Any Thoughts on the Sprig?

GB940Rookie

GB940Rookie

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I've been looking online at the Sprig and I'm thinking it would make a great "around the camp" knife. 90% of my cutting will be food prep or cutting up my dinner. The other 10% will be small camp chores(light cutting). It's lightweight at 3.8oz and fairly easy to carry on a belt.

The only thing that concerns me is the tip. A little more pointy than I was wanting.

I have larger fixed blades for batoning or whatever.

So any Sprig owners out there? I haven't found much info in my research. How do you like yours? Anything out there that's similar? I definitely want a 4+" blade.

Think overbuilt steak knife.:D
 
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There are some good reviews on the model around here.
Pretty sure surfingringo has one he uses for fishing.
There's also the Sustain in 20CV that shohld be out this year if you're looking for something a bit longer.
 
I finally got to handle one a couple weeks ago. It's a sweet knife...made me want it even more. I think of it as an overbuilt paring knife, but of course it is bird n trouty. It could work as a parer in a pinch, but probably a bit large for optimal use there.

Seems like it would suit your purposes. The Southfork may be a better all around camp knife that can also take apart any large game (or livestock) you'd ever need to butcher. That's my current all-purpose field to kitchen tool.
 
mb> said:
Seems like it would suit your purposes. The Southfork may be a better all around camp knife that can also take apart any large game (or livestock) you'd ever need to butcher. That's my current all-purpose field to kitchen tool.
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I have other knives for field dressing. My favorite is the ESEE 3. I have the 6 also.
The Southfork definitely looks like a superb all around knife. Just a little larger than I wanted.
 
Yeah, I prefer a shorter blade for field dressing too.
 
The Sprig is awesome but not really a "camp knife". Only you know your intended uses. It has an acute tip and a thin edge. It isn't delicate but it certainly is not a hard use knife either. It will prep food well, it would cut up a steak well, it will process small game and fish well. It will even carve wood well with it's thin edge and should make great feather sticks. It will probably not be happy drilling with the tip or prying or batoning or any "bushcraft" type stuff but it sounds like you have some Esees which excel at that stuff. The Southfork is a much sturdier knife and was designed as a large game processing knife as well as a camp knife. The Bradley Bowie is a tough as nails survival knife as well as game processor. Either one of them would make a better camp knife than the Sprig for my uses. That said, I ain't selling my Sprig any time soon. Overbuilt paring knife is decent description of the Sprig.

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I used my sprig for a few weeks in September Elk camp for everything that needed cutting; edge retention held up well, no worries about corrosion plus the ergonomics were/are comfortable. Used it to process a grouse and have it with me now that my focus is on Deer hunting.
 
Thanks for the pics and replies. I have no way to handle one and pics really help. Except for the acute tip it seems to be perfect.
 
I've been contemplating the Sprig and the Southfork for use as a deer knife but can't decide. I like the thinner grind and cost of the Sprig but am wondering if it is robust enough for larger game processing. Anyone used it on deer yet? What are your thoughts?
 
bearfacedkiller said:
The Sprig is awesome but not really a "camp knife". Only you know your intended uses. It has an acute tip and a thin edge. It isn't delicate but it certainly is not a hard use knife either. It will prep food well, it would cut up a steak well, it will process small game and fish well. It will even carve wood well with it's thin edge and should make great feather sticks. It will probably not be happy drilling with the tip or prying or batoning or any "bushcraft" type stuff but it sounds like you have some Esees which excel at that stuff. The Southfork is a much sturdier knife and was designed as a large game processing knife as well as a camp knife. The Bradley Bowie is a tough as nails survival knife as well as game processor. Either one of them would make a better camp knife than the Sprig for my uses. That said, I ain't selling my Sprig any time soon. Overbuilt paring knife is decent description of the Sprig.
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GB940Rookie,
Based on your OP, I was initially thinking Southfork would be a much better option for you than the Sprig.
Bearfacedkiller ^^ did a nice job with his referenced on the the Southfork and an additional step with references on the Bradley Bowie.
All excellent advice in my mind.
 
I owuldn't hesitate to process a deer with the Sprig but the profile isnt ideal. A broader blade could provde more belly and more of a dropped point. As it is now you need to just be careful that you don't puncture the hide with the tip as you skin it. Also, the tip could be prone to catching on stuff when you are elbows deep in the gooey bits trying to cut the esophogas and stuff out of there.

On a side note, I want the Southfork and I have the Sprig but I have wondered why those two models were chosen. Phil Wilson makes some beautiful fillet knives and some great looking drop point hunters. Those two styles of knives are much more common than trailing points or bird and trout knives. Maybe that was the reason right there. I don't know?

Can we get some other Phil Wilson patterns please?
 
The Sprig is a great design and a superb cutting tool. If, as you said, you have heavier fixed blades that you will use for the rougher camping work then I think you will be very pleased with the Sprig for the lighter duty work you described. I haven't had any issues with the tip strength but I tend to appreciate acute tips for their superior piercing ability when cleaning game and fish. As long as you don't do anything crazy with it you'll be just fine.
 
Surfingringo said:
The Sprig is a great design and a superb cutting tool. If, as you said, you have heavier fixed blades that you will use for the rougher camping work then I think you will be very pleased with the Sprig for the lighter duty work you described. I haven't had any issues with the tip strength but I tend to appreciate acute tips for their superior piercing ability when cleaning game and fish. As long as you don't do anything crazy with it you'll be just fine.
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I feel like it will serve me well. I have 3 other fixed blades for bigger tasks. I'm not too hard on my knives anyway. I believe in having the right tool for the job.

For the last year I have been using necker type and folding blades for my "around the camp" knife. I always wish I had a longer blade than the neckers and don't like getting a lot of food crap in the folding and locking mechanisms of the folders. I will still have my Manix 2 LW in my pack for a backup slicer. It's a great folder.

My dream Sprig would have a 1/4" longer blade with a tip more like the Southfork.
 
i say go for either the Sprig or the Southfork depending on the delicacy of your typical camp tasks, i have both and bring both with me on every camping trip, hike, large outdoor bbq or dinner, and when I'm staying over at another house for a few days. They are that useful and make such an excellent pair for my overall camp and food prep uses that i honestly think they compliment each other well enough to merit both.

The Sprig sees more frequent use since its so nimble and handy. I grab it for the countless little cooking, food, package, and area setup uses that are just made so much easier and more enjoyable with a quality knife thats so agile that it can be used with confidence and something approaching grace.

If i could only keep one it would be the Sprig (my wife would choose the Southfork in this scenario, she love the Fork)

But i don't think one negates the other, you could always get the other down the line. I had the Southfork for well over a year before i sprung for the Sprig.
 
You'll like the Sprig, it's a real cutting/slicing tool. I also prefer a more acute tip for my uses. My Sprig gets more use than the Southfork. Both are great knives and classic designs.
 
I'm really looking forward to getting this. Too bad I won't have it for my camp out on Thanksgiving. Come on Christmas!
 
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