I can sharpen a knife, I can wrap duct tape around a broken handle, but I can't fix a broken blade in the bush. I can't speak on the choices you've made, but I can say that the Strongarm is probably the last on that list to snap in half during use. Confidence in my knife is king!

@greekveteran2715

2 жыл бұрын

Mind theories, are most of the time way far from reallity. Any knife and any tool can break or fail one way or the other. As much as I like Strongarm, I would still get any of those other knives for many reasons. Your opinion, is 100% affected from all the marketing in KZread.. Strongarm's edge and main bevel geometries, as also it's steel, is the poorest Ive ever seen on any knife. Softest steel ever, with the worst geometries ever. I find 2 pos, the perfect blade length, the heat treatment is great, but since steels is so poor, it doesn;t matter that much.. sheath feels cheap too, but it's super versatile and very functional. Knives are meant to cut, not to pry open doors, that only , puts the Strongarm, lower than many knives of it's price point. Strongarm, as also Garberg and a lot of other knives, are "marketing" knife designs. They where built, to sell something new, as that's what marketing always aims, to find something new to sell, because the "old" doesn't sell as much as the "new" get it? The later years, trend get's back to thiner knives, proper designs I would say. If only they didn't all make those thin handles....

@TheArkansasBushcrafter

2 жыл бұрын

That’s true man

@petemitchell6788

2 жыл бұрын

@@greekveteran2715 I’m a veteran that carried a Strongarm on my vest for 2 years. I never had time to watch a KZread video about it. It was American made and could be reliably carried upside down. It served me very well. So did my issue O6 Auto. Don’t be a 🤡 or a know it all Richard.

@greekveteran2715

2 жыл бұрын

@@petemitchell6788 Any knife can cut, that doesn't make it better than others. When it first came out, it cost less than half the price. It's made with the cheapest and softest materials out there. There are other parts of it, that show how poor it is built. Made in the USA, or succesful KZread/internet marketing, doesn't make it any better. It's materials and built quality, are way cheaper than a 9$ Morakniv.

@terynfinlayson9830

2 жыл бұрын

I agree with you his knives suck

I’ve broken my srk doing very basic batoning. The handle and tang separated the day I got it. I have 3 strongarms and have kicked the daylight out of them. No issues in the slightest.

@dualsportedc

2 жыл бұрын

I love the Strongarm. Easily one of my favorite stainless knives (tied with the Fallkniven S1). That being said, I’ve never had an SRK fail on me and my Carbon V SRK (the only USA made SRK) is the knife I keep in my backpack

@joeallen2354

2 жыл бұрын

Thats unfortunate. So annoying getting a lemon.

@hunterglaspell

2 жыл бұрын

@@joeallen2354 I’m not so sure it’s a lemon. Have you seen joe Xs vid on the srk? It breaks is several places rather easily for the carbon steel it’s made of. The strongarm he did impressed him so much even after he finally broke it (by bashing a huge rock against it mind you), says it’s a knife he would recommend to anyone. He doesn’t think that of the SRK.

@DL-ij7tf

2 жыл бұрын

@@hunterglaspell "Rather easily"....He hammered it into a stump and pulled on it horizontally as hard as he could and it eventually broke. It's been a while since I've watched it but I don't think he subjected the Strongarm to that test. I love his videos but they aren't always that reflective of any possible real world use and the tests aren't consistent so it's often hard to compare one knife's performance with another.

@Ve-suvius

2 жыл бұрын

@@DL-ij7tf Yeah that's true also. Though the Strongarm showed to be extremely tough in Joe's test. And also the Tops Silent Hero. He claimed it's unbreakable. I told Joe he should then put the Silent hero in between the concrete and then hammer it on the side with a huge stone as he's done to other knives. He didn't want that. Got even annoyed by me haha. He admitted that his tests weren't scientific though. Which is the case ofcourse, when you subject the knives to different kinds of stress each time. In reality most of the knives that break are way strong enough for 'normal' use. Then again, what is normal to me, is not normal to someone else. Like hammering knives through the thickest and hardest pieces of wood they can find...I don't do that. To make a fire one doesn't need that at all. And don't hammer the handle of the Strongarm. The rubber will get damaged as Maarten on DBK learned. He probably doesn't hammer the rubber handle of the expensive Fallkniven I reckon...It will turn out the same...

I have a Gerber prodigy, which is similar to the strongarm, I call it my trash knife because no matter what I ask it to do it just does it, it's been through 2 years working in a junkyard cutting fuel lines, brake lines, radiator hoses, seats, carpet, smashed a few windows(got locked in junk cars sometimes with no door handles etc) even stabbed rubber and steel gas tanks. I've cleaned and sharpened it and have passed it down to my 5 year old, it will survive multiple generations

@stevenfraser5541

3 ай бұрын

I have a Prodigy too havent tested it like you have , but I am glad it will hold up to it if needed. Thank you for posting. I like the glass breaker on the pommel. Us made is a plus.

@Turkeythigh420

11 күн бұрын

The prodigy and strongarm use the same blade blanks with different handles and sheaths. I own and love both.

Rat 5 would’ve been a better comparison to the strongarm than the rat 7 .

The thing about the Strongarm is that it's practically bomb proof. I got mine when they first came out and paid 49 bucks for it. It's a good knife. Jack of all trades but master of none. I love the BK18.. a solid knife with a tall full flat grind makes it a much better slicer. My current favorite is my TOPS Dawn Warrior. As durable as the Strongarm but more versatile in use. At the end of the day you can do much worse than the Strongarm even though it's getting long in the tooth primarily due to the price hike.

