I need your help

[MikeL]

I am in the market for a new knife unfortunately I am low on funds at the moment. Does anybody know of a qualify knife similar in style to the Mad Dog ATAK range but down around £100?

Any help or advice would be gratefully received.

Mike

[Colin KC]

Welcome Mike,
Don' know about the pricing on those knives, but welcome anyway, I'm sure someone'll know;)

[ZDP-189]

Wow, a tall order. The ATAK (http://www.mdenterprise.com/atak.htm) retails for $393 and has the following specs:

Blade: Starrett alloy 496-01. 7" flat ground from 1/4" stock. Hidden full tang. Selectively tempered: HRC 62-63 at edge, HRC 50-54 through tang and spine.

Finish: Hard chrome.

Grip: Black glass/epoxy composite. Withstands 300 degrees F continuous. 79,000 psi. compressive yield strength. 1,000 volts per mil dielectric strength. Impervious to gasoline, D.E.E.T., diesel, blood, saltwater, etc. Single guard. 5/16" thong hole.

Length: 11.75" overall.

Weight: Knife - 12.5 oz. Sheath - 5.5 oz.

Sheath: A.T.A.K.tm combat sheath: entirely hand formed from a single piece of .090" black Kydex®. Blackened stainless steel rivets. Ballistic nylon web belt loop. 1" web tie-down loop on sheath tip. 1/4" lashing holes. Rigid and puncture proof. Double retention system with Kydex® guard retention lip and 1" nylon web with hard action black brass snap. Jump qualified.


So, basically it's a 7" clip-point military/utility knife with a chemically resistant synthetic handle.

The first thing that came to mind was the SOG SEAL (http://www.1sks.com/store/sog-seal-2000.html). It's not dissimilar in style to the ATAK, but somewhat de-specced.

SEAL 2000 SOG-S37 Specs:
Length, Overall: 12.25"
Blade Length: 7"
Blade Material: AUS 6
Handle Length: 5.25"
Handle Material: Kraton
Weight: 12.8 oz
Sheath Material: Kydex sheath

It's not a bad knife. SOG says it's been selected for issue to the SEALs

It's on sale for $107.99 or only GBP65. Once you've factored in shipping and taxes, you're probably still under your GBP100 budget.

[ZDP-189]

PS, Welcome Mike!

[Colin KC]

Or you could've bid on the one I had on Ebay, went for just over £50.00:rolleyes:

[ZDP-189]

PPS Our very own ODS (aka Joe) retails the SEAL2000 for GBP81 on his website (http://outdoorsuppliesuk.com/sog/sog.html). Contact him via email or PM and ask him for an all-in quote on the SEAL2000 or ask his advice on the type of knife that suits your purposes and budget.

[ZDP-189]

Colin, you sold an ATAK for FIFTY QUID?

[Colin KC]

Colin, you sold an ATAK for FIFTY QUID?


No, you eedjit, a SEAL:rolleyes:;)

[eljockvis]

well if i were you ,with a budget of £100 i would go for this!
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2200186222&category=475

[MikeL]

Thanks guys, I like the look of the seal - does anybody out there have one and could give me some feedback?

Thanks, Mike

[Cool]

You could ask this custom maker (http://www.physics.mun.ca/~sstamp/knives/MEUK_52100.html) to make you a larger version of his multi-environment utility knife. (his normal version has a 4 inch blade).

I believe that he uses, Starrett 01, flat grinds, differential temp, hidden full tang etc. He charges around USD$120 and turnaround is 6 weeks.

Otherwise how about something like a Ontario RAT? (http://www.onestopknifeshop.com/store/ontario.html)
at USD$80?

Or something from Swamp Rat? (http://www.swampratknifeworks.com/) - like the Camp Tramp at USD$129

[ZDP-189]

MikeL,

I don't own a SEAL, but I do own a couple of other SOGs and can speak for their quality and reputation. I wouldn't have recommended a SOG if I didn't like their quality - they make excellent value knives in the mid-budget range $50-$150.

Advantages:They are a good quality manufacturer based in famed Seki, Japan. Steel is good quality, if not super-tech, and they put a good, easily maintained edge on it.

Criticisms - folders:
Their locking mechanisms, while slick, are not up to the standards of Benchmade, CRK, etc, but then their prices aren't and besides, you're buying a fixed blade.

Criticisms - materials:
The steel doesn't hold an edge like the best tempered mid-techs. The handle is Zytel, which feels more like 'plastic' than the more expensive mircata or G10. I expect SOG has the steel issues sorted because the SEALs aren't known for their tolerance of failure under pressure, and this knife will serve you well.

But Cool does have a point - I chose this knife based on your stated style and retail price criteria, but best value is to be found in little-known custom makers and cheap buys on eBay, here and in Bladeforums.com

Then of course, you could let you budget slip a bit. You could buy a famed Al Mar SERE (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2201424298&category=43326), or a Chris Reeve spearpoint Nkonka for $300 (Link (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=43325&item=2201642930)) - a knife I would entrust my life to!

If you give us a little more to go on, in terms of your performance expectations, the type of user/ collector you are, whether the knife has to be factory new and the far upper limits of your pricing comfort zone, we'll do better at helping you find your knife.