The Best Fixed Blade Knives from Every Brand in 2021 

I'd love to see "the most underrated knives from every brand". A video about great knives overshadowed by their most popular products!

30 minutes on fixed blades, god bless you.

I've been using the same two knives for 30+ years . Buck 119 or my K-bar USMC . I never saw a reason to get a knife for batoning wood . If I want to split wood I'll use my axe .

This guy should get a raise. These reviews are just so well done. So easy on the ears, not over-hyped or just doing some kind of hard sell like "THIS IS THE KNIFE FOR YOU!" kind of thing. Just even-keeled pros and cons of each knife.

It amazes me how Mora makes such quality knives at a fraction of the cost of others. You can never go wrong with a Mora.

I bought a Cold Steel SRK from the military clothing sales store at Ft. Bragg back when I was a wet-behind-the-ears private. I didn't know crap about knives back then, so I consider myself fortunate to have made such a sensible purchase. It served me well for many years, putting up with way more abuse than any knife has a right to endure.

My wallet flinches every time one of these videos hits my subscription notifications.

Kabar is the only fixed blade I’ve ever owned. Still carry the one I originally purchased while on active duty almost 40 years ago. It’s been out in the field, all over the world with me.

the Kbar is fully capable of tomahawking through deer bones. It can take any and all abuse. Ive been using it extremely rough for over 20 years now and it still performs flawlessly. I keep it sharp and clean and ready!

The kbar mark 2 is equivalent to the 1911. We went to the ww1 museum in KC today and i saw the 1911 on display. I asked my gf if she recognized it. (She didn't lol) asked her to read about it. I still had to explain that it is a design still widely made by so many companies 110 years later! Crazy!

The Mora Garberg carbon is my favorite knife of all time. There is no perfect all round knife but the Mora garberg does come pretty close in my opinion. The only problem is the price - but it'll last decades so I think it's worth the money.

David, I love fixed blades, as you do. And the knives that you have chosen to represent the fixed knife field, are very good representations of very good knives in this category. I am 63 years young and I used to collect show and mostly user knives, but I have reduced my collection DOWN to 200 to 300 knives. But since I have been using knives since I was 8, I know that it is the person holding the knife, that depends on how well it is used. Like with anything... a person experienced with any tool, can make it look easy. Thank you for your contributions to the knife world! Best of blessings to you and your loved ones!

I enjoy listening to this guy! He is great at what he does!

Thanks for covering fixed blades! Folding knives are handy. But when I need to get serious I am taking a fixed blade. Large or small.

Well done David! Thoroughly enjoyed the variety. Thinks I need that SOG!

Man you are great at this! Thanks for your comments - all super helpful! 👌🏻👍🏻

The buck 119 was my first real outdoor knive. Love the classic look.

As a fisher/boater/sailor I would love to see a salt-water resistant knife series for you guys.

Thanx for showing the sheaths, that's an important part that alot of people leave out when showing fixed blades.

A bunch of great fixed blades that do it all. I am a Tops guy and really think they are innovative when it comes to blade design. Nothing better to carry than a top quality fixed blade knife. Thanks for the great video!

I love my bk16. I stripped the powder coating off, forced a patina and upgraded to the micarda scales and bought a custom kydex sheath.

Really glad to see you guys include Condor. Condor really is my hands down top pick for not just fixed blades but overall affordable knives. Not only do you get great materials like Micarta, hardwood, GREAT leather, 1095, 5160, 1075. But you get it in a kydex sheath for $50 on average!! Not to mention they do great jobs on their heat treats, files skate off all blades and they keep an edge better than some more expensive steels I've seen on other knives. Oh, and they make sheaths better than anyone hands down.

Great very unbiased review. Worth a follow

Love your video, plane, simple, and just the facts with respect to each knife. Great job.

I've been really impressed with the SOG Pillar. I feel like it isn't getting the love and attention it deserves due to SOG's past history... That knife is a really great all-purpose knife that can withstand a beating!

Whenever I think tops I think the tahoma, really like the style of that. Fixed spyderco I think mule team but that's all i have from them so makes sense, street beat is dope.

Great review as usual. Many thanks.

Thank you David!! Very helpful!!👍👍🤠🤠

Good selections. I would include the Ontario Rat 3 in that lineup, love mine !

