What is your absolute favorite combat knife?

[ronin308]

Alright TFL, what is your favorite combat knife and why? Function? Balance? Strength? Pure nostalgia?

[Jayman]

Cold Steet Tanto, but heck, anything in a pinch. It depends so much on usage, training, etc., that everyone's answer is going to be wildly different...

[Hemicuda]

It'd have to be the Marine Cammilus (US MK-II) fighting knife (think Marine KA-Bar) in it's original hard sheath...

it is an original from Vietman... My fathers best friend brought 3 of them back with him from Vietnam, and he, his son (MY best friend), and I are the lucky 3 to have them... I treasure it greatly...

[ahenry]

If you’re asking, “which one do you like the best” then a Bagwell Hell’s Belle Bowie or a Randall #12 Confederate Bowie. If you’re asking, “which of the ones you will you have with you when you need it do you like best” then a Camillus Cuda Maxx 5.5. Since I think you are really going after the first idea, the reasons I like it/them the best are for size (I’m in the Bagwell camp, 9 plus inches of blade imparts something extra far beyond a little extra reach), for the false edge (no other style gives a back cut like it will), for the point design in a Bowie style of blade (no other style of point will stab as easily as it will), for the balance (gotta handle it to understand, it feels alive like no other blade I’ve owned or handled), for the grip (on a Bagwell Bowie, the coffin shape feels great in my hand actually prefer it to the Randall grip) and for the looks (come on, does a knife exist that looks better than a Bowie?).

[Drjones]

Anything Strider. The bigger, the better. :D

Extrema Ratio (www.target-masters.net/extrema.asp)
makes some damn fine blades too...

[ronin308]

So far my favorite has been a Mad Dog ATAK...but then again, I've never handled his Panther design either. I hear that one is quite a piece of work.

[Mannlicher]

Randall #1, 7 inch blade. Simply the best.

[GunFool]

Randall 15 for me. Single finger grip, standard hilt. No wanna-be poser sawteeth, thank you very much. The only knife I'd want if I expected serious trouble.

[Ewok_Guy]

Just about any fixed blade Smithy.

[rage]

Mad Dog, Bud Nealy, Randall, et al are great knives. I like my newest. SOG Recondo BG-42 steel.

[BMWGS80]

Boker Smachete custom micarta handles, replaced Al Mar Smachete (retired).

Carson U2 field 5" brown micarta handles, replaced Randall #15
(retired)

Al Mar Shadow II, Replaced Arbuckles Commander (retired)

SAK Tinker

Constant companions for a few trips into the woods on four contanents.

Cheers,

ts

[LawDog]

The Mamba from Blackjack Knives (http://blackjack.0catch.com/). Unfortunately Blackjack Knives went belly-up, and nobody else glommed onto the Mamba design. :(

That was one sweet knife.

LawDog

[ronin308]

BMWGS80-I was curious about the Smatchet. What sort of stuff have you used it for? How is the balance?

[Santino]

If I could only have one?http://www.bussecombat.com/

[Santino]

If I could have a second http://www.striderknives.com/

[HS/LD]

Cold Steel Recon Tanto.

Paid $29 for it as a second.

Doesn't slip when covered in blood.


HS/LD

[rennaissancemann]

Busse Steel Heart II bought back when they made quality knives.

[Hard Ball]

Randall Number One with 8 inch blade and stag non slip grips for a fixed blade.
Emerson Commander for a folder.:cool:

[Joe Demko]

Old Hickory butcher knife

[Christopher II]

The aforementioned Mad Dog ATAK. Second would be the 4" carry knife I made last year (it still needs scales, though.) Thrid would be anything else handy.

Still, I hate knife fighting.

- Chris

[LBC]

Mannlincher and Hard Ball, I am with you. Randall all the way. I have a #14(?) "Special Fighter." 7" stainless blade (#1 profile), double nickel thumb guard, black linen micarta finger grooves, lanyard hole, and (of course) leather sheath with sharpening stone.

Interesting, in Andy McNabb's "Bravo Two Zero" he mentions the guys in his SAS patrol (on the run) carried their knives in leather sheaths, because they could be drawn very quietly compared to the 'scrape" of Kydex. But many 'name' makers now offer fitted Kydex for their blades.

[fuchikoma]

My 18" Himalayan Imports Ang Khola (type of Khukri). That's 18" in a straight line from the tip of the blade to the pommel, so it skips the curve of the knife.

1.5 lbs x 18" of razor-sharp, well-balanced, masterfully-hand-crafted knife. It's about a half-inch thick at the spine. Additionally, it's rock-hard: I have never seen a knife made with such hard steel. It holds an edge nearly forever, which is especially handy since most sharpening equipment I have will hardly scuff it. :D

[Jorah Lavin]

the Gerber Mark One I got in the mid '80s.

-J.

[MarineTech]

Marine Corps issue Kabar made in Oleans, New York. Accept no substitutes.

[ahenry]

Did anybody happen to catch the Hunter movie on TV the other night? If you did, did you notice the Bagwell Bowie used in the end? :D Damn thats a knife! ‘Course the guy using it held it like an idiot, but thats ok, I just enjoyed seeing it on screen.

