Good all around bush/camp/work knife

Discussion in 'Blades' started by Bandit99, Apr 3, 2016.


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  1. Bandit99

    Bandit99 Monkey+++ Site Supporter+

    I gave away most my knives when I returned stateside but one I kept is the Becker Companion (BK2) because it has some sentimental value and it's a real brute of a knife. It's the one I would want if I ever got into a bad situation...but, the problem with this knife is the same reason it's so good - it's a damn brute! Normally, it's too much knife for common chores. I grabbed it recently when I needed something sharp helping the wife in the garden and...it's just too much at times for simple stuff.

    I was looking at the Ka-Bar/Becker BK16 Short Becker Drop Point...4 3/8" blade, same steel as Companion, lighter...Amazon has them for about $72 which seems a good deal to me. I think prefer the drop point to the clip point...but probably both good.

    Amazon.com : Ka-Bar Becker Knife with Drop Point, Short : Hunting Fixed Blade Knives : Sports & Outdoors

    So, wondering if anyone here has anything good or bad to say about the BK16?

    Also, I am open to other recommendations as still doing research...
     
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  2. AxesAreBetter

    AxesAreBetter Monkey+++

    I would need a list of tasks your want the knife to do. Pocket, sheath, etc...
     
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  3. Tikka

    Tikka Monkey+++

    @RickR
    If you like a Ka-bar style knife; buy a Ka-bar. Literally, they are hard to beat.

    My favorite is a Sissipuukka or Finnish in their language Suomi (translated) Ranger knife.

    J.P. Peltonen Sissipuukko - Varusteleka.com
    Survival knives from Sissipuukko designed by J.P. Peltonen and worldwide in professional use. Knife-Heaven.com

    As it was a gift from a Suomi Ranger, mine is Suomi issue on the sheath it has the Suomi crest. A very nice knife; however, if I was spending my money, I'd buy a KaBar
     
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  4. Bandit99

    Bandit99 Monkey+++ Site Supporter+

    @AxesAreBetter
    Haven't seen you around lately! I thought you were off Viking somewhere? Find anything interesting - wenches, gold, wenches? :)
    Basically, I am looking for a good all-around fixed blade with a smaller blade length and less weight than say a survival knife like my BK2 Companion. Something a bit more mobile, thinner, lighter, shorter. Something that holds an edge but yet sharpens fast. Something that you can control for small detail work. Something that doesn't demand a lot of care. Something that can get wet but when dried and light-oiled remains rust free. Something I can pound with be it breaking car glass or bending a nail in place. Something that is durable. Something I can easily skin a small rabbit with and/or eat it with. Something I can shave some small kilning or whittle (small whittle). I am not looking to chomp firewood, turn it into a spear, cut elk/moose bone, dig with, cut metal or jimmy a stuck door... I want a small or scaled down version of a good survival knife. I really don't want to pay over $100 but would do so for the right knife. Oh, and yes, it must feel good, balanced.

    @Tikka
    Ka-bar is a good recommendation...~$20 cheaper than BK16 (for the shorty), about same weight as the short Becker, same steel 1095... Yeah, good recommendation!
     
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  5. AxesAreBetter

    AxesAreBetter Monkey+++

    I'd recommend a Morakniv Companion. $20 for $150 worth of knife, and I am a knife snob who break things on a regular basis. I put these in my BOB. You want, I can shoot some vid tomorrow, or how I put one through it's paces, if you want me to put my money where my mouth is.

    Other than that, I've been trying to Kickstarter a table top role playing game I built, and I am trying to overhaul our website to sell the things we make more streamlined. Plus we have been flooded under.
     
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  6. Bandit99

    Bandit99 Monkey+++ Site Supporter+

    They definitely got good ratings. Wow! Really good reviews. Okay, I will pick up one because I am now very curious now because there are something like 1200+ people review this knife (stainless) giving it a 5-star rating and for $15...hell, maybe two at that price as you can get a carbon and a stainless for about same price...never had a stainless knife.
    And, what is your opinion of the BK16 or do you have one?
     
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  7. kellory

    kellory An unemployed Jester, is nobody's fool. Banned

    Don't forget to do a gear review for it here. ....;)
     
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  8. Ganado

    Ganado Monkey+++

    what is the difference between stainless steel vs carbon steel blade.... pros and cons?

    I'm no expert but in the kitchen I don't like stainless steel as it is hard to sharpen and doesnt seem to hold an edge.
     
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  9. AxesAreBetter

    AxesAreBetter Monkey+++

    Never coughed up the coin for a Becker anything. I have the carbon Mora, for what that is worth. They say not to baton them, but I beaver chew fist sized saplings using one, and whacking it with a club. My old lady keeps stealing mine to skin deer with.