Really good job breaking down the utility of all of these knives and the cost factors with options. I’m old school, early 70s veteran. I have several fixed blades but the one I always end up carrying for bush craft is the Kabar. I have 3 and never leave home with out one in truck. I also have a very affordable, useful and fits like a glove Old Timer skinner. But maybe I’ll expand my horizons after watching this vid. Thank you again, sir

Fallkniven F1... best knife I have ever owned. Lifelong Mora fan and the classic #1 with the laminated blade and full stick tang is legendary.

My top pick fixed blade is the Condor K-tac Kukri. Micarta handle, Kydex sheath. The winner of the first season of Alone took this as one of his ten items. It's a big knife you can use to replace a hatchet or machete, but it's still light and thin enough for fine tasks such as skinning and processing (larger) fish. It's not what I use for "Everything" but it definitely is used for around 80% of my outdoor knife tasks.

Helle would be a good add here. Razor sharp bushcraft knives made in Norway.

If haven’t looked into the history of Fairbairn and Sykes, it is a must. Makes that dagger all the more special.

My SRK was delivered yesterday and I love it. I wasn't sure if I should get the full sized or compact model, I ended up going with the full size. I'm glad I did.

I went proper camping for the first time this year. I got the mora companion. Its an awesome knife, especially considering the abuse I put it through. It got me back!

I currently own two on this list, the Gerber Strongarm and the Cold Steel SRK-C. I love them both. Both are compact and solid and each feel great in the hand. The Strongarm has just about the best grip of any fixed blade I’ve used so far. Love that checkered diamond pattern, I never feel like I’m going to lose my grip on it even when I have sweaty hands. I’m really digging the Lionsteel T5 and the SOG Pillar though, I’m definitely adding those two to my wishlist. Great video, keep up the great work!

There are a lot on that list I'd love to have. Nice selection.

You really made me feel good about me questioning my own purchase of a McNeese Agent. I put $500 into a handmade McNeese Agent and was debating getting a SOG Pillar. When you said "If they'd make a 7 or 8 inch version", I was beaming! 😁

Gotta get a Ka Bar sooner than later. Such a classic knife. Thanks for sharing.

I like the lion steel, sog, tops, cold steel. I've had, have or used most the knives here. The lion steel and sog are the best (to me) in this category.

Laser Strike is my favorite ESEE and I have several of them, followed closely by their Ashley Game Knife. I've skinned a few bucks with it and it's done fantastic with the blade shape that's a less exaggerated Nessmuk design and small enough to properly maneuver a carcass. I point that out because of the hunting/skinning comments on the Kabar (which I also have and sits alongside my right knee in the center console side "pocket" of my F150). I feel like people who'd use a Kabar as a skinning knife has never actually skinned an animal; same for a bowie knife, which I find to be utterly useless.

The Mark 2 spec as well as the Mark 1 was developed by the Navy Department around 1942 after looking at what the sailors and marines were bringing with them from home. The sailors and naval pilots got the Mk1, 5 inch, with a couple of blade and handle types depending on manufacturer including an early synthetic handle. The marines had a more unified spec across all manufacturers.

TOPS B.O.B and ESEE 6 are a couple of my all time favorites. TOPS Bush Crafter Kukri 7.0, TOPS Power Eagle 1095, ESSE Laser Strike and ESEE Junglas are up there as well.

Ahh Fixed Blades - some great ones in this list. I would add the ESSE 5 for top beast knife category. Include A Bradford Guardian 3.5 and White River Backpacker Pro, and Benchmade 162 honorable mention.

Cant beat the Mora for value

Great video as always DCA and KC crew!! 🤙🏼🤙🏼

As always another great video with great choices. I personally own the Boker AF dagger the Buck 119 the Cold Steel SRK the Esee 6 the Gerber Strongarm the Lionsteel T5 and the USMC Ka Bar. Great knives. Love em all. Some of my other favourites I own are the Chris Reeve Green Beret the Fallkniven NL2 Odin and S1 the Cold Steel Recon Scout and a Trailmaster the Hogue EXFO1 the Aitor Nato Bowie the Spartan Difensa and V14 George dagger the Mercworx Shiva the Steel Will Fervor dagger the Tops Operater 7 blackout edition the Becker BK7 the Bark River Teddy 2 the Benchmade Arvensis the Boker Desert Warrior and a Cudeman 107 R bowie.