[Brian Williams]

Camillius with a 5" blade similar to a Kabar
Great old knife sharp as a razor

[Sea Bass]

My favorite knife is my Ek Commando knife M-4 with micarta handles. Perfect balance between beauty and function!:)

[krept]

My head says one of the Strider double edged blades made from S30V. I also think one of the Taranis would be great too with proper training.

But the one that really gives me the warm fuzzies as a combat knife is the KABar... the same way a 1911 does. Interestingly, I have neither.

[ronin308]

The thing I don't like about Striders is that the paracord wrapped handle would absorb stuff...namely blood n' guts. If you had to dress and animal with one of those things the sticky icky would be embedded in the handle. It might look cool but then it'll start to smell ;)

[foghornl]

My favorite? The M5A1 Bayonet, fixed to the 'business end' of my M-1
;)

[Tamara]

My Greco Whisper. Slim, well-balanced; a really sweet blade.

I picked up a Paragon Harley Slim Battle Bowie recently, though, and it's growing on me pretty fast.

[hdm25]

I used to be totally in love with my Greco Companion. It is still a favorite knife...the right size, a little heavy for it's size but immensely strong.

I like my CRKT Kasper/Polkowski Companion a lot. I just wish that it were made of better materials. I am toying with the idea of buying a "real" one. It carries EXTREMELY well in its River City Sheath (?) that I bought from Mike Sastre.

I have always loved the Blackjack Model 1-7. I like it better than the Randalls that I used to have. I wish Blackjack hadn't went out of business. I used to buy Blackjack knives at wholesale for $50 or so at Cecil Clarke's Cutlery in Newport, Kentucky...and I'd always make a stop at the business next door, too. ;)

I have Matt Lamey making a knife for me right now. I expect it to become my favorite. I've always liked the pictures of his knives that I've seen and they just have the look of being well-balanced and a "fit" for me.

I am also lusting after a Patton/Kasper Grande. This looks like an excellent larger knife.

[MolonLabe416]

Kabar. The price is right and a quality one does about anything required of a fighting knife.

[vulcan]

Chris Reeves shadow 1 & 2. Best made hollow handle knives on the market. They are milled from a single billet of steel, No weak tang to hollow handle joint like the others. my best folder is a first production run spyderco police.

[Erik]

Chris Reeves Project 1.

His new introduction, The Green Beret, shows promise, too. So much so that its 'official' now.

[mjn]

Utica M4 bayonet- also like the option of mounting it on my M1 carbine. No idea if the Utica is better or worse than any other M4 from another maker, but the leather grip is nice.

[webley455]

A Kabar style worked for me.:D

[Chieftan 6]

I own a Cold steel recon Tonto. With that said.

the K-Bar would be on my belt. It is ugly but sure works and has done everything I have needed done.

Used mine in Nam and it never failed me. My father gave it to me in the late 50's. Even used it on a dink. Better him then me, we had been over run.

There may be better, but mine is proven and blooded.

And in the end, use what has worked for you! Never forget history!

good luck

[Seeker]

Ka-Bar

[CRUSHER]

Cold Steel SRK

[ScottFrench]

While the list could be quite long, I limit it to knives that are legal to carry every day. So, the Spyderco Endura is my choice.

Scott

[genefromjersey]

:D KABAR Marine Corps knife: You can stab,slash with the blade,slash with the back side ( near point ) of the blade,and throw - at very short distances- by simply raising your holding hand and letting fly.
The pommel can be used against the temple ( or pressure points ) of an assailant , and - oh yeah - you can use it to slice meat, open coconuts, and split kindling wood.
It's a "plain jane" piece of cutlery, but a lot of thought, and a lot of practical experience went into its design !:cool:

[clem]

I've still got my original issued K-Bar from 1967.
The only possable better blade would be a Randell, but being a peon at the time, I didn't have the $ for one.

[charels]

himalayan imports 20" kobra

[BMWGS80]

ronin308,

The Smachete is more of a short sword than what most people consider to be a knife. Doble edged and wide. It is more like stabbing with a shovel. The slashes are more than capable of taking of an apendage. The scabbard is wide enough to have outside pouches for DMT/leatherman/SAK and another small straight utility knife together. It replaces my 12" machete from SA.

If I were pinned down to one knife only for field use it would have to be my Carson U2.

Cheers,

ts

[ahenry]

Fans of a Ka-Bar should note from where it derives its inspiration. Add a couple inches to the blade and you have the perfect knife design, at least in my book.

[AK103K]

Gerber Mark II

[Chieftan 6]

AHENRY,

Pray tell what is the name of said wonder blade?

[Seeker]

Fans of a Ka-Bar should note from where it derives its inspiration. Add a couple inches to the blade and you have the perfect knife design, at least in my book. Bowie knife?

[nascarnhlnra]

My Kabar Next Generation Fighter is my go to knife ! for a folder I go with the Emerson Commander

[Chipster]

Cold Steel Trailmaster on the belt. Emerson Commander in the pocket or on a neck scabbard.

