I would like to add one big fixed blade knife to my collection. The biggest one I have currently is Delta 5, 125 mm long and 5 mm thick blade, made of AUS-8.
I narrowed the choice down to 3 knives, but I can’t decide which one to take.
The bigger the better. Black Fox is the biggest, relatively cheap, but the steel is 7Cr17MoV (although I’m not a steel snob).
Black Dragon from Y-Start is the most robust and tought, made of AUS10 steel, but the blade is “only” 128 mm (but 6 mm thick).
Y-Start camping knife is in the middle, small secondary knife in the handle is a plus, but this one is most exspensive.
I have Bear Grylls S4 copy from Y-Start (ATS-34 steel), and the quality is great.
Another Y-Start knife with rosewood handles is on the way.
Don’t know about the Black Fox, looks nice on the pictures.
That black fox looks the best to me. I do not know much about the blade steels, but hardness of 57-59 is pretty decent. Will have to look up more on it when I get home...
I think there are better choices for that kind of money.
Blade steel is important if you want a good knife for actual use.
If it’s just for display, then it doesn’t matter, but the only Chinese steel that even approaches decent is 9cr13 as a minimum…the lower steels are mild steel and are not good cutlery grade steels, but a good design is just as important.
For about the same money you could get one of the Ka-Bar Becker series and own an excellent knife with excellent steel and proper heat-treat.
Did you have a particular use in mind? That might help with the choices.
Honestly, I don’t need such a big knife, but I would like to have one 
I got this one and it serves me well.
EDIT:
Its 40$ (50:money_mouth_face: you’ll probably get it in two weeks.
In that case, I’d just get the one that you like the look of the most! :bigsmile:
The Black Dragon II is the only one without a finger choil but I don’t like its looks. Though you can make a spear with it, or replace those G10 scales with some nice wooden ones.
I don’t like the grind line on the Y-Start (even if it has a harder heat-treat).
The Blackfox looks nicest. Wonder how it feels in the hand… A couple of reviews here:
http://www.heinnie.com/Blackfox-Knives/Fixed-Blade-Knives/Hunting-Knife/p-589-1126-7541/
Gerber Yari II tanto cpm S30V is the ultimate fixed blade for the money (it is actually made in USA)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Gerber-Yari-II-Tanto-9-1-2-overall-4-1-2-black-finish-CPM-S30V-stainless-G1143-/290866914571?pt=Collectible_Knives&hash=item43b904e50b
pozdrav iz Makedonije (greetings from Macedonia) 
Chloe, you are right, that Black Fox have the most sleek look of all.
Kralyevski, pozdrav
I’ve hear a lot of good things about Mtech 151. Big, thick and dirt cheap… Like 25$. Too big for my taste though
I have a Cold Steel Tanto GI that I like. It’s big, it’s well made, has a great sheath and it’s cheap!
take a look at the jericho knives and cassel knives especially the one called orions jockstrap…
In a big sheath knife there is less reason to use high grade steels. Most manufacturers get by with some high carbon steel like 1075 or 1095.
7Cr17MoV is roughly equivalent to 440B, which is used in a number of Boker fixed blades. However the first knife you listed is claimed to be 5Cr13MoV, and in my view that isn’t enough carbon to take a decent hardness.
Y-Start have a good reputation, so the second and third options are probably good ones.
There’s this Browning, in 7Cr17MoV with claimed 58HRC. That’s a 15cm/6” blade.
That said, there’re a reasonable number of cheaper fixed blades from American brands to look at too. I’d definitely look at a GI Tanto.
This ^
If said large knife use is in a drawer or shelf on display, get what looks good to you.
If you’re looking for a large outdoors knife with the intent of “survival” or extended camp situations, get a Condor Golok (pack or machete - depending on your need/comfort level). Good tool for the job.
Depending on where you live, limits on cutting edge for fixed blade knives. Big knives are viewed as weapons, not tools here.
I wouldn’t choose any of that knives. Only perhaps the y-tart but not for that price. I can recommend some of my country: muela jabalí 17/21, cudeman 106/107, cudeman boina verde, muela tanto. muela lobo… and from EEUU cold steel recon scout, trail master or the cheaper gi tanto (but uglyyyy).
how about a RTAK II from Ontario knife and tool, it is a big knife for sure, what was your budget?
http://ontarioknife.com/fixed-blades/rtak-ii-detail.html
As I said before, I don’t really need such a big knife, but I want it 
Black Fox is the best looking for me, and least expensive. I’ll probably take that.
Original Black Fox is marked as 440 stainless, chinese copy is marked as N680, maybe that’s Bohler N680 steel?
Here is another good one
http://www.amazon.com/Condor-Hudson-8-5-Inch-Walnut-Leather/dp/B003D9RBPW
And this with synthetic handles
I’m actually liking some of those smaller Black Fox knives, and I noticed Amazon carries a few modela.
Hrvoje, for that price you won’t get any kind of Böhler steel. Beleive me, because i work at Böhler Hochdruck Tchnik in Kapfenberg (BHDT) and know the prices of raw material.