Looking for a good knife. Recommendations?

Takes a little more finesse to sharpen.

Are there advantages of a tanto blade. It looks impressive, but I want function over form.

Rarely gets caught on anything, I prefer it too.

SOG, or Benchmade are my fav's

Spyderco Manix 2

Get a Mora clipper - choice of many survivalists....my favorite

[link to www.amazon.com]

I hate folders for serious work.....buy this $14 knife and never look back.

For true survival situations an Americanized tanto will be useless unless you're a mall ninja survivalist. You may as well carry a putty knife or a chisel. Stick to tried and true traditional designs that are adept at multiple tasks. A blade length of 3 1/2"- 4", and most importantly a solid lock-up. Go with a custom if you're really serious, heat treatment is crap on store bought cheapo knives. Proper heat treat will insure toughness and good edge retention...it's the heart of the knife. That being said, think of a folder as a back up, in a survival situation you can't beat a custom sheath knife with a 5"-7" blade. If you think about it, survival won't be trying to impress people with your knife...it's about helping you stay alive.

Yes, I'm biased....I make customs.

He specifically said folder.

Anything Gerber.

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Aegis Tanto
[link to www.americanknifeandsword.com]

Do NOT buy a Gerber folder - complete crap and if its your only survival. Knife.....you're a goner.

Benchmade Blackwater Bob Lum II Tanto
[link to www.bladeops.com]

BS

Gerber makes fine blades. Even their folders. I've owned one for over 12 years.

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M16-14D Carson Desert Big Dog - Combination Edge
[link to www.americanknifeandsword.com]

I had some Gerber Multitool pliers that were a fine piece of machine work.

I still lean towards a fixed blade.

Cold Steel Recon 1 Tactical Knife with G-10 Handle Tanto Point with Black Blade, ComboEdge
[link to www.amazon.com]

I have had good luck with Smoky Mountain Knife Works.

[link to www.smkw.com]

I've carried a Remington® F.A.S.T.™ Framelock With Black Rubberized Handle - for over 3 years. Fast draw from pocket and opening with one hand. Partially Serrated Blade.

Can never have too many knives ... keep one in car, motorcycle, bug out bag, camping gear ...

Yeah....
I adressed that with some bonus information. "Survival" apparently has a different lesser meaning to some. I and my military customers take it seriously.

Yup. The older ones were good, the ones made in the last 7-8 years suck ass. But the same goes for most of the knives. Most quality makers have moved their manufacturing operations over seas and are now pieces of shit, yet still have the big price tags. If your life depends on it a custom is really cheap for the price. Just be sure to go with a reputable maker cause their are a lot of goofballs with a backyard forge that claim to be "makers".

Last Edited by Crackerman on 12/27/2012 09:45 AM

Just get any well made strong folder that will hold a decent edge and won't break.

A traditional "Buck Knife" is just fine, keep it simple and robust.

Knives have far more "mistique" than their actual real life value, although their practical real life tool value is important....carry a decent pocket folder, or one on a belt and use it every single day like I do and you will see what I mean.

There are 10x as many mall ninja office cube dwellers who buy some sort of tactical tanto folding mini sword or something that looks "badass" as actual real life practical users. People who use them for work or for dressing game etc etc will almost always have a "boring" yet far more practical knife that they will actually use.

You can buy a Rambo tac black SOG flip out mini sword and practice holding it in your teeth and winging it into strawman knife practice dummies necks while doing Ninja flips and junk all day long and you're still going to lose to the mall Ninja with a flame thrower or a Rocket launcher...lol...

Yes, listen to the knife maker. Get a fixed blade first. If you need a folder because you want to carry it every day, try the RAT 1 by ontario. It's probably the cheapest well made knife out there. Benchmades will be expensive but are superior to almost anything you can get store bought as a folder except maybe spyderco. as far as fixed blades for survival, try the pathfinder 2 knife or the KaBar potbelly. The best survival knife I've ever had if i could carry just one knife, was the Cold steel Kukri. It's big, but will do anything you need it to except prepare food, might want your small folder for that.

Agreed. Gerber makes a good folding knife that will last the distance.

As for fixed blade, I prefer KA-BAR USMC.

CRKT M16-13T - Spear Point - Designed by Kit Carson

[link to www.crkt.com]

This is a titanium knife so it will last forever and I think CRKT gives a lifetime warranty on it. It has the Carson Flipper which allows you to open it with one finger pull. It also has a lock to prevent it from closing on you.

I love mine.

strider

Got one of these, nice tool.

[link to www.helle.no]

[link to www.google.com]

I love the Recon blades. I prefer the partial serrated blades, though. The Tanto edge has great penetration and is good for prying things like can lids. However, it give you less contiguous blade surface ergo it's tricky for some cutting jobs.

Gerber also make a great Tanto. I own both. I carry both.

a bargain

[link to www.amazon.com]

$15 Mora 711

Best. Knife. Evar.

[link to www.amazon.com]

read reviews of mora knives it will stun you considering the price.

ive seen videos of guys using $15 mora knives to fell trees!

The only good knife is a razor sharp 10 inch penis

To answer above question TANTO blades are designed to have greater piercing power (hence the pointed/angled tip) to penetrate thick hides, body armor, etc... when using in a stabbing motion.