Best "Playing in the Woods Knife"

R

rp_carr

Joined
Nov 18, 2013
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4
Hey guys, posting this because I have been researching my new Christmas presents for a while and can't decide what I want. I had the same Spyderco Endura for about 18 years and lost it and am looking for a replacement as a Christmas present but not sure what I want. I hunt/fish/hike play in the woods a lot and carried the Endura a lot but rarely used it. However, whenever I did it performed great. I used it to open packages, make kindling ( a lot), cut para cord, cut braided fishing line, eat with, cut shooting lanes impress friends, clean trout and ducks/geese. I have a Havalon I keep in the truck and use to clean majority of game and I also have a fillet knife for cleaning fish. I also have several braid cutting scissors and I bring a saw when I know when I will be clearing shooting lines. Though I rotated through all these specialized tools the endura always sat in my right pocket.
Basically, I have lot of specialized edged tools but want something that could do everything in a pinch. Budget wise I am looking for most bang for the buck. Need to keep it under a hundred but 40-50 would be much better. Researching this has only made it worse and I can't even decide between fixed or folder. Concealment is not a concern but comfortable carry is. I am leaning towards a Byrd Cara Cara as it seems versatile. However, as concealment is not a concern I was thinking about a fixed blade such as the Izula or the ag russel bird and trout. Let's say you could only carry one blade for about 50 bucks in the New England woods. What do you think?
 
I would say izula 2 if you can find it under 50 if not get a bk 14 with the zytel scales for $56 from blad* hq
 
We live in a day and age when knives like the Mora or Buck Bucklite Max, both made with excellent stainless, can be had for under $30. So, I think the real issues are:

1) what blade profile do you prefer? Clip, drop or other?

2)What blade grind do you prefer? Flat, hollow, Scandi, other?

3) what style or aesthetic do you like?

I hike year round in the Whites carrying an Opinel #9.


EDC Pair by Pinnah, on Flickr

It does everything I ask of it and excels with wood and food. But I don't clean as much game as you. Still I would rather clean fish with a flat ground blade than work wood with a hollow ground blade. I also file mine to a drop point as I prefer them for all round use over clips.

I carry this old Schrade when I hunt or for times when bigger is more fun.

Schrade H-15 Modified by Pinnah, on Flickr

You can find knives like this or from Western well under $50. Still, I think this Schrade is a scooch long. Would love to find something in the 4" range.

I'm eyeing the Mora Outdoor. I love the Sanvik stainless on my Opinels. Looks about right.

Lapel looking at the ESEE Zancudo for a pocket woods knife. The blade shape is similar to my larger Scrade 51OT. But then again, I trust the Opinels fully.
 
The Becker BK-14 is a lot of knife given the price, the BK-24 in D2, seems like an even more attractive package. Still, those, or an Izula, or Swamp Rat Swamp Warden, are all nice knives for carrying on a whim in the woods, or as EDC pieces.
 
"hunt/fish/hike play in the woods" You can't do better than a Victorinox Farmer :thumbup:
 
My fav playing in the woods knife is a tomahawk! More specifically, an RMJ Jenny Wren:
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1385904514.298502.jpg
They definitely aren't cheap but the thing is very well thought out and made. It's certainly the most "fun" edged tool I've ever had!
 
Thanks for all the replies. I am strongly leading toward the BK 14. I was really concerned about the sheath dulling edge but if that is no longer an issue it seem like most bang for buck. The swamp rat looks awesome but hard to justify price. Appreciate responses.
 
sunandsteel said:
Looks like fun to me.:) Where's that wood stove, in your house or outside?
Click to expand...

I "homestead" (for lack of a better term) in an abandoned mining town in "Far West TX". There are 6 "ruins" that have been made more or less (depending on a persons desires) liveable & 7 of us live here. When I came here the "house" had no roof, doors or windows. Now I have those AND a wood burning stove! Oddly enough there is a cell tower and I can do interwebing on my iphone!
 
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