I would add the Ruike Jager to this list. For a little less than a Gerber you get a 59 HRC blade in 14C28N that will beat any of these steels for toughness and edge maintenance.

I love that the Bk18 was the first one you showed! What's funny is that the BK18 is the knife coincidentally replaced my Strongarm with.

The 420HC steels are tougher less likely to snap when abused. That is why many makers use it. May not stay sharp for long, but easy to sharpen. Stropping a dulled 420 steeled knives will keep the edge for longer periods between sharpening.

I have to disagree that the featured knives are "better" overall than the Strongarm. They might be better for certain cutting tasks due to blade geometry. The Strongarm with the plain edge and it's grind definitely looks to be the strongest made knife featured. It is the knife with the best sheath. It is the knife that has good grip wet or dry compared to the other handle materials. If you carry it scout carry many of the other knives would not be comfortable. You might as well have put the Gerber Double down in the lineup with the Rat 7. Made in USA does matter and so does the warranty. If you are going to say they are better you could include an abuse video where you try to break all of the knives listed like people have done with the Strongarms. The BK 18 looks fragile to me. I want to see you stab it through a steel drum and show me how well the tip holds up. We all know the Gerber can survive that.

@gregzeigler3850

7 ай бұрын

Why would you stab a steel drum? It's a knife, not a can opener. As for true beasts that can cut up meat and veggies, as well as chop down small saplings for shelter, none of the knives listed fit the bill. I bought a Condor Tool and Knife Hudson Bay years ago($48 with heavy leather sheath) and have not been disappointed. This is the kind of knife our ancestors survived with in olden times. A pocket knife did fine work. An ax did heavy wood cutting.

@mackjones7688

7 ай бұрын

@@gregzeigler3850 Why? On a number of hard use channels I have been watching. Stabbing knives through different metals, and opening a can with it. Is actually a part of their standardized testing. They do it to all their knives to see how the tip holds up and to see if the knife edge rolls over. The Gerber Stongarm was put through rigorous abuse of that nature to see how well it held up. Obviously there is a right tool for the job in reality, but it's also true that people like to use the wrong tool for the job all the time. Which is why abuse testing exists. As for knives that our ancestors used. None of the knives featured in this video are it. We have much more advanced materials, and tools for making knives to day than we did back then. Metallurgy has advanced a lot too. My grandfather didn't have a knife. But when his plow broke. He took the broken piece and fashioned a knife. He took some deer antler and made a handle. I have no idea how he made it. They didn't have many hand tools. But it was made with care and it wasn't very big. He just made a very slicy medium sized fixed blade with a nice point on it. My dad said that a lot of people fashioned knives out of broken tools and implements when he was a kid. Just from observation. Extremely large knives weren't all that popular until movies made them popular. Like with the Rambo knife for example. Before steel. Knives were very sharp but not very big. Like with an obsidian knife.

@gregzeigler3850

7 ай бұрын

@@mackjones7688 That's just damn silly. Nobody I know uses a knife as a can opener. Furthermore, nobody hiking or bugging out is going to carry heavy cans of food...

@mackjones7688

7 ай бұрын

@@gregzeigler3850 Aren't most hikers super weight conscious and unwilling to carry a knife like these for any reason anyway? A bugout person typically over prepares, so they are most likely the type that would have every tool need plus redundant backups. I have used a knife to open a can. Metal cans are very soft metal. But I usually have a multi-tool or SAK so I just use the can opener which is technically a knife. So yeah. I use a SAK to open cans. Which isn't silly. But my Buck CSAR-T is a beastly knife and opening a can with the blade doesn't hurt it one bit. Just depends on what knife I decide to carry. Is a can of Spam, or Sardines and some saltine crackers really that heavy to carry around? It what my old man would take with us to eat for lunch sometimes. Final point, is no one I know is a man anymore. Who carries a knife daily? I do, but literally 99.9% of men I meet carry a set of keys and a phone. They don't even wear a watch. So who is going hiking or bugging out enough to even use a knife as it was intended? Most of these blades that are shown off are just going into a collection. Never to be used. 😂

@gregzeigler3850

7 ай бұрын

@@mackjones7688 A can of Spam or sardines have their own openers....

Well done. I love my OKC knives and my Condors. Glad to hear someone else reworked the handle on their RTAK, I found it produced a few hot spots during long use.

I've never really been all that impressed with the SRK, but I do like the compact. The thinner stock seems to cut a bit better. I actually do like the Strongarm, but you are right about there being better options, at least for bushcraft anyway.

A few years ago the Strongarm was about 40,- US$, which was why it was a great deal. Since the price went up so much it isn’t really the best option anymore.

@MaddawgEDC

2 жыл бұрын

Still a better option. You'll spend for more than $30 on a good sheath for any of the others that you don't have to spend on the Gerber. And you still get a stronger knife

@romeolima5339

2 жыл бұрын

@@MaddawgEDC I have looked at all this guys choices and many others. As I was looking for a fighting/utility knife for my wife's rig. Yep I bought another Gerber strongarm. Just liked it better. I bought the strongarm when they first came out in I believe 2015. Some of the ceramic coating on the blade has worn off. The knife has no plastic in the handle. It is glass filled nylon. The ruber is still good but the dimonds are worn down a bit. But I'm still gutting big game and doing chores with that same strongarm and there is no slip even when covered in blood. It gutted a long tine 9pt and a nice 8pt last fall. JS.