[Ayteeone]

My 18" English arming sword. Fits quite nicely on my belt, or behind my pack. At contact range I've come to prefer it to ANYTHING else. No question of stopping power when limbs are cut off, or with the blade sticking out both sides.

Now I need to find a way to legally carry it everyday...

[Tamara]

Well, if we're including stuff like that, then my gothic bastard sword is my favorite combat knife. A little tricky to CCW a 44" hand-and-a-half, though... ;)

[ronin308]

Tamara- Do you have the Del Tin or the Arms&Armor Gothic? I hear that's a nicely balanced blade. I've been studying the Talhoffer manual and the Fiore manual so my budget may be soon destroyed with the purchase of a new Atrim 1503 :)

[Tamara]

Nothing so nice; this one's a Museum Replicas Windlass. Not as pretty as a Del Tin or A&A. I'll probably be getting a Del Tin to compliment it (and free this one up for use as a beater... ;) ).

I hear that's a nicely balanced blade.

Absolutely un-freakin'-believable that a sword that big can be that light and fast. Makes a katana feel sluggish by comparison. Play with one; it's a real eye-opener.

[ronin308]

Tamara- I'll have to check one out next time I get a chance. You could even convert your Windlass to a blunt and use the Del Tin as your sharp. Have you ever done any test cutting with it? When I get my Atrim I'm going to do some tameshigiri with it and post a review on Swordforum.com.

[T-Rex]

mossberg 590 defender with magnum 00 buck ;)

[Anthony]

All time favorite would be Bill Bagwell's Hell's Belle.

Everyday carry favorite would be a Spyderco Military.

[Penman]

6" armor piercing knife by Kuzan Oda.

[Chieftan 6]

Regards those fellows with their swords.

How about my 16" 03 Bayonet?

It definityly can reach someone, even better on the end of my 03 or even my M1 Garand!

Now thats a knife, M1 Garand with the 16" bayonet. Makes Crocodile Dundee's knife look puny.

Fred

[Ayteeone]

Tamara,
The question did say combat knife... which in my family was originally a sax of about the same length. Now, if you want to talk swords, I've a custom hand and a half that has withstood a great deal of very physical abuse. I find it too long to wield properly inside the house, however, and it is really not much good for things like envelopes. In small knives my Gerber Guardian gets the nod.

[shooter9]

Long before it's fashionable to buy/carry a Strider, My trusty Strider knives (http://www.striderknives.com), I've been carrying one for years. :)

[shooter9]

Posted by ronin308:

thing I don't like about Striders is that the paracord wrapped handle would absorb stuff...namely blood n' guts. If you had to dress and animal with one of those things the sticky icky would be embedded in the handle. It might look cool but then it'll start to smell

You can always rewrap the 550 para cord handle with a new one. I rewrap my Strider knives to fit my needs.

[Cadwallader]

Let's face it - pretty much any sharp knife with any kind of point is the equal of any other of the same size when it comes to cutting/stabbing in a fight, and any knife, cheap or expensive, can be made plenty sharp and will hold its edge sufficently for the ten seconds (if that) of use it will get in a knife fight. I'd say get and carry the cheapest knife you can find that works for you, especially since you'll lose it and probably never get it back if it ever gets used on somebody.

Get and keep the good knives for everyday work and hunting, tasks that seperate the good knives from the not-so-good.

I think the relative rarity of defensive knife fights has led to a widespread phenomena in the vein of the mall ninja thing - lots of tactical gear that costs mucho dinero but confers few if any benefits over mundane everyday tools.

I'd carry a steak knife before I'd pay Strider prices for a piece that they didn't even to go the trouble of putting a handle on.

Oh yeah, I carry and quite like my Gerber - 3" EZ Out I think is the model. Under $30.

[Santino]

Cadwallader...............Your post kinda freaked me out ....it seems to me that you are suggesting that any old knife will do because it will only be used for ten seconds or so.

I suppose at a certain point your personal choice of blades would not affect the outcome of a knife fight but I don't feel that a combat knife is designed "exclusively" for fighting.

I think (and I may be wrong ) a combat knife is a knife that would be used in a combat situation.

This includes opening crates ,cutting through materials that are not designed to be cut,prying,digging,and countless other applications that are bound to occur when you least expect it.

Did the original poster ask what your absolute favorite "FIGHTING KNIFE"was ?

Well either way I think a high quality blade is in order and to suggest................what you said ........................................

---------------------------------quote-------------------------------------

Let's face it - pretty much any sharp knife with any kind of point is the equal of any other of the same size when it comes to cutting/stabbing in a fight, and any knife, cheap or expensive, can be made plenty sharp and will hold its edge sufficently for the ten seconds (if that) of use it will get in a knife fight. I'd say get and carry the cheapest knife you can find that works for you, especially since you'll lose it and probably never get it back if it ever gets used on somebody.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Makes me a little uncomfortable .........just my opinion.but I agree with you in a way.............as long as we are talking about QUALITY KNIVES.........not neccesarily super expensive but not some cheap import either.............do you agree?

