"Survival" Knives

[Dimis]

ok im sure this is going to get alot of "why do you want that" responces but here goes anyway...

anyone know where i can get "QUALITY" replicas that could be used of the rambo series of knives?
all 4 of them mainly for collection purposes but i dont want a junk knife just because its "modeled" after a movie prop

also anyone know of any GOOD survival knives kind of like the design of rambo 1&2

and lastly the el cheapo garbage farmers market special survival knives you see everywhere always come with two metal "spikes??" that screw into the handgaurd why is that what is there purpose?

 

[BENELLIMONTE]

Not sure if they are "Rambo" replicas but here in Boise, Idaho Chris Reeve Knives turns out IMHO the best made all around knives anywhere!

 

[hso]

Dimis,

There are no "quality" replicas of the Rambo knives. You can either purchase the junk or you can purchase the originals made by the makers who built them for the movies or you can commission a maker to recreate them in using quality. The crap costs too much at any price, the original makers aren't even all alive any more so the prices are out of your range so commissioning using replicas are your best bet.

 

[DDeegs]

If you want a hollow handle knife Chris Reeves and Randall are always at the top of the list

 

[Suicide*Ride]

#184 Buck

Look on fleabay for a model #184 Buck. The picture below has everything you would get if you bought 1 new back in the mid to late 80's. Expect to pay $325-$400 for an outfit like that today. $150-$200 for just the knife. Good luck hunting!

 

[TimboKhan]

I won't give you any hassle for it. I think the flood of crappy knives kind of gave the overall concept a bad image. I mean, they aren't my thing, but the essential idea of creating more space without taking up more space to pack stuff that might be legitimately useful in a survival situation isn't a horrible one.

 

[Ruger]

Dimis , You might find them at www.BudK.com They were selling the orig. back a few years ago. I have purchased many good quailty swords
from them all with a useable edge.
They also sell blades from all the movies and penny pocket knives.
I think they were around $80.00 when they had them. you can also try www.smokeymountainknifeworks ?
Good luck

 

[jon_in_wv]

http://budk.com/schrade-extreme-survival-12-special-forces-blade-knife/p/17 SCHF2/c/6115/

 

[hso]

Gentlemen, no offense intended, but BudK primarily sells low quality material.

A "quality" sword is going to start around $150-$200 retail and that Schrade is a rip-off of Chris Reeves' work and won't hold a candle to it.

Avoid all the exotic "survival" knives and spend your money on a quality 4" fixed blade made of carbon steel with a sheath that will allow you to put an Altoids tin in the accessory pocket. I've known people to loose their knife, but not too many loose the sheath and still have their pants.

 

[vicdotcom]

anyone know of any GOOD survival knives kind of like the design of rambo 1&2

The only hollow handle knife that I would even think to trust to do the knifework that I need is the Chris Reeves Shadow. It is "kind of like" the rambo knife in design but not in looks.
Here is a link showing how it looks and how it's made:

http://www.donrearic.com/crshadow3.htm

special survival knives you see everywhere always come with two metal "spikes??" that screw into the handgaurd why is that what is there purpose?

Ok I actually know the answer to this one. The spikes are actually supposed to turn the knife into a grappling hook or anchor. Here is a link to one with an early design. Nowadays the spikes face downwards and are like 5 inches long.

But this is the "old style":
http://www.orionwoodsbrigade.com/article_the_new_old_survival_knife.htm

Found a "newer" version from the Buck 184:
http://www.buck-184.com/

Avoid all the exotic "survival" knives and spend your money on a quality 4" fixed blade made of carbon steel

X2

But I also believe that many of us have that "I can't believe I own this junk" knife that we never intend to use. Usually a gift from someone that doesn't know any better. Mine is a "skyhawk" set of 3 throwing "knifes" gifted to me by my brother lol. It was actually kind of fun throwing the heck out of them and not having to worry about breaking it. Something I would NEVER think about doing with my normal knives.

 

[JTW Jr.]

HSO was right on the money.

 

[JN01]

I had a Buck 184 years ago. It was OK, but was poorly balanced (too handle heavy) in my opinion.

 

[mgregg85]

The cold steel bushman is kind of interesting, the handle is hollow but doesn't have a cap. I think it was made this way in the interest of cheapness but it will function as a spear if you whittle down a stick for it.

 

[DammitBoy]

This is my idea of a survival knife;

 

[rcmodel]

This is as close as you can get to the real thing:

http://www.jimmylile.com/movie.php

But, I agree that they are next to useless in actual survival mode.

