Best Sub 4" or smaller fixed blade for survival?

k_estela

k_estela

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What is your choice for the best sub 4" fixed blade for survival? My choices include:

Busse Active Duty, Basic 3 and Chris Reeve Aviator

What is your pick?
 
- Bark River Knife & Tool Woodland Special (I currently have a Highland Special and it's VERY nice).

- Fallknien F1 Micarta (don't have one..yet...)


-John
 
Blast / Ed,

Please tell me more about the Bark River knives you have. How's the A-2 doing? What kind of sheath came with the knife? And anything else.

I been thinking about ordering one. Thanks.
 
I'm happy with my Becker BK-7 so I'd like to give the BK-11 a try. It looks like a solid blade that'll fill a hole in my current cutting tools list. Gotta find out if the sheath will allow belt carry, or I'll need to get another sheath that will. Neck carry is illegal here in the late great state of Kalifonica.
 
The A2 is great, it gets sharp, stays sharp and gets sharp again easily. IT seems to tarnish easily, but I have had no rust yet.

The sheath looks good and is well made, but I don't like the 'pouch style' and I have read WAY too many posts about BRKT's cutting through their sheaths. I may have something else made sometime soon. I think BRKT is re-designing their current sheaths and should have new ones soon.

But overall, I REALLY like it. I might try to swap mine for a woodland (or a huntsman or a fieldsman...) because I thinks aslightly shorter blade might be 'handier', but I'm very happy with this one.

-John

PS - These are very 'hand-made' and as such are slightly 'imperfect' so if you need everythig to be very 'machined' then you might not like these, but they do have character.
 
Ditto blastjv. I made a new sheath for mine out of heavier leather and am thinking about having one made in Concealex by Normark. The A2 is superb. Responds great to diamond hones. A2 is equivalent to 52100 in edge holding IMHO and slightly more corrosion resistant, but it takes a little more effort to sharpen. The Woodland is one of the most ergonomic designs I've ever seen.
 
Originally posted by Alberta Ed
Bark River Woodland; Marble's Fieldcraft; Grohman belt knife; Spyderco's Moran models
Click to expand...

All sounds like excellent choices. I would ad the CS master Hunter to the list, and there are many customs in this size range that are superb, the Rinaldi TTKK being about perfect.
 
Originally posted by Matt_Murdock
All sounds like excellent choices. I would ad the CS master Hunter to the list, and there are many customs in this size range that are superb, the Rinaldi TTKK being about perfect.
Click to expand...

I was going to suggest the Rinaldi Enigma. :)
 
The CS mini Bushman is a good knife around $15.00 you could put one in each car house tackle box B.O.B or what have you. I would also like to have a larger blade also but my bushman is an awsome knife capable of many uses.
Peace
 
Gene Ingram #1 Drop Point.

If you ever want to go even shorter, his Trapper model is nice as well.
 
Entrek Companion. I have been beating this knife without remorse for over a year up the Sierras down in the Desert in the ocean it holds an edge very well is easy to sharpen and is comfortable in the hand. The sheath was very sucky, so I replaced it with a Leather Sheath and everything is great.
 
The F1 is a great knife. I'm also very partial to the WSI ranger. That's a true "survival" knife. Filled with features. Just got a Randall TAK as well. Very nice.
 
I will second Gene Ingram....he makes excellent customs from D-2, cheaper than some of ones mentioned. His overall workmanship is superb!
 
Here are my favorite 4" or less knives

top center-Allan Blade Pack Pal
Left side, top to bottom
Bark River Prototype skinner
CRK Aviator
Brett Bennett hunter in D2

Right side, top to bottom
Gene Ingram warncliffe
Dozier Bodyguard
Randall 7-4
 
k...I guess I suck and Im poor

I use a Mora as a fixed blade, and a Opinel as a folder.
In the 4" and under.
 
JJW, From what I hear, the blades on the knives you've chosen are excellent. If that's the case, there's not a thing wrong with what you're using.

My current 4" and under blades are folders. A Vic. SAK w/saw that I found and a $9.00 German military utility w/saw.
 
"k...I guess I suck and Im poor

I use a Mora as a fixed blade, and a Opinel as a folder.
In the 4" and under."


The moras and opinels will perform knife tasks as well or better than any mentioned so far. Don't be ashamed that you can do it all for under $20...


My fave sub 4" FBs are: the Allen Blade Pack Pal and Brusletto Balder...
 
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