[Joe Demko]

Cadwallader is dead right. That is the very reason why, way back at the beginning of this thread, I specified an Old Hickory butcher knife. People are made of meat. The Old Hickory butcher pattern excells at cutting meat and only costs a few bucks.
Mega$$$ "combat knives" are like Rolex watches. If you have the money, buy what you want, but don't kid yourself that your $500 knife will kill someone any deader than common kitchen knife.

BTW, I own some very expensive knives, including a couple custom ones. I'd still use the Old Hickory w/o a second thought.

[H&K Fan]

Randall Model 14 with the 7" blade. Or as previously mentioned Randall Model 1 with 7" or 8" blade.

Factory knife - Cold Steel Trailmaster bowie. Edge isn't bad and it is certainly big enough for Bagwell's favorite tactic, lobbing off excess body parts. That tends to get a person's attention when 3 or 4 fingers or a hand come off their arm. Should tend to take the fight out of most people.

cheap factory knife - any good machete. Sharpen it with a file and it is good to go.

[ronin308]

I'd say get and carry the cheapest knife you can find that works for you, especially since you'll lose it and probably never get it back if it ever gets used on somebody.

The original intention wasn't "What knife do you carry for defense?" or "What knife to you to build a shelter on a deserted island for 2 Playboy bunnies, an accountant, and a rabbi?" The question dealt with personal preferences for tools...more specifically, fighting tools. For example, I'm a sword buff...I could buy the 440 blades for $60 and break them in a few days or I could get a quality one that will last me the rest of my life.

I think the relative rarity of defensive knife fights has led to a widespread phenomena in the vein of the mall ninja thing - lots of tactical gear that costs mucho dinero but confers few if any benefits over mundane everyday tools.

So a quality Mad Dog is a piece of mall ninja gear? Should I stop carrying my 1911 to carry a Hi-Point as well?

[Santino]

Golgo-13,

You said: If you have the money, buy what you want, but don't kid yourself that your $500 knife will kill someone any deader than common kitchen knife:

Do you really believe that a common kitchen knife will perform the tasks of a quality combat knife?

Are you basing your opinion on the fact that a well placed stab with a kitchen knife will give the same wound as a well placed stab from a $500 combat knife?

I guess I'll have to agree with you there but like I said in my previous post,there's alot more to a combat knife than it's ability to puncture RAW flesh.

Be honest,If your life was on the line would you choose a common kithen knife? :confused:

[Joe Demko]

A lot of the mambo-jahambo surrounding "fighting knives" just doesn't send me. Armor piercing points that can penetrate car doors? Maybe if I was trying to stab a car to death that would matter. I see darned few people running around in metallic armor these days. Even fewer yet in metallic armor that I need to stab. Chisel edges? Eh. Exotic alloys? Another eh. Any decent carbon steel will do just fine.
For many, many moons there was no differentiation between "fighting knives" and "utility knives" because most people owned only a knife or two. Those knives were made out of low carbon steel and had no "combat " features. Guess what? Folks depended on them and killed each other with them. Dead as hell.
When I say kitchen knife, I mean any decent quality kitchen knife...such as an Old Hickory, not one of those $1.98 grocery store knives (though I'll warrant one of those will kill you dead too). A forged carbon steel blade with a riveted hardwood handle is plenty rugged.
If you want a sharpened, tanto-pointed, unobtainium alloy prybar with a carbon fiber handle, get one. Spend as much as you like. Pride of ownership and all that.

[LawDog]

I carry a 'fighting knife' when I'm hiking/canoeing/scrambling about in the Great Back of Beyond, and a long time ago when Uncle Sugar was paying me to wear a salad suit and hike/scramble about the foreign parts of the Great Back of Beyond.

I've used knives as pry-bars to shift pallets on the decks of C-130s; I've cut rope from finger-sized to forearm-sized; pried rocks out from under sleeping bags, campfire holes and caves; chopped branches for fires, splints, insulation and bedding; I've used knives to pry cartridges out of balky chambers, bust open packing crates and field-dress everything from rabbits on up.

Quite frankly, I tend to be rough on my knives. I travel light when I wander, and while a $1.95 Tiajuana Special just might, indeed, kill someone just as dead as a more expensive model, when I'm three days away from civilization and suddenly faced with one of those, "Oh, DAMN" situations, I don't want to be betting my life (or someone elses' life) on a knife worth $1.95.

That's just me, though.

LawDog

[Joe Demko]

Alright TFL, what is your favorite combat knife and why? Function? Balance? Strength? Pure nostalgia?

Doesn't sound like he asked "what is your favorite camping knife?" If we are going to define combat to mean just about anything that involves using a knife, then the question becomes so broad as to be pointless.
Spend as much as you like. It's your money, which I've said several times now.

[Santino]

Golgo-13

Let's change things around a bit.........If you don't mind?

The original question.......................................................