You would be much better equipped with any number of smaller lighter knives.

Heck, even a K-Bar would be a better choice!

rc

 

[22-rimfire]

Hard to beat the basic Kabar knife for an overall "survival" knife. I would avoid the Rambo knives unless you just want wall hangers.

All knives are survival knives to me. For general purpose "survival" knives look at Benchmade, Kershaw, SOG, RAT Cutlery, Ontario to name a few. My favorite survival knife is a swiss army knife. It is one you are more likely to have with you should something happen unexpectedly. I'll take a fixed blade with me in the woods also. But I understand the appeal of knives and having big ones around. The SOG Tiger Shark might fit your vision of a "survival" knife. Have a couple of them. But a good 12" machete works quite well too considering the price.

 

[Dimis]

wow this thread kinda took off when i stopped paying attention

the reason i wanted the "rambo" knives in the first place is for collection purposes truthfully i know they are not going to be functional in real world situations

i also mentioned quality reproductions because i dont want to pay 80 or more on a junk knife HSO was right about the fact that Lile and Hibben stopped making the Original Knives long ago so i have changed my mind

as for the spike question thanks for the answer Vic

ill check out the Buck but im really turned off by the survival knife idea now that i have heard a few opinions

 

[Barny]

If you want a hollow handle go with Chris Reeves in the Mark Series. Or go top end and buy Jimmy Lile.

 

[Schutzen]

The Rambo knives were made by Gil Hibben of Louisville KY. I believe Smoky Mountain Knife Works sold or sells the production (i.e. lesser quality, but still good) copies of these knives. The Rambo knives are excellent knives, but not particularly good survival knives. They were contract pieces made for show for the movies.

 

[theotherwaldo]

By the way, the Rambo survival knife should be called the Baldock Spear Knife of 1880 - with a few minor modifications.

 

[66912]

Randall model 18 would be my choice. You will want to use it though, I almost sure of it.

 

[mljdeckard]

I've had a Buck 184 "Buckmaster" for many years. It is great, and it isn't. I have cut down trees with it by "batoning" it, meaning, you drive it into the trunk of a tree with a piece of wood, and repeatedly drive it sideways until you make a big enough cut you can break the tree off. I wrapped the spikes in a bit of plastic and put them in the handle so that they don't rattle. I have sometimes put just the front one in, the one under the edge side of the crossguard, but if you put both of them in you can't even hold the knife. I have used the spikes for hole punches, nothing else comes to mind, but I don't think I'll throw them away either. I have used it for chores where it's easier to drive it into a stump and cut against it from a fixed spot.

It's heavy. You tell yourself you don't care until you get rid of it for a while. (And I'm the guy who still insists that a full-size 1911 isn't too big or heavy to carry.) On one outing I forgot to bring it, but I had my Gerber MkII dagger, and I found all kinds of things I could use it for that the Buck was too big for. (The blade is 1/4" thick.) All I have ever used the hollow handle for was to hold the spikes. I suppose a truly prepared guy would keep $100 in twenties in it.

I haven't deployed yet, when I do, I might take it with me, but I think most of the time I'll have the Gerber on my gear. I did also spring for the pouch that goes on the outside of it which holds a smaller folder and a sharpener. This makes it much less silly looking, people don't ask me if I'm going to try to clean a trout with the ridiculous thing. Like they said above, a Kabar style knife probably makes more sense. It's just as long, but not as wide, and it's not irreplaceable if you break or lose it.

 

[Dimis]

Barney
can you even get Jimmy Lile knives anymore i thought he had passed away

Theotherwaldo
thanks for all the history on survival knives

 

[MR.LOKI]

http://www.ennis-entrekusa.com/

Entrek are great knives, I have a JAVALINA absolutely great knife.

 

[Todd A]

Avoid all the exotic "survival" knives and spend your money on a quality 4" fixed blade made of carbon steel

Words to live by from hso.

A knife of this type can make anything you will need to survive. It should be able to handle light batoning, branches,saplings and the like. Also it should handle fine work, notches,tips, pivets,etc.

Most importantly,for me, they are compact and light for descrete EDC. I don't know about the rest of you but I don't carry 30 pounds of gear for a short dayhike. A 3"-4" fixed is the knife I know I will have with me.

And the knife you will have with you,not in your drawer,is your survival knife.

I did all the work ,the batoning,notching,pivot ,trimming for this with the Hiker in the photo.

After playing with this knife I know it can help to shelter and feed me. It is my new "survival" knife.