Easy Question.....I think....

S

stark

Joined
Dec 25, 2001
Messages
9
Hello,

This one should be pretty easy...I hope. I do woodworking as a hobby, and I am looking for a basic utility knife that will have a fixed blade, good sheath, total length of knife 5"-6" and one which can be used in the shop and around the house. I have a Bison, which is nice, but certainly not made for this. The Buck folding is one of my favorites since I can access it easily in the leather pouch, and it holds a decent edge. The fact that I have to open and close it over and over is a nusiance. Also, since I am on the path, it would not hurt to have some concealing properties for public carry. Cost, looking to spend around $75. That may be difficult, and if so, I will have to wait until I make my first million ;- )

Thanks in advance to all,

Have a good one!!

Stark
 
You could carry a Puuko all day and be well armed for wood, sandwiches, etc. and never get a second look from the sheeple. Also, I can recommend the D.H. Russell belt knives. They come in flat ground versions now too. Grab a flat ground #1. One tip with carrying fixed blades: If you can, tuck the tip in a pocket. The knife is still on your belt, but either tuckt he tip in your front pocket or in yoru back pocket. Either position keeps the knife very handy and it makes for an even more discreet carry.
 
I just got my neck peck from crkt a few days ago, and although it may be a little lower on the quality side(aus 6 steel and a zytel sheath) I think it is a very handy knife. It has a 2 and a half inch blade and comes in at about 6 inches over all. It is also very cheap a a measely 17 dollars. The thing I love about it, which others hate, is that it clicks very securely into the sheath giving me great peace of mind. It takes a bit of pressure to remove it, but you get used to it and you don't have to worry about it falling out. The handle was a little small at first, so I took the including neck cord and braided it through the handle. It is just about right now. I attached the included pocket clip to the back and I just hook it into my waistband or front pocket on my jeans.

here are some pics as the ones are the net are pretty crappy.. it has a nifty wharncliffe blade which I also really love and I find is great for utility duty(its the pointier kind of wharncliffe).

http://home.kscable.com/ian/knife.html
 
some of you guys are suggesting massive fixed blades... he said a knife that is 5-6" in overall length.

Carson F4 from CRKT would be a great buy. (the custom would be better, but exceeds your spending limit)

Mike Cooper (L6Steel on the forums) Makes great small neck/utility knives in your price range. You can even have your choice of materials and design.

I have not been as much into production stuff recently, so I am drawing blank on other very small fixed blades.

JR
 
Stark,

Here's a good one for your purpose:

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This is a Wharncliffe made by David Manley in Central, SC (near Clemson). The standard version of this Wharncliffe has a mirror polished blade and stag handles. Other materials are available. He sells the standard version for about $60. Blade is 440C, but Dave really knows 440C and his blades hold an edge extremely well. His phone number is 864-654-1125. I thought you would be interested in this since you are near him
 
Wow, great response guys! Many thanks. If you have any more input, keep them comming. I'll be checking this forum every day or so, for about a week, until I decide what I need.

Have a great weekend!

Stark
 
Originally posted by stark
I do woodworking ... looking for a basic utility knife that will have a fixed blade, good sheath, total length of knife 5"-6" ... it would not hurt to have some concealing properties for public carry. Cost, looking to spend around $75.
Click to expand...
Hiya Stark,

While woodworking I often use my Busse Assault Shaker like a Japanese kiridashi for striking very precise cutting lines. Now if I could just cut that precisely. ;) The AS is 1/4" thick INFI steel with a 3-finger skeletonized handle and a blade about 2-1/2" long. I find it handy for trimming off edge splinters and shaving or scraping wood on occasion. Its neck sheath keeps it handy but out of the way, although I do tuck it under my t-shirt when working around power tools that might grab it. Downside is that the Shaker costs more than your $75 limit (i.e. a bit over $100).

An option that is within your price window is some of Newt Livesay's neck knives. His Executive NRGS model has about a 4-3/4" long blade in 1/8" 1095 stock, very comfortable micarta handle, and neck sheath. I find it to be a handy kitchen size too. His model called the Woo may also work well for woodworking. But since I don't own a Woo, I can't speak to its kitchen use. Overall, Newt's knives offer very good performance/cost ratio.