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alright TFL, what is your favorite combat knife and why? Function? Balance? Strength? Pure nostalgia?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Let's replace the words COMBAT KNIFE with COMBAT RIFLE or COMBAT HANDGUN or COMBAT BOOTS or COMBAT ANYTHING.


Comat rifle-Ruger 10/22......Inexpensive and If you shoot someone in the head10 times with it they will die.

Combat handgun-beretta 21a cheap and lightweight and it can kill a man.

Combat boots-Payless shoes, well they are cheap and you can walk or run in them.

I would love to hear your answers to those questions,really I would.

Can you see where I'm going with this?I think you are being stuborn and I think you will somehow find a way to make my analogy seem stupid.

I'm just trying to say that sometimes you get what you pay for!And if my life were on the line I'm paying for the best I can get!And if I didn't have the money for it I would make due with what I had.

Anyway,I think I know your kind and I am pretty sure I'm not gonna win this argument!....You remind me of my father! :)

[Santino]

And by the way Golgo-13, anyone who would go into battle with a kitchen knife sounds like a guy I would want on my side!:D

[shooter9]

Posted by: Cadwallader

..I'd carry a steak knife before I'd pay Strider prices for a piece that they didn't even to go the trouble of putting a handle on..

Heck, I'd carry a $40 KaBar knife but given the choice, my trusty Strider is the one I carry all the time. I've been around knife fighting since I was a kid, taught by my grand pa to knife fight. Me and my brothers used wooden knives at each other back then.

I like Strider knives b/c they are built like a tank and most of all it is extremely reliable. :)

[rage]

Newest...SOG BG42 Recondo...backup Spyderco Chinook.

[Joe Demko]

Santino,

My point (and Cadwallader's too, I think) is that above a certain minimum level of quality you run into diminishing returns. Is a $500 kustom-killer-knife (w/ black taktikewl finish) better than a $40 Ka-bar? Yes, no doubt about it. Fit and finish should be flawless on the more expensive knife, it should hold an edge better than the Ka-bar, etc. Is the more expensive knife 12X better in purely practical terms? IME, almost definitely not.
I used to collect knives, I've owned and used hundreds. Some factory, some handmade, a few custom. IME, the difference in performance between any decent factory knife and a Mega$$$ custom job is narrower than you might think. In other words, there are lots of reasons to own the high-end knives, but performance alone isn't one of them.
If a Randall, Mad Dog, Busse, or what have you makes you happy and makes you feel more confident, buy and enjoy.
If it is made out of decent steel and fastened together sturdily, it will do for me.

[scotjute]

Probably the current issue M-9 bayonet.

[krept]

Does it even need to be a decent piece of steel? Guys in prisons make do with less and are quite capable. It is a lot like diminishing returns.

A 40oz of Old E will get you as tanked as a couple shots of Courvoisier?

With proper shot placement will a FMJ killem as ded as a ultrafancy top of the shelf HP?

Me making these points is just as silly as people who state "why u gotta spend so much on gear? It aint gonna make u kewl OR a warrior." It's almost like McGuyver (or however) would on purpose carry around a wire and bit of fuzz just to show everyone he was King Minimalist Man That Could Still Conquor the Concrete Jungle Without Expensive Gear.

One thing that is good about Strider and Busse... they stand behind their product. You can pry with it and if it breaks they will make it right. But a lot of good a warranty will do you on the other side of the world? That's why it's good to have a solid product.

And yeah, Strider offers a 'handle' for the people that don't understand their rationale behind the design. Are katanas cheap swords in the same vein or does the silk wrap and manta skin make them OK?

And for the record... my "combat knife" is a Cold Steel Peacekeeper bought on sale. Striders, Busses, etc. are far superior in every respect - IMO.

[ronin308]

krept- I agree with most of your statements, but I have a question: What is the rationale behind the Strider design? I know you can use the paracord for something else in a pinch, but I'd rather just carry that length of paracord tied around the sheath. Paracord + bloodn'gutsonyourknife = mess. That's just my take though.

[Cowdogpete]

Like the best? Bagwell's Hells Belle Bowie

Prefer to have in a fight? Cold Steel Tanto

Carry all the time? S&W Swat

Carry to cut things? Case 2 blade folder.

[krept]

Ronin,

Here (http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=153284&highlight=word) is some discussion related to the reason why cord wrap handles excel in certain instances. Gotta love Mick's first post.

A fellow that does pretty rigerous tests on knives posted later on that thread: What I found was that the Strider WB was with the exception of one other blade (Project I) the only blade that would remain functional when my grip was effected by any significant lubricant (animal fats, oils, soap, grease etc. ). There are some blades with significant guards that will allow hard stabs, but chopping and prying is not possible because the blade will just twist upon impact or torques.

Certainly this isn't the end-all of discussion, only opinion. IMO the cord wrap works great on the versions I have felt.

EDIT: I didn't realize you had posted references to their handle. I was refering to this: I'd carry a steak knife before I'd pay Strider prices for a piece that they didn't even to go the trouble of putting a handle on. I'm not sure how much the wrap would absorb? Isn't 550 cord mostly synthetic?

