Big Knives That Are Also Light?

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Wolfeye

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Apr 26, 2015
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Hey, everyone. I was wondering if anyone knew of some big outdoor knives that are also fairly light? I'm looking for something that's sort of like that Matt Graham knife, but that actual knife is a little expensive for my taste (also, I very much like the ability to put my thumb on the back of the blade while carving). To narrow things down, I'm looking for something that's usable as a machete & isn't too heavy- preferably stainless (but not necessarily) & cheap (around $50). I could look around & just see the length/weight/shape of different knives, but I figured I'd ask for some suggestions as part of my research. Hoping this would work for butchering larger game & maybe have a little weight at the end, to make things more specific.

P.S.- Yes, I know that I can do the same things with a lot of different knives & no- I don't think I'm going to get magical powers if I buy a Matt Graham knife or anything. Just looking for a list of things to look at so I'm not spending a lot of time hunting down something I may or may not get. Also, I don't want to spend money hand over fist trying out knife after knife- that's where other people's experience with handles/weight/sharpening/solidity/etc... come into play.
 
The Mora #333 was big, light, and stainless, but they discontinued it. Hard to find them at this point.
 
The Old Hickory 10" blade butcher knife apparently is a pretty decent small machete and shouldn't be too heavy. I've got the 7" blade vdrsion and it is quite light for the size of the blade, well balanced, and perhaps my favorite woods tool.
 
Condor has to make something (other than the Primitive Bush Knife) that'll fit your needs - I'd start there.
 
I really like how cut down machetes perform. I cut a condor Eco lite machete down to 10 inches. Not the best splitter but will do most everything else pretty well. Fuzz sticks curl right up.
 
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To be "big" and "light" pretty much means a thinner blade. You are describing, among others, a leuku. One with a 9" blade can be had from Finland in about a week n the price-range you specify.

 
Thomas Linton: Where do I get one of those? Also, do any of those leukus come with a front guard or an overhanging edge? I usually don't like there to be a straight line from the grip to the edge, since it makes it much easier for your hand to ride up the blade. Usually it wouldn't come up, but there are a few times (like if you're swinging it with sweaty hands or you're cutting food & there's oil involved).

Just saw a Condor Mini Duku. Looks like it might be exactly the kind of thing I'm looking for, although I can't tell if the spot just under the blade would keep my hand from sliding up onto the edge. It looks like there's either a ring of wood or some kind of twine wrapping on it. I know I could always wrap some strong duct tape around that spot, but I'm hoping for something with it built into the design- that way it doesn't come off at an inopportune moment or get in the way of drawing & sheathing it.

Then again, there's the Eco Parang & that seems to be maybe a bit more my speed in handle shape. Might not be stainless, but then it might not really need to be. I like rust resistance, since I don't really know how long I'll be out & about in whatever kind of weather (humidity included), while possibly not having the means to block the rust. Granted, if I'm using & sharpening it a lot, I probably wouldn't need to. It's really more important to me in a knife that I'll be likely to be using for cutting my food with.
 
Google erapuu leuku.

As for the guard, ever wonder why a baseball bat has no guard? Like the Leuku it has a knob on the end. Neither are made for stabbing, and both are made by folks who know what they are doing.

Then there are all those slip-joint "pocket knives" made for generations: no guard. Not made for stabbing. Push or draw cuts.

Nevertheless, some makers of leuku make them with guards for those who want baseball bats with guards. Google leuku.
 
Thomas Linton: I know it would work for a lot of things, but I would like to be able to clear brush with it (swinging could be an issue with that). As for stabbing, I like to be able to seamlessly go from one thing to another with that- since it could come up that way. It's not for combat, it's just not NOT for combat. I figure fighting back is the same general concept as lighting a fire to not freeze.

MaximIsayev: That's a good one. Is it stainless? If not, does it rust easily? That might be the one I go for. Maybe I'd file the tip so there's that corner on the back like on some of the butcher knives (so it'll just slide along meat & bone when skinning & butchering, without the point getting stuck).
 
Wolfeye said:
Thomas Linton: I know it would work for a lot of things, but I would like to be able to clear brush with it (swinging could be an issue with that). As for stabbing, I like to be able to seamlessly go from one thing to another with that- since it could come up that way. It's not for combat, it's just not NOT for combat. I figure fighting back is the same general concept as lighting a fire to not freeze.

MaximIsayev: That's a good one. Is it stainless? If not, does it rust easily? That might be the one I go for. Maybe I'd file the tip so there's that corner on the back like on some of the butcher knives (so it'll just slide along meat & bone when skinning & butchering, without the point getting stuck).
Click to expand...

It uses 15N20 steel, which I'm not very familiar with but it seems like some kind of a high carbon steel. Seems it's often used for kitchen knives and pattern-welded damascus along with 1095. Overall seems pretty decent for a machete.
From Google: 15N20: Essentially the same as L6 or Band Saw Steel. is an oil-hardening tool steel that is characterized by very good toughness. It contains approximately 1.25-2.0% Nickel, 0.65-0.75 % Carbon, 0.6 - 1.2% Chromium and 0.25 - 0.8% Manganese. It has a maximum of 0.5% Molybdenum. 15N20 is often used along with 1095 Carbon steel for the production of Damascus steel
 
15N20 will rust if you look at it sideways, but with a good patina on it it's a heck of a performer. The Kiwi Machete is definitely the closest thing to the Mora #333 in the lightweight big blade market. Very knife-like handling characteristics, though it packs a punch when chopping.
 
Thomas Linton said:
Google erapuu leuku.

As for the guard, ever wonder why a baseball bat has no guard? Like the Leuku it has a knob on the end. Neither are made for stabbing, and both are made by folks who know what they are doing.

Then there are all those slip-joint "pocket knives" made for generations: no guard. Not made for stabbing. Push or draw cuts.

Nevertheless, some makers of leuku make them with guards for those who want baseball bats with guards. Google leuku.
Click to expand...

This made my day.
 
cold steel bowie machete. I have one but have not really used it. It's very light and seems very versatile. I've seen some vids showing it's a pretty solid performer. Can be found for about $20.
 
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