignal_zero
Member
I really like my ESEE 5. Its a tank. A little too thick to be a great slicer, but an otherwise excellent knife.
sm
member
I second the suggestion of a Mora Sweden Classic #1.
Two others would be:
-Mora of Sweden Clipper Knife
http://www.amazon.com/Mora-Sweden-FOS-840-Composition/dp/B004ENIDV2
-Morakniv Companion MG Carbon Steel
http://www.amazon.com/Morakniv-Companion-MG-Mora-Sweden/dp/B004TNWD40
These might make you feel more comfortable with a finger guard, and having a "grippy" rubber texture handle.
Oh, don't forget a sharpener, these Scandi grinds are sooo easy to maintain.
A DMT credit card sized sharpener, 600 grit (red) will work.
Two others would be:
-Mora of Sweden Clipper Knife
http://www.amazon.com/Mora-Sweden-FOS-840-Composition/dp/B004ENIDV2
-Morakniv Companion MG Carbon Steel
http://www.amazon.com/Morakniv-Companion-MG-Mora-Sweden/dp/B004TNWD40
These might make you feel more comfortable with a finger guard, and having a "grippy" rubber texture handle.
Oh, don't forget a sharpener, these Scandi grinds are sooo easy to maintain.
A DMT credit card sized sharpener, 600 grit (red) will work.
Brian Williams
Moderator Emeritus
I second the Mora.
I have had one for 20+ years still going strong.
I have had one for 20+ years still going strong.
PRM
Member
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- 2,111
+1 on the Mora. Its a great choice at an affordable price.
I have carried a Victorinox Trekker for about 10 years now. You can't beat a folder in addition to a belt knife. The wood saw works great on this model. I'm always looking for a good walking staff and it has come in handy more than once. The other tools are also nice additions.
Trekker:
·Locking blade
·3-1/4" blade length
·Can opener with small screwdriver
·Bottle opener with large screwdriver and wire stripper
·Phillips screwdriver
·Keyring
·Toothpick
·Tweezers
·Reamer
·Wood saw
·4-3/8" closed
·Stainless steel blades and tools
·Black composition handle
http://www.smkw.com/webapp/eCommerc...Trekker™+-+Black+Composition/V54854.html
I have carried a Victorinox Trekker for about 10 years now. You can't beat a folder in addition to a belt knife. The wood saw works great on this model. I'm always looking for a good walking staff and it has come in handy more than once. The other tools are also nice additions.
Trekker:
·Locking blade
·3-1/4" blade length
·Can opener with small screwdriver
·Bottle opener with large screwdriver and wire stripper
·Phillips screwdriver
·Keyring
·Toothpick
·Tweezers
·Reamer
·Wood saw
·4-3/8" closed
·Stainless steel blades and tools
·Black composition handle
http://www.smkw.com/webapp/eCommerc...Trekker™+-+Black+Composition/V54854.html
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Deltaboy1984
Member
I vote for the SAK or a Mora. Mora can be addictive because you can get them for under 10 bucks most of the time.
The Mora Triflex would be suitable for your use.
I assume you're a teen headed for the CAP S.A.R. school. Enjoy.
http://www.survival-pax.com/Mora-Bushcraft-Triflex-2080.html
I assume you're a teen headed for the CAP S.A.R. school. Enjoy.
http://www.survival-pax.com/Mora-Bushcraft-Triflex-2080.html
$30 doesn't give you much to work with. If you can pry more loose, something like an Ontario SP41 should be extremely sturdy, useful, and more rust and shock-resistant than a 1095/all carbon steel knife.
John
John
None of these were exactly what i was looking for, i need somthing a little bigger that will be able to chop and saw through wood and rope, remember, this is for Search And Rescue Academy, and it needs to blend in ok with my uniform to, so black or OD green. keep the sugjestions comming, i apreciate the help.
The Becker BK11 is, in my experience, the strongest, sturdiest field knife I can think of in your price range.
The Moras are also good, but if I needed a knife I could really beat on and abuse, the Becker would get the nod.
Edit to add:
another interesting alternative at only $10 over budget.
The Kabar Warthog.
The Moras are also good, but if I needed a knife I could really beat on and abuse, the Becker would get the nod.
Edit to add:
another interesting alternative at only $10 over budget.
The Kabar Warthog.
Isaac,
You should assume that some of the members have years to decades of experience with knives in the bush and some even have search and rescue experience. They may recommend what you need because of that experience and if you're not sure that it is suitable it may be due to the differences between your more limited experience and their greater experience.
First; you don't typically chop with a knife nor do you typically saw with them. You certainly won't with a knife in your price range.
Second; SAR isn't SERE and a knife doesn't have to be green or black to meet your needs.
Third; I promise that you've been given good advice on knives that meet the needs of SAR. Add a good multitool and you're good to go.
When are you going to S.A.R. Academy?
You should assume that some of the members have years to decades of experience with knives in the bush and some even have search and rescue experience. They may recommend what you need because of that experience and if you're not sure that it is suitable it may be due to the differences between your more limited experience and their greater experience.
First; you don't typically chop with a knife nor do you typically saw with them. You certainly won't with a knife in your price range.
Second; SAR isn't SERE and a knife doesn't have to be green or black to meet your needs.
Third; I promise that you've been given good advice on knives that meet the needs of SAR. Add a good multitool and you're good to go.
When are you going to S.A.R. Academy?
ApacheCoTodd
member
You're making it tough with the requirements and the $30 limit. Maybe the thing to do is hit a pawn shop or gun show and look for a surplus bayonet. I know for example $30 would get you something decent in pawns around a military base.
