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Post by GoldenDragon on Apr 6, 2014 3:25:22 GMT
I need some help, after some long thinking, I have concluded that what I really want is somewhat of a combat/survival knife with a blade less than 10 inches but 6 In. or longer.I want this for general camp work, shtf scenario,and zombies of course :mrgreen: . So far I have the Busse Team Gemini or the ESEE Junglas, in my condsideration, which would be the better chopper,better for thrusting? Combat? Survival? Any other recommendations? Thanks for y'all's help!
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Post by Timo Nieminen on Apr 6, 2014 5:43:04 GMT
In the "other recommendations" section: The Ka-Bar Large Heavy Bowie: www.kabar.com/knives/detail/153I'd consider it over the Junglas because it's much lighter. (Also much cheaper, if that matters). IMO, it should have a lighter grip, which would bring the weight down a bit and make it balance more blade-heavy (as is, it balances on the choil). But it's OK.
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Post by GoldenDragon on Apr 6, 2014 5:54:10 GMT
Well, i have to take into consideration my hands being on the small side. what about the SYKCO 911? or should I just go with the Swamp Rat Rucki? little longer for self defense,not sure if anyone would call it a knife though, or how good it would be for chopping...
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hhmoore
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Post by hhmoore on Apr 6, 2014 6:42:23 GMT
Unfortunately, the best chopper is not the best fighter...and the best fighter is not the best survival knife. I'm sure that you can predict that the next piece is that the best survival knife is not the best chopper.
To be the best, or even near the best, in any category, requires sacrifices in others. As far as the 2 you mentioned, I believe the Esee Junglas is over your imposed size limitation. (If I remember correctly it has a 10 inch blade). That point notwithstanding, the Junglas is very different than the TGLB. Both are great pieces, and are designed to work well in a variety of roles. Are you set on having a single knife? Or are you open to having two to best cover all knife tasks? If you are only going to have one knife, I would probably recommend something in the 7" range. What you lose in chopping, you'll get back in other areas. I'm not a Busse fanatic, but the TGLB has a lot of fans (some only know about it because of TWD). You can save some money, and probably have a more comfortable handle, with either a BK7 or SYKCO 711. The BK is lower priced and readily available, but the 711 is a great option (even if I don't like the choil). If you're up for the idea of 2 knives, you can jump up to either the BK9 or SYKCO 911, and add a smaller blade for food prep and other fine cutting chores....and still end up spending less than the TGLB. Heck, you could get a 9" MBB M8, and still get a decent small knife. (The MBB is heavy, and that weight helps with chopping/batoning; but you have to carry it. If you're planning on serious hikes, weight becomes a factor.)
Add an Enzo Trapper in O1 (or D2, depending on how you plan to use it) and you'll have your bases covered. (A Mora is a decent option, and very inexpensive; but one of mine came with a lousy grind & took a lot of work to get it usable).
Ultimately, it comes down to your tastes and what you really plan on doing with your knife (knives).
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Post by Timo Nieminen on Apr 6, 2014 6:46:23 GMT
The Ka-Bar LHB has a pretty chunky handle, so maybe not good for small hands. Don't know about the others.
Kizlyar make some knives that I'd consider to be great camp knives and great SHTF knives, which should suit smaller hands fine, but they're not as good for chopping wood as the heavier knives named above (but they'll manage). The lighter weight makes them much better general utility and fighting knives. The Kizlyar Voron might be a good choice.
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Post by GoldenDragon on Apr 6, 2014 8:08:07 GMT
well,I wanted sorta a one knife to carry on me, but i could pair 2 knives up,I guess i don't need another chopper sense me and my dad are in the process of forging a knife with 11 1/2 inch blade.I might get the utilitarian. short sword bug and have to get the Rucki...The SYKCO 511 might be my next EDC knife...SO many knives,not enough funds. xD
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Post by jlwilliams on Apr 6, 2014 11:01:12 GMT
I really like the Navy Mk1 survival knife. I got the KaBar version with the stacked leather handle but there are other options out there. I've seen WWII originals with hard rubber or cast metal handles. Colonial makes one with (IIRC) hard rubber. Anyway, it has a really well tapered blade so it cuts very well. It's a rugged knife and it's a good size. A little less length than the KaBar USMC knife but still a full sized fist full. I think I paid about $60 for mine and the Colonial version is less.
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hhmoore
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Post by hhmoore on Apr 6, 2014 12:22:05 GMT
Make sure you find out about the laws governing your area (in the States, you'll need to check both State and local laws). Fixed blades tend to be obvious, unless they're small enough to conceal....which is sometimes an issue itself. 5.5 inches is large enough to garner unwanted attention, even if it is legal. You mentioned your dad - I'm not going to jump to any conclusions about your age; but if you are under 18, you may not be able to carry a "dangerous" knife.
Personally, while I'm a big fan of large blades, I have to admit that I find 3-4 inchers (okay - I'll be honest: I prefer 3.5-4) to be the most useful in terms of EDC. Obviously, you may come to a different conclusion based on where you are, what you do, etc. Consider your intended usage when planning your purchase...blade coatings look good (some better than others); but they can create drag and reduce the efficiency of the knife. Some of them flake as they wear, which sucks if you are using it for food prep or field dressing game. There is a huge selection of reasonably sized knives for EDC, it's just a matter of sorting out your price range, taste, and how you will use it.
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Post by GoldenDragon on Apr 6, 2014 20:42:19 GMT
Thank you for your concern hhmoore, I am under 18, but know my state/city laws and as long as I have written permission from my parents one me I can carry a knife with no longer than a 5.5 inch blade on me,and sense I work with my dad sometimes he has given me permission, of course I wouldnt be taking it to school or anything, xD.
