Best handly little FB < 3"

kgd

kgd

Joined
Feb 28, 2007
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Okay, we don't see too much debate about the merits of the sub-3" fixed blades. Yet a thin, tiny blade can be a great wilderness compliment to the thick fixed blades and serves as an EDC. Not sure I'm in love with the concept of a sub 2" blade yet (i.e. BRK micro's).

Wanted to hear peoples thoughts on ergonics, versatility and performance comparing the following knives - or suggest others:

Fallkniven WM1 - 2 3/4"; $69
Buck min-alpha - 2 1/2"; $70
Bark River - Mini-Skinner - 2 3/4"; $95
Bark River - Mini-CDN - 2 1/4"; $90

-I love the look of the mini-skinner but it is also the most pricey of the bunch.
 
I really like my little Brusletto Balder, shown here with a Victorinox Classic SD for size reference. It has a 2" carbon steel blade and a leather sheath and it only costs $17 at Ragweed Forge. Brusletto is a Norwegian company.
1189559466-Balder_and_Classic.jpg
 
Nothing wrong with what you are considering, but I would just as soon throw a scandi blade into the mix, as anything else.

Take a look at the Helle blades.
 
Very true - those little Scandi's are nice looking and great value to boot!
The wood jewel little carver caught my eye - 2 3/4" & $34

woodjewel.jpg
 
those are some great choices.... bark river makes quite a few knives under 3 in.... i really like the mini and mikro canadians... i have both....


you should also check out www.mlknives.com matt does some really nice work....:thumbup:
 
Some of the knives you mention are mainly skinning blades, and as such are quite wide. To my mind, the small blades that are narrower are easier to use. Also, if they are scandi ground, they excel at making kindling or fuzz sticks.

While I like larger blades too, I have gotten so used to a 3" blade that even 4 1/2 seems big. A knife w/ a good shape and a short blade is very much like having a sharp finger, as it is so natural and instinctive to use.

My EDC is the Proflileringsknive on this page: http://www.ragweedforge.com/BruslettoCatalog.html

I have actually made other bushcraft knives that I thought I would like better, but keep going back to this one. It seems like it pairs up well w/ a larger blade/axe/machete well. I also think that the 3" blade is a better example of the strong points of a small blade than those shorter or longer, i.e. 2 or 4".
 
If your looking for an inexpensive small thin fixed blade you can check out the ag russel woods walker it's a bifty little knife ( can be had with a neck sheath) it's not a tanks but it's a great little slicer....and a nice compliment to a larger knife,,,that being said the brkt mini canadian is a mean SOB of a little knife it'll take all you got and ask for more...And I got mine for 70 bucks and have seen them cheaper.
 
After removing some material and convexing the edge of my Benchmade Activator, I wear it on my belt almost daily. Beautiful little knife, but thick and stout. I cut zip ties and cardboard mostly, and that polished convex edge parts molecules like none other. It's design provides lots of leverage and the handle is hella comfortable. Very ergonomic.
I'm not sold on D2 generally, (not quite stainless, not quite carbon) but it's performing really good now with a polished zero edge on this knife. I'd prefer low chromium high carbon, or high chromium/high molybdenum, but hey, the twain met.
I think the S30V version of this knife would be even better, but it costs more and I already got this one.
 
kgd said:
Yet a thin, tiny blade can be a great wilderness compliment to the thick fixed blades

Wanted to hear peoples thoughts on ergonics, versatility and performance
Click to expand...

One of the accessories I carry with me is the Aitor JK1 skinner. http://www.cutlerytogo.com/skinnerjki.html It is small packs away well and is so like it really adds nest to no weight to my pack/SK. While I wouldn't use it as an general/hard use EDC (as I like to keep it as sharp as possible) it is a great complement to my large camp knife; it is great for food prep and dressing . It fits the hand well (has lots of ridging which helps the grip when your hands are wet or covered in insides stuff;) has some accessory uses (can/bottle opener & gut hook.) One of the things I like about it the most is since it is a skeleton knife it lashes to a pole/stick well and makes a great emergency spear (esp good for fishing the gut hook helps to hold onto the fish like a barb.) To top it all off you can find them for $20-$30 so if something does happen to it it's easly replaced.
 
Being right at 3" the RAT3 in either 1095 or D2 would be perfect. I have one in D2 and it is a great fixed blade for edc.
 
It would have to be my TOPS WolfPup, I hardly ever leave home without it...
Johndean003.jpg
 
I have one of the Mini-alpha Hunters from Buck. It has been my fixed blade along with a Reeves double-bit Hatchet, and a Case Stockman when packing. I find it to be just the right size, weight and shape. Mine is ATS-34 Paul Bos heat treated, and holds a hair shaving edge.

I've cleaned dozens of trout, and one pretty decent Mule Deer a couple of seasons back with it. It's a pretty decent knife for the money.
 
My ML Nessie
mlnessmuk001.jpg


And my Carter necker
carter001.jpg
are perfect little lightweight field blades.
The Carter finds its way along with me all the time, thing is sharp as a straight razor too!
 
I just got a Spyderco Vanguard that I like a lot. Just a few ounces and an interesting swing-out blade guard rather than a seperate sheath. The handle is big for a small blade-- you can actually hang onto it. About $20 on sale.

Victorinox paring knives are handy for small game cleaning and food prep and PSK cutting tool backups. 3/4oz and about $3.75 :)

Others mentioned the AG Russell WoodsWalker and there are lots of neck knives out there.
 
You might want to consider this from Helle in Norway. 2.75" triple laminated SS blade, 0.117" thick, full tang, curley birch handle. It's called the Helle Fire.

helle-fire.jpg


Good luck!:thumbup:
 
rfbadger said:
You might want to consider this from Helle in Norway. 2.75" triple laminated SS blade, 0.117" thick, full tang, curley birch handle. It's called the Helle Fire.

helle-fire.jpg


Good luck!:thumbup:
Click to expand...

I can vouch for this one too... it's also part of my collection...
 
I have a Nying, it's a great little fixed blade. The large grip is easy to use even when your hands are cold, the blade holds a good edge and sharpens easily, it also seems weightless, very handy knife.

Helle
 
While working in Norway I developed a real thing for Helle knives. As well as the Helle Nying and Fire, I also have the Wind, Eggen, Fiskekniv, Jegermeister, and Symfoni. Helle is great value for the money, and I love their tri-laminated steel, I would highly recommend both their large and small blades to anyone.
 
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