Best camping knife, but slightly different

[soapboxpreacher]

I love the S1. Not too big, my favorite grind! Steel is great and wont rust in the moisture (but not a water blade), handle is grippy and eats up shock! Not to mention the handle grippy when wet or frozen! Sheath is very minimum and I hated at first and now love it!! It is 5" but it doesnt seem as big as most 4" blades...like my ESEE seems bigger overall. It can handle little tasks and do some big ones within reason. I love my Fallknivens and find i use them way more then my army of ESEE, Becker, or Barks. I do however love my ESEE warranty...plus the heat treating they do on there 1095 is really amazing! I could have saved a ton of money had I just done the Fallknivens to begin with. I dont dislike the other but I just love the Fallknivens that much more! They are simply excellent!!

 

[Insaneinmate]

strider mfp. simple straight forward design. average length and weight overall.

 

[bluefivespot]

Flat grind Blind Horse Knife bushcrafter. Fits your parameters, awesome quality, much better price than anything I could find from Bark River or Fallkniven. Great customer service. Will build you a custom for same price or less than others I just mentioned. Contact them.

 

[Javelin]

The Becker BK16 (releasing in March-ish) fits those specs to a "T". Its .165in thick 1095CV, 4.3in long with a nice handle, drop point and FFG.

They actually just barely changed the knife to a FFG after SHOT show 2012, and so because of that we don't have any "real" photos of the knife. One of the Beckerheads photoshopped what it will look like though, and you can check it out here.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/925842-BK16-FFG-Mock-Up

Here is the clip point version of the same blade complete with the sheath they will come with.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/925448-BK17-pics

And they are also in the Becker Blade Database. All of the specs are there at the bottom for the BK16.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...ker-Blade-Database-!!!-(Knife-Specs-and-Data)

Hopefully you have the time to wait, because these things look like they're going to be excellent. Oh... they will cost ~$60-$65 so they won't break the bank.

Whoa! I have my fixed blade bases covered, and never even considered getting a becker, but this one sounds spot-on. I'll be paying attention to this one.

 

[ocnLogan]

For those too lazy to click on the link here are some photos (I'm sorry, I don't know how I forgot to post photos last time).

The whole set of new beckers. The only difference is that the BK16 (drop point) is now FFG instead of saber like this proto shows.

I'm personally waiting on the BK17 (clip point version), as I think it will be the perfect belt knife. I'll team it up with my BK9 and a folding saw and be good for pretty much anything.

And I think I'll take the blade and strip/patina it and make some bluejean micarta for it .

 

[soapboxpreacher]

For those too lazy to click on the link here are some photos (I'm sorry, I don't know how I forgot to post photos last time).

The whole set of new beckers. The only difference is that the BK16 (drop point) is now FFG instead of saber like this proto shows.

I'm personally waiting on the BK17 (clip point version), as I think it will be the perfect belt knife. I'll team it up with my BK9 and a folding saw and be good for pretty much anything.

And I think I'll take the blade and strip/patina it and make some bluejean micarta for it .

Ok I like these but the grips...the same slick, no shock absorbing, hard plastic junk. They are somewhat tough. I have a BK2 and a BK7. I like them but not their sheath or grips...hate the BK7 sheath...too cheap. Why doesnt becker release these with Micarta or something? After market BK2 grips make that knife far too expensive (But it does make that knife pretty awesome but 40 bucks for grips is much!. It puts that knives total cost over 110 bucks!! I like my BK2 but the grip is a total bust and other than what I listed about it also came lose (shifted) from vibration (Chopping) and has gotten banged up, If they had the BK16 in a micarta handle for around 75-80 bucks or so (Street Price) I would consider that strongly. But becker needs to seriously do something about their grips/handles! Even a Kraton would be a huge step up in my book...for I love the blade design and the steel (becker does a good job on surface treating and hardening).

 

[ocnLogan]

Ok I like these but the grips...the same slick, no shock absorbing, hard plastic junk. They are somewhat tough. I have a BK2 and a BK7. I like them but not their sheath or grips...hate the BK7 sheath...too cheap. Why doesnt becker release these with Micarta or something? After market BK2 grips make that knife far too expensive (But it does make that knife pretty awesome but 40 bucks for grips is much!. It puts that knives total cost over 110 bucks!! I like my BK2 but the grip is a total bust and other than what I listed about it also came lose (shifted) from vibration (Chopping) and has gotten banged up, If they had the BK16 in a micarta handle for around 75-80 bucks or so (Street Price) I would consider that strongly. But becker needs to seriously do something about their grips/handles! Even a Kraton would be a huge step up in my book...for I love the blade design and the steel (becker does a good job on surface treating and hardening).

Well, everyone has their preferences .