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Post by LG Martial Arts on Apr 7, 2014 3:11:47 GMT
hhmoore is right... you need to know the laws in your state and city, since they can sometimes be at odds with each other. Another thing, you stated you're under 18, which would still be a concern for most vendors. All online vendors (and brick and mortar stores) I know have explicit polices that prohibit selling to minors.
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Post by GoldenDragon on Apr 7, 2014 22:58:15 GMT
Like I stated before, I am aware of all the laws and how they forgo each other. To let you all know I will be merely paying for the knife, my dad will be buying it, officially.
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Post by LG Martial Arts on Apr 7, 2014 23:04:28 GMT
Great! And if no one's done so yet, let me be the first to welcome you to SBG.
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Post by GoldenDragon on Apr 7, 2014 23:20:37 GMT
Thank you . If anyone else would like to give opinions about knives and such, I will appreciate everyone's advice, Thanks to everyone!
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hhmoore
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Post by hhmoore on Apr 7, 2014 23:45:12 GMT
From left to right: Kellam Wolverine, Enzo Trapper, Gray Wolf M4, Gray Wolf M7, ESEE 4, SYKCO 5. I probably use the Enzo and GWK M4 the most. Attachments:
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Post by crazywolf on Apr 8, 2014 0:16:50 GMT
I like the CRKT FE9 more of a fighter then anything else but I used for a lot of field jobs and have no problems with it.comes with a great sheath a bunch of mounting options and a plastic trainer knife.check it out my be what your looking for.crazywolf
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Post by GoldenDragon on Apr 8, 2014 0:33:09 GMT
ESEE 4 or SYKCO 511 for EDC,personal protection(possibility right?),survival,and overall usefulness.Leaning torwards the SYKCO for some reason...thoughts?
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hhmoore
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Post by hhmoore on Apr 8, 2014 11:11:55 GMT
You should probably get the personal protection aspect of this out of your head. That makes it a weapon; which means you are automatically going to be wrong if you are ever questioned about your knife. As I mentioned earlier, I like big blades...but I find 3.5-4 inches to be my preferred size for carry and general utility. I get the impression, from the sum of your posts, that you're learning toward a bigger knife - I can relate, lol. ESEE 4 vs SYKCO 511 for EDC (and all that other stuff)? I'm not going to recommend one over the other - either would serve you well. I will, though, point out a few things about SYKCO knives: generally there is waiting involved, unless you buy from the secondary market; secondary market prices are typically inflated - you will usually pay more on eBay than buying directly from Scrapyard; the resiprene handles are comfortable, "grippy" and shock absorbent, but a lot of people don't like the way they look; the blade coating is heavy and textured - it does a great job of protecting the blade, but it can affect performance in some tasks; remember that the 511 doesn't come with a sheath - you will have to buy or make one (unless you have something that will fit)
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Post by GoldenDragon on Apr 8, 2014 23:36:45 GMT
my main idea isn't personal protection, but i don't exactly live on the best side of town...our cars have been vandalized more than once, so yeah...and the waiting thing isn't really an issue, its not "I need it now!" type thing.My dad and I happen to make Kydex Sheaths, we already made one for my older brother's knife, he's about to deploy to Afghanistan and he likes his so I feel pretty confident about that.I do like the look of the 511 more, so I will probably go with that one. unless there is a reason a shorter blade would be better? Thanks Again!
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hhmoore
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Post by hhmoore on Apr 9, 2014 1:26:45 GMT
"Better", in this case, is highly subjective. My personal feeling is that 3-4 inch blades are ideal for EDC tasks...but that is based on my experiences, and how I generally use knives. If I lived in a different environment, I might find larger blades more useful. I've used big knives for small jobs - most can be done, especially when one is comfortable with a particular size/style knife. If you're comfortable using a 5.5 inch blade for whatever it is that you do with your knife, it's not for me to say you should use a smaller one. A few things to consider - bigger knives draw more attention. Some people don't care, some people want it for various reasons...I'm at a point in my life where I prefer to avoid it. I've had the police called because I was wearing a (legal) knife - it was a hassle that I didn't need. That is why I said forget the self defense thing - you might luck out and get a decent officer; but never count on that. A minor, carrying a big knife, in the wrong part of town, and basically inferring that you might threaten, slash, or cut somebody is like a power mad cop's wet dream (my apologies to the members of LE, lol) Also, given that you don't live on the best side of town, it bears consideration that somebody might decide he wants your knife. Realistic? You know your area better than I do...but I do know of people that got mugged for the knife they were carrying. If you find yourself in a threatening situation, and you draw your knife - the situation immediately escalates. Maybe you get lucky, and the person flees...maybe you get attacked or shot. (Really not trying to scare you - just being frank about the concept of a knife being used for self defense). This part sounds bad, but knives are better for attack than self defense. That is especially true if you don't have any training in knife techniques. Anybody can use a knife as an offensive weapon, using one defensively is a different story. Gotta run, but this was already too long
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Post by GoldenDragon on Apr 9, 2014 4:04:29 GMT
I seriously thank you for talking to me like this, it means a lot. One this is I would never say i would use it for self defense, I would merely say my dad had given me consent,I work with him sometimes, the truth.I have had a couple classes with knife defense. (as in using it for defense, but it did cover how to protect yourself from one if needed) I am smart enough not to draw my knife, I would rather give him my money and let him run off,My life or my friends aren't worth the 20 dollars I might be carrying. As for someone trying to take my knife, I know my laws state in cannot be concealed, why it wouldn't be "Concealed" it wouldn't keep it in the line of sight.Maybe tucking it into my waist band and leaving the handle sticking out, not concealed, but not obvious. One last thing, I wouldn't be wearing it everyday (because of school). Thanks for all your help!
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