    I have a modern made WW2 style Kabar. Decent fighter, great butcher, not worth the $85 they are asking, and no where near the best bush blade on the market. No offense to Kabar, either, cause I like it, I just just can't justify the money.
    I have an Ontario Spec-6 (Amazon.com : Ontario Knife SP6 Spec Plus Fighting Knife : Fixed Blade Camping Knives : Sports & Outdoors) that is my current favorite production fixed blade. Carry it with a tomahawk, use it like a longknife. Does everything I can ask of it out here...haven't tried throwing it yet, though.

    Oh, forgot the Viking tie in. My TTRPG is medieval fantasy, and I have a pic up of me in some of my Viking kit. Also was going to make a joke about wishing I could take time off to raid Europe, then remembered that the Muslims have already f'ed that one up, and the humor was lost...

    My understanding with the Mora is that the carbon holds a better edge for longer, but their grind is SUPER easy to sharpen( you literally lay a whetrock flat against the bevel and you have a 4 1/2" razor in a few passes). The stainless is, of course, supposed to be more rust resistant and abuse friendly, but the carbon is the better knife. I'd bet money on either, ESPECIALLY for carving. I actually use one in our shop to rough out some of my projects, and do some intricate touches by whittling that I don't know how to do with professional tools.
    I don't mean to over hype it, but I put down my jackknife after I started using one. To me, it is just comfortable, and reliable.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 4, 2016
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  10. oldawg

    oldawg Monkey+++

    I prefer the carbon steel Mora knives but I do patina the blades as a personal preference. Just controlled rust I know but it does help against pitting. And the price can't be beat for the quality you get. And as Axes said, they are tough.
     
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  11. Bandit99

    Bandit99 Monkey+++ Site Supporter+

    I will check out the Ontario SP6...but I am not looking for a fighting knife, looking for a working knife.

    BTW I have a Tomahawk also I can't remember what it is and I just went to look for it but it's not there. Only been in the house 1 year and things get moved around finding their places. Anyway, I will bring that a Viking also.

    "...about wishing I could take time off to raid Europe, then remembered that the Muslims have already f'ed that one up...'
    Muslim gold is good as any and plentiful and they got to have a few good looking wenches behind those Burkas. We'll cut a deal with the Christians and carve ourselves out a chunk of land, somewhere sunny, maybe take a few castles for the wives to vacation in. Come on! It will be fun. More slaves in Valhalla! :):):)

    I will order the Mora today. I was thinking to try the Stainless but heard it's hard to sharpen and now you are saying you prefer the carbon...so probably get that or both. I also like Carbon as sharpens fast and as long as a you take care of your tools there isn't a probably with rust.
     
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  12. Ganado

    Ganado Monkey+++

    [worthless]

    @oldawg how do you patina a blade deliberately? and would it be useful on my kitchen knives. (sorry slight thread derail here)
     
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  13. Bandit99

    Bandit99 Monkey+++ Site Supporter+

    With guys like @Bear and @AxesAreBetter around I would be rather intimindated to even try to give my opinion. Nahhhh... I will simple say 'Good, Bad, or Ugly' :)
     
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  14. AxesAreBetter

    AxesAreBetter Monkey+++

    Do you mean to say that you brown the blade?
     
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  15. oldawg

    oldawg Monkey+++

    @Ganado @AxesAreBetter I just use whatever acidic fruit or vegetable laying around. Onion is my preference. Just stick the knife straight through one or however many it takes and leave over night. Usually one night is enough.Yes it is useful on kitchen (carbon steel) knives as it helps prevent pitting as you have applied an even coating of oxidation to the blade. You could use a browning solution as well but this is about all I do. Best reason is for those around you who don't properly care for your knives. Others here can explain it better and I'm not computer (or camera) capable enough to do the pics thing.
     
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  16. Ganado

    Ganado Monkey+++

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  17. AxesAreBetter

    AxesAreBetter Monkey+++

    That's 18th century browninng. Doing that to my cuttoe, since blueing solutions that didn't destroy the temper hadn't been invented in that time frame. Cool man.
     
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  18. Bandit99

    Bandit99 Monkey+++ Site Supporter+

    Okay, I ordered the Mora knives, a Heavy Duty Companion for me and the Craft for the wife for $33... I'll let you know when I get them.

    Bundle - 2 Items: Morakniv Craft Robust Carbon Steel Knife and Companion Heavy Duty Carbon Steel Knife
     
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  19. Tikka

    Tikka Monkey+++

    How does the spine thickness compare? As an 0311 Marine said "A Ka-Bar is Marine proof and that says a lot."
     
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  20. chimo

    chimo the few, the proud, the jarhead monkey crowd

    I love my BK16...its my EDC for whenever I can carry a fixed blade. First thing I did with mine was strip off all the black coating and then gave it a nice apple cider vinegar patina. I'm not a fan of all that black gunk on my food...but maybe I am wrong, it might be protein rich or something.

    BK16 is just over 1/8" thick. (.165 I think). After I stripped off the black coating, I put a grinder to it to make sure I had a good 90 degree edge for sparking fire steels.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 4, 2016
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