Greetings!
We live in the mountains of Western NC and I'm putting together "Bug in Buckets" for both my Jeep and my wife's car and I'd like to hear some recommendations for a fixed blade knife for each kit...I'm thinking 4" blade +/- and approx 50.00 or less. I spent last Saturday at the Smoky Mountain Knife Works in Sevierville ,Tn but nothing really caught my eye (except the SOG "Twitch" !) I like the Kabar "Warthog" but it's more of a skinning knife than an all purpose blade.Any opinions on this or the Becker "Crewman"...other suggestions?

Thanx !

Cold Steel Master Hunter is wide, somewhat thick, and very tough.

For general purpose you can't beat a Mora-style knife with plastic handles, e.g. from Frosts of Sweden. They're dirt cheap too, like 10-15 bucks. Less of a pry bar and more of a practical knife than the Master Hunter. Main annoyance is the plastic sheath that comes with it is rather crappy, but for your purpose that probably doesn't matter. ragweedforge.com is a good source.

http://www.ragweedforge.com/SwedishKnifeCatalog.html

Model 760 from the above page is probably the closest modern equivalent to the classic Mora #1.

The Air Force Survival knives aren't glamorous but they are inexpensive and very useful. I would rub a little cooking oil on the blade however due to it being carbon steel.

SOG SealPup

I'll second the recommendation for a Mora, though I'm partial to the #780 - differentially treated carbon blade, the primary benefit of which is that it's a bit thicker and sturdier.

I have my share of stainless Moras as well, and they are quite serviceable.

-=[ Grant ]=-

I'm a little confused. Bugging IN implies staying at home (or possibly work I guess), and if you are home you would have all of the knives, etc, that you always have. Bugging OUT, on the other hand, might require a fixed blade to be included with the other goodies. Mora's are fine, the Cold Steel Master Hunter mentioned is very nice, and much tougher than the Mora's.

By the way, welcome...

thats what I use, the older USAF survival knife. The tip isnt ideal, but, it does the job its intended for. although, after extensive use, I've noticed my leather handle is somehow getting smaller, as the crossguard is now loose, & the handle turns a little. I fear I may have been too aggressive batoning it!

for my money, it's hard to beat a standard USMC issue Kabar fighting knife. I have found them to be a strong all-around good sturdy blade.

I'm not a huge fan of the Air Force survival knife. I've had one for a few years now, but it hasn't really lived up to my expectations. #1 - I've heard 3 or 4 stories from seperate sources, including my old man, about them breaking or snapping with a level of use that might be expected during a survival episode. #2 - the strike plate for "hammering" on the bottom of the handle has come loose on mine. I only used it once, on some wooden tent pegs (though admittedly the ground was cold and somewhat hard). #3 - I think the "saw" is faulty advertising - it sucks on wood and I've since learned that it is for Plexiglass. Nonetheless, it tears up a baton in a heart beat. #4 - while a good idea, the sharpening stone is less than magnificent. I've had trouble putting/maintaining an edge on the knife with the included stone.

For the approx 30 or 35 bucks I paid for it, I think I could have gotten a lot more knife for my money if I went with another option.

Matt

Try to husk a coconut with one and you will snap about 3/4" of tip off too. After doing that, you then learn that coconut milk and rum really ruins good rum...