Best pocket and/or boot knife and best hatchet?
Quiet.Buck asked:
I am looking at getting some out door gear and am looking for the best there is. Not by name brand or price, but by those who touch and use and know who is the best. I want items that will last a long time, take much abuse and not fall apart. I grew up around Snap on Tools so I know the name Kershaw and consider it good. Past that I have no clue about names nor brands.
I am looking at getting some out door gear and am looking for the best there is. Not by name brand or price, but by those who touch and use and know who is the best. I want items that will last a long time, take much abuse and not fall apart. I grew up around Snap on Tools so I know the name Kershaw and consider it good. Past that I have no clue about names nor brands.
I am looking for the following:
1 folding pocket/belt holster knife (4-5")
1 boot or shin strapped knife
1 good hatchet (so far Estwing is winning)
Please share your experiences with these items and which you found to be the best among the best.
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August 6th, 2009 at 10:18 pm
1 Folding Knife:
There really is no best. Make it clear what you a) intend to use it for, b) prefer in terms of aesthetics/materials, c) think in terms of only buying USA made products d) have in terms of a budget (if the budget is anything up to around $5,000 then you could get a knife custom made to your requirements), and then we’ll be able to give you fair few choices. Your final choice would have to be made by you; after holding the knives yourself and seeing which is most comfortable in your hands. Kershaw make some great knives, and they also make some very average knives.
1 Boot Knife:
Again, we’ll need more information in order to recommend the ‘best’ knife for you.
1 Good Hatchet:
Look at the Estwing and the Gransfors ranges and just buy whichever model best suits your needs (size, composition, intended use, aesthetics, price etc.). Personally I prefer Gransfors, but really it’s just like deciding on the ‘best’ colour out of red or blue.
August 7th, 2009 at 8:39 pm
For the folder, Benchmade 710 would be my #1 recommendation, good steel, 154CM or D2 whichever fits better your purpose, or M2 if you want to pay extra. Plus it has the axis lock, which IMHO is still the best lock in the industry.
Several SOGs are pretty good.
New Kershaw shallot in CPM-110V steel is also pretty good knife, although 58-61HRC for that steel is a bit soft.
Strider makes very tough use folders, but prices are pretty high.
Chris Reeve Sebenza is also a good, but really expensive folder.
A few dozen folder reviews I’ve used -
Not much experience with purely boot knives though. But for common outdoor use, I think fixed blade on your belt is more preferable, that’s my suggestion anyway, reviews here -
As for the hatchet, you should check this one out -
It’s a small hatchet, but also doubles as an ulu knife. As far as its toughness and cutting abilities go, both are superb. I use mine all the time, including kitchen.
One more interesting variation is kukri if you want to consider. Those will chop better than many hatchets and work as knives (which is what they’re primarily) -
Hope that helps