Hello all,

I am looking to buy a more survival capable pocket knife and I would like some commentary and/or reccomendations.

I am looking at the two knives below, but would also like to hear some coices within the following parameters:

3" plus drop point blade

locking, either linerlock or lockback (I don't want anything that is too complex)

Single Plain Edged Blade

No pocket clip

Under $50

http://www.gerberblades.com/products/view.php?model=7170

http://www.gerberblades.com/products/view.php?model=6064

The Gerber freeman is an ok knife.

My number one choice would be:

http://www.benchmade.com/products/product_detail.asp?model=10300

Another would be a Kershaw storm maybe. $50 is hard to work with, usually knives over 3 inches that have an MSRP of $50 or less arn't of the best of quality.

$50 is somewhat limiting. Let's call it $100. After shopping around for the last few days, I would say $100 is till low, but I would hope to be able to find an adequate knife for that. Am I wrong?

I don't own one, so...

But this looks like it might work, and Spyderco has a good rep in general. Spyderco Goddard

3 5/8" drop point blade, lockback, $47.

Guys:

I like knives in general.

If money were no object, there are a lot of knives I would buy just for the design to hang on the walls of my house.

My criteria for working knives is that they do the job for which I pull them out to do.

My every day knife which I keep clipped to my left hand shirt pocket is an inexpensive Field and Stream liner lock that so far is holding its edge very well and so far it has done everything I have needed to do. Its main qualification for its place on my person is the 3" long blade which is maximum allowable length for pocket carry in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Cost $5.00.

I would rather carry a very nice liner lock Gerber folder (Standard fingernail opening type folder.) with leather case I own but the blade is 3 1/16" and I don't want it to end up as a confiscated "weapon" in some police impound room. Cost (Gift) $30.00.

My favorite sheath knife is a 40+ year old Craftsman with a carbon steel blade which can cut like a razor and is very easy to resharpen with a fine carbodunm stone and a knife steel. Price (Way back than.) maybe $15.00.

I recently bought a Hungarian made Kalishnakov bayonet with metal sheath that has an integrated wire cutter because the blade is made out of carbon steel (Which I like because of the ease of sharpening.). For serious carry where I would anticipate heavy abusive work, this is the knife I would take with me if I had to chose one. Cost about $25.00.

I have a Swiss bayonet with an 11" stainless steel blade which I wouldn't even try to sharpen the edges on because I think it would be way too much work. I would like to make a hiking stick like the end of a rifle with lugs and steel rod attached to the top of the stick so that I could attach and remove the bayonet . It would make a nice thrusting spear good for pushing unwelcome guests out of your tent, spearing a fish, keeping certain animals at bay, and toasting marshmallows. Cost, about $20.00.

If you have the bucks, play with them as it suits you, but remember, you are never going to put as much use to your knives as someone who lives and works in the wild with knives. The kind of survival situation I am liable to encounter is easily served with my daily $5.00 linerlock. If I go into the woods for hiking or hunting, I would feel good with my $15.00 Craftsman. If I were to go into an extended wilderness trip where hacking and some brute force were necessary, I would take the $25.00 Kalishnakov bayonet, a machete, and an axe.

If something works, it is adequete, and price should not be the final determining factor.

Good luck on whatever you choose.

Bountyhunter

I think I would go with Doug's Benchmade folder. You can buy it HERE for exactly $104.95! Pretty darn close to $100. I have never had the oportunity to work with one but based on the specs I'd say it is far beyond the quality of any other folding knife I have found for that price. Personally I don't favor folders for survival/hard-use situations (chopping/digging/etc) I went to the doctor for stitches enough times a a young boy. <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> My current hard-use knife of choice is a SOG Northwest Ranger which is an AUS6 Stainless, Rc 56-58 non-folding knife with a 5" x .160" blade, an overall length of 9.75" and a weight of 6.5oz w/ sheath. Oh and you can find them for around $80 I think. I can't remember exactly what I paid for mine.

You can get that Gator in 154cm (sadly discontinued) which is a preferable steel to the generic 400-series they use now for less than $50: Jungle Warehouse

Or, that Freeman is available in S30V from Cabelas

I would also recommend you take a hard look at Doug's RSK or a regular Griptilian. The axis lock is a little more complicated than others, but it does have dual springs, so there is some failover. Spyderco's clip-it line has a bunch of models in that size/price range in VG-10 steel too.

The pockets clips on those that come with should be removable.

Not a drop point, but you can get a semi-custom Buck 110 with a blade in ATS-34 or BG-42 starting at $80.00

I'd go with the Gator. The Freeman is just too heavy for carrying - unless you wear suspenders.

Though ... I recommend you save your pennies and invest in Doug's knife with either the recommended sheath (I like it) or Benchmades large nylon sheath.

I myself purchased a Buck Alpha Hunter - which is much like the Freeman - and though it is a very nice knife, I found it much too heavy to carry. After that I decided to invest in Doug's knife and have been very happy with it. A great knife, though my wife thinks I'm mad for spending that much on a knife.

Doug's knife really looks good based on the specs alone not to mention that I haven't heard a single bad word about it from anyone that owns one. I especially like the locking system. I think that's the safest folder locking system I have ever seen. Although even Doug would probably tell you that a sheath knife is probably preferable, there's no doubt that folders certainly are more socially acceptable for EDC. I have considered trading in my SOG multi-tool (my current EDC) for Doug's folder on many occasions. I may still eventually.... who knows.

Added note. I am lucky enough to live in a state that allows carry of any single-edged knife (sheath or folding) with a blade of 5" or less so I just wish the blade was a little longer. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />