Whats your latest knife purchase?

[ScottsBad]

Two brands I tend to steer clear of are Boker and Tops. I guess Bark River too, but not for any good reason. Other brands have always interested me more.

Anyone have some Tops knives they can comment on as far as fit, finish, heat treat, etc... Boker has been looking better and they have some manufacturers for certain models that are good. Boker usually loses me with the designs or steel choice, but I have owned two or three. Bark River always looked good, I just never bought one. I almost bought a Survivor quite a few times, but always had some SYKCO I wanted more pop up.

I am trying a Tops, I will post when it arrives.

I only own one Tops knife I bought it years ago. It was kind of an odd ball do it all knife called the Surv Tac 7. This was before I knew what I wanted in a medium sized knife.

I was very pleased with the quality of the knife. The steel is excellent, sharp as can be. But the design, while serviceable, is not something you would want to use a lot. And that is where Tops sometimes falls down. The designs are almost always imperfect and sometimes just plain goofy.

More recently I think Tops has some better designs. Tops BOB seems like a decent knife, the Brakimo, and Tahoma Field Knife (except the swedge is unnecessary, as are the notches they put on top. There are some others. With Tops if you find a design you like it will probably serve you well. Very good 1095 heat treatment.

Bark River, on the other hand seems to be putting out some excellent knives lately. I especially like the Bravo line (I have a Bravo 1.25 in 3V. 5" blade thick spine). I really like the performance of the full convex grinds. I prefer convex because it is easy to sharpen with a strop and I don't have to pull out my Apex or Japanese sharpening stones. Since 3V holds an edge beautifully stropping is all you have to do unless you damage it.

I'll be buying another Bark River in 3V pretty soon.

[ScottsBad]

Just purchased the Harley Davidson Super glide twentieth Anniversary ultra limited Buck custom knife, handle by David Yellowhorse. It is number 127 of 300 made. Has red coral, mother of pearl, and turquoise inlays. Made in 1992.

Pictures or it didn't happen!!!! I gotta see that. Sounds cool.

[ScottsBad]

OK so I haven't posted any new knives here for many months so I have some catching up to do.

Here is one of my latest. Hinderer XM-18 Gen 6 3.5" Skinner Blade flipper in CPM 20CV. The Gen 6 XM-18s come with changeable bearings. Ball bearing installed from factory, but comes with user changeable Teflon and Brass if you want to swap out the ball bearings. I like this blade shape it reminds me of my BM Contegos. This XM-18 is all stone washed (which I prefer) and currently has gray man G-10 scales.

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[ScottsBad]

I bought this recently. This is the First Edge 5150 Elite Field Knife and it is on sale right now if you select the black on black just like this at their store, 20% off. It is the knife that they sell to the military and is used for Special Forces training.

First Edge also has the popular 5050 Survival Knife which has about a .5" shorter blade, but has a more conventional camp/bushcraft style blade, but it is not on sale. I thought I'd give the 5150 model a chance since its $80 less than the 5050 and is similar in design to my Busse Swamp Rat, Rat Man Du INFI. At the sale price the 5150 is a very good value and is a much more substantial knife than the Rat Man Du.

Good deal; A chunk of .21" thick Elmax steel it is a heavy knife. Mine came scary sharp and the blade measured 5.5" inches. The blocky looking scales are surprisingly comfortable and remind me of the ESEE 6. EDIT: I also forgot to say that Elmax steel is a high quality stainless, so one could remove the black oxide finish without concern for rust.

The sheath is one of the best things about the First Edge knives. The SF guys were breaking Kydex sheaths in cold weather, so First Edge built their sheaths with a metal skeleton. The sheaths are also held together with nuts and screws so they can be taken apart and cleaned inside. The nylon belt loop attachment is exactly the right length for me and is bolted to the kydex/metal sheath. There is also an adjustment to tighten the kydex lock up.

So I've been playing with it for a couple weeks. It cuts well but I haven't beaten the snot out of it yet. If it works out I might keep it in my BOB.

BTW it is a USA made knife manufactured in Vista, California.

Here are some pics.
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[DolphinFan]

Just ordered the Buck 110 Auto. Should be here by the end of the week.

[ScottsBad]

Beautiful knife. Congrats!

I've just been satisfying myself w/the cheaper ZT05xx series knock-offs at 1/2 the price. Currently, own a 560, 562 and 566 and just bought a 550 that I should receive shortly, but I may buy at least one "real" XM-18 Hinderer to add to the collection for the sake of comparison. Lots being offered on Blade Forums but I still have too many other knives that I want to buy to fill out my collection.

Thanks. ZT makes really good knives. I don't buy many folders and I use all my knives, I am not a collector per se. So instead of owning several ZTs I just buy one Hinderer and I use it. The Hinderer and the BM Contegos are my EDC knives. I do have a couple of nice assisted gentleman's knives that I use for nice occasions when I wear slacks or suits. I have a few Big Five specials I leave in glove boxes and day packs.

I spend most of my knife money on fixed blade knives, saws, and a couple axes. My preferred brands are Busse, Bark River, ESEE, Silky saws, Grandfors Bruk and Estwing hatchets.

