Need a big knife - kuhkri?
 

I have no idea how to buy a high quality knife - I'm not scared to spend extra $ for quality. I know I want a big one for camping and to put in my disaster prep box.

Someone here mentioned a kuhkri knife, which looks cool. :)

Can anyone give me some pointers? Or, a quality kuhkri knife maker? Or a quality some other knife maker?

TIA,
Skip

for a survival knife, there is no doubt in my mind. buy a smaller fixed blade BENCHMADE. i would say a 4.5 inch blade. i cant post a photo or a model number, my work machine filters out weapons. damn!

(folding benchmade's stay sharper longer, less bouncing around)

Did you know Benchmade makes very high quality switchblades? I bought one from a catalogue years ago. Don't know where the catalogue is know, but it comes with a lifetime warranty. BTW, in many states, including California, posession is a felony.

benchmade calls them "automatics" they are reserved for law enforcement. btw, i have a freaky knife thing going...............

Never heard of a kuhkri knife. I don't think you want a big knife for camping & your disaster prep box. They're marginal for cutting/slicing and hacking/choping, take up a lot of room and can be heavy. I would get a folding knife like vash said. I've had good luck with Buck knives. Bought a Buck folding knife w/ about a 4 to 5 inch blade, blade lock and pretty light weight with a titanium handle. Used it on my hiking trip in the Sierras a couple of weeks ago. It was sharp as a razor. For camping & survival/disaster, Gerber made a knife with a detachable handle that would take boning, filet and sawing baldes as a kit. I notice it's made by another company now. I used mine for years in the mountains & liked it a lot.

Check out Randall made knives.

for absolute outdoor survival, you probably can't beat a kukhri. there are some aussies on the board, they may know something about that too.

next best thing would be a healthy bowie. both can double as lightweight axes if you need them to.

benchmade is quality stuff, even if it is mass produced.

i have the afck but i've never heard of them making switchblades. would love to see one if you post a pic. i'll check their website....

Gerber BMF for "heavy" work, quality folder/utility for general use.

I would go with a custom smith if I were going to buy a serious knife. It might cost a little (or a lot!) more but you'll get exactly what you're looking for.

If you're really into a khukuri try these guys: http://www.himalayan-imports.com/

or these guys: http://www.thekhukurihouse.com/

(I think they were once associated with each other and went their separate ways.)

As for "tactical" or "survival" knives, Swamp Rat has been known to make some pretty tough stuff.

Buy a few copies of Blade and look around for what pleases you most...

Syderco. I have had 2. If I hadn't lost the first, I would only have 1. They are awesome. I get the 50/ 50 (half serrated and half not). Light, strong, sharp, and VERY useful. Many sizes and configurations. I think they might be at Spyderco.com, but I can't get there from work.

If you want a khukri you wont beat Himalayan imports as quoted by Blue above.

For a camping knife I would suggest Blackjack knives' Big country range, these are very good knives at a fair price: http://www.knifeworks.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=1045

A lot depends on exactly what you want to use it for; as a good all-rounder I would reccommend the grunt:

http://www.knifeworks.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=5299

There is a huge choice of good quality production knives available and customs are not impossibly expensive.

Try and handle the knife before you buy, you want it to feel right in your hand and not clumsy, close your eyes and squeeze, does the handle feel comfortable does it balance well in your hand.

What kind of edge does it have? A razor edge is not the best choice in a camp knife. You will need to learn how to sharpen it.

What kind of steel is it, how hard is it. In simplistic terms the harder it is the longer it will stay sharp but, the harder it will be to sharpen.

Hope this helps.

I also recommend Benchmade. I have about 5 including one of their automatics. They make high quality knives of high quality materials. I don't buy their bargain line, but even those are good knives.

www.benchmade.com

There are lots of good deals on benchmades on ebay, but all of mine have been new.

A good generalization...but also be aware that the harder the knife is the less you'll be able to flex it before snapping the blade. "Slicing" blades aren't necessarily good for "chopping" and vice-versa. Unfortunately steel types and the various heat-treatment techniques always result in a trade-off.

Too true Blue!

but as you say, a good generalisation.

OK, I'll be the contrarian here.

In my backpacking days, I never had much need for a "big knife" and certainly never wanted to lug one around. A Swiss Army pocketknife, maybe one with a locking blade, scissor, and mini-saw, is more the ticket.

In my campsite camping experience, I've also hardly ever had the need for a big knife. It's a campground, there's no need to hew down saplings and so on. A 6" or 4" kitchen knife was more like it.

As for disaster readiness, I'll bet a 8" chef's knife, Leatherman tool, and small pry bar will end up being more useful that that kuhkri. After all, when the bad guys challenge you to a knife fight, you can do like Indy and go for your gun. Skip, I know your disaster kit is going to include one of those.

Edit: If your disaster kit has to have a "big knife", I'd just toss in a $10 machete, nicely sharpened.

Who, me? :D

Very good points and ones I will likely adopt. I just added a machete to my Lowes list. The problem is, I like knives and would like to start collecting. :)

Thanks to all for some great info!

The Himalayan Imports khukri looks nice...

Thanks!
Skip

By tradition, every time the kukri is drawn, it must be blooded. A Ghurka will allow you to inspect his kukri, but will either nick himself with the blade, or you will.

Seems a silly tradition, even for soldiers of such fearsome reputation.

In the past I have made a few custom knives as a hobby. I use to go to many of the knife shows etc. and as somebody else said Randall are high quality. To look at many other quality custom designs you may want to get Blade and Knives magazines. This will give you more an idea of what your looking for.

My choice if I could only have one type of knife would be a Bowie.

If I can ever get some time I will start making them again. Good luck on your search.

I'm sure if you look hard enough you can find one of those reproduction "RAMBO" knives "as used by Rambo". You know, the ones with the compass that screws off to reveal a little sewing kit inside the handle.

Could come in handy if you get chased off a cliff by helicopters. Especially if pine trees break your fall and you cut your bicep open.

You should also include an axe in your survival kit. Check out http://www.gransfors.com they make some nice axes. I would pick up one of these too.