Recommendation? Camping and Hiking Knife

Here's three. In order of preference. Ironically, the most expensive are the most preferred, why is that?
  • More spendy option: Bradford Guardian 4 3D in M390 (review)
  • Medium price option: Swamp Rat Ratmandu
  • High-value low-cost option: Buck Selkirk
    • This guy: if you are trying to be thrifty, I cannot recommend this knife strongly enough. It comes shaving sharp, beautiful well designed micarta handle, decent synthetic sheath with good retention. And of course the famous Buck heat treat on the 420 blade means this blade will perform like a much higher end steel. It is really an incredible deal for sub $50.
 
For the type of activity described by the OP, I would carry my RAT RC6(ESEE) and a light folder such as a Manix2 LW.
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I would recommend Kornalskiknives (Jamall here at the forum). Top quality knives and very reasonable prices. I’m going to buy my seven knife from him. Now he has some 7 mm thick A8mod Knives to sell and I’m sure those knives are unbreakable!

justchilling said:
Hi All,

I'm new and I've been doing some searching on the forums for recommendations for a nice camping knife. I'm going to be using it for general camping tasks, taking on long hikes (weight pretty important) and maybe a bit of practice for bushcrafting. I don't plan to use it as an EDC or anything like that.

Based on searches I've done here, I've been looking at Bark River. I like the look and weight of the snowy river in Elmax
https://www.knivesshipfree.com/bark-river-knives-snowy-river-elmax/

But I'm wondering if the blade shape will be ok for things like batoning and light wood chopping or if I should go with something like the Gunny or Bravo.

I'm also looking at Benchmade Bushcrafter 162 or maybe even something custom made from these forums (though I know nothing about the knife makers here).

Some people have recommended a Mora, though I'm wondering if a knife that cheap will last.

Thanks!
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My vote
 
Some really good suggestions here and I have several of the ones mentioned. Honestly the carbon Mora Companion & a Victoranox Farmer would be a great combo to start with imho. The saw on the Farmer is really handy and the Mora is a great all around camp knife. Although these knives combined can be purchased for about $50 they're more than adequate for general outdoor & camp use .
 
Bark River has a 5" super steel version of the Kephart. It is hitting most of my requirements and I think it would your's as well.
 
Wow, thank you for all the replies! I appreciate the suggestions, weight measurements, and pics. So many options to consider, I want to get a bunch of them, although I think my wife would not be happy if I started a big collection lol. After considering, I think I'm going to get a Mora companion that I don't mind really beating up and it will be something I can I can get comfortable with and practice sharpening without having to worry. I'm also going to get the ESEE 3P. One of the coated ones. Later on once I get good at taking care of my knifes and get some more experience I'll drop some coin on something special like Bark River or Fiddleback Forge.

The knife I use right now is just a little Svord Peasant folding knife. Good enough for things like cutting paracord, guylines, prepping meals, etc. But I've been wanting something more substantial for some trips and tasks. :)
 
justchilling said:
Wow, thank you for all the replies! I appreciate the suggestions, weight measurements, and pics. So many options to consider, I want to get a bunch of them, although I think my wife would not be happy if I started a big collection lol. After considering, I think I'm going to get a Mora companion that I don't mind really beating up and it will be something I can I can get comfortable with and practice sharpening without having to worry. I'm also going to get the ESEE 3P. One of the coated ones. Later on once I get good at taking care of my knifes and get some more experience I'll drop some coin on something special like Bark River or Fiddleback Forge.

The knife I use right now is just a little Svord Peasant folding knife. Good enough for things like cutting paracord, guylines, prepping meals, etc. But I've been wanting something more substantial for some trips and tasks. :)
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You can't go wrong with the Mora Companion. I am not particularly a Mora fan but own several. I just want "more". Of the less expensive knives that I use in the woods, the Kabar Becker BK-15 satisfies all of my needs unless I simply want something "more".
 
rswanson said:
I'd say just buy a Mora Companion and use it while you mull over more exotic options. Like many, many people you may not find the need for anything else than a Mora.
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You know... you really hit the nail on the head for where my head is at right now.
I've been considering making the jump to a really "nice" fixed blade for outdoor/bushcraft. the usuals keep coming up. BHK, LT Wright, Bradford, TM Hunt, Busse/Scrapyard, etc.... Then I pick up one of my Moras, and I realize that I use them for outdoor tasks, yard work, building projects, etc... and have never been let down. They sharpen up like the devil, keep an edge well enough for my uses, and since I use it like a knife and let axes do the axe work, I can't imagine breaking one. They check off every single box, while being both lighter and cheaper than the other knives with which I could replace them. I find it very very difficult to justify spending 10 times the cost of a Mora for a knife that won't serve me better no matter how much nicer or more durable that knife might be.
 
