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Stockpiling cheap survival knives for SHTF

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shtf survival gear shtf survival knife stockpiling survival gear survival knife
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kev

· Founder
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17,151 Posts
Discussion Starter · #1 ·
Do you think stockpiling cheap survival knives has a place in your long term SHTF survival plans?


Why stockpile cheap knives?

20 years ago some of my buddies and I were making bug out bags for friends and family. The bag contained a canteen, water purification tablets, thermal blanket, matches, cheap poncho, cord,,, other odds and ends and a knife.

Things have changed in the past 20 years. Instead of bugging out I now live at the farm and will bug in.

What can I do to help friends and family members in need? For one I can have a few cheap knives to hand out.

Why cheap knives? Because if someone loses, breaks, or damages the knife, I lost $10 - $15 dollars instead of $50+ dollars.

I can stockpile 5 knives with $50 at $10 each. That puts 5 people in the fields cutting okra, squash, and beans instead of one person with a $50 knife.

Someone on youtube mentioned using cheap knives as a barter tool.

What are your thoughts?
 
G

· Third World'er Lunatic
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16,573 Posts
#2 ·
well, I have multiples, different tools for different jobs, i figure most most of what i have is Mid range price wise, a couple almost high end blades, I really like buying older, USA made skuffs and used, re-scaling and refitting them back to usable, broken too many cheap blades, Europeans being the exception (mora fiskars ect) and some of the more quality Japanese., Barter Tobacco, spices, salt, water (if you have a good well) home brew, candy (taffy, sorgum/maple based sweets) anything you can grow or produce, but im kinda edgey about bartering a possible weapon to a unknown. I only have 6 to have BOBs prepped for, out of those, all gear is durable I would call good to excellent, I dont think i could set one of those 6 up with something that might be of questionable quality, and expect them to get here in one piece but thats jus me.
 
W

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4,203 Posts
#3 ·
Got about 2 dozen folding knives made in China that I bought at Walmart with a 3.5 inch blade. Edge on them is good, but not outstanding. Figure I'd rather trade or lose one of these knives than my Moya or bayonets. Cost me 99 cents/$1, but are now $2.
 
panoz77

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#4 ·
Those Wahoo Killers (Mora look-a-likes without a scandi grind) in stainless are a pretty good option if you want an inexpensive knife to "stockpile". With the free shipping (@BudK) they work out to less than $2 each which is about the best cheap knife deal I have seen.
 
Brew

· 25 Or 6 to 4
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8,004 Posts
#6 ·
I have piled up bone handle skinners. Normal $6.99 with a leather sheath. Wait for a 30% off sale at BudK or kennesaw.

Not the best steel but they sharpen right up with a pocket smiths. Good enough for field work.

Mainly because I dont care what people think. Beggars will never be choosers. Never.

We will try to find the most suitable job, but SHTF, that job will be collecting food.

And remember I have a giant trap and snare stockpile. I dont even count the buried stuff.

Small skinners will do double duty collecting plants.


To those, I have a lot of Texas Outlaw Bowie sets, purchased on sale. I will break them up and make my own individual sheaths from dark leather and dark hardware. They seem to take a beating and hold an ok edge.
Nothing special though, just bottom barrel tools.
 
chops

· Thread killer
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1,237 Posts
#8 ·
Friends and family? They'll get the best that I can provide. I trust my friends and family so having guns and knives turned on me is not even a consideration. Knives are probably one of the most prevalent tools on the planet, i see no reason to stock a bunch of cheap ones for barter or give away. I just happen to have a bunch, so outfitting a few others won't pose a problem.
 
hank scorpio

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1,139 Posts
#10 ·
There's a large difference between "cheap" and "inexpensive".

Cheap is the crap you find in a Bud-K catalog. Anything that either doesn't advertise what steel it's made of openly, or is 440A or something along those lines...is 99% trash.

Inexpensive is normally something that's no frills, simple, rugged, and made of great High Carbon steel...Ontario's Old Hickory line, Condor Knives, etc. Moras are an example as well.

Knives are tools LONG before they become weapons. Keeping extras on hand are fine; but don't compromise quality simply to have extra stuff on hand.
 
C

· Hillbilly By***!
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1,144 Posts
#12 ·
No.. I only buy good to excellent knives. If it doesn't have a 4.5 start plus rating on it, I wont own it.
I'm a firm believer in the you get what you pay for ideology.
There are just some things you don't bargain shop on and cutting tools are one of them things.
 
buckhunter

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1,521 Posts
#17 ·
I buy what I think will be cheap semi-reliable knives to stock up as well. As long as I think they will take a good edge and serve a purpose. I just bought a couple of Bowie's at Wally world for $20 a piece because they were full tang and I think I can put a decent edge on them. They will serve a purpose and my boys will get my moneys worth out of them. I see nothing wrong with this.
 
G

· Third World'er Lunatic
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16,573 Posts
#18 ·
if any, and i do mean any of my family finds there way to me, most they will get is a dulled KFC plastic spork. cause i know them, push comes to shove, they would plant that thing in my back and not think twice. they is only 2, (half sister and half brother) that i will even associate with, those 2 would be welcome, the others, warned then shot on sight......
 
R

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17 Posts
#19 ·
kev said:
do you think stockpiling cheap survival knives has a place in your long term shtf survival plans?

stockpiling cheap survival knives for shtf - youtube

why stockpile cheap knives?

20 years ago some of my buddies and i were making bug out bags for friends and family. The bag contained a canteen, water purification tablets, thermal blanket, matches, cheap poncho, cord,,, other odds and ends and a knife.

Things have changed in the past 20 years. Instead of bugging out i now live at the farm and will bug in.

What can i do to help friends and family members in need? For one i can have a few cheap knives to hand out.

Why cheap knives? Because if someone loses, breaks, or damages the knife, i lost $10 - $15 dollars instead of $50+ dollars.

I can stockpile 5 knives with $50 at $10 each. That puts 5 people in the fields cutting okra, squash, and beans instead of one person with a $50 knife.

Someone on youtube mentioned using cheap knives as a barter tool.

What are your thoughts?
Click to expand...
i have over 200 knives. I would use them for barter.
 
O

· Registered
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475 Posts
#20 ·
No need to stock junk knives when you can get quality knives for $20 and under.

Fixed: Mora, Green River, Old Hickory
Folding: Buck BHW, SAK, Opinel, Douk Douk

Many people forget to store quality sharpening tools for each knife. Eze-lap paddle hones are one of the cheapest under $10.
 
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