[ronin308]

krept- That is a good link. Previously, my experience with cord wrapped handles hasn't been great. But I think that if I can get my hands on a Strider, I'll throw some oil on my hands and see how it holds up. I'm definitely willing to try Strider's products because they do have an excellent reputation.

[TEA]

I'm two out of three with Cowdogpete. If I had the dough, Bagwell's Hells Bells Bowie. What I do have, Ka-Bar and S&W Swat folder, the quality and function of both are dead on for the money. In terms of longer blades, I have long had a machete for larger hacking jobs, and more recently a cheapo made in Pakistan short katana-esque blade, which is also good for hacking firewood, but doesn't hold an edge worth snake spit. :barf:

As with the Bagwell Bowie, if I had the dough I'd get a custom made Katana from a swordsmith from Japan. It ain't the silk wrap or rayskin that makes these expensive, its the time and effort that goes into making one. This ain't the most detailed article by far on Japanese sword making, but it comes at it from an interesting cultural perspective. Swordsmithing in Modern Japan (http://mdn.mainichi.co.jp/features/craftsmen-series/08.html)

Speaking of quality forged katanas, anyone have any feedback on Paul Chen's repro katanas?

[ronin308]

Speaking of quality forged katanas, anyone have any feedback on Paul Chen's repro katanas?

How much ya looking to spend? The Practical Katana plus is a good deal for the money. They run around $300 IIRC. That is pretty much the bare minimum for a functional katana.

[Tamara]

Speaking of quality forged katanas, anyone have any feedback on Paul Chen's repro katanas?

I have a Musashi. No complaints, fine blade. The (newer) practicals are also quite good deals for the cash; my roommate's is a good sword.

[ronin308]

Tamara- I've heard pretty good things about the PK+. Apparently they made four generations of the original PK that were decent but the PK+ has the edge (har har!) in a number of different ways. Have you ever done any test cutting with your Musashi? I'm going to be building a tameshigiri stand over Christmas break. Hopefully I can post some .mpegs of my cutting results.

[Tamara]

Nope, no test cutting yet. Need to discuss that with my roommate; I smell a project coming up... ;)

Re: CAS/Hanwei non-oriental practicals. Fantastic idea. I have the viking sword, the knightly sword and the mortuary hilt. Good for practice; it's about time somebody made dedicated, inexpensive, quality factory blunts.

[ronin308]

Tamara- I like the practical Euros as well. I was thinking about getting the regular Mortuary hilt since I'm a pretty big fan of George Silver. Check out this website for some good cutting mats: http://www.tameshigiri.com/
But beware, cutting mats is probably even more addictive than slinging lead. So buy in bulk for your first session!

[VaughnT]

I do like the mean look of a strider knife, but if they are soooo tuned in to the warrior mindset, why is their folder built for righthand carry/use only? That thumbstud is on the wrong side for a southpaw and the clip can't be switched to the left for carrying in the left pocket. Is that truly tactical? Personally, my duty holster completely covers the right pocket on my pants and that means I need a knife for the left hand/pocket. Only Benchmade offers a truly ambidextrous folder. Only Benchmade offers their folders at a reasonable price.

Another point on Strider, and remember that I like the stuff from afar, is the price. I'm all for supply and demand, but let's not get crazy. I've forged many a knife and their stock removal technique isn't nearly as time consuming. Considering how little work is in the knife, why is it sooooo expensive? Those G10 slabs haven't been cut and contoured to some weird shape; they are as flat as they came from the supplier, just cut to profile and radiused on the edges. No big work.

And when Buck went into production on the Strider folder, you'd think the price would come down. Nope. Very sad.

Overall, the CRKT M16-13LE seemed like the best choice for the money. I'll be looking into a Benchmade, dreaming of a Strider, but carrying a CRKT for the time being.

Very sad.

[Tamara]

But beware, cutting mats is probably even more addictive than slinging lead. So buy in bulk for your first session!

Great. Fantastic. Just what I need: another expensive hobby... :rolleyes:

Maybe I can convince my roomie to go in on mat buys with me! :D

[krept]

:D

well... I certainly don't want to seem like I'm defending Strider because I don't own any of their blades, or any other "top end" war blades for that matter, but...

I've forged many a knife and their stock removal technique isn't nearly as time consuming.

Lets say you forge 52100. Knock it into shape, then anneal. How much more stock removal is there to do? On contrast, Strider to my knowledge has moved to S30V. Is that type of barstock a little harder to grind than 52100 (or whatever you forge with?). I ask because I've seen Harvey Dean forge a blade and between pounding it into shape, using an angle grinder to remove scale and then finishing the hollow grind with his $$$ variable speed high end grinder, he is done quite quickly. I could be wrong, but flat grinding 3/8" S30V is a little tricky. Even then, I have found a flat grind is harder than a hollow grind which is harder than a chisel grind?

Strider will install an ambi thumbstud. They will also probably drill holes for you to mount the clip on the other side.

Those G10 slabs haven't been cut and contoured to some weird shape; they are as flat as they came from the supplier, just cut to profile and radiused on the edges. No big work.

