Do it all bushcraft/camp knife

H

HFinn

Joined
Sep 6, 2012
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I would like get a real do it all - knife with the blade lenght in 5-7 inch size. So far I have looked at following knives and I need your opinion of these three:

TOPS Pasayten light traveller
ESEE 6 HM (modified handle)
Ontario RAT 7

The knife don't have to do heavy chopping, slicing and wood carving abilities are more important. They have to be able to do batoning without chipping. Food prosessing is also an important function.

I like both the ESEE and TOPS because I'm not a big fan of choils. The handles look similar and I could get my hand near the edge for power while whittling and cutting. RAT is the cheapest option and to my knowledge has a good reputation.

ESEE and RAT are both 1095 carbon steel and TOPS is 154 CM. For food processing the TOPS would be the best choise, it is thin and slices well. The stainless steel would not rust and leave taste in food. Would it chip easier when processing firewood?

The sheats in all of these are just fine. So what do you think?
 
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Personally Id go with the ESEE merely because Ive had several ESEE knives and trust the knives to a degree.
You know what you get and then there is the no-nonsense warranty. Their knives work.

I havent handled that particular TOPS knife though.
 
At the lover end of the blade lenght, 5 inches, there is also the Enzo Camper. D 2 steel, scandi grind. Considering working with wood that might be a good option. I have very good experiences with Enzo, but the scandi grind dropped it from the original choises.

I am drawn to the Tops, but help me make my choise. How delicate it is?
 
Svord combined sticker, skinner, boner.
Svord%20Deluxe%20Hunter%20Knife%20-%20Model%20280H%20copy.1.jpg

Hunter 7
Model 280h
Length of Blade (inches) 7"
Over All Length (inches) 12"
Blade Shape Hunter
Handle Material Mahogany and Brass
Steel Specifications 15N20
Blade Thickness (mm) 3mm
Sheath Leather
http://www.svord.com/index.php?id_product=16&controller=product
 
Of your choices I'd take the ESEE. What's you budget? Lt Wright LR genesis Vr.6 is long enough for your requirement, bit different blade shape. Are you looking for alternatives, or just narrowing from those 3?
 
Looks like the Tops is the high end of price at $150. In my experience, hollow handle pins are a pain to keep clean and prefer having the ability to remove the scales.

If you're asking about those three for an all-around camp knife - ESSE 6.

If you're looking for a great all around camp knife in the $150 price range - Lionsteel M5.
 
Either the Rat or ESEE 6 is a great choice. I'd highly suggest going thru TKC and getting the G10 scales. My ESEE 6 is much more comfortable with them. Plus you get a several color choices.
https://www.theknifeconnection.net/knife-builder/

I also carry a Mora for food prep when camping or hiking. The additional 2-4 oz and another $10-20 is well spent imo.
 
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5" is too long for a bushcrafter IMO (but there are of course no rules). You won't be doing much wood carving with something that big. If you like to carve wood, and more importantly, you want to enjoy carving, you should have a dedicated smaller knife to do that (2.5-3.5"). Many bushcrafters are 4" as a compromise between detailed wood work and wood processing. Going to 5" or 7", you are throwing your priorities mainly into wood processing and sacrificing detailed work as a result. When I bring my ESEE-6 along for the ride it is because I expect to mostly be splitting wood in lieu of an axe and also anticipating need for larger fires (i.e. for a group of campers beyond just myself). It is simply too wide a blade to carve with, you can't really work the point of the knife accurately. If you are just debarking stuff, it works great for that. When its just myself, 4" does great for wood prep for a personal fire and is my preference even if I don't carve that much. There are so many fixed blades in this category one would have a hard time listing them. The ESEE-3 is too short by your standards, but I really like that knife and it holds well with my customs. Maybe you will go to pairing a ESEE-3 and -6 some day? If you go that route, get the 3 first and the 6 later.

There is also the total opposite side of the spectrum of going really big - short machete or full machete. Folks do wonders with their machetes on a variety of camp chores and for certain environments they are clearly the best tool out there matched with a really small detail knife.
 
HFinn said:
ESEE and RAT are both 1095 carbon steel and TOPS is 154 CM. For food processing the TOPS would be the best choise, it is thin and slices well. The stainless steel would not rust and leave taste in food. Would it chip easier when processing firewood?
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The Ontario sk-5 is 154cm and 5" long. It can be found very affordably, not much more than the rat7
 
For the money you are willing to spend I would suggest the Fallkniven S1. The regular version, not the PRO.

