Please help me decide...

[mattz357]

I have narrowed my choices for a new knife to just a few, and I need some help determining which is the "best." I know that there will be many opinions, and that is what I want, but I also want to know which is made of the best materials or considered to be the best quality.

Here are the choices:
Bark River SOCOM
Blackjack 1-7
Cold Steel R1 (Military Classic)

I am looking at current production models, so that is what I would like to focus on. Please share your info and opinions and thanks in advance!

PS, before anyone says "just buy the Randall," I'm ordering a Randall too. Thanks!

 

[Pax Jordana]

Depends on what you're using it for. What are you using it for?

BTW, google doesn't turn anything up for a Bark River SOCOM. so I'm only basing my judgement on what I've seen (the other two knives.)

If it's not a presentation/show grade thing, the cold steel UWK is the same design as their military classic for ~$200 less.

It seems you're looking for a fixed-blade fighter, which it'd seem you want, any of those knives would perform admirably. If you're looking for a hunting knife, I would humbly recommend you reconsider your choices.

For example, you don't need to stab a deer in the heart the same way you'd have to stab a viet cong. You need to cut it open so you can get at its slimy bits. Unless your deer has zombie deer syndrome. That's been cropping up here. Anyway, a 7'' long knife won't help any, and may even be cumbersome when trying to cut its outside open without cutting its inside.

 

[pete f]

Blackjack and barkriver are now made by the same guy, Mike Stewart up in Escanaba michigan. I would probably choose the SOCOM for the fact it is made by him to his specs,


The Cold steel is a much less pricey item, made by who knows. Cold Steel is a marketing outfit, not a knife producer, and they have very up and down QC as far as i am concerned. Yes, you might get a good one, but I have seen several that are really not up to snuff.

Look around for one of the SOCOMS, Mike has several dealers who often have his products at a discount from the MSRP.

 

[Sniper4Life]

Why not get a K-Bar they are resonably priced, I got mine from a mil-surp store brand new never used, sharpend it some and it will shave hairs. What more is needed?

 

[tellner]

If you want a Randall you can get a real one for not much more than the Cold Steel knockoff.

 

[hso]

Sniper4Life,

The Bark River and Blackjacks are much better knives than the KaBar. Think of the KaBar as a moderate quality knife compared to the excellent quality of the other 2.

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mattz357,

If you're ordering a Randall you may want to consider the Blackjack. They are patterned after the Randall and you could almost match them. Use the Blackjack and fondle the Randall. Stay away from the Cold Steel.