I think what they do with the G10 here gets the job done. Should it be more fancy to justify the $350 price of a folder? I can tell you from personal experience that G10 plain SUCKS to work with if you only have cheap tools like a couple files, a $120 belt grinder a $60 bench grinder and a dremel. And to get a good finish on it other than the factory? No way for me.



And when Buck went into production on the Strider folder, you'd think the price would come down. Nope. Very sad. It would be sad if the Buck version is the same as the Strider version, but they are very different. I have to admit that it's easy to get confused by the spartan appearance of both but if you look, you can see the differences. They are significantly different. Different enough to warrant $200 extra or whatever? That's a personal question, kinda like justifying why others and I spend "way to much" on the USP series? ;)

FWIW, Strider used to build exclusively for the armed forces. They have made their products available to civilians. Active duty enlisted get a decent discount. Dealers stocking Striders are required to sign an agreement that essentially makes the dealer charge the same prices for X blade across the board... that's why you see so little Striders on sale (ever seen one?)

I'm not sure about CRKT knives being the best for the money. I can grind a shank from rebar for the cost of a belt. Heck, QVC is offering good deals on 440C integral lock knives. I would say that if you find a good deal then Spyderco is probably the best for the money. I have them as well as CRKT knives, I like them both but then again I don't think either hold a candle to Strider's folders. Just MHO. Heck, one of my relatives (Joe Kious) makes $1000+ folders from damascus, etc. Wouldn't want to take one of those to war!


Only Benchmade offers their folders at a reasonable price.
;) :D

cheers

[Cadwallader]

Sorry I said controversial (to some people anyway) things and stepped out of the thread.

I didn't mean to insult any maker or knife or anybody who chooses to carry whatever they want. My point was along the lines of VaughnT's - look at the materials and operations involved in manufacture and then look at the price. And price is definitely a factor for me in choosing a "combat knife" or any tool.

Very few of us will ever get in a knife fight, for lots of reasons. Therefore when I carry a knife it's just a knife, and when someone says "combat knife" I take it to mean something else - a fighting implement and not much else. My misunderstanding - I guess the discussion was more along the lines of "hard-use knife". I wouldn't criticize anyone for spending what they think they need to in that regard.

I've been making tools including the occasional knife for a number of years - for my own use and as gifts, I've never sold anything and probably never will. While my work is certainly not the equal of good commercial products, I've learned a thing or two. I've come to the conclusion that full hidden tang consruction is the way to make a superior hard-use knife (Mad Dog knives seem to be a good example and one that many people here would be familiar with). So put me down for a Mad Dog if I have to actually buy a not-so-cheap knife. :D

[biere]

I have a large black jack mamba, sorry to hear they are out of business as I was wanting to have them sharpen the top half of the knife, they offered it as an option. Mine has seen a lot of use and does many things well. I find the hand gaurds useful for stuff as well.

I also have a cold steel tanto, blade is about as long as the grip so around 6 inches I guess. This thing has been abused and still holds up well.

For pocket carry, I have a spyderco harpy I love, serrated, and I recently got a gerber with around 4 inch blade and the thumb studs since I needed something not serrated.

All get used for things a knife should not always be used for and they all handle it well and come back for more.

I have one of those big bayonets, and I guess if I figure out which one I should get to go on my m1a with the bayo lug that would have to be my long range one.

[Al Thompson]

I have two knives that seeem to be a good balance between size and use. Many years ago I purchased a Ka-Bar and have been happy with it. Recently got a Cold Steel SRK and it's on my web gear as we speak.

I like my CS Trailmaster, but it's a tad big. Probably be my favorite fighting knife though.

For a good inexpensive GP knife, check out:

http://www.anzaknives.com

[SunBear]

Cold Steel Recon Scout which has just recently gone back into production and is now available with a synthetic sheath. I plan to order the sheath for my early "sterile" model made for the first gulf war. Happy trails

[animal]

You guys are going to think I’m absolutely nuts but … I’ve played around with several knives and for defense, and I would choose my Old Timer 150T … with a 6 " blade, 10" overall it is still concealable.
Yes, it’s a plain-Jane hunting knife.
I received it as a gift from my grandfather when I was 12. Since then, I have used it to dress an uncountable number of fish and small game, somewhere in the hundreds of whitetail , and various farm animals. I have used it to "finish off" wounded deer as well as kill a few dogs and an opossum outright with it. Over the years, The blade has turned a bluish-brown that almost matches the handle… the only thing that shines at night is the edge. In the last 28 years, it has become like a part of my hand and I have learned how not to cut myself with it…
:)

[Spectre]

Coincidentally, also my favorite
"hack brush up" (http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=1004579) knife too...

HI 16.5" WW II

John

[Hard Ball]

A Randall Number 1 with a 8 inch blade and stag grios, Why? Outstanding blade design, very well made and fits my hand perfectly.

[mk86fcc]

A. G. Russell Sting IA - Why? Partly nostalgia having bought it back when Jerry Ahern's "Survivalist" series was popular. Partly pure functionality - fits my hand well, it's double-edged so just about any direction I move it will do at least some damage (important in that I don't train much); it's reasonably light and compact - just nothing not to like IMHO...