BTW, the reason you are seeing Hinderers for sale is because the Gen 6 is significantly better than previous gens.

[ScottsBad]

Here is another one I've had for a little while and it is the closest thing I have to a "safe queen".

Busse Bunker Buster 8.5" blade of .25" INFI steel, 21oz. with G10 scales. It took about a year for delivery. I haven't decided if its going to become a user because I'm not convinced of its practicality. I'm sure it would cut like a mofo, but it is quite heavy.
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[MeatyMac]

The chances are that you will never be arrested and charged for the illegal possession of a "dirk or dagger" or an a switchblade for that matter as the primary charge. It is more likely that you would be arrested for some other violation (like DUI, drug possession or domestic violence, which are very common charges resulting in arrest and incarceration pending arraignment) and, if an illegal weapon is found on you or in your car in the course of that arrest, the weapons charge would be added-on as a secondary charge.

[crufflers]

Here is another one I've had for a little while and it is the closest thing I have to a "safe queen".

Busse Bunker Buster 8.5" blade of .25" INFI steel, 21oz. with G10 scales. It took about a year for delivery. I haven't decided if its going to become a user because I'm not convinced of its practicality. I'm sure it would cut like a mofo, but it is quite heavy.
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It can do damage. I had the BG version with the same handles and sold it, but still have a user that is a SR-101 .25" thick Chop House - same blade, Res-C handle. Not the greatest at making the first puncture, or slicing tomatoes or soft cheeses. Does chop, and batons anything. If you don't believe in that kind of thing and don't draw the conclusion that you could chop a tritip or constellation of ribs with raw meat trying to eat your lunch, then maybe go with something more traditional like a 7" kabar, 8" TG... hahah. That's a beauty.





The Chophouse used to ride in my trunk on a cargo net in its thumb-break, till I replaced it with a Dumpster Mutt that is less scary. Gun nuts would say why have a knife like that ready if you can have a Glock, but maybe you back into a tree that needs some suckers lopped off. It is a crazy world. Don't forget kitchen duty if you like RIBS.

[MeatyMac]

Thanks, sgt. , you’re unique input is appreciated.

[crufflers]

+1

I agree.

[ScottsBad]

It can do damage. I had the BG version with the same handles and sold it, but still have a user that is a SR-101 .25" thick Chop House - same blade, Res-C handle. Not the greatest at making the first puncture, or slicing tomatoes or soft cheeses. Does chop, and batons anything. If you don't believe in that kind of thing and don't draw the conclusion that you could chop a tritip or constellation of ribs with raw meat trying to eat your lunch, then maybe go with something more traditional like a 7" kabar, 8" TG... hahah. That's a beauty.

The Chophouse used to ride in my trunk on a cargo net in its thumb-break, till I replaced it with a Dumpster Mutt that is less scary. Gun nuts would say why have a knife like that ready if you can have a Glock, but maybe you back into a tree that needs some suckers lopped off. It is a crazy world. Don't forget kitchen duty if you like RIBS.

Its not that the Bunker Buster cant's do some things well, its just that I have other mid-to-large knives that can do whatever the BB can do as well or better. I have a Busse Basic 8, Rodent 7, Trash 1, Trash 2, a Ratweiler, and 2 Mountain Man Dus. I think the Trash 2, Mountain Mandu or even the Ratweiler can do the chopping.

Or I have some cheaper choppers that are even better choppers like the Condor Pack Parang that I bought on Amazon for $50. Its not a super high quality blade, but that sucker will out chop some small axes.

The Bunker Buster LE is a $600 knife and beside being stunningly beautiful I'm not sure it is pulling its weight as a user. YMMV

I see you stripped your Chop House is that SR101 or INFI?

[ScottsBad]

Here is another one I recently acquired. Its Busse Swap Rat Mountain Mandu. 10" INFI flat ground blade with convex edge. This one came with a Big Satin finish I think they called it. I was not a fan of the finish so I've been sanding it down and its not done obviously. But so far it has proven to be a very good light chopper at 17oz.

This is a keeper for me, I bought two of them, the other in satin finish.

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[crufflers]

Here is another one I recently acquired. Its Busse Swap Rat Mountain Mandu. 10" INFI flat ground blade with convex edge. This one came with a Big Satin finish I think they called it.

Nice one. I had a HOGB8 with the BIG DC which is like sand blasted matte. The only INIFI blade I have right now is that FTG COMP.

I hear you. Unwrapping a $600 blade out and beating on it is not for everyone, and certainly not if you already have users the same size. I didn't want to do it especially with dupes, but I also didn't want to stack them in crates like cord wood, hahah. Actually has its appeal, but gets old. Pretty painless to hold these till values shoot up. That's the thing about BUSSE.

If you have a OKC you paid $90 for and add a $60 kydex sheath, you probably have a knife worth $100 in a couple years, haha.

[crufflers]

I am already running out of room to store the folders I've been bunge buting in my gun safe. I have 7 knife cases full of folders and most all of them are full. Just bought 2 more cases for backup. LOL!.

What kind of cases do you use?