Boot knives.

[86 slo-vo]

What do you guys have?

I've been itching for a fixed blade knife, I guess I could be called a knife newbie as I've always carried one but don't know a whole lot about which grade steels are better or the legalities of blade length's etc.

I carry a leatherman surge daily but would also like some with a better easier to use blade.


What do you guys suggest in the $50-$80 range?

Thanks

[Whootsinator]

The ESEE Izula is right in that price range (between $55 and $75, depending on how much you want with it) and could easily be adapted for boot carry. It's marketed as either a survival knife or a neck knife.

BIGC can take care of your knife orders. PM him or make a thread in Big Charlie's forum area.

[BIGC]

The main question is what do you want to do with it? A boot knife for the most part is a self defense knife not really designed for daily tasks. If you are looking for a good sheath knife to use for daily tasks to supplement the surge then there are a whole group of options open to you.

If you carry a boot knife in your boot it is also considered a "concealed deadly weapon" which means you need your CCDW to carry it.

In the range up to $80 you have a large range of choices including many nice Cold Steel knives, Mora, ESEE Candiru or Izula, some of the TOPS line of knives can be had under $80 as well, Becker..

There are a ton of good options in that range you just need to figure out what you are using it for and the style you want.

[86 slo-vo]

Mainly looking for a back up self defense knife, at the moment i am also open carrying my m&p9. Should be taking the CCDW class in a few weeks but by looking around seems like it will still be a month or two before I get the permit in.

I would still like something that could be used here and there when I'm not carrying the leatherman. Which isn't very often but still happens occasionally.

[BIGC]

I agree with Whoots then, the ESEE Izula makes a good choice for use either way....

[86 slo-vo]

What's the difference between the izula and izula II ?

I see you mentioned Becker also, what knife should I be looking at from them?

[BIGC]

OK.

With Becker you have the Eskabar, Becker Necker, and the Remora that could be daily carry.

The Izula has skeletonized handles that you can get plain or paracord wrapped, the Izula II handle is 1/2" longer and add set of canvas micarta handle scales.

[ssracer]

Esee, Esee, Esee

/thread

[86 slo-vo]

I like the looks of the eskabar. That size is about what I'm looking for.

What could you do on one of those bigc? Or the izula II I also like.

[BIGC]

I can get the Eskabar for $39

an Izula II is $85 w/kit (Kit includes paracord, split rings, ferro fire starting rod, whistle, snap hook, MOLLE lock and hardware. ) $75 w/o kit..

I generally make my orders on Monday's and it usually takes 3-5 days for the items to get to me.

[86 slo-vo]

I was planning on picking up the eskabar from you bigc (still may here soon) but got to talking knives with a buddy and he mentioned he had an esee 3 that he wanted to get rid of for cheap...

$30 bucks later and a trip across town I came home with this.


The blade doesn't even look like it had ever been used and it came with the whole kit and kaboodle. Sheath,belt clip,molle locks, drop leg sheath and the arrow point.

Since I'm looking to try it as a boot knife I rigged it up on my current pair of boots which are about shot so I don't ruin a new pair if I don't like it.






First go around I wasn't happy, the very tip of the handle rubbed my leg. So I pulled it apart and put in a small 1/4 inch spacer and it worked perfect. It stays off my leg and I don't really notice it there.

Overall I like it, not extremely happy with the knife as its bigger and heavier then I wanted, also I don't like the serrated blade but for the price I couldn't turn it down and gave me a good chance to check out esee quality.

I'm going to wear it for a few more days and see how it goes.

[ssracer]

WTF!!!! Does your buddy have anymore he wants to sell for $30, cause I'll take it!!!!

[Whootsinator]

No kidding! You seriously lucked out. I'd still get an Izula (and I would prefer the original for a boot knife), but dang.

[Ian]

Would have been stupid to say no! Haha... Does he have any more?

[86 slo-vo]

It was the last of his small knives, he's been getting into the big stuff.

[86 slo-vo]

Picked up some kydex and gave it a try, came out decent.

[Whootsinator]

Hey, that's some nice work there.

[86 slo-vo]

Hopefully the next one will the a little cleaner. The foam for the kydex press hasn't come in yet so I improvised with some foam from an old car seat

[justang1997]

did you get the kydex local? where?

I use the 5.11 boot knife that came with my boots. The boots have a pocket that the hard sheath will fit perfect in or you can use the velcro it comes with.

[justang1997]

[86 slo-vo]

I bought the kydex, rivets, drill bit, Chicago screws and rivet tool on knifekits.com. Prices were very reasonable and got to my door in 2-3 days.

I like that 511 setup, how do you like the boots?


I cleaned it up a little and took the top rivet out and replaced it with a chicago screw for adjustable tension.


Since I was at it I got to going through some old stuff and found an old SHARP brand knife...so I made a sheath for it kydex is addicting.

[justang1997]

I really like those sheaths. you need to make some for ar mags. I'd buy em... The 5.11 boots are about 1 1/2 years old and I need a new pair because the inside heel area is torn up. No hot spots or blisters, but they don't fit as well anymore. They have held up very well. I probably walk 2 miles per day on average. When they were new they had the best feeling sole of any boot I ever had. They are also zipper side and it has held up perfectly. The velcro top is still good too after daily use for 18 months.

[86 slo-vo]

I'll see if I can get my hands on one to try and make some, i need to order some more stuff. I didn't order much stuff because I wasn't sure how they would turn out lol

I'm in the search for new boots. I work construction so I'm on my feet most days at work from 6-3:30 then out in the garage from 4-8ish everyday. I'm lucky to get 6 months out of a pair before the liners are torn to hell and they leak real bad. Thinking about a set of belleville's.

[86 slo-vo]

Made one for my leatherman....don't think I want to do anymore of these...took me forever to make the retention right.

All in all it works but took me a good 2 hours to get it done.

[justang1997]

Those are cool. I'm gonna have to try now.

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