[Geoff Timm]

Back in the 1970s, when Uncle Sam was buying my ammo, I had much gear to carry in the field. I Gerber Mk. I clipped to the top of my boot and a Swiss Army Knife in an extra 20 rd ammo pouch, with other odds and ends, was about all I cared to carry.

Geoff
Who packed two canteens before it was stylish. :cool:

[SkeletorUSMC]

Any well made kukri, 18" Chitlangi in particular.

[michael t]

My navaja 19in long when open :eek: Blade is 9+alittle and 2in wide Carry IWB every were when I was trucking. They been sliceing and diceing with these in Spain for over 100 years In old times some were 39 in open and you thought you Cuda Max was large. :D

[Hard Ball]

My Randall Number One with an 8 inch blade.

[hercules]

Spyderco Endura. Had it for years, and have never let me down.

[fubsy]

I carry a Kasper Scorpion for a concealable fixed blade. My preferred sheath knife is a Brend mdl2 which I sold and later I have replaced it with a broadwell mlr tac (les Robinson Vanguards)....I have used a Randall mdl 14 with cdt and mdl 1 handle.......I sure do miss that brend. I generally carry a little spyderco Delica with full serations in my pocket...and Lately Ive been playing with a microtech DA lcc. I could really do with out the auto capability though............too many knives way to little money....lol...fubsy.

[Gabe Suarez]

The one thing I would suggest is, if carrying a self-defense blade in the USA, to be careful with what your carry knife has been named, who made it, and what marketing has been used to sell it.

For example, the black colored SEAL ATTACK GUT ZIPPER SENTRY REMOVAL KNIFE you saw in the ad being used by MAD MAX in Iraq, may serve you well in a fight, but when you are dealing with the aftermath you'll wish you had a Spyderco Endura or a Cold Steel Voyager.

Gabe Suarez
http://www.warriortalk.com

[Spectre]

My HI WWII is my favorite do-it-all outdoor knife, but if I somehow had to solely
depend on edged weapons instead of a firearm for defense, this 21" Chitlangi would be my choice...

[mad_dog30]

Every day would be a Chris Reeve large Sebenza for "social" purposes. And as far as a fixed blade it would have to be a Project 1. Built like a tank and very well balanced too.

[Arizona Fusilier]

Not to beat a dead horse, but I understand both sides of the "cheap" vs. "high-end" argument. You can take a cheap knife and a bells-and-whistles knife, and use each 10 times, and chances are you would never notice any meaningfull difference, whereas when it comes to firearms, you'd likely know the first time you went to the range. But stretch that 10 out to a 100, carry it every day, put it through the wringer, and most of all, stake your life on its performance, and that's when you'd trade up, as best as your financial situation will allow.

Back when I had more than a snowball's chance of getting into a life-and-death fight, knife or otherwise, I carried a lot of gear like Geoff Timm alludes to. If you're going to be issued a bayonet anyway, a large knife is not on your packing list. As some have already observed, a bayonet at the end of long arm is a formidable weapon, and believe it or not, some of us were/are actually trained in its use. And of course, you can use it as a big knife, fighting or otherwise. To this end, the current M9 bayonet is a big improvement.

I never got to use a bayonet, but I have survived in the field for weeks at a time. When it comes to the myriad field tasks that others have so rightfully observed, I found the good ol' Buck folding hunter, augmented with a Swiss Army knife, more than agreeable companions.

So why own a "fighting knife"? I don't know, why own three custom 1911s? Just in case is probably the answer, coupled for appreciation of quality. I personally have subscribed to both sides of the fence on this isuue.

I just recently went on a trip to Hawaii. I wanted to bring something for defense, but I was certainly not crazy enough to bring a gun. I bought one of those "Ranger" knives, 5" blade, subdued, with the paracord handle, for 5.99. I carried it in the open, attached to one of those backpacks that tourists can't live without nowadays, and didn't raise an eyebrow. I'm sure it would have been more than adequate for the one time I would have used it, if necessary. But I wouldn't care if it was lost, stolen, confiscated, or ditched.

But "back in the day", I bought a Randall #14. If I was recalled to active duty for a special 3-day commando mission to snatch Osama because of my special skills (cigar smokin' and beer drinkin'), I'm sure I'd bring the Randall with me.

However, for a longer-term expedition, public or private, I think my Cold Steel Trailmaster would get the nod. Clearly it has utility for fighting, and is a little more sturdy for such chores as brush clearing, opening crates, etc. I would augment this with a SOG Paratool, Leatherman, or the like (those pliers are indispensible for removing cactus needles, as folks around here can attest).

As an all-round back up, I would carry my Benchmade folder.

Hopefully, my trusty ol' Buck knife won't take offense. ;)

[jdthaddeus]

The best fighters are Black Cloud knives by Ernest Mayer. They are superbly balanced and crafted by a fighter, for fighting.

For all-around knives (defense and utility), Mad Dog has my vote.