Knife/Survival Knife Info.

[skunkkiller]

you can always make a knife from flint if you need one but I wouldn't 90 bucks for any knife.The knife I carry the blade I found on the side of the road one day took it home put nice antler but handle on it made a sheath and there i go nice knife stays sharp and always carry a wetstone just in case it needs sharpening all for alittle work but to me it was more like fun.

[Deer Sniper]

Recently I purchased a knife from Maxam. I haven't gotten it yet, so I'm still waiting for it. Here's the knife:
http://www.ckbproducts.com/product_i...oducts_id/1327
Great website btw.

Anywho, I was just wondering what everyone's thoughts were. Good knife? Bad knife?

While we're on the subject, I also would like to know what you all look for in a good knife.

IMO , I look for a knife that is 440 stainless or good carbon steel. 440 is preferable to me. Tang through construction is imperative! Well secured micarta scales or a cord wrap is preferable to a molded over handle to me. I like a length of 10" to 15" overall. A big knife will chop and make small cuts but a small knife wont chop effectively. Also blade width is important 1/4" to 3/8" seems good, much less than 1/4" is too thin. Blade shape is simple personal preference, Bowie, Kukri, Bolo, Waidblatt, are all good.

The main problem I have with the knife you purchased is that I do not know how well the handle is secured. It may be solid. I just cannot tell. Otherwise the blade design while somewhat odd looking, appears adequate for both cutting and chopping. For the price, I would say if you like it, take it out in the woods and beat the snot out of some dead fall. if the knife handles it and the handle doesnt loosen up then you got a knife. If it does loosen up or you find some other problem, toss it or give it to your nephew or something.

Remember that the knife prefered by many if not most outdoorsmen ( Native Americans, Cowboys, Trappers, Buffalow Hunters, etc. )in the 1800's was a 8" to 10" Green River butcher knife. Still available today, and found in the knife block of many chiefs and in the drawr of many home kitchens. And these guys knew what a survival knife was if anyone did! Look arround in some yard sales, I bet you can find one for under $5 if you want one. I have.

[Deer Sniper]

I ain't no marine or survivalist but a 13 year old hunter/outdoorsman. I carry a leather all the time and of course I use it as a backup in the woods with my primary knife the survival knife I will be getting.

Ive gutted more than one deer with my leatherman. And cut a few briars loose with it too, among other things.

[Tactical Tom]

Get yourself a Frosts Mora ! I like the Clipper model w/ carbon blade, They are Awsome for the $ ( around $10.00 ) Also you'll need a small stone to keep things sharp With a Mora & a good machete you can do pretty much anything in the bush !
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This is my 12" ontario Machete & Frosts Mora Clipper combo !

[brassdropper]

New here, great thread. I have carried a Kabar fixed blade in the woods for years... It looks like hell, but works as good as it did 20 years ago when I bought it...used.
I also use a buck BKS 119, but I dont punish it like the kabar...

Hope its ok for me to post a link to my favorite survival knives page:
best-survival-knife There is a section at the bottom to add your own knife.

I love ontario stuff, the RAT-7 is on the list, and I also like the 499 survival knife:

[trax]

Well that's a darn fine knife for pretty much any occassion brassdropper and welcome to the forum. I for one am glad you're enjoying it and we certainly look forward to your input. Maybe, when you have time, stop by the introduction section and let us know a bit about yourself, your outdoor interests and experience, what sort of environment you generally practice your outdoor skills in, that sort of thing. But most of all...welcome You'll find the wolfpack to be a funloving, whacky bunch of kids...

(how was that, boss? did I sound sincere? is this thing still on? Oh s*it...)

naw seriously, welcome in brassdropper.

[Gray Wolf]

WoW...... I'm in shock

And welcome brassdropper, and please do as the man says and go over to the intro and tell us about yourself.

[danmc]

It has yet to be woods tested but I found this at a local junk/antique shop for not too much.

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the blade is 5/32" thick so along the spine it is fairly hefty. It does have a slight hollow grind to it so we'll see how well it holds up to rough (ab)use. The knife fits my hand fairly well and the handle looks nice although I noticed that the brass on the front of the handle is sized differently on the left and right sides of the blade. I did use it for some wood work and it still sliced printer paper with no tearing.

So far the biggest problem is no sheath. Guess I've got yet another project.

[Gray Wolf]

It has yet to be woods tested but I found this at a local junk/antique shop for not too much.
the blade is 5/32" thick so along the spine it is fairly hefty. It does have a slight hollow grind to it so we'll see how well it holds up to rough (ab)use.

What is stamped on the blade, I couldn't make it out?

[danmc]

What is stamped on the blade, I couldn't make it out?

one side says "EXPLORER ZZ" and the other "440 C STAINLESS JAPAN"

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[Rick]

I've got an old (30+ years) Japanese stainless and love it.

[Capt.Canuck]

I've got an old (30+ years) Japanese stainless and love it.

Yep, the Japanese have been making superior steel for over 1000 years. They know their stuff.

[danmc]

and here is my first try at a knife sheath.

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I more or less followed the instructions I found at http://beknivessite2.homestead.com/pouchsheath.html Any mistakes are mine. Next time I'm going to make the belt loop take a wider belt and I may make it be part of the same piece of leather instead of being stitched on. I'm also going to keep a paper tracing of the leather too to make it easier to come up with an incremental change to the design. Still I'm fairly happy with my first leather project. Plus I can actually use the knife now that I have a way to carry it.

-Dan

[Gray Wolf]

Dan, can you post a pic with the knife in the sheath?

[nell67]

nice work dan.

[crashdive123]

Good job Dan.

[Ole WV Coot]

That sure beats my first. I like the pouch type myself. I couldn't tell if you put a welt in or not. Anyway it looks good to me.

[danmc]

Dan, can you post a pic with the knife in the sheath?

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[danmc]

That sure beats my first. I like the pouch type myself. I couldn't tell if you put a welt in or not. Anyway it looks good to me.

yes, I did put a welt in.

-Dan

[crashdive123]

Just in case anybody bought one of these back in the 1980's I apologize in advance for laughing. I don't recall ever seeing the commercial on TV, but was LMAO when I saw the You Tube vid. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gj9CMvwfv4