Knives - the good, the bad and the ugly
Sept 28, 2014 8:39:42 GMT 10
Ausprep, You Must Enter A Name, and 2 more like this
Post by Nighthawk on Sept 28, 2014 8:39:42 GMT 10
I'm posting this in the Gear sub-forum as I consider the primary role of a knife to be a tool, not a weapon (and it helps those of us who like edged tools to reinforce that viewpoint).
There have been a couple of discussions in the Shoutbox recently about knives - what's good, what's not, what can be got for $50, $100, more, what's a good knife to keep in a BOB. I thought I'd start a thread here with some basic information, and folks can ask questions and discuss their own experiences.
The first thing to remember is that knife choices are often a very personal thing. What feels good in my hand may not fit yours so well. Some will prefer a lightweight knife, while others will want more weight. Some will want a fixed blade, others a folder. Some will want a knife that is easy to maintain, others will want one that will serve them for a long time with little need to do anything other than keep it clean.
The first consideration when buying a knife is whether you want a fixed blade or a folder. A fixed blade has the advantage of strength, while a folder has more susceptibility to failure because of its moving parts, although a quality folder should not let you down unless being unreasonably abused. A folding blade has the advantage of taking up less space, often being able to be carried discreetly.
The next consideration is generally the type of steel the blade is made from, the main options being stainless, or carbon. Stainless steel will offer significantly better rust resistance, but be more likely to need maintenance to keep the edge sharp. Popular types include the budget 440, AUS-8,and 8Cr13MoV, to the higher end VG10, S30V, and S35VN. Carbon steels are harder, hold an edge longer, but take some more time and effort to sharpen, and are more prone to rust, which is why many of them come with some kind of coating. Probably the most common carbon steel used is 1095, although D2 tool steel is also used a fair bit. Some companies have their own proprietary steel names, such as INFI, SR77 etc, which often attempt to harness the benefits of both steel types.
Handle material can also play a role in choosing a knife, with materials like Fibreglass Reinforced Nylon (FRN), G10 and micarta all offering various levels of comfort and durability.
Many companies will offer a range of products across these choices, especially with folding knives. Some examples include:
FOLDERS
Spyderco Byrd Meadowlark 2 - 8Cr13Mov steel, FRN handles, priced around the $50 mark
Ontario Rat-2 - AUS-8 steel, nylon handles over steel liners, approx $75
Spyderco Delica - VG10 steel, FRN handles, around $110
Spyderco Paramilitary 2 - S30V steel, G10 handle, around the $250 mark
Zero Tolerance 550 - S35VN steel, titanium frame, G10 handle scale, $295
FIXED BLADES
Buck 119 Special - 440C stainless steel, Phenolic handle material, approx $80
Gerber LMF-II - 420HC stainless steel, rubber handle, approx $100-$120
Becker/Ka-bar BK-16 - 1095v carbon steel, nylon handle material, approx $120
Cold Steel SRK - AUS-8 steel, rubber handle, approx $140
Fallkniven S1 - VG10 core with 440C outer laminate, rubber handle, approx $195
While you can spend a lot of money on a knife - a Busse Team Gemini Light Brigade will set you back $400 for instance - there is a lot of truth to the saying that you get what you pay for. A $50 knife is unlikely to last you through a long term SHTF scenario, and my personal recommendation is that any knife budget should have a low end of a minimum $100 for both fixed and folded.
There have been a couple of discussions in the Shoutbox recently about knives - what's good, what's not, what can be got for $50, $100, more, what's a good knife to keep in a BOB. I thought I'd start a thread here with some basic information, and folks can ask questions and discuss their own experiences.
The first thing to remember is that knife choices are often a very personal thing. What feels good in my hand may not fit yours so well. Some will prefer a lightweight knife, while others will want more weight. Some will want a fixed blade, others a folder. Some will want a knife that is easy to maintain, others will want one that will serve them for a long time with little need to do anything other than keep it clean.
The first consideration when buying a knife is whether you want a fixed blade or a folder. A fixed blade has the advantage of strength, while a folder has more susceptibility to failure because of its moving parts, although a quality folder should not let you down unless being unreasonably abused. A folding blade has the advantage of taking up less space, often being able to be carried discreetly.
The next consideration is generally the type of steel the blade is made from, the main options being stainless, or carbon. Stainless steel will offer significantly better rust resistance, but be more likely to need maintenance to keep the edge sharp. Popular types include the budget 440, AUS-8,and 8Cr13MoV, to the higher end VG10, S30V, and S35VN. Carbon steels are harder, hold an edge longer, but take some more time and effort to sharpen, and are more prone to rust, which is why many of them come with some kind of coating. Probably the most common carbon steel used is 1095, although D2 tool steel is also used a fair bit. Some companies have their own proprietary steel names, such as INFI, SR77 etc, which often attempt to harness the benefits of both steel types.
Handle material can also play a role in choosing a knife, with materials like Fibreglass Reinforced Nylon (FRN), G10 and micarta all offering various levels of comfort and durability.
Many companies will offer a range of products across these choices, especially with folding knives. Some examples include:
FOLDERS
Spyderco Byrd Meadowlark 2 - 8Cr13Mov steel, FRN handles, priced around the $50 mark
Ontario Rat-2 - AUS-8 steel, nylon handles over steel liners, approx $75
Spyderco Delica - VG10 steel, FRN handles, around $110
Spyderco Paramilitary 2 - S30V steel, G10 handle, around the $250 mark
Zero Tolerance 550 - S35VN steel, titanium frame, G10 handle scale, $295
FIXED BLADES
Buck 119 Special - 440C stainless steel, Phenolic handle material, approx $80
Gerber LMF-II - 420HC stainless steel, rubber handle, approx $100-$120
Becker/Ka-bar BK-16 - 1095v carbon steel, nylon handle material, approx $120
Cold Steel SRK - AUS-8 steel, rubber handle, approx $140
Fallkniven S1 - VG10 core with 440C outer laminate, rubber handle, approx $195
While you can spend a lot of money on a knife - a Busse Team Gemini Light Brigade will set you back $400 for instance - there is a lot of truth to the saying that you get what you pay for. A $50 knife is unlikely to last you through a long term SHTF scenario, and my personal recommendation is that any knife budget should have a low end of a minimum $100 for both fixed and folded.