@seandoherty6215

2 жыл бұрын

I know the prodigy which is almost identical to the strong arm was 40-50$ but I thought when they discontinued it and replaced it with the strong arm it came with the higher price? Maybe your getting the two confused? They look about identical

@XenonLxx

2 жыл бұрын

@@seandoherty6215 doesnt prodigy only come with a serrated blade? Cause screw that.

@fisheyeguy

10 ай бұрын

You can still get a Strongarm for under $40, if you look around a little.

Absolutely love that BK18. Awesome blade profile!

I have looked at all your choices. As I was looking for a fighting/utility knife for my wife's rig. Yep I bought another Gerber strongarm. Just liked it better. I bought the strongarm when they first came out 2015 I believe. Some of the ceramic coating on the blade has worn off. The knife has no plastic. It is glass filled nylon. The ruber is still good but the dimonds are worn down a bit. But I'm still gutting big game and doing chores with that same Armstrong and there is no slip even when covered in blood. JS.

I have been carrying the gerber principle for smaller tasks it’s a pretty good tool IMO

Good info. Thanks. I subbed.

That is unfair to compare a Becker with a Gerber. Becker is a vastly superior knife as compared to Gerber. I have almost every Becker ever made and know what they can do, first hand ! When Gerber first came out they were respected but something happened. The Strongarm is the best of their lineup but cannot touch Becker and many other knives made by others at the price point. The BK18 is a highly versatile knife made of superior steel. Mr. Becker knows his stuff and KaBar backs him up !

@AlaskanFrontier1

Жыл бұрын

My apologies 🤣

@vwr32jeep

Жыл бұрын

Dunno.. watching Joe X do the torture test on the Strong Arm and any Becker… I’m not impressed with Becker anymore lol.

@peterkinberger9741

Жыл бұрын

@@vwr32jeep The problem with torture tests is that the testing methods do not conform to what a knife is designed for. I have seen people shoot knife blades with a gun and numerous other things as they invent new tortures to entertain the folks that watch them. Why not roll a steam roller over one ? Or several ? Why would I want to torture a knife made for carving precision details into a wood carving or torture a knife that has a long solid history and reputation of handling anything within it's scope of tasks ? I have seen Gerber failure in the past and own several and this is why I own Beckers. The 1095 steel that is used in Beckers is formulated with chrome vanadium and is a proprietary tool steel used by Kbar. All other 1095 steels are vastly inferior but still better than 1075 or 1065 carbon tool steels. Torture testing does not include a thorough analysis of the steel in a knife being tested. There are numerous problems and defects that can occur on the molecular level that can't be attributed to a brand unless there is a design flaw or a problem with temper. The manufacture of steel is usually not done by the brand maker. Whoever the brand gets the steel from could be the cause of blade failure. Improper alloying or improper conditions surrounding the alloying process could be the problem. If it is this reason that causes knife failure then it is likely many knives will be affected by it. This type of failure can only temporarily set back a knife brand especially if it has a known reputation. Torturing a knife could help uncover this type of problem but the name of the brand should not be affected. Every knife company in the business has produced knives that have failed for one reason or another. Usually a knife is made for work in specific parameters and to go outside of those parameters is unkosher, torture being one of them. I still have several Kbars that I have used since I was in the Marines during Nam. They are well cared for and I also have the honor of owning knives from the Korean War and World War ll in the Pacific theater. They all still function as well as they did new. Just how much knife does a person need ? I spend nearly everyday out in the woods, I know what works and what doesn't. I easily have over 500 knives, bayonets, machetes and axes in my personal collection. I keep them near razor or in some cases razor sharp. Anything of historical significance I leave them pretty much as they are while just keeping them without active rust but keeping a patina the rust causes preserved. Finally, I believe torturing knives is just plain stupid and wanton destruction just to get attention. There are many torturers in KZread land. To many professionals that depend on their knives, they are like me about Beckers. When Gerber first came out, many Vietnam veterans swore by them until something happened to the company and those same veterans were embarassed to say they owned one. Only in about the last 10 years have they started to repair there reputation and even moreso in about the last five years. I applaud their efforts and I do own some of their products but I still see a lot lacking but I am sure they are working on it. Please take care and continue to enjoy the world of knives and etc. A friend always !

@vwr32jeep

Жыл бұрын

@@peterkinberger9741 I’ll start off by saying that every now and then I meet ppl online that I wish I was having the conversation with over a cup of coffee. I think we’d get along, and I hope you see my reply for what it is.. just my opinion. I’m not being argumentative. I have a few knives myself. Mostly Buck, Case, and Spyderco. My most recent purchase though was one of Ka-Bar’s new Dogs Head Red Spacer fighting knives. Beautiful knife. I’m not a Ka-Bar hater by any means, but I do recognize the limitations. The rat-tail tangs are fine for light camping duty, or defense. And before you dismiss the torture tests, just know that the Ka-Bar Tanto blade did exceptionally well at Joe X testing. So why torture test it? There’s no shortage of tests that show a knife’s abilities when used to manufacturer’s specifications. And the results of those are fairly predictable. It’ll cut the apple. It’ll open the box. It’ll make the feather sticks and spark the ferro rod if the spine is square. >>> But amongst the knives that perform as expected, aren’t you curious how well they do when asked to go beyond that?

@fisheyeguy

10 ай бұрын

@@vwr32jeepBeckers are for knife snobs that want to hate on other brands.

Becker bk18 is such a solid knife. It’s on my current edc rotation and with a Armatus sheath it conceals very well.

It's good to see somebody also likes the BK18. I have the black and the brown...ish ones. Also the Rat 7.

