Camping/Canoe knife recommendation?

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EDCguy

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Hello. I am usually more of a multi-tool, EDC, and ww2/vietnam bayonet guy. I never really look at good woods knives seriousley. I take an annual trip to the BWCA in Northern Minnesota and I also hike a bit when it gets warm here. I usually carry a folding knife, but I feel that's too light.

I see most of the people on this sub forum use military knives or custum/semi custom old fashioned knives. This will be a few months down before I get money together to buy this, but I want to see what else is out there. I don't want to wait till that last minute to decide what to get.

I'm aware of RAT cutlery, I've owned an RC4 before but traded it because I thought I'd never need it:rolleyes:. I think the becker knives are either too big or too thick to do good carving. I'm looking for something like 3.5"-5" blade length. I might just get another RC 4 but they can be expensive. I've also seen the grohmann canadian belt knives, I really like these. Do any of you have experience with these? The steel is just stated as being high carbon stainless. I heard you can get them in carbon, but where?

Any help would be appreciated, thanks.
 
I'd get another RC-4. They are not expensive compared to some others and the have a great guarantee.

The other knives I'd suggest are the Bark River Bravo-1, Northstar, Aurora, Highland Special. You can't go wrong with these but they are a bit more than the RAT Cutlery line.
 
Those Grohmans are a good design and have been proven to work. It sounds like you have an idea of what you would like, why not look over in the maker section and check into having a knife made for YOU. To your specs. Of course it's pretty hard to find fault with the RAT knives too.

SDS
 
I have two of the Grohmann #3's, both stainless. I got them as gifts,so I couldn't choose carbon, but the stainless they use is a pretty good steel. Sharpens up easily on any good stone, and holds an edge very well with no problems so far. I like the #3 handles better than the #1 because they are straight and larger , and the elliptical blade shape on the #1 doesn't catch my interest. They are very reasonably priced for what you get , and the sheaths are top quality as well. I would get carbon steel, given the choice (and they offer micarta grips as well.)

http://www.grohmannknives.com/
 
I got my Grohmann 24 years ago. Its still great. They offer new grinds now and have a nice low profile knife. I used to carry a kabar. Well walk in to a park with that and people think Rambo but that sweet little sheath makes it looks like you know what your doing out in the woods. Best thing is in 10 years I can send it back to factory and for 10 bucks they will recondition it for me.
 
Take a good look at some of the stainless Helle or Frosts scandi knives. The only thing you need is a custom sheath.They take and hold a good edge and are thin enough to cut very well.
 
If you just need a decent general use fixed blade that doesn't cost much, maybe look at the Buck 192 or the Buck Nighthawk Short. Their 420HC is pretty tough, but don't expect much edge holding, but then again, these are $40-$50 blades...

But like others have said, RAT's are well worth the money. RC-3 is great if paired with a big blade or small hatchet, RC-4 or RC-6 if it's the only fixed blade your planning to carry.

EDIT: Also make sure you shop RAT prices, big difference between their list price on the RAT site and what they can be found for....
 
For a water knife, I'd go with H1 steel. Though the Spyderco Aqua Salt is not "traditional" with its synthetic handle, it is a great knife that will never rust and that will function well as a bushcraft blade to boot. You can also get it with a yellow handle for high visibility.

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I have owned and used moras, but I see them more as a back up blade. I keep a stainless scout in my pack for my back up. I brought a mora clipper one year and I nearly cut myself a few time because of the sheath. Great knives, but I might have to depend on it one day.

The aqua salt is definatley a though. I have seen an article where joezilla batoned through a 8ft plank of wood. Good price and sheath too. Does anyone use this a knife for the outdoors? It looks like canoe knife being thin like that. I love spyderco products as well.

The tops tactical steak knife really intrigued me, but it is also not a full tang. Any experience with this knife? I like that the serrations are at the tip leaving me room for carving. It uses 440c and it has 5/32'' blade thickness making it thicker than the RC3.

ALSO, my local fleet farm sells the benchmade rant. It has all of the things I'm looking for in a knife for my needs. It does not have a full tang however and I'm not sure how it would hold up in batoning.
 
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My Mora 2000 has been in my canoe's dry bag for the past few years. Light, good size, comfortable, stainless so I don't have to worry about it and it has a decent sheath when compared to the other Moras out there.
 
How tough are the mora 2000s? I like mora stainless but I'm afraid the tang would snap while being batoned.
 
I'd just get a simple Kephart from one of the makers here. Time tested and maybe the best belt knife design ever for the woods.
 
I'm a huge fan of the Grohmann line. For larger tasks, including batoning, the #4 survival model is great. It is comfy to hold while slicing or chopping, and takes and holds a great edge. The balance is particularly nice. The one drawback I have experienced is the possibility of cutting the retention strap on the sheath while drawing the knife, but this is a minor issue. I like to take this knife canoeing, as the belt loop is long enough to allow the knife to hang beside me when I'm paddling, without jabbing me in the side. Mine is a stainless model.

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For a belt knife that will be used for camp chores, food prep, cleaning fish and such, the No. 2 is great (especially when paired with a chopper or axe for larger tasks). Mine is a carbon steel model with a traditional grind. This is a great belt knife, but I prefer something with a beefier handle for serious woodworking.

Grohmann2_3.jpg


All the best,

- Mike
 
if you already have a full size ax in the kit you could drop all the way to an Izula or similar. I like that the handle has a good size carabiner hole for extra security. can't go wrong with any of the RAT (ESEE) knives. For food prep, an opinel #8 might just be the ticket, leaves you room to compromise slicing with the fixed blade.
 
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My favorite, the Rachael Ray 4" paring knife with gusto grip, 6.99 at bed bath and beyond. If you are canoe camping carry an axe and a saw, not sure why you are so interested in whether the knife will take batoning. About any knife will and it is not a technique that is needed very much anyway. IMO cutting ability, edge retention and ease of resharpening are far above whether or not it will stand up to getting the crap pounded out of it. Chris
 
When I think about what knife to bring I invariably wind up with one of my smaller blades. My BRKT Aurora is about the biggest I’ll take and in the scheme of things it’s big. I find that a good handle and a decent 3 1/2” to 4” blade is the easiest to wield and control for a variety of tasks, the larger blades are better at processing both food and wood and handy for construction but along with my Silky 180 and the Gransfors Bruks hatchet or woodsman axe I’m just more comfortable with a good medium blade.

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