Personally I really like grivory. I don't feel it is "hard slick plastic" (which I DO feel about the scales on my ZK War Sword and Kershaw blackout). Grivory has slight texture to it, and doesn't give me blisters like other handles I've held even after long periods of use (2+ hrs of chopping with my BK9). Also, if you tighten the bolts you shouldn't have any problem with the scales coming loose. Many people use locktite on them to keep them from backing out on them. I haven't personally done that, but then again, my scales haven't come loose (tightened them pretty good before first use though).

Also, I think about it like this. The Beckers have great value as a very functional and workable blade at a VERY resonable cost in comparison to what I would say is their nearest competitor (ESEE). A Becker BK2 with aftermarket micarta scales and a custom sheath is still <= the price of a ESEE 5. The BK16 will be pretty close to the ESEE 4 in most ways, and will undercut it in price, still leaving you with more $$$ to make the Becker your "own". And also, they are coming out with micarta for the BK15,16 and 17 if you are interested. Also, you can make your own micarta at a much lower cost as well.

But like I said, to each their own. I mean, I might just be an outlier, but I like Grivory AND I don't have anything against the standard BK7 and BK9 sheaths (keeps the knife in and keeps it from cutting me == works for me).

I'm just throwing out options for the OP is all .

 

[dePaul]

Some ideas:

Peltonen M95 Sissipuukko

Gerber A400 and A475 (may be hard to find. Really great camping knives though)

Mora of Sweden 205P

Marttiini traditional puukko

~Paul~

 

[Stainz]

I became 'enlightened' as to the appreciated attributes of the 'proper' bushcraft knife some years ago. My trusty Buck 192 Vanguard had been superceded by a collection of Marbles, Bark River, Northwoods, etc, 'bushcraft' knives. Don't get me wrong - I love my Fox River - almost as much as my Gameskeeper - and so on. But, my Buck Vanguard is still a common grab when I head to the back yard - as it will be the next time I camp. Essentially no maintenance - easily cleaned - Buck's 420HC keeps it's edge - and is easily re-edged. It's also available as the 692 with a rubber handle and nylon sheath - all-weather, if you wish.

The top knife, the Buck 119, is a great choice, too - if a bit large. WallyWorlds still carry it ~$40 - cheaper and easier to find than a 192/692 Vanguard. Below the Vanguard is the Buck 102 Woodsmsn - about the same cost as the Vanguard, but too small of a handle for me. The Marbles is no longer available - and was carbon steel. The Vanguard is also available as the 192 Alaskan Guide from Cabela's - in S30V. Just a thought.

Stainz

 

[Harpoon1]

For the money, its hard to beat the F-1.

 

[Tommythewho]

This Pasayten Lite Traveler id a good hiking/camp knife. 5"x 1 5/8 "x 5/32" 154 C M blade, Micarta, Kydex. It will trim some branches, Split some kindling. Not much on battoning but great for food prep.

 

[kancler]

Here is a selection of Russian Camping knives: http://www.russianknives.com/catalog/camping/

Here is my opinion for your needs:

My camping knife should be suitable for camping, so it should be suitable for:
- food prep
* for this task blade CANNOT be very thick, thicker blades will not cut very well and will "brake" slices.
- cutting small branches
* here pay attention to hardness and blade length
- splitting small wood
* For this task, yes blade should be little thicker... So you will need happy medium between knife for food preparation and knife for splitting
- general utility stuff


So I wood take a look at these models:

Picnic

Companion-2

Cadet

All these models are available with different handles.

 

[bdmicarta]

I'm going to provide a dissenting opinion and suggest bringing TWO knives. If you want to chop, then bring a knife that is big enough to do that well, and if you want to do food prep then bring a second knife that is well suited to that. Of course the OP knows better his requirements for each of these tasks. I've been camping and backpacking for over 30 years. For a long time I've carried a Cold Steel SRK but I don't recall that I've ever chopped anything with it, and my smaller knife has only been used to open the occasional bag of chips or cut the occasional hot dog. (I guess that's pretty pitiful for a knife enthusiast, all those knives and nothing to cut with them.)

 

[kancler]

I'm going to provide a dissenting opinion and suggest bringing TWO knives. If you want to chop, then bring a knife that is big enough to do that well, and if you want to do food prep then bring a second knife that is well suited to that.

I cannot agree with you more... The best decision - bring a knife for cutting and ax for chopping

 

[kenk]

I cannot agree with you more... The best decision - bring a knife for cutting and ax for chopping

Boy Scouts have been recommending that for 100 years! A folding knife for detail work, fuzz sticks, cutting cord, ... , a fixed blade for cooking, an ax for chopping and de-limbing, and a saw for cutting larger logs.

 

[Magnaminous_G]

&#8220;The notion that a heavy hunting knife can do the work of a hatchet is a delusion.&#8221; - Horace Kephart, 1906 (from Camping and Woodcraft)

My personal combo is a 9" bahco (or silky) saw and a 3" or 4" fixed blade for everything else. No batonning, and no need for any branch/log thicker than 5" anyway.

 

[deltablade]

take a look at Hargis knives in the knife makers section. he makes many that meet your criteria.