To keep the Mora Garberg is a phenomenal survival/tactical fixed blade. After much research I pulled the trigger and got one. So far I love it and just ordered another one to go on my plate carrier. I’d say it’s sized between the Esee 3 and 4. Price around $65 in 2022. Great blade.

@greekveteran2715

2 жыл бұрын

Scandi edge sucks big time,for any kind of hard use knife, either it's survival or hunting knife, scandi is the last thing you want on that knife, because it's super fragile and the most difficult and time consuming to restore if gets damage( chips or rolls) Also, it isn't a "General use" grind, it only works on soft and medium hardness wood. For a Survival/ tactical knife, you need a saber grind and a knife design like the Mille Cuori, or the Survive knives GSO, or if you want a comercial and not professional level knives for example, then Sometihng like the Strongarm, is how a Tactical/Survival knife looks like.

The thing that makes the strongarm in my opinion is the multitude of carrying options thanks to its amazing sheath. Good vid but can we pls see the sheaths 👍

@donalddicorcia2433

2 жыл бұрын

Agree. I’m a big fan of scout carry.

@robertjohnstone9570

2 жыл бұрын

@@donalddicorcia2433 yeah me too. Unless I have a bergen with me

@sammmm87

2 жыл бұрын

Wholeheartedly agree Robert

@AdministrativeReload

9 ай бұрын

He didn't mention the sheaths because 1. He doesn't understand the importance of having a good way to carry the knife. 2. The sheaths on all the others are far inferior to the strongarm system.

Personally I’d take the Strongam over any of those knives. If the SRK was the full size version I’d say hell yeah because the SRK is my favorite survival knife. I love the Strongarm because it takes every beating I throw it and just keeps asking for more. If I’m looking for a stainless knife that I know I can trust to never break I’m grabbing my Strongarm all day

@AlaskanFrontier1

2 жыл бұрын

That's fair enough. Garberg Stainless is also a solid option

@properpropaganda9831

2 жыл бұрын

@@AlaskanFrontier1 It's surprising that you were also hating on the plastic handle of the Strongarm, yet don't seem to have a problem with the Garberg's plastic handle.

@greekveteran2715

2 жыл бұрын

@@properpropaganda9831 Garberg;s handle at least, has perfect ergos and it works and feels perfect, in any handle grip. The Strongarm has a very thin and weird design handle, that serves only one purpose, and that's fast grab fast cut,, put back in the sheath, it's isn't' a knife design, meant for work and keep using it, like the Garberg is. As for their materials, BOTH suck big time. Way cheaper materials, than any knife out there. Many 15$ Moras, feel better. So for heir price, they literaly suck in terms of handle material.

I love the look of that Becker bk-18. It looks like a miniature Tops war bowie. The bk-18 is one good looking knife.

I've got to say, I prefer the strongarm to a lot of the knives I've used, including the garberg, but I'm always on the lookout for new blades to play with.

I may have to pick up the BK18. It looked really awesome. Great video as always. Thanks for sharing 👍 God bless

Even though I haven't used any of those knives., I like them as reasonably priced options Made in USA or in Taiwan. I avoid Made in China where I can. I really like my Beckers> BK7 and BK16.

This all really depends on what you plan do to with the knife. All these knives are more woods/survival knives ( I own 3 on the list lol) whereas the strong arm is more geared toward tactical use for its ability to mount easily to LBE and be reinserted into its sheath in either direction, something none of the other knifes shown do. I really don't mean to be a dick with this question, but none of those blades seemed to have any use how do you know they're better or worse than the strong arm? Or was this just a first impressions video?

@AlaskanFrontier1

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the feedback. I will say I think the Harpoon tipped BK18 is more tactical in nature. But what do I know? As to the use, I have used all the blades shown. I do apologize that they don't look more well worn in. Especially the Strongarm. I have had that one for years.

I retired all my other knives and only use Tops for the past 10 years or so. I use to use a Cold Steel 7"tanto the 30 year old high carbon ones. Absolutely nothing to complain about, I just put a lot of use on it. Used SOG for a while, but I started using a Tops police Interceptor tanto as my EDC for over 10 years now. For heavier use I use my Tops Skullcrusher is absolutely amazing, for everything from processing wood, skinning and batoning no problem! I also use my Tops Operator 7 that is absolutely smashing as a do it all woods/combat blade. It looks more combat, but definitely built to beat on! I've never had good luck with Gerber, they never hold an edge for me and I've had some come apart.

Nice video! I'll be following you for sure.

@AlaskanFrontier1

Жыл бұрын

Thank you much! I’m following you as well

Agree with you on all fronts. The Gerber Strongarm is a knife I would like to own. Primarily so I can check it out. But every time I money for a knife there is something better to buy. Personally i would happily spend that kind of cash on any Condor before I bought the Strongarm. The strongarm is not a bad knife, its a bad knife for the price point.

@Commonsensepreps

7 ай бұрын

I don't know about that last statement, especially coming from a person who said they don't even own it No condor has as good of a sheath, handle materials, is stainless and is a better tactical knife than the strongarm, especially sense the strongarm for the longest time used to be 50$, its gone up sense then but it is still fairly budget

@Commonsensepreps

7 ай бұрын

I will admit, you will get condors that have better cutting abilities, but that is easy to do against a thick sharpened prybar

@TheWtfnonamez

4 ай бұрын

@@Commonsensepreps Hey fella, back here after a few months. Just wanted to say that a few Condors like the Atrox and the Plan A bowie have great plastic sheaths. This said, you are absolutely correct and I should try out s Strongarm. Wish me luck brother!

