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Posted: 5/3/2010 8:34:40 AM EDT
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Have roughly $50 to spend on a fixxed blade knife, use will be camping, hiking, etc.
Have narrowed down search to SOG M37-N SEAL Pup, or Gerber Prodigy both from Amazon at basically the same price |
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On a fixed blade belt knife, I do not need serrations.
SOG Seal Pup is made with AUS-6 Gerber Prodigy is made with 7Cr17 (Chinese 440A) -Slight advantage to Gerber. I like the feel of the Gerber Big Rock over the Prodigy, but the Prodigy has a much better sheath. For a little more money you could get a SOG Seal Pup Elite, Cold Steel SRK, or SOG NorthWest Hunter. They are made with AUS-8 stainless steel, which is a better than AUS-6 and AUS-8 has Vanadium, which makes it a bit tougher and shock resistant than 7Cr17. If this is an A or B decision, then B, the Gerber Prodigy. |
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Quoted:
You can probably pick up a Kabar for that price range which I'd prefer to AUS -6 or any Gerber knife. Good idea, but these are full tang, not a bolt knife like the Kabar. Do not know of any full tang 1095 hunting knives that are ~$50. ETA: Schrade (meaning the Chinese or Taiwanese company that Taylor buys them from) has a 1095 knife under $50, but it is over a foot long and weighs a pound. Not a real belt knife, or hunting knife. |
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thanks for the replies so far, any other opinions out there? what is the drawback to AUS-6 steel? sorry, not a knife guru here we always have just carried old timers or case knives
oh and I had considered the gerber big rock but want something with a molle compatible sheath |
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AUS-6 is a bit on the soft side, which means it won't hold an edge for very long. It's the Japanese version of 440A if memory serves me correctly. (440c if kind of a minimum baseline of quality steel in my opinion) A few more fixed blades I forgot about. Check out the line of Mora knives, they are incredible bargains and great outdoors blades. Another decent option is the classic Buck 119 knife you can find at Walmart Academy, etc. It has 420 HC steel, which is also a bit on the soft side, but Buck gets tthe most out of their steel with great heat treating. This place has great reviews for Mora knives. http://www.ragweedforge.com/SwedishKnifeCatalog.html |
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