Best lightweight fixed blade?

>I've been backpacking for 40 years, ever
>since my boy scout days, and I've yet to need anything bigger than a boy scout knife

Hoodoo --

Uncle Bill posted a query on the A.G. Russell Deerhunter recently, and I replied in that string about why I feel the Deerhunter is the best light camping knife out there. I'll reproduce my article here. I bet this is exactly what you're looking for: More carryable than any other knife you've carried including folders, lightweight, inexpensive, high-performance cutter.

I also felt for a long time I didn't need anything more than a small folder. However, although I didn't "need" anything more, moving to the Deerhunter (and the TTKK in my next reply) gave such an increase in performance and ease-of-use that I feel they were the right choice. Everyone I camp with -- from the folder-only guys to the big bowie guys -- always end up coming to me to borrow the Deerhunter or TTKK. These are the perfect compromise between size and performance (for me).
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The small-knife jobs you do camping -- food prep, cutting bandages, whittling walking sticks
and hot dog sticks, etc. -- are better served by a razor-sharp high-performance blade than they
are a huge indestructable one. Your large camp knife can be indestructable -- your small camp
knife should CUT. The whisper-thin blade on the Deerhunter is a razor, drop point shape is
perfect, handle is incredibly ergonomic. Anytime I go camping, if I've got the Deerhunter, I
know people will be borrowing it the entire trip.

The sheath is also great for camp use. The swinger clip means you can transfer it from your belt
loop to a strap on your pack, or to a twig from a nearby tree, or to the loop at the top of your tent,
all without removing your belt.

I also used it heavily in the kitchen for a while. A knife with a guard isn't perfect for kitchen use,
but the guard is small enough not to get in the way too often, and the whisper-thin razor-sharp
edge really makes it worth using.

[This message has been edited by Joe Talmadge (edited 15 November 1999).]
 
Hoodoo --

Oops. I'm not sure what you meant by "affixed" handle.

Below is the first knife I should have mentioned anyway, the TTKK. I took what I felt were the few weaknesses of the Deerhunter -- most especially the guard -- and fixed them up. The TTKK is as carryable as the Deerhunter (comes with a multi-carry sheath which includes a swivel-clip configuration), and has the same blade shape and great edge geometry. In addition, it's got a drop-blade format for easier use in food prep while still providing finger protection. And, you can get it in ATS-34, BG-42, or talonite.

You can see the knife at:
www.pe.net/~thrblade/

Joe
 
RJ Martin Handiman -- recurved blade, G-10 handle, full tang, 3 1/8" blade, D2 Steel, neck sheath. GREAT utility knife.
 
Cruised over to AG Russel and checked out the Deer Hunter. Looks nice. I also liked the looks of the Bird and Trout knife. The Deer Hunter might be a better camp knife than a backpacking knive but the Trout knife might be the perfect packer. I may Deer Hunter for a camp knive.

I don't do a lot of food prep while backpacking. I just dump the stuff that's in a baggy into the pot.
smile.gif
But I do like to fish in the backcountry. This is where I would use a fixed blade the most. Less messy cleaning fish with a fixed blade than a folder (esp my SAK).

Also noticed the DH Russel knives there. Never owned one but always wanted to. Anyone with any experience with this line? I like the wooden handles and the overall style and they are really lightweight. Years ago, Herter's used to sell similar (if not the same) knives and proclaimed them to be the best for a woodsman (Herter was not what you would call a modest fellow.).

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. You've given me a lot to think about. I'd really like to buy 1 each.
smile.gif
Many great knives in this category. I'd welcome more suggestions and tips.


------------------
Hoodoo

Doubt grows with knowledge.
--Goethe
 
If you're not doing food prep, I think a narrow blade works really well. For food prep, I like the wide blade of the Deerhunter. The narrow blade on the Frosts of Sweden knife that Jeff posted would be a top choice for me otherwise.

Joe
 
A wide blade for food prep ? Almost all of the paring knives that I've seen are narrow bladed, and paring knives are probably the most used kitchen knives in most houses. A wide blade is nice on a longer knife, like on a chef's for the rock and roll chopping that one can do with such a knife. I find a narrow blade to be more versatile as it's easier to cut in small arcs if needed and one has more access for some tasks. A thin, narrow blade is one reason why I like the Mora knives so much.
 
If all I needed was a dedicated paring knife, then you're right. But my one knife does all food prep, and even at 4" I can do a rocking chop with my Deerhunter. There's plenty of uses where I like having all that metal. By and large it's proved itself, to me, to be more useful than a narrow blade overall. Depending on what you're preparing, I could imagine coming to a different conclusion though.

Joe
 
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