Thanks for Sharing

The BK18 is such an awesome knife, I’ve always liked the Becker models a lot. I did a specific video on it and it’s a good outdoor blade and edc blade

@nikitaanikin4190

2 жыл бұрын

Hi! You made a great video!

@bushcraft_in_the_north

2 жыл бұрын

hello. Bushcraft from the north. from Insta here. And i agree, i am a huge BK fan overall. I have many of them and use them often.they were some of the really good quality and high performace knives i first bought and modded of course;-))

@thelasthuntsmanoutdoors

2 жыл бұрын

@@bushcraft_in_the_north I think that’s the most fun part of a Becker Knife is nodding them, currently working on polishing my bk18 and it’s looking nice

I own the cold steel SRK and the Gerber strong-arm both for different purposes, 2 great knives !!

My favorite fixed blade is the BPS ADVENTURER. Absolutely best knife I've owned so far and at $40 it's really hard to beat. Full tang, wooden scales with screws rather than rivets, Scandinavian grind. Great video. If you haven't tried the ADVENTURER then I recommend it..

@longrider42

Жыл бұрын

Yes, BPS knives are great. I just found them and I now own the little BS1FTS and the Savage, which maybe the biggest blade BPS sells, I'm not sure. I also have the BK-16, great little knife.

@edge29chaos

Жыл бұрын

I love my BPS adventurer one of the sharper knives I’ve gotten straight out of the box behind my joker Pantera and Moras

@southernlonghorn4507

8 ай бұрын

Same… bought a BPS SK5 and it’s a champ. Took off the scales and forced a deep thick even jet black patina on all the steel. It is crazy sharp, super heavy duty, and LOTS of knife for the money.

dude, your voice is so soft and soothing and your knife advise is like a bedtime story, why do I feel like napping now? ah... so comfy...zzzzzzzzzz ;)

I'll stick with my Condor Tool and Knife Hudson Bay knife(paid $48 for it years ago and don't regret it), which can cut up meats and veggies, but also in a pitch cut down small trees for a shelter. Comes with a comfortable handles and very thick leather sheath. The knife is a beast and is what our ancestors would have carried(thus the name) and they survived with such.

I always I always enjoy your tutorials

I repeat myself but try teravajakaripuko140 with 80crv2 steel. I would love to see your comparison of 80crv2 and 1095 steel!

@donalddicorcia2433

2 жыл бұрын

Great maker! I’m eyeing the Skrama.

@johanesgo8096

2 жыл бұрын

@@donalddicorcia2433 I have a model jakaripuko140 and now I have ordered minipuko85 ... I think minipuko will be a great little knife, maybe better than esee izula

@donalddicorcia2433

2 жыл бұрын

All excellent tools. I’ve gravitated towards smaller blades for everyday use as well. Currently wearing a Casstrom Safari Mini Hunter in scout configuration for use around the property.

@johanesgo8096

2 жыл бұрын

@@donalddicorcia2433 I hear about that knife for the first time and I can tell you it's beautiful !!!! I am currently using qsp workaholic.

@jhtsurvival

2 жыл бұрын

Great knife. I have one

Had to like.....just on the opening scenery. I agree with all the points you made....many better blades out there.

Good video , thanks for sharing , God bless !

I like the BK 18 and plan to get one but I wish they would bring back the BK15. I love the trailing point.

The Kabar 1095 CroVan is a little overhardened and has broken tips on medium level stress tests. The most persuasive feature of the Strongarm or Prodigy is the durability while still having okay cutting performance. Knives that slice well but don't take a beating don't really compete in the same arena. Proper competition would be an Aus8 knife with a tough tip and decent cutting ability to step up the steel quality from 420HC but without losing much toughness. I like 1095, but would prefer 1084 (similar to SK-5) or 5160 for a tough survival knife. But an all-climate tough knife would have to be pretty stain resistant, so 14C28N, AUS8, Niolox or Nitro-V would be good for budget level toughness, stain resistance and decent wear resistance. I like scandi ground knives, but once again they don't have the edge stability of a flat or sabre ground knife with a secondary bevel. The Kabar BK2 would be close except for being a little too hard/brittle and rust prone. There just isn't much made in that slot. Survival Lilly's APO-1S is excellent but costs $170. All the SOGs have more delicate tips. Bucks are too hard and usually hollow ground, so the Mesa and the Compadre camp knife don't work. Kershaw uses a lot of 14C28N, but doesn't really shine in belt size knives. The Joker CM114 (Spain) is close and about $78 with a better handle but is full flat ground at only about .14" thick, so a little short on toughness. A sabre grind or at least a high sabre grind at .16" thick would be better. The Ruike F118G is thick enough, good tip, 14C28N, around $70 and has a pretty good sheath, but it is Chinese so probably out of scope. One way to get there would be to take a fairly robust scandi knife, like a Terava Jaakaripuukko in stainless (12c27) or an Off-Grid Knives Ridgeback in 14C28N, and put a 20 or 25 degree secondary bevel on it. The Ridgeback has a good micarta handle and a kydex sheath. The Strongarm steals most of its qualities from the LMF2 which is essentially a knife spec'd by the US military. That's why it fills that slot so well. Dig a hole, open a can of beans, stab an enemy, pry something apart, cut or split some wood. I bought the Walmart non-serrated Gerber Prodigy for $49, but it is has gone up recently to around $60. I like the handle better than the Strongarm. Then I gave it a 20 degree convex edge, which will help a little on wood carving. I don't stab people very often, so I brought the edge all the way back to the guard instead of having the 3/4 inch of unsharpened blade so you can pull it back out of your enemy.