Who wishes K- Bar would include one nice set of micarta scales with the Beckar blades instead of two (zero traction) injection molded sets?

great selection! my choices: Becker, Condor, LionSteel, Morakniv (why should I pay more) as a kid I always dreamed to have a USMC Kabar, but I think this is not so good for bushcrafting, something I care much about today (I use Mora Bushcraft)

Thanks for the great review and effort. Thanks for reminding me how many more knives I need to purchase!

I bought one mora about 2 years ago. I've bought 4 more since then. I like having basics or companions stored around in all my tool boxes and vehicles. Then a few of their specialty options, like the Chisel Knife and the cork floating knife, for more specific needs.

My personal favorite KaBar is the modified tanto. I bought one a few months ago and it’s beautiful. It just wants to stab into something. I’ve also got an esee 3 with g10 scales which I really like. I’m really looking at the Becker bk-2. It’s such a beast

Hello David, thank you for sharing this fine informative video. One additional fixed blade which I have admired is the OKC #499. It's the Air Force survival knife. It has 10/95 blade and includes a great looking leather sheath. I enjoy your videos. Please keep up your great work. Stay safe and healthy. 🤗

Yes, a video about underrated knives, great idea.

Excellent job... Thanks!

I 'm buying that Buck although I don't Hunt. For collection it's a keeper

For the Becker, I absolutely would have picked the BK9/Remora combo. I've had extensive use with the BK9, and it fills so many roles. It can straight up replace a hatchet, it's great for processing wood, superb for food preparation, has a great feel and balance, and it even throws exceptionally well to the point I could confidently hit a squirrel or muskrat within about 15-20 feet (though throwing any knife for hunting would be one of my last choices). They used to come with the Remora neck knife, and the BK9 sheath still comes with the Remora kydex sheath built in. I have the Remora, too, and it's a great little skeletonized knife, perfect for the finer cutting tasks the BK9 is just too damn big to do (skinning, whittling, etc.). The BK9/Remora combo is my go-to for my adventures into the mountains. I will say, though, that KA-BAR 1217 (Mk2/USMC) is one of my favorite knives in my collection. I've used mine A LOT, even more so than my BK9. It has held up very well, and to be blunt, it's the knife on that table I'd pick first, although that SOG and Tops really caught my eye, and if I ever buy those, maybe I'll change my tune. I actually own about half a dozen KA-BAR knives, as I really, really love their grip style, which fits my big hands very well, and in the event of SHTF, they are pretty much the gold-standard of knives, instantly recognizable even by people not into knives, and would be worth a lot in trade value due to their well earned reputation of being a quality blade that should outlast you and even your grand children, assuming it's properly maintained. It's also heat treated to be softer at the hilt/tang, because a bent tang can be straightened, but a snapped tang is done for. This is why you can tell someone is lying or had a knock-off KA-BAR if they claim the blade snapped at the hilt. The tip is more prone to chipping or snapping, as is the edge, but not the tang. Ultimately, they are built to last. If you get one with the leather sheath, it's Mexican leather and made in Mexico (knife is made in USA). Some people don't know this, but some of the best leathers in the world are Italian and Mexican. This becomes abundantly clear when you feel the silky, flexible, yet incredibly sturdy leather KA-BAR uses for their leather sheaths and grips. I treated both my knife and sheath with neet's foot oil baths, soaking them in 24 hour sessions once a week for the first 3 months, then once a month for the next 3 months. The result is a supremely pleasant texture, and high water resistance, as well as a deep darkening of the leather to give it a vintage look. It goes great with formal attire, as well as wilderness attire. Here's a picture a couple years after treatment: cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/249798643605962752/906855064788938752/981229_1114251525254769_7649880865395488400_o.jpg If you want the same amazing feel of a an oil bath treated knife and sheath, but want to retain the original color, I hear you use mink oil instead, which won't dye/darken the leather like neet's foot oil will.

Really nice choice of knives My personal - cold steel SRK. A had Recon-1, broken skull, Ontario rat, some of full-sized CRKT m21 and a plenty of other folders... But so far, SK-5 SRK actually became my EDC knife over the years. I will definitely get a 3V version and I am sure it will be my new EDC knife After about 7 years of owning SRK I became confident that it actually works "anytime, anywhere"

Lovely presentation!!

Great choices there and was happy to find some knives I own as well. I would have liked to see a real puukko knife there (ok you have Mora and Condor, but not one from Finland). Maybe something from Marttiini like iconic "Lynx" or their bushcraft knife "Tundra" would have been nice additions :)

The Boker has some removable weights in the handle for balance purposes.

