Reddit mentions of Esee Knives, ESEE-4, Sharpened Clip Point Plain Edge, Coyote Brown Sheath, Clip Plate

ive had good success with the ESEE line of knives. check out the esee 4
https://www.amazon.com/ESEE-Coyote-Molded-Polymer-Sheath/dp/B004GALN0G

Got a blade material are you looking for? (stainless steel or carbon)

Blade profile? (drop point, tanto, spear, clip)

Blade grind? (Flat, Saber, Scandinavian, or Hollow)

Off the top of my head:

Becker BK16 - flat 1095Cro-Van

Esee Camp Lore PR-4 - Saber 1095

Esee 4P - flat 1095

Esee Izula - flat 1095

Morakniv Bush Crafter - Scandinavian 1095

Morakniv Garberg - Scandinavian 14C28N

Cold Steel Master Hunter - Flat VG1 in San Mai

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FYI The ESEE brand has perhaps the best lifetime warranty of fixed blades. Return and they will replace with no questions asked policy. It is also transferable so they do tend to keep their value over time. Tactical Intent is a verified seller on amazon. At that price range you can get a pretty great knife.

Hope this helps!

ESEE 3. Fantastic knife.

I've had an ESEE 4 for a few years now and I really want a 3.

Scales here.

I don't know about the TOPS, and I haven't heard anything about it. That may or may not be a bad thing, I don't really know.

If you're willing to spend that much on your knife, though, you should look into the ESEE-4, or the ESEE-5, or the Fallkniven F1. Those three knives are basically the gold standard of bushcraft knives.

Spend the little bit more if you can and buy the ESEE 4. https://www.amazon.com/ESEE-Coyote-Molded-Polymer-Sheath/dp/B004GALN0G

Either an ESEE 4 or a Cold Steel SRK would both be great choices.

Morakniv makes some great budget fixed blades, some are quite small and most have a general utilitarian use. Here's a model for less than $17 and these have built a really good reputation for value and hard use.

However, maybe that isn't quite what you're looking for. Maybe you want something thicker, more substantial? Continuing with fixed blades is the ESEE 4P which before shipping is $99. Another option would be the Ontario Knife Company's RAT-7 for currently $63. Being an avid knife collector, I have maybe 150 total knives total. That said, I think if I had only 1 knife to take out with me and feel secure in doing so, the Kabar/Becker BK7 would be it. For ~$78 new on Amazon, it's just a big hunk of steel (1095 steel specifically) that can tear through almost anything you put in front of it from wood to meat to a car door panel lol. I would recommend looking into some customization for it for a couple for reasons. The black plastic handle scales that it comes with are not so great. This can be resolved by using a bike tire inner tube mod OR just grabbing those ~$40 micarta scales that the link suggests below the photos of the knife itself. The sheath is definitely serviceable for your needs, but you may eventually want to upgrade it to a kydex sheath, or even a leather one if you really like leather. Finally, the coating that's on all of the Becker knives has the benefit of protecting the blade very well but the cost is a lot of friction and eventually that coating will wear off and it'll look different. Many modders just strip that coating off and blue or force patina it and frequently oil after use. Or go the other route and spend hours up front polishing it to a mirror polish and now you have a knife that will look really Bowie-ish.

Cheaper side go with the SOG Seal Pup.

For something of better quality go with the ESEE 4, or the Ka-Bar BK2.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004GALN0G/ref=pd_aw_sim_sbs_468_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=6PRH6VDJ9X2T0VJP0PS2&dpPl=1&dpID=81i6ysfcRTL