Choose my First Fixed Blade

C

cinnamochoil

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I have a few decent folders for fun, I'm satisfied with my axe at home, I think its time to have a decent fixed blade for backpacking.

I'll spend up to and around $150, closer to $200 if it's an exceptional piece. Looking for something rugged and well balanced. I've looked into a few Beckers but didn't much know where to go from there.

Something with less than a 10'' blade but more than 4''. Handle material isn't necessarily important, nothing too flashy. Blade steel I'm also flexible on, I keep my blades well oiled and it isn't terribly wet here so stainless isn't vital. Biased toward American made but not a deal breaker.

Will be used for processing kindling and small amounts of wood as well as trail clearing.

Your suggestions will result in a purchase in the very near future.

thank you kindly

---cinna
 
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Could you narrow it down a bit more what you are looking for? (e.g. size, steel preference, intended use?)

In general I can recommend Bark River, they have plenty of models with tons of handle materials in about that price range, and they are excellent.
 
What blade length do you want? Do you have a preference regarding handle material? Carbon vs stainless?
 
Not sure exactly what you have in mind, but as a suggestion, I'd recommend that you check out the Fixed Blades page on the Exchange from time to time. Lots of talented makers that frequently post new knives for sale there. Even if you don't see anything currently for sale that grabs your attention, you might see something that has already sold and contact the maker and ask them to make one for you. Here's a link:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php/754-For-Sale-Fixed-Blades

Best of luck.
 
I was going to recommend the one I want, a Arno Small Hunter with Warthog Tusk and cape buffalo sheath $145.00 but Stephen has a better plan. :D
 
thanks for the suggestions, edited original post.

Looking for a medium sized general purpose backpacking knife. I pack light so I figure I can handle a substantial blade.

Currently in that forum as well Stephen. best to you too
 
Beckers are a great place to start; but, again, it really depends on the size you want...and what you're going to do with it. Do you want to chop and baton wood? Clear trails? Process game?
There's no such thing as the perfect knife - there are always compromises. There are highly specialized knives; and there are the ones that try to do it all...the jacks of all trades, masters of none. The 5-7" blade sort of falls there, for me...but it's a size that I very much like. Ratmandu, Esee 6, BK12, etc - love them.
A 3-4" blade is the most handy for me - SwampRat Rodent 3, BK11 (or 24), Bark River Mini Fox River and Bravo 1-LT, EnZo Trapper....and, of course, a Mora or two.
You want something big?? BK9, Esee Junglas, SYKCO 911 can handle the job.
And that's just a few in each size - the list goes on and on....
 
I must have started just as you finished...scrap the small knife portion, lol.
4-12" is still a huge range for suggestions. Check out the SwampRat Ratmandu and Becker BK9...see which one is closer to what you want, and we can take it from there.
 
I haven't had these swamprat knives in mind for a while, thanks for the reminder. BK9 has been under consideration, I really like these swamprats, size seems to be about right.

Too bad the ratweiler isn't up, that is a nice knife right there.
 
I would also look at L.T. Wright, Hess, Fallkniven and some of the various Finnish makers of puukkos/leukus (Enzo, Ahti, Woodsknife, etc).

Also, just a reminder - this is the Traditional forum - not a place to discuss Beckers and other "swamp rat" knives. :thumbup:
 
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Bark River or Blackjack would be my choices, and I've had several of each through the years. They both use A2 steel at 58-59 HRc, which is extremely tough, and they come with beautiful convexed edges that are wonderfully sharp and easy to maintain. Good thick leather sheaths are standard as well.
 
I have and recommend Battle Horse Knives, Hess Knives and L.T. Wright Knives. I used a Hess Muley to field dress my deer last December. A wickedly sharp knife.
 
black mamba said:
Bark River or Blackjack would be my choices, and I've had several of each through the years. They both use A2 steel at 58-59 HRc, which is extremely tough, and they come with beautiful convexed edges that are wonderfully sharp and easy to maintain. Good thick leather sheaths are standard as well.
Click to expand...

I share his thoughts on Bark River & Blackjack knives. Semi Production quality and large selections of patterns and handle materials within the patterns.

I own many of them.

Tom
 
I just bought my first Fixed blade and decided on a Bark River Bravo-1 LT with a CPM 3 V blade and Green Canvas Micarta handle . I like it so much that my next one will be a standard Bravo-1 . It came razor sharp OTB and the Quality and craftsmanship is incredible down to the leather sheath . From my experience I highly reccomend a Bark River .


 
Been eying something with a bit more heft. My latest interest are MLL knives, found his site in the blade exchange. The desert looks like what I'm looking for. Looks like he makes some beautiful kepharts, I think I'll want a little more blade than that though.
 
I would second looking here on the forums for something handmade. In your budget, you could likely have something custom made. I have three knives I bought on here by a knife maker named Austin Goldman, I've been very happy with the knives (my leatherworker is making me a custom sheath for one right now, so I can edc it).
 
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