Completely agree with this list. The SRK and the BK18 are especially much better choices.

Oh, was watching full vid While typing and THANKS for mentioning US made ones 👍🏽👍🏽 Thanks again

How's your SRK-C sheath? Mine sucks- bad retention and it's chipping up the spine somehow (??). My full-size SRK sheath actually snaps pretty solidly, still chips up the spine...

Thank you for your review

Great video. Agree the strongarm is a cheap version of a tactical knife. Another comparable knife is the Kabar BK-16, with a full tang. Nice thing is you can customize it to fit your needs. I added green G10 handle with orange liners, with a kydex sheath and Ferro rod holder. In the end it is preference to looks, quality, cost and need. Want a tank of a knife that won’t break the bank, look at the OKC navy divers knife. Won’t break that one either, but try to get it sharp 😊

@longrider42

Жыл бұрын

Yep, I love my BK-16!

Thank you for sharing

@AlaskanFrontier1

2 жыл бұрын

My pleasure!

Better depends on what you intend to do with it. The Strongarm is a better pry bar. A lot of soldiers do find that useful. For me, I did not think it works well as a knife because of the edge geometry and handle ergonomics, but I can see how it would be very useful to soldiers.

@jhtsurvival

2 жыл бұрын

Get an ESEE.

@abradolflincler3802

2 жыл бұрын

Exactly

@crashdrc

2 жыл бұрын

My strong arm has a hollow grind on it now and it cuts and slices so much better. It’s amazing how good it is.

@sheltermonkey6065

2 жыл бұрын

@@crashdrc Getting a blade reground would be a very expensive option for most people.

@crashdrc

2 жыл бұрын

@@sheltermonkey6065 I said hollow but I meant convex lol. I reprofiled it myself.

That Gerber Strongarm is a pretty nice knife but I do agree about the handle. I guess my favorite of all those knives would be the Condor. I have so many knives I do not know exactly how many I have but my favorite everyday carry is my Old Hickory butcher knife. It has a comfortable oiled wooden handle with a Full tang carbon steel, 90-degree back Edge and it is super easy to keep Sharp. But that's just my favorite and it didn't cost that much either. Have a great day stay safe and keep your powder dry!

Great video. And God bless! And I stopped buying Gerber, around 2012. As well as stopped buying Buck. As you said. They are just flat out. Better knives. Often for comparable prices.

I would have put an Esee 4 in there, although a little more costly than the Strongarm.

420hc, when heat-treated properly, is way better than i think you realize (and won't rust like 1095!). Also, my strongarm doesn't have a hard plastic handle, it's rubberized and feels excellent in the hand. Also, the TIP profile of the strongarm is beautifully designed, one of my favorite tips ever, super strong but can still easily pierce. I appreciate your vid, but LOVE my Gerber Strongarm.

@AlaskanFrontier1

2 жыл бұрын

Fair enough. Glad you like your knife

@GODWITHUS0712

2 жыл бұрын

Still brittle and not suitable for out doors hard use. Keep it in the kitchen we're it belongs.

@daniels1263

Жыл бұрын

@@GODWITHUS0712 test it yourself

@stalememe6407

Жыл бұрын

@@GODWITHUS0712 420hc is literally 4 times tougher than 1095 but whatever i guess

@troyounce3295

Жыл бұрын

@@stalememe6407 got em' lol. I hear you, everyone thinks low chromium carbon steel=tough as nails knives for some reason and everybody hates on the super steels of yesteryear.

The main intended use for my Gerber strongarm is self defense and combat, not bushcraft. Though it's not bad at that.

So.... First you say the Kabar is better because the blade is bigger that makes it better for cutting, then you choose a knife that has a shallower blade.... Nice consistency. The Kabar handle isn't ambidextrous not does it allow you to swap the orientation of the blade in your hand. The SRK is known for horrible heat treat and is prone to snapping off the blade end.... The 420HC heat treat done by Gerber is spot on. It holds an edge very well and sharpens up quick. The handle on the strongarm is not an uncomfortable handle. It fits very well in the hand. The swell in the center sits perfectly in the center of the palm. It allows for a good grip that doesn't slip in the hand for chopping and doesn't have annoying finger cuts that keep your fingers spaced in a funky way. You can't say they are uncomfortable when you go to a RAT 7 chuncky handle and then suggest buying other scales or modding them. You take points from one knife, then excuse them in others. Not very consistent in the review. Now... Some real world usage on the Strongarm. Since it's apparent you haven't really used it much. I have absolutely done my utmost best to break mine. Not happening. I have pried concrete wall blocks into place (80# in weight), I have used it to pry steel water meter covers off, that sort in concrete boxes, I have used it as a machete, I use it as a trowel around sprinkler heads, I use it to remove roots in ditches, it cuts rope and straps (dirty, muddy rope and straps not clean 550 cord) the spine and pointer get used to hammer stuff constantly. I abuse the knife and it holds up fantastic. I have used it camping and bushcrafting as well with great success. Even after all I put it through, a quick moment on the stone gets it super sharp again and it stays that way for a while. For the price point, you can't beat it. The knives you mention may be good, but I'd put the Strongarm up against them any day of the week and is love to see them stand up to the pressure of being used any thing from a pry bar, to a trowel, to a machete, to a knife. I don't see you comfortable flipping the knife over and orientating the cutting edge to our from you very easy either. (With the exception of the SRK-C) All in all, I think you need to spend some more time behind the Strongarm. You're missing out on a fantastic knife. You dock points on it that you willing overlook on others. Overlook them on the Strongarm and I think you'll find out why we pass over all those others and go for the Gerber.