Awesome video. I thoroughly enjoy listening to you talk about knives 🙂👍🏻

Best channel about knoives

I like cold steel for inexpensive knives that just work had an srk for over a decade before I lost it

Perfect EDC : backpacker pro from White River

I have the Buck 119 in black and the Gerber Strongarm and love both of them. For hunting, I like the 119, but for heavy duty utility bushcraft work, I prefer the full tang Gerber. It's tough and has held an edge well. If I decide to add another to my collection, it will be the KA-BAR.

Nice selection. Got my K Bar knife 40 years ago at Ft Bragg. Most amazing knife ever and still at an incredible price

The Fallkniven F1 is calling to me... (Great overview!)

I'm surprised you didn't mention the Strongarm's sheath. From what I've seen it seems to be the most out-of-the-box customizable sheath of any knife of . . . well, just about any price point.

Great video bud

Thanks David for a great video.

Thanks Bro, you’re what I call a talking head - great verbal skills. I’ll bet you could sell an Eskimo a snowball. I like to collect knives on a limited budget. I enjoy your videos.

I picked up a K-bar back in '91. Took it to Desert Storm and it immediately became my "Go-To" knife. It was so intimidating, I almost didn't need my M-16! Lord help the fool who caused me to skin it from it's sheath! I had a guy faint once when I unsnapped the handle!! Took to Afghanistan after that. Same results. It's a blade that commands respect and can scare the hell out of ya even in it's sheath!! I love my K-bar.

Glad I'm not the only that appreciates the Boker Applegate Fairbairn dagger.

Great video!

Mora carbon Garberg should have been on here. Best value in the knife world in my opinion.

No LT Wright's or Bark's?? DCA, when are you going to get Knife Center to stock your own knives?

Great job. Just got a recon tanto in the mail today. I love it. Can't believe what I got for the money. Going to retire my 119. Bought it in 1976. Of all the knives I have my favorite is still my K-bar. Picked up a new SOG super bowie last year. Not very practical. Once and awhile I take it out and just look at it. I'm looking at a Esse 5 for my next purchase. Great job on the video.

SOG Pillar, is a fantastic Fixed Blade... Perfect shape, S35VN, Micata handle... Super light, super tough... My Fav...

I would like to see best knifes USA made

You failed to mention a little-known feature on that TOPS BOB, the brass lanyard tube doubles as a bullet-puller (which will separate a bullet from its brass casing) for certain rifle ammo (.30-06 ?), to dump out and access the gunpowder to be used in fire making.

Loved ur picks david, thanks for the video

Thanks for a very fine overview.

All good choices, but I would have picked the Gerber MK II instead of the Strongarm.

Yes Esse makes better survival knives than folders

Excellent video and knives!

Ending with the BOB was clutch. What a great knife!

No LT Wright? Love my Nex Gen.

No Bark River?!! For shame. Gotta love the Bravo, or the Gunny Hunter, or the Aurora or the…well, you get the point.

Some cracking observations there. Personally I love Mora, best budget knives in the world, Condor are superb, love the KABAR.

I love, love, LOVE my Esee 6 😍

The Spyderco Street Beat is hands down the best All A-rounder on the table

LT Wright?🤔

Absolutely love my buck 102, 45 plus years old

Awesome video thanks. Very well thought out. 👍🏻 My favorite = Cold Steel SRK

I respectfully disagree in regards to the Buck 119... Their NightHawk 650C is by far the best Buck ever made. The spine, being just a hair under (0.017") under 1/4" is a natural for baton use, is squared for use with fire steel, and a "grippy" high-durometer rubber grip makes it a dream tool for bushcrafting with just enough heft to make for a good fighting knife (it was a contender for SEAL use in the late 80s)...!!! The only drawback is that it is not a continuous production knife and the last 2 production runs were subbed out to TOPS Knives... Supposedly to be put back into production late 2021/early 2022 if I understood the factory Rep correctly when researching its history in March '21. I am somewhat prejudiced, as I own 3 of these, 2 early models and 1 TOPS Produced...

Grind on that strongarm must’ve been done on a Friday right at quittin time lol .

Thanks for this incredibly useful video. It is also a great buyers guide.

Man I would love these videos if there were direct shots from above. Accurate scale comparisons are so helpful, but rare. Literally all those knives lined up next to each other, and you barely get a glimpse at the bottom of the screen.