Coincidentally, my wife brought this little aircrew survival knife home last week from an antique store for exactly 30 bucks.
Another option in giving you an idea of what might be available is to go to E-bay >categories>sporting goods>outdoor sports>hunting>knives>fixed blade and then on the left play with the price range options.
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ApacheCoTodd, what kind of knife is that? I have one exactly like it and have always wondered what the origins were...
Sorry for the derailment...
Dave Markowitz
Member
I was in a CAP SAR squadron from 1985 - 1990, first as a cadet then a senior member.
First, have you received any guidance as to what knives are acceptable or not permitted? Some units/schools have guidelines on this. We were authorized to carry the USAF knife, a Ka-Bar, or an M-7 bayonet. I chose the USAF knife because my dad had one and we didn't have much money. The Ka-Bar would be a better choice, though. The M-7 bayonet sucks as a knife, IMO.
I eventually replaced the USAF knife with a Schrade Bearpaw LB-7 lockback (comparable to a Buck 110). The Schrade was better at what a knife is meant for -- cutting things, compared to the USAF knife, because of the thinner blade.
However, the knife I used the most was my Victorinox Pioneer Swiss Army Knife. I still carry it daily.
A Mora as has already been suggested would work well for a fixed blade knife. If you can spend a bit more money on a knife that's somewhat more robust, check out the Buck 119, about $43 at Amazon.com.
If you need something to chop or saw with, someone in your unit should have a hatchet, saw, or machete. They are all superior to knives for chopping or sawing.
If your budget limit is a hard $30, and you must have something to saw with, get a Mora knife and a folding saw such as this Gerber.
First, have you received any guidance as to what knives are acceptable or not permitted? Some units/schools have guidelines on this. We were authorized to carry the USAF knife, a Ka-Bar, or an M-7 bayonet. I chose the USAF knife because my dad had one and we didn't have much money. The Ka-Bar would be a better choice, though. The M-7 bayonet sucks as a knife, IMO.
I eventually replaced the USAF knife with a Schrade Bearpaw LB-7 lockback (comparable to a Buck 110). The Schrade was better at what a knife is meant for -- cutting things, compared to the USAF knife, because of the thinner blade.
However, the knife I used the most was my Victorinox Pioneer Swiss Army Knife. I still carry it daily.
A Mora as has already been suggested would work well for a fixed blade knife. If you can spend a bit more money on a knife that's somewhat more robust, check out the Buck 119, about $43 at Amazon.com.
If you need something to chop or saw with, someone in your unit should have a hatchet, saw, or machete. They are all superior to knives for chopping or sawing.
If your budget limit is a hard $30, and you must have something to saw with, get a Mora knife and a folding saw such as this Gerber.
fatmanonabike
Member
The Cheaper Than Dirt "rough use knife", $10. While you are laughing, watch this http://www.knifetests.com/CheaperThanDirtRoughUseKnifeDtest.html
you gotta scroll down to the video. I bought two to save on shipping about $15 at your door. Happy hunting. The sheath does suck :-(
you gotta scroll down to the video. I bought two to save on shipping about $15 at your door. Happy hunting. The sheath does suck :-(
ApacheCoTodd
member
They're aircrew survival knives. We treated them as mid range disposables. Certainly a decent knife but not exceptional. They'll take a bitch of an edge fairly easily (with the provided stone, files or the odd rock) but will in turn give that edge up.
The actual printing on the back of a perfect sheath will say "KNIFE HUNTING SHEATHED SURVIVAL PILOT'S" And each comes with a well made sheath and stone of comparable quality and originally, a lanyard.
The saw edge on top is pretty functional if you keep in mind to use one edge or the other for notching and grooving more than actually sawing.
A pretty cool and really quite appropriate option for the OP but be sure to get as un-used an example as possible.
This one's an unissued 1967 Camillus making it too costly for the OP but as I indicated, surplus, pawn, e-bay and antiques stores have 'em.
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I have no instruction in knives dave, so any advice is apreciated. also, i am kinda leaning toward a glock field knife, as they look very tough for only around 30 bucks. let me know if this would be a good knife. I also have a multi tool that i can bring to.
Glock field knife.
No
No
wheelgunslinger
Member
Very good life lessons are hiding in a Mora for a young man.
Great choices for recommendation.
Buy one of these and you'll have money left over.
Great choices for recommendation.
Buy one of these and you'll have money left over.
Der Stro
Member
While I have not owned one, The Internet seems to generally have nice things to say about the Glock field knife. I'd also like to know why you don't like it HSO, just for curiosities sake.
Dave Markowitz
Member
The Glock field knife is designed along the lines of a bayonet. I.e., fairly thick but narrow blade. This makes the grind steep and harder to sharpen. Compared with a Mora it's poor at slicing things although it might be more robust.
IMO the USAF survival knife suffers from a similarly poor blade geometry.
I'll stick by my earlier recommendations.
IMO the USAF survival knife suffers from a similarly poor blade geometry.
I'll stick by my earlier recommendations.
zignal_zero
Member
Oops, sorry OP, I totally missed yer $30 Max when I said ESEE 5.
The Cold Steel G.I. Tanto is a pretty decent hard use knife in that price range. I talked a buddy with limited funds into buying one and it served him well. Soft steel, has to be sharpened a lot, but that also means less prone to breaking or chipping.
The Cold Steel G.I. Tanto is a pretty decent hard use knife in that price range. I talked a buddy with limited funds into buying one and it served him well. Soft steel, has to be sharpened a lot, but that also means less prone to breaking or chipping.
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