Another thing to note is OKC started using 1075 for their RAT 7 about 5-6 years ago. If you have a RAT 7 that reads Ontario Knife USA on the base of the blade, that is the newer stock made in 1075, old stock will read Ontario USA and is probably made with 1095. I’m honestly annoyed that it isn’t specified when you receive it in box, no documentation included; a lot of the online product pages still list it as 1095 even though it’s not. Still a great knife regardless

@TheRealSwampOperator2

7 ай бұрын

There aint a dimes worth of difference in 1075 and 1095 when they are heat treated In the way Ontario does. If anything 1095 is worse for a fixed blade.

@thecrazyfilipino

7 ай бұрын

@@TheRealSwampOperator2agreed, 1075 offers greater toughness. It just annoys me that product pages haven’t been updated in years, even though OKC is no longer in business

There really should be a 5-7" general purpose knife in 14c28n. But I can't find one

@tonycanniffe2360

2 жыл бұрын

Yep. Most seem to be in the 4 inch range or so. I have seen the Joker NOMAD (5 inch- convex) advertised in 14c and I ordered one- but it came in N695, so i sent it back. I'm still not sure if they make one in 14c but they do use it on other models. Worth investigating- good knives and great value) Maybe also look for AEB-L too.

@andrewfournier8817

2 жыл бұрын

@@tonycanniffe2360 There is a 5" or so from ruike. But I'd love to see an esee 5 or 6 sort of thing in it.

@tonycanniffe2360

2 жыл бұрын

@@andrewfournier8817 Yep. Makes more sense than S35vn they used on the 3

The Fällknifen A1 with VG10 Steel is the best Knife i think. 😁 Nice Video...

I've broken all of those knives during practical use. As far as durability and reliability, none of them beat the Strongarm.

@AlaskanFrontier1

2 жыл бұрын

Interesting

@EDCPride

2 жыл бұрын

@@AlaskanFrontier1 the only exception on that list, being the Bk18. I still haven't broken that, and Ive tortured it. But the tip is gone from prying. The Strongarm that I have is basically a pry bar. Breaking it would take extreme pressure. I mean, I can break any blade, but the Strongarm is on a whole other level when it comes to strength. For military use, it's also a Ride or Die. It's something that you wouldn't have to fear doing extreme things with.

Check out the torture tests that Joe X does on knives, they are brutal. The Gerber Strongarm did quite well and survived through and did alot better then a Bark River blade, did better than the Cold Steel SRK, etc etc. Check it out.

With the exception of the Becker you just listed all the knives that I have broken or have had major issues with haha. SRK broke when I dropped the damn thing, it was the full size version in SK5 and I was using it to cut a low hanging branch and I dropped it and it snapped in half just landing directly on a rock, probably just a freak accident as I had used that knife for years. The Terasaur came to me dead on arrival with the handle separated from the blade (mold pressed/glued on" so there was nothing I could do to fix it) and the Rat 7 broke on me batoning and Ontario refused to honor any kind of replacement. When the Strongarm was 50 dollars it was a good knife deal and it can still be found occasionally on sale in that 60-65 range and I still think its okay but Im not really a fan of of it either. I primarily use Esee and Morakniv knives now and I just havent had the need to use anything else (Esee 4, Esee 6, Izula, CR2.5 and Morakniv Garberg with a re-profiled grind for rainy day bushcrafting)

@rebel_scum_

2 жыл бұрын

Mora Garber both stainless and carbon and Esse for everything else... done.

@AlaskanFrontier1

2 жыл бұрын

There are certainly more options.

@Ve-suvius

2 жыл бұрын

Weren't there any cutouts in the tang of the Terrasaur? Like you see on the Mora 511 or Mora Bushcraft Black. Prevents the handle from sliding off the tang. ESEE 6 with the 3D handle I like a lot. But also the BK7. Mora 's excellent. Many models of them...

That comparison is like comparing apples with pears.

I have used Gerber Strongarm for 4 year. Served me well and still going strong. So I'm not going for other knives to replace a knife that served me well. Just a waste of money.

I have cycled through so many blades out there but I keep coming back to the indestructible Strongarm. It’s design is just so awesome. I love the ergonomics. I wanted to believe the SRK could hang but it’s just nowhere near as tough. The Strongarm and a good Tracker have become my go to blades in all purposes. Thanks for the video!

I’m a fan of Ka-Bar, I vote for that one!!

Now this is an interesting video. I have heard from people much more knowledgeable than me denounce the Strongarm, while others absolutely praise it. Many have said that the steel is too soft; others are fine with it. I guess the debate will continue.....

@AlaskanFrontier1

2 жыл бұрын

We will find the end to this debate

I like your hooded jacket you are wearing. Can you tell us what brand and model that is? I don’t recognize the logo. Thanks.

@lmaoparkes3199

2 жыл бұрын

Arceteryx , good gear . Not sure if it's big in the States but it's quite popular in Europe amongst outdoorsy types

@kgriggs8

2 жыл бұрын

Oh, I’ve heard of them but don’t think I have have anything from them. Thanks.

I totally agree with you on the line of RAT knives. These are much better knives. Get a very good quality knife for the price.

Hey man, you have great radio voice - no kidding - you could tell storries for kids ! Of course, not knives stories 😊

Is it bad that I own all of these and love each one of them for their own reasons.

Something fairly close to the Rat7, would be the Alaskan Harpoon, Tops. It’s about $65 more, blade shape is a little different. But size and weight are identical almost.

