I picked up an interesting knife the other day at Harbor Freight. It is an 8-inch hunting / survival knife that was on sale for $8.99. There is a coupon in one of the gun rags that brings the price down to $6.99. (Of course, I noticed that after I made my purchase! ). Anyway, it seems like a pretty decent knife for the price. It has a small survival kit with compass, fishing line, and hook, in the aluminum handle. The blade is stainless steel. Here is a review that I wrote up with some pictures:
I'm not trying to bring you down, but hollow handle knives are notorious for the blade breaking. There just isn't the strength with a hollow handle. but, for about 9 bucks, something to throw in a tackle box or the trunk of the car for an emergency.
I just had an Ideer the folks who make these type knives ought to have a calaspsable fish'in rod in the handle since it's holler. It could be done !
Now would'nt that be cool. LOL
I'm not trying to bring you down, but hollow handle knives are notorious for the blade breaking. There just isn't the strength with a hollow handle. but, for about 9 bucks, something to throw in a tackle box or the trunk of the car for an emergency.
It depends on how they are made, Kaybe. I'll be the first to agree with you that the cheap ChiCom junk knives that have about half an inch of threaded rattail tang with a teeny nut on the end to hold it in the handle aren't good for much. But I built my survival knife out of a Model 1896 Swedish Mauser bayonet that's welded all together, and that knife will stand up to anything. It's not pretty, but it's sure sturdy; and the turn-of-the-20th-Century Swedish surgical steel is infinitely better than the crap recycled steel the Chinese are using to make knives, where they don't even know what's in the alloy, never mind the percentages.
My "Survival knife" is a Spanish CETME bayonet. STRONG! And the sharpened deep-bellied bolo blade is excellent for camp and hunting duties. It was my third, and superfluous to my rifle needs, so it does field duty now.
I have seen the HF knife, but have been burned early on by the cheap Chinese knives.
i had one of those harbor freight survival knifes. it was cheap but looked cool. i took it camping and the blade was broke off the handle the second day. had the buck knife in the truck. now that's the camping knife. they are crap.
Cyrano, I agree, the Swedish Mauser bayo is one tough piece of steel. Mine just sits in a box, but I might do something with it now. Thanks for the idea
i have, in the past, run into these cheap knives.... usually it's when someone gets one because they are cheap, and they look cool, then they don't use them and i end up with them. i keep them around for a while, then end up tossing them in the garbage.
i keep my eyes open at pawn shops and buy shrades or buck knives. a good knife is worth the price you have to pay..... they stay sharp and don't break. very useful tools.
don't buy anything made in china. useless junk.
I just had an Ideer the folks who make these type knives ought to have a calaspsable fish'in rod in the handle since it's holler. It could be done !
Now would'nt that be cool. LOL
Inexpensive knives are not always bad. I have a "Commando Tanto" by Fury - an Asian company known for 'cheaply priced' knives - under ten bucks. It has the full tang, with stacked leather washer handle, and a very sharp and stout stainless steel tanto-style blade. It's my back-up field knife, holds an excellent edge, and I used it to open two Russian steel ammo spamcans, using the knife as a chisel. Hardly a mark on it, and it held it's edge! Best 'cheap' knife I ever bought. It has proven itself.
Location: Oz, right next door to The Lollipop Guild HQ
Posts: 120
Yeah, "Made In China" doesn't always mean "cheap POS" anymore. Sure, you can still find true POS "M.I.C." knives at flea markets and such, but, China is answering the call for higher quality knives BIG TIME. They are partnering with American makers with good results.
Many of the big name U.S. knife factories are using "M.I.C." knives in their lines as introductory pieces. People buy the lower priced stuff, like it and move up to the more expensive "Made in the USA" knives. It also allows those companies to make some money from folks who don't want to pay a higher price to get a made in America type of using knife while still meeting their needs for a decent quality knife.
Examples include Spyderco's "Byrd" line. Spyderco was looking at a Chinese competitor and made a decision to partner with them since they were willing to manufacture to Spyderco's high standards. The results are inexpensive and surprisingly good quality knives for the price.
Benchmade and Buck have their international lines even though most of their stuff is made in the USA. Relatively inexpensive, but certainly not cheap POS type of knives with the highly respected Benchmade and Buck names.
There are plenty of others too, but, these are excellent examples of successful partnering with Chinese makers.
Many folks will not buy Chinese made goods for political reasons. Well and good.
Those that are not buying because of past reputation should look at what's available now. You'll be surprised. Actually, you may well be shocked. I know I was.
OH! I also have this Gordon knife being discussed. It's an okay sorta knife, just not my cup of tea. The saw works, but, not all that well on hardwoods. It cuts decently and holds an edge okay, but, if your gonna do any chopping with it make sure you Locktite the screw holding the blade in. It works loose if you don't. Good idea, just not a well thought out or executed design, IMO. YMMV...
As far as hollow handle knives go, there's only one person/company I know of who does it right. That would be Chris Reeves Knives. He takes a solid billet of A-2 tool steel and mills out an entire knife, handle and all from it. What you have is a true integral knife. The cap is made of Aluminum. I used to own an NKONKA model, which was a 7 1/2" bladed model with a tool kit in the handle. The cap acted as a tool handle. It had screw drivers and such. An outstanding knife I had to sell in a time of severe economic crisis. I still regret having to sell it. One day, I will have another because it really is an all around awesome knife.
__________________ Gettin' old ain't fer sissies...
Last edited by Mike U.; 12-10-2009 at 10:12 PM.
Reason: fixing nasty grammatical errors
). Anyway, it seems like a pretty decent knife for the price. It has a small survival kit with compass, fishing line, and hook, in the aluminum handle. The blade is stainless steel. Here is a review that I wrote up with some pictures:
hahaha
