4" fixed blade

The Bear

The Bear

Joined
Nov 23, 2001
Messages
162
I’m looking for a small fixed blade, about 4” blade, for general camping tasks, food preparing included. I can’t decide between the classic Marbles Plainsman and the modern Fallkniven F1. I like better the charm of the first one, but perhaps the second one is sturdier and has better materials.
Any comment and suggestion will be appreciated!
Thanks
 
Hi Bear!

I think that whatever your choice will be, they are both very good knives! I don't have the plainsman altough I wanted to buy it several times. But then I said to myself, that it couldn't offer anything else than my F1 would offer to me, and,....frankly spoken,....... I like VG-10 a lot more than 52100. Not only because it is stainless, but VG-10 takes a very agressive and wicked edge and it holds it. I have most of the Fallknivens and they are the best value for money I ever had. If you are looking to a 4" knife you should also have a close look to the Fallkniven H1! In the meantime this is my favourite 4" knife! Very sturdy and really bomproof, fantastic handle,........much better than the handle of the F1 and a wonderful blade shape and,.......incredible sharp!!! After a little grinding and polishing the edge I can cut effortlessly through the thinnest cigarette paper! A knife, reliable in any situation is the best knive you can have!

greetings,
Gerry
 
The new Alchemite MC Plainsmans are great knives. They have a very thin grind for exceptional cutting performance. Also, the quality control appears to be better on the newer Plainsmans than the older 52-100 Marbles knives. I wholeheartedly recommend the Plainsman.

The only downside is the sheath. I hate the sheath. It's big enough to fit 100 knives into it, and the fit and finish is less than I prefer. You might end up making a new sheath for it, or having somebody else make one for you.

If the sheath issue is too much of a hassle, go for the Fallkniven. It's a darn good knife with a better quality sheath.
 
I don’t have any experience with Marbles Plainsman but I support all what Gerry said about Fallkniven F1.
As to H1 – I would like it much more with thinner blade, in my opinion 3,5 mm would be just right for this style of knife, 4 mm would be maximum acceptable. The handle is really excellent and with thinner blade it probably would be one of my strong favorites. In current configuration however I prefer F1.
 
If you've narrowed your search to picking
only from those 2 knives, I don't have
any input. But...

I recently bought a Spyderco Moran for exactly
the purposes you listed, and I love it. VG10,
lightweight, great handle, great sheath. It's
been camping with me twice, and for food prep
and other various camping activities, it's
perfect (to me). The light weight ("light",
not "wimpy") is a real plus if you backpack.
Besides, if you think you'll be chopping
wood with it, you'd probably use an axe or
hatchet instead, right? ;)

Anyway, good luck with whatever you
end up choosing.
 
That pretty much sums it up...I love all THREE of mine and would easily trust them with my own children in the woods...Just enough knife for the job.


I like NeckKnife options, so think about that too, although a 4 inch blade will prove large for anytime OTHER than in the woods.

-SLD in CT
 
If you're down to only the Marbles and Fallkniven read no further.

The Spyderco Moran is a great four inch fixed blade.

If you want something stronger look at the Swamp Rat Howlin' Rat.
 
Check out a Bob Dozier. He's so well priced, you might be surprised what you can get. Most folks on this forum will vouch for his custom fixed blades, which also come with equally excellent sheaths.
 
4" is too small for a chopping blade anyway, so I'd go with the thinner Plainsman as I think it will cut better. The Moran would also be a very good choice, as would any Dozier of that size. Personally I like a knife right in that size range too for the kind of camping I do. Anything bigger is heavier than needed, and unless you get much bigger (like 7"+) you can't chop well anyway, so you might as well carry a small saw for those tasks and go with the better cutting instrument.
 
Good call. Bob Dozier even does convex grinds, like the Marbles and Fallkniven. Well worth the small extra expense. Bob's sheaths are also first rate.
 
For a factory blade, the Fallkniven is quite a nice one. Looks like a Loveless dropped hunter too. (Are we talking about the same one ?) personally, if I have my choice, I'd use a Dozier in D-2 with his standard high hollowgrind. Those are cutting machines, in the words of another knife writer. The Kydex sheath is also well done and convenient.

Cold Steel knives sometimes get a bit of flak, but I'm quite partial to the Master Hunter in AUS-8. I actually lost mine on a trip, but it worked very well for me. I particularly like the slim handle contour. Mine had the standard leather sheath but the Concelaex or Kydex sheath version should be even better.

My ideal 4inch knife would be a custom one (made by me, of course, of course) with a blade of differential heat treated O-1 carbon steel, with a double brass guard and canvas Micarta handles. This would be a nice heavy duty all-round knife. Oh yes, Kydex sheath. I think it would be nice ...
 
Edb,
Very good points about SPYDERCO Moran Featherweight and camping equipment at all :)
Featherweight is excellent cutter and I prefer it over Fallkniven blades for light weight and ease to carry. However I would advise someone to handle it before buying because of somewhat unusual handle shape. It is comfortable for me but I have heard different opinions in this matter.
 
Thank you guys for all yours suggestions!
I took a look at Bob Dozier knives: what do you think about “KS-3 Professional Guides”? Almost 5” blade, but it looks what I’m looking for!
And what about “Temperance” model, among Spydercos?
I’ll wait for your further opinions!
Bye
 
I'll add another recomendation for one of Doziers knives. The Profesional Guides knife is a great choice. I have a Straight Personal and the Guide's knife is next on my list.
 
Many people swear by the Dozier Professional Guides knife. I hear that it cuts like nobody's business. If the PGK is good enough for Hoodoo, it's got to be good.
 
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