I think it could suit you well.

Out of your current choices, I would go with ESSE.
 
strategy9 said:
KaBar Becker BK5 magnum camp is my favorite go-to "do it all" camp knife... pointy tip, sweeping belly, thick spine, flat ground, 8" of awesomeness...

Pair with a mora companion and SAK and you're all set for any adventure...
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This is the way I think in terms of woodscraft. I don't have a BK-5, and the BK-15 was my go to woods knife for a while. Honestly, I can't remember the last time I did any "carving" in the woods. So, that function is no big thing for me and I could get by with the larger knife.

kgd said:
5" is too long for a bushcrafter IMO (but there are of course no rules). You won't be doing much wood carving with something that big. If you like to carve wood, and more importantly, you want to enjoy carving, you should have a dedicated smaller knife to do that (2.5-3.5"). Many bushcrafters are 4" as a compromise between detailed wood work and wood processing. Going to 5" or 7", you are throwing your priorities mainly into wood processing and sacrificing detailed work as a result. When I bring my ESEE-6 along for the ride it is because I expect to mostly be splitting wood in lieu of an axe and also anticipating need for larger fires (i.e. for a group of campers beyond just myself). It is simply too wide a blade to carve with, you can't really work the point of the knife accurately. If you are just debarking stuff, it works great for that. When its just myself, 4" does great for wood prep for a personal fire and is my preference even if I don't carve that much. There are so many fixed blades in this category one would have a hard time listing them. The ESEE-3 is too short by your standards, but I really like that knife and it holds well with my customs. Maybe you will go to pairing a ESEE-3 and -6 some day? If you go that route, get the 3 first and the 6 later.

There is also the total opposite side of the spectrum of going really big - short machete or full machete. Folks do wonders with their machetes on a variety of camp chores and for certain environments they are clearly the best tool out there matched with a really small detail knife.
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The BK-15 (at 5.5") was my general choice for years. Just recently purchased a BRKT Wilderness Explorer model at 5.7"; I was primarily focused on a 5.5" general purpose woods knife when I purchased this knife. This one is probably a tad big for detailed work. But I will always have a folder with me also for the little cutting tasks. I will say that when you slip it on your belt, it feels "big" and non-knife folks would certainly call it "big". I'll use this one for all my woods tasks short of beating the hell out of it to split some log.

Yes to the machete approach. It just depends on what you're comfortable with and what you like. I like this approach if there is likely to be much chopping involved with a blade. If chopping is in the plan, I will have a short machete like the Condor Pack Golok with me which is a bigger "knife".

To the OP: Of the choices, I would take the ESEE 6 HM. I think you might add the BK-7 to your list for consideration as it is of the same genera. I'm quite pleased with my Wilderness Explorer model and don't anticipate making any more purchases in this size range in the near term (a few years)... essentially "large middle sized" fixed blade. At 7", the knife moves into the "large knife" size and certainly feels like a large knife in my hand.
 
Have to admit that the BK-5 appeals to my knife self. I really prefer the saber shape for a woods knife over the drop point like the BK-16. Some would say that once you are thinking of something around 7", to bounce up the the BK-9. Think you would agree 91Bravo. Liked your picture with Ethan at the Blade Show.
 
My take on the bk5 vs bk9 after handling both, (as I was stuck between the 2 myself), is;
While both have the same spine thickness, at almost 0.2" thick;
The 9 is by far a better "chopper". It's an inch longer and 6.5 oz heavier, with more belly in the tip, and the saber grind gives it much more "meat" in the spine for handling abuse...
The 5 however won me over as being the better "knife"... the missing inch is neither here nor there for me, at 8" it is plenty of knife, but the 6.5 oz difference is a valuable weight reduction when carrying/using. I'm no slouch, and don't mind weight, but all things considered, factoring in other gear as well, <1 lb vs. >1 lb (by almost 1/2 a lb) does make a difference in long term fatigue. The full flat grind makes it a much better slicer, the tip makes a better poker, and with the same thickness in the spine, (albeit less of it), it can still handle chopping duties as needed, if simply not quite as much abuse, (which i don't typically abuse tools).

If you wanted a chopper, I'd say the 9 all day, but as you asked for a "do-it-all" knife, the 5 hands down is the more versatile of the 2. You'd be much better off trying to chop with the 5 then you would be trying to fine slice with the thick slab of 9...
 
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