Best Small Fixed Blade Survival knife

Cord wrapped Izula is great for neck carry, if you want something a bit bigger, the ESEE 3 is more comfortable, and more capable, with that thin blade.
Here is the 3 pictured with a few others, for size reference



 
at 4 3/8"
Becker BK 16
For under $70
Will last a life time

The smaller the blade is also a shortening of the handle, which means long time handling becomes tiring
 
Just a vote for the Fallkniven F1 if it's not too short of a blade... at least it's going to perform as a cutting tool as well. I have used one for ages and it's still going strong even after all the abuse i've thrown at it. I don't understand the need for a 1/4" thick blade with a 3" length... Why? Just Why? you don't have the leverage to pry on something that short, and the geometry for cutting is signifigantly reduced by being SO thick. That Survive one looks amazing as well and appears to be well thought out and so do the ESEE models, but some of the pics (like that TOPS prybar) defy logic to me... sure, you'll never break it, but it takes the worst parts of a huge knife and applies them to what is supposed to be a small package... Defeats the whole purpose of a small knife IMHO.

sorry.. had to rant
 
I'm sure this is three pages of Izula, Izula II, and Candiru already, so I'll just throw my vote in for one of those three as well. :D
 
Okay, Rusty Razor brings up a good point. Is 1/4 just thick, does it impede the function of a small knife? I like the idea but have never used one. What about 3/16, still too thick?
 
I like my Izzy II. The BK 16 is an awesome affordable knife as well. For a little more that $100 you can get a TOPS BOB knife. I enjoy it as well. But it depends on what you call small.
 
rustyrazor said:
Just a vote for the Fallkniven F1 if it's not too short of a blade... at least it's going to perform as a cutting tool as well. I have used one for ages and it's still going strong even after all the abuse i've thrown at it. I don't understand the need for a 1/4" thick blade with a 3" length... Why? Just Why? you don't have the leverage to pry on something that short, and the geometry for cutting is signifigantly reduced by being SO thick. That Survive one looks amazing as well and appears to be well thought out and so do the ESEE models, but some of the pics (like that TOPS prybar) defy logic to me... sure, you'll never break it, but it takes the worst parts of a huge knife and applies them to what is supposed to be a small package... Defeats the whole purpose of a small knife IMHO.

sorry.. had to rant
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Some people find the little Tops pretty useful. Mine I got cheap off eBay and I had to send it off to get a regrind, but it shaves easy now. I don't think it really weighs over 14 OZ. either, more like 8 or so.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/941807-A-Small-Knife-I-ve-Been-Playing-With
 
jill jackson said:
Some people find the little Tops pretty useful. Mine I got cheap off eBay and I had to send it off to get a regrind, but it shaves easy now. I don't think it really weighs over 14 OZ. either, more like 8 or so.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/941807-A-Small-Knife-I-ve-Been-Playing-With
Click to expand...


When I first saw the knife I thought yeah right. But I do love a good mistwalker review. The evidence seems promising. Great sheath to boot. Thanks for bringing this up.
 
craytab said:
When I first saw the knife I thought yeah right. But I do love a good mistwalker review. The evidence seems promising. Great sheath to boot. Thanks for bringing this up.
Click to expand...

That's pretty much what my reaction is. If Mistwalker says it's good, that's good enough for me. That guy lives the adventure, that's for sure. :thumbup:
 
rustyrazor said:
Just a vote for the Fallkniven F1 if it's not too short of a blade.
Click to expand...

Shouldn't be. The OP said a blade length less that 4" was what he meant by "small". The F1 has a blade length of 3.8" and a very comfortable handle length of 4.5". It's definitely one of my favorite small utility/survival knives. And it's stainless to boot! :)
 
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My vote goes to Himalayan Imports BVCAK, 10" OAL, 5160 HC blade, mine is 5/16" thick, most are 3/8" thick. price is $72 shipped. it is the middle one in the pic here. yes it is a kukri. and FULL tang.
2014-10-03211156_zps46ab9f85.jpg
 
I think 3" is a tad small, but my choice would be the Kabar Becker BK-24. Add a custom belt sheath down the road or just slide the factory sheath into your pack or pocket.

Another good one at 4" is the BK-16 or BK-17. Choose your poison. This is one of the most useable knives you'll likely encounter for the price.

Added: The Fallkniven F1 is excellent. I find it a bit expensive, but it is a great knife. Many people love the ESEE 3. I have an ESEE 4.
 
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22-rimfire said:
Many people love the ESEE 3. I have an ESEE 4.
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Tried those. The handle was a little too short for comfort in my medium-sized hands. And the F1 isn't all that expensive when you take into account the fact that it has a laminated blade.
 
jill jackson said:
Some people find the little Tops pretty useful. Mine I got cheap off eBay and I had to send it off to get a regrind, but it shaves easy now. I don't think it really weighs over 14 OZ. either, more like 8 or so.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/941807-A-Small-Knife-I-ve-Been-Playing-With
Click to expand...

Hey Jill, you're right there, and verybody has their preferences i guess. I just feel small knives should be small (or at least small "ish") I mean 1/4" is some pretty hefty stuff, which i would figure better suited on a big knife built for abuse, so it's sort of overdoing it for something so short... for example, I meant it when i said I've abused my F1. I've had it for 7 years now and it's been all over the world with me and chopped, batonned, pryed... you name it, and it's still fairly well designed for cutting. I can't imagine anywhere where i would want something that short to be any thicker, that's all. but it you like it, you like it right? who am I to judge.
 
rustyrazor said:
Hey Jill, you're right there, and verybody has their preferences i guess. I just feel small knives should be small (or at least small "ish") I mean 1/4" is some pretty hefty stuff, which i would figure better suited on a big knife built for abuse, so it's sort of overdoing it for something so short... for example, I meant it when i said I've abused my F1. I've had it for 7 years now and it's been all over the world with me and chopped, batonned, pryed... you name it, and it's still fairly well designed for cutting. I can't imagine anywhere where i would want something that short to be any thicker, that's all. but it you like it, you like it right? who am I to judge.
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Just something different. I have knives that are bigger and thinner, as well as some around the same size that are too. I mostly carry small fixed blades hiking that are about half as thick.
 
Okay... It looks like I have a BK11 on the way. I'll post pics when arrives. However, let's keep the conversations going. I want to discuss the 1/4", 3/16", 1/8" blade thickness topic. Or is that another thread?

Cheers,
TC
 
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