There's no doubt that Morakinv sells some of the best value propositions for working outdoor knives- and they're lightweight, to boot. They're really an ideal fixed blade for backpacking.

Having stated that, there's lots to be said for owning a fine, luxury-level tool. I get happy any time I pull my Adventure Sworn from its sheath. It feels and looks like an heirloom. It makes me happy to use it. I don't get that from a more pedestrian knife like a Mora. I like what my Mora can do just fine. But I'm glad I spent the money on a really nice knife. After all, backpacking and camping are leisure pursuits and I intend to enjoy them fully. An awesome, high-quality blade makes the time outdoors that much more pleasurable.

Buy a Mora and use it in good health but when/if the budget allows, by all means pick up something that gives you warm fuzzies. If the Mora does that from the start then don't fret, you'll have a little more pocket change than I do!
 
rswanson said:
There's no doubt that Morakinv sells some of the best value propositions for working outdoor knives- and they're lightweight, to boot. They're really an ideal fixed blade for backpacking.

Having stated that, there's lots to be said for owning a fine, luxury-level tool. I get happy any time I pull my Adventure Sworn from its sheath. It feels and looks like an heirloom. It makes me happy to use it. I don't get that from a more pedestrian knife like a Mora. I like what my Mora can do just fine. But I'm glad I spent the money on a really nice knife. After all, backpacking and camping are leisure pursuits and I intend to enjoy them fully. An awesome, high-quality blade makes the time outdoors that much more pleasurable.

Buy a Mora and use it in good health but when/if the budget allows, by all means pick up something that gives you warm fuzzies. If the Mora does that from the start then don't fret, you'll have a little more pocket change than I do!
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You said that very well. I really don't own many of what I would call luxury-level knives, but just about everything I carry routinely makes me "happy to use". But the Mora is more a camp knife for me used mostly for cooking related chores and that's generally car camping when I can bring a lot of stuff. I carry something else on the trail, just to make me happy.
 
I have a few high-ish end fixed blades for hiking. I tried a few of them this weekend on a piece of pine(old IKEA bed;)). The survives were nice. Solid design. Can't complain but wasn't great so I went to some heavy hitters. Or more precisely, thin and slicey wood carvers. The svord, the hap40 delica, and the stainless opie 8. Better but got nostalgic for a knife I haven't used in a while. Went over to my "knives I like but never use" drawer and grabbed my Mora 137. It moved to the front in my mind for what I want in a hiking knife immediately. Like it always does. It cuts like a maniac. A MANIAC!!!:eek:

Sometimes the draw of fancy leads you astray. Something that looks fancy but sucks in use isn't worth your time or your money. Of course if you're lucky enough to find fancy and function like rswanson, then all the better. Just remember it should work first.
 
justchilling said:
Hi All,

I'm new and I've been doing some searching on the forums for recommendations for a nice camping knife. I'm going to be using it for general camping tasks, taking on long hikes (weight pretty important) and maybe a bit of practice for bushcrafting. I don't plan to use it as an EDC or anything like that.

Based on searches I've done here, I've been looking at Bark River. I like the look and weight of the snowy river in Elmax
https://www.knivesshipfree.com/bark-river-knives-snowy-river-elmax/

But I'm wondering if the blade shape will be ok for things like batoning and light wood chopping or if I should go with something like the Gunny or Bravo.

I'm also looking at Benchmade Bushcrafter 162 or maybe even something custom made from these forums (though I know nothing about the knife makers here).

Some people have recommended a Mora, though I'm wondering if a knife that cheap will last.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

I have been very happy with my carbon steel TOPs B.O.B. (brotherhood of bushcraft) knife. I think it would be an excellent camping/hiking knife.

Despite its convex scandy grind I had very little trouble getting it quite sharp. It is also well neigh indestructible.
 
rat or ESEE 3, I spent a little more to get the extended TKC handles, makes it feel like a different knife, more handle to hold onto. I also have been meaning to try a Mora, just to see if they are as handy as have been reading. A light weight handy knife for small jobs.
 
If you are going the Esee route check out the Utica S series. 1095 and made in the USA!! I like my Esee knives, but the Utica is 1/3 the price and comes with a fire steel and sharpener!!
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My experience hiking is that a folder will handle just about everything (not batoning). The fixed blade may look and feel nice, but it seldom comes out of the sheath. So, from that point of view, just about any fixed blade will do.
 
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