My biggest concern is the use of a plastic handle, I have had some bad luck with plastic degrading over time or from exposure to gas or solvents and have come to prefer micarta.

I got the Ka-Bar bk18 myself I love the fde color I have it on my war belt.... I also have the Gerber strong arm on the other side of my war belt.... And of course....I have the OG of knifes... The Ka-Bar full size Marine fighting knife I have that one latched on to my Mollie on my ballistic vest... Three knives yes I carry three knives along with my firearms....it's not EDC...it's my SHTF apparel.... I carry the strong arm everyday.... I also baby my knives I don't do no real bushcrafting with them for bushcrafting I use knives that are handmade and forged... Mostly because I'm afraid to put a scratch in the knives that I purchased from a big box name brand.... Cuz they're not cheap... anyways good video brotha ....side note lots of guys carried the strong arm into battle along with a couple of cold steel knives just saying hoorah Patriots

The srkc is a beast it cuts thru Bailing wire like butter I work on a Cattle ranch its rock solid

Great knives! I’m surprised not to see Esee or Tops Knives! I’ve actually used my Gerber LMF for years 🤣

@AlaskanFrontier1

Жыл бұрын

Thanks, the primary reason for that is price point. The ESEE knives and most TOPS are just a bit more expensive. But I own both and love using them!

I've heard good things about the Joker brand...good knives, good prices.

@seandoherty6215

2 жыл бұрын

I have a joker Bowie 25 with a stag horn handle. Made in Spain. It’s a great Bowie knife

I would mention the Schrade schf51. 5mm thick decent steel, great handle. Basically a sharp crowbar.

@cbassettwater

2 жыл бұрын

Made in china.China. Gerber is all usa.

Love OKC. Have the RAT 3"&5". Their survival bowtie So-5 95 . several others including thrir "K BAR" copy that our military issued. Tennessee

Looks like a nice day in Seward AK!

On my srk the handle broke off of it just batoning it I have owned a Gerber ever since and it has never failed me

The bk-18 looks very similar to the Tops Prather War bowie. Just smaller. But man she's a beauty !

@AlaskanFrontier1

2 жыл бұрын

Yes it really does look like that!

I have the Kabar BK18 & Ontario Rat 4 3

What’s your suggestion a year later? Thanks for the video. 😎👍🏼

Found some on Amz. Very good prices for the “Gerber” it shows up small box and bubble wrap. Obviously a counterfeit. Getting returned.

None of these knives you’re showing have ANY signs of wear and tear or actual use. How can you review knives functionality if all you do is look at them and keep them in the sheath?

Hello from Oklahoma! Fun video! I like my schrade SCHF3N. I've had it for about 8 years now. Used and abused it. It just keeps coming back for more. The flimsy sheath everyone b$&%s about, is holding up just fine. God Bless!

I have all these knives and maybe 3 dozen others . . . The OKC is not in Gerber's league, I have broken 2 of them over the years doing fairly easy tasks . . .

@SirPraiseSun

Ай бұрын

exactly it all depends on task but Gerbers steel quality is pretty unmatched in general and you dont to spend over 100 bucks on a freakin knife 40-80$

New SUB Brother

Kabar needs to make some of their Becker knives in s35vn.. rust resistant and tough.

The kabar looks like a nice knife

I own every knife you just shown with the exception of the rat 7 i own the 5. And in a Shtf fan scenario and ive used the strongarm many times for multiple tasks. For me its the Strongarm hands down. But to each there own. You have your opinion i have mine. All the knives you showed are good knives. ✝🇺🇸✝

@AlaskanFrontier1

11 ай бұрын

Thanks much!

I would choose the Terava Jaakaripuukko 140 instead of the Terrasaur. It is 4.2mm thick (.16 inches) and 140mm long (5.5 inches) in 80crv2 which is basically a low alloy enhancement of 1086 or so. Similar to SK5 (SK85). Very tough and scandi like the Terrasaur. The handle and sheath are fantastic.

Ill stick with my bark river bravo 1.25 in cruwear

My go to for fixed blade is a ka bar mark 1. But I don’t go around hacking trees or anything stupid. Use it for knife stuff. My son is a Marine and he uses a cold steel SRK-c and he has beat the hell out of it and had it all over the world.

Not good comparison for size and such but the schf9 is fantastic

Great review, but just so you know the SRK-C is a full tang knife.

Almost every reviewer for the BK18 states that the handles are too slippery and they upgraded to micarta. This is what's holding me back...I don't want to have to spend more for new handles. Looking for advice from those who don't feel a need to purchase micarta. Are stock handles acceptable?

@AlaskanFrontier1

2 жыл бұрын

They are slick. Things you can do to change this are. Add grip or skateboard tape. Stipple the handle or cut grooves for traction with a Dremel

you forgot butter knife

just for comparason... in my country (EU) the gerber strongarm costs 800 crowns but the Rat7 costs 3500 crowns

I have 3 StrongArm blades. Battle belt, coyote hunting backpack, and get home bag. All grab and go propositions. I don’t buy my Gerber StrongArm blades NEW… I find them used on local classifieds and they work for SHTF bags. In both our vehicles / SUVs, I’ve got Kabar/Becker BK2 with survival tins setup. My deer hunting pack has a Becker BK16 for the deer I have not shot yet (I got ADD/ADHD on the deer stand, LOL) and my wife likes to remind me I cannot/have not ever killed a large ungulate. Ha ha ha ha So yeah, i can see your approach with Strongarm alternatives. Pick the right tool for the job/adventure/encounter/ scenario. Peace Be The Journey!