GAH.
I’ve got the blade bug again! It all started awhile back when I had the retarded vision of putting a bayonet on the Tupperware Rifle…! Sobriety has evolved things a bit since then…
Recapping, I currently have three: a Leatherman, a sweet old Kershaw folder, and a Mora. All are now stropped to razors. Between them they’ll do anything I need to do. But I’ve been kinda-sorta shopping for a WW3/Zombie Apocalypse /Survival/Bushcraft knife. I want the blade for my asspack. But “need” and “want” are two different things. I could put the Mora on it and do just fine for what I do and put the leatherman in as backup. But… I like the leatherman for EDC, and the Mora is fast becoming a kitchen/light duty camp blade. Now that I have it stropped it just flies through veggies and meat. It’d make a great alternative to a fish fillet blade too, maybe…? But the horrible truth I’m trying to evade is that I need another blade like I need a hole in the head! Regardless… I’ve been on OyToob watching Navy Seals, elite warfighters, sportsmen, stubfarts, and hare lipped retards review and recommend their picks for practical beater blades that are affordable and practical.
Cold Steel SRK.
$45.00 on Amazon
Great rubberized handle, good steel, easily resharpened, great price. Apparently this is one of the top picks for the SEALs and some other special ops guys. I’m sure if it’s good enough for them it’ll be fine for me. My only beefs: the blade might be a tad longer than I want in a general purpose knife, and is a partial tang design that will fail under insane abuse and mistreatment. Unrelated but relevant: the Chinese are making off-spec knockoffs… and rumours are the fags at Amazon can’t tell the difference so ya don’t know what you’re really getting if ya place an order…
The Gerber Strongarm
A bit over $100.00 if ya shop around…
This is the one I’m currently smitten with. The blade retention with that sheath is perfect, it’s a full tang design, the blade is the perfect length… I suppose it’s not in the same class as the Cold Steel because of the price point but hell’s bells… that is a lot of blade for the money. I’m not a fan of ceramic coatings or other exotic finishes but…whatever. The company claims it inhibits corrosion but it’s not a selling point for me. I take care of my blades even if I let them get too dull occasionally.
For now I’ll keep shopping and see where I’m at after Christmas. If I still want one after thinking about it long and hard…why not?
The price range suggests chinesium steel rather than cold steel. I'd seriously scour eBay for vintage knives first. I found a vintage fixed blade Queen Steel hunting knife, Bowie style, full tang, USA made for ~$100 within about 30 seconds. Probably superior to both the above for any chore that requires a full sized knife.
ReplyDeleteYeah I looked at that … the real McCoys use standard North American knife steels that are not exotics or high end … but definitely serviceable. The Chinese knock offs are spotty… some of their Ned Foss blades are getting good reviews while the Chinese Gerber knock-offs are getting hated on.
DeleteTypical for them I suppose…
go with the Gerber. they always made a great blade. I have 2 of them, going on 40 plus years and they still great knives.
ReplyDeleteDo yoseff a solid and get this one....https://offgridsurvival.com/sogsealpupelite/
ReplyDeleteMine is from the early 90's and hasn't failed me yet. It lives on my webbing.
Chutes Magoo
Have you checked out the Becker line of knives? I think you might be impressed.
ReplyDeleteTheres a few sweethearts in the Becker lineup too…! 👍
DeleteThey're both perfect. Get them both, thoroughly examine them, test 'em. You'll figure it out.
ReplyDeleteSend the other one to me. Thanks.
Not a chance, you’re not supposed to play with either knives or moslems anymore…! 😊👍
DeleteI'll bet i'm 20+ years your senior...junior, you most certainly play with knives (in the free states)!
DeleteNow muzzies...yeah, no. Avoid like nogs.
got one of these for Christmas a few years ago... https://www.amazon.com/Gerber-Infantry-Knife-Coyote-22-41463/dp/B0015M06V0 ...they are damn near indestructible...not a bad knife at all...
ReplyDeleteHrmmmmm… blade steel is the same as the strong arm… at nearly twice the price…? What am I missing here…?
Deletenot sure why the price went up on them...it was cheaper when i got one...probably the fancy sheath that comes with it and for awhile it was the knife all the military guys wanted...
DeleteI'd Stay away from the gerber stuff. Their steel is usually of the softer kind and dulls fast, but is easy to resharpen. Becker, ka-bar, ontario are some good places to start.
ReplyDeleteFor deboning (not your purpose I realize) there is none better than Victrinox 40515. $25 will buy what will be your favorite deer processing knife. Just ordered 2 more for gifts. Kent. Mi.
ReplyDeleteCold Steel makes a compact version of the SRK - it has a 5" long SK-5 steel blade vs the full size 6" blade. Very similar to the Air Force Pilot Survival knife, that often made with common practical 1095 carbon blade.
ReplyDeleteSapper picked up a pair of the Gerber(s) and gifted one to me... No complaints and it's in my EDC carry bag, along with MedGear, Food, spare mags/ammo, water purification and a Can of Smoke and a Can of CS (both 'issue' IRL DotMil stuff... The CS is particularly brutal). The cool thing is the sheath is adjustable with like 4 different settlings to mount on either MOLLE or your belt. It holds enough of an edge that I love it as a basic short field knife.
ReplyDelete