quote:

Originally posted by Gustofer:
I have an F1 that I keep in my get home bag. Certainly a good and capable knife for "bushcrafting" if need be.

My preferred woods carry though is a Bark River Featherweight Fox River. Very well made knife that'll do everything you need it to do in the out of doors from cutting up an elk, to shaving wood to start a fire, to splitting kindling. Yep, it's a little guy, but it just works.

Bark River has other quality options to choose from should you want something bigger (the Bravo series is beefier and a little bigger than the Fox River), but I'm not sure why you'd need/want to. One doesn't need a Rambo knife. Function over form is what's important IMO.

Price-wise, they're a little higher than you want to go (~$200 as I recall), but worth every penny.

quote:

Originally posted by trapper189:

Top to bottom: Scrapyard - Regulator, Swamp Rat - RatManDu, Fallkniven - S1, EnTrek - Backup Utility. All were under $150. The bottom two are currently in production, but the S1 is around $165 now.

Of my four knives, I’m of the opinion that a hatchet and a folding pocket knife would be better.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
ESEE 4, but many people find the handle a little short. You're not going to break it, though, and it comes with a lifetime, no questions asked warranty.

The Mora Companion HD is a super value less than 25 bucks.

The LT Wright GNS Scandi (150.00) or the LT Wright Gary Wines Buschcrafter, but that's out of you budget, with prices starting at 200.

quote:

Originally posted by amals:

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
ESEE 4, but many people find the handle a little short. You're not going to break it, though, and it comes with a lifetime, no questions asked warranty.

The Mora Companion HD is a super value less than 25 bucks.

The LT Wright GNS Scandi (150.00) or the LT Wright Gary Wines Buschcrafter, but that's out of you budget, with prices starting at 200.

Isn't the ESEE 4 available with a longer handle now? I seem to remember being tempted a while ago to add one; I find the standard 4's handle a bit too short, but still agree it is a really good tool to have in your stash.

As is the Mora. Or any Mora. I think they are among the best values on the planet.

quote:

Originally posted by Tirod:
The Kabar is a technical descendant of the original "modern" wilderness knives marketed by Marbles in the early 1900's. They sold to a lot of city folk rediscovering the outdoors, and that led to copies all thru the knifemaking business. The Navy issue knives followed that pattern and when the Marines needed something it was submitted and a contract let.

Now the funny part is all those Confederate Bowies pictured in their day were mostly photo props, historians have already noted the most used knife was a 4" folder. Kabar's may have been issued but as any experienced foot soldiers learn, a long fixed blade knife hanging off the belt is actually a rare item in a squad. More than two soldiers carrying one is rare - or LT's in training.

Looking at the issue survival knives for downed pilots, "unique operatives" etc world wide and a 4" blade with drop or centered point, flat ground with no wedge, and just thick enough to keep from springing the blade are preferred. Look to the Brits, Germans, or the original Nesmuk camp knife for an all around user. That is what Marbles was emulating, the depressed "blood groove" was actually value engineering to use less steel as materials then were the bigger expense, not labor.

Those who are experienced wilderness explorers go for the 4" utility pattern knives and leave the hatchets for woodchopping, if not an ax. In Canadian bush air travel one is mandatory, and it was also common in early pioneering days - a smaller knife for food prep, the tomahawk for heavy work.

With all this in mind, what is now sold as a bush, field or survival knife has a lot of hollywood in it. And having used a Randall 14, Swamp Rat, and other 6"+ knives in the field, including the Glock semi bayonet, the smaller ones are preferable. Too many large blades wind up in the bottom of the pack, or get left behind in a duffel bag, because of the effect of carrying little used dead weight on foot. Infantry style. All that gear many currently see getting used? Was it packed on foot to the wilderness sight on foot? Nope. Motorized transport and a half dozen packer boxes is how that is done. Been there done that too.

Sold off most of the fantasy knives (listed above) and went with the ESEE Laser Strike, a Nesmuk derivative. I know, fancy name picked up from a South American drug operation but that goes to being on foot in the bush no wheels and you work with what you have. A 4" flat ground blade for easy food prep, centered point for boring holes and woodwork, good sheath with the knife (not a separate purchase.) Lots of options to carry a stone, matches etc. I've got mine fixed with a molle adapter made from a grenade pouch (not that milspec atrocity) and it works and carries well. Try using a high mount sheath to keep the point no lower than your thigh seated. Nobody needs the pommel savaging their ribs.

You can beat on the ESEE but I'm going to suggest if that is a criteria then you are likely alone and hiding from the enemy. In a working unit with others, there should be an axe and shovel, one each, carried individually for the team to use for serious wilderness use. And in the day that is why we had pack horses, too. It's a coordinated effort with a lot of other factors, something left out of a lot of history books. In the military it's called "the pioneer tool box in the back of the truck." And you better put it all back or you wind up carrying it.

quote:

Originally posted by Tirod:
You can beat on the ESEE but I'm going to suggest if that is a criteria then you are likely alone and hiding from the enemy.

quote:

Originally posted by Tirod:
In terms of what really constitutes a "survival knife:" The knife you have on you when the situation needs it.

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:
I have a 3-1/2 inch folder that's pretty darn substantial, but nowhere near as substantial, either in steel or in grip, as my Fällkniven F1 (the blade of which is a mere 1/2 in. longer), much less my Fällkniven A1.

quote:

Originally posted by bcjwriter:
I’m looking for suggestions for well made bush craft knives in the $100-$150 range.

Any suggestions?