Other options might be the commercial very cheap neck knives like the Camillus ArcLite or the drop point version of CRKT Stiff K.I.S.S. for about $20 each. For a higher price are the Benchmade models - model 100 River/Rescue Knife or model 180 Outbounder. A.G. Russell also has some very nice smaller fixed blade knives. Here's links to his Hunter's Scalpel, Woodswalker, and Bird & Trout models.
HS: http://agrussell.com/agrussell/aghs34.html
WW: http://agrussell.com/agrussell/agpr.html
B&T: http://agrussell.com/agrussell/agdh-8a.html

All of these knives are small enough that concealed carry should be easily achieved.

A wharncliffe blade like MarkK posted is a very handy shape for woodworking and in the kitchen too.

Hope that gives you a bit of help,
- Greg -

(edited to add) Another blade that I really like but forgot about is either the drop point or trailing point Spyderco Moran Featherweight. They're availabe online for about $60. It's an extremely lightweight knife (less than 3 ounces) with convex ground VG10 stainless blade. The handle is FRN with kraton inserts and quite comfortable. Downside is that total length is 8". Specs here: http://www.wholesalehunter.net/SpydercoFB02.html

(edited one last time to add) Cold Steel makes some small fixed blade knives that would easily fit in your size and price ranges, yet be quite handy around the wood shop. You could look at their Para Edge, Ready Edge, Super Edge, Urban Pal, Hai Hocho, Mini-Tac (although it's bigger than the others), or their Bird & Trout model (although I would guess it to be limited in kitchen use).
 
I dont know much about using a knife for wood working (i thought that's why the tool gods gave us power tools); but for general utility work i have been wanting a Camillus Talon in 154cm (the talonite is better but much more $$)

It's a friendly looking knife made by one of america's best knife comapanies and Designed by a great guy Rob Simonich.

cam-tal1_sm.jpg
 
Originally posted by ian_j
The thing I love about it, which others hate, is that it clicks very securely into the sheath giving me great peace of mind.
Click to expand...
You've got me.
I liked how the blade is small, light and handy, but I really hated how much pressure it was needed to remove it.
I much prefer the F4, which I just tried to flick the sheath very hard (at a safe direction of course) and the knife didn't dislodge, but it pulls out just fine.
It's roughly the same length too.
 
I agree with a couple of the above posts on the CRKT F4. With your 75 dollar limit, you could get 3 or 4 and keep one in your shop, house and car or wherever.

I will also second the vote for Mike Cooper. Here is one of his knives.
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Knife belongs to Jeremy Reynolds.

I also have several of Mikes knives and find them to be outstanding knives. He has models that fit your size and price range.

Also, since you mention that a good sheath is important, you should also consider Mike. He will make Kydex and does a good job at it. However, leather is his real strong point. I have 3 of his with leather, and it is some of the best I have ever seen.
 
Oh my goodness i'm sorry.

Must be the dyslexia again, I thought you meant 5"-6" BLADE length.

for 5-6" total length I vote first and foremost for Mike Cooper (L6steel on these forums.) he can fix you up with a top quality neckie for around 60 bucks made of top materials like ATS-34, G10, and he makes AWESOME Kydex sheaths. Give him a call, but beware, once you own a Mike Cooper, you'll never be able to seriously consider another factory neckie again.
However if factory is more your style, there is the ever popular Camillus Darrel Ralph ARCLITE, I have one of the $20 420HC specimens and considering price it's very good - it's obviously not on the same lever as my Mike Cooper Custom but hey, for $20 it is very nice, the factory edge is very functional and sharp and the slight recurve of the design is excellent. Balance is good and the Kydex sheath is... what you might expect for $20. Don't get me wrong, I love Camillus - but partially due to money saving efforts and partially due to the ARCLITE's design itself, the Kydex sheath feels cheap, tight, and has a nasty tendency to scuff the finish of the blade bigtime. Since this is a cheap little user to me some of the "weaknesses" of the ARCLITE really mean very little to me - but they may to you.
Also noteworthy, if you want an ARCLITE of a little bit higher end goto AG Russel's site and check out his exclusive Camillus D2 Arclites, never had one but I hear they are great for the Appx $60 price tag they front - however the Kydex sheaths remain sub-par, if I bought a D2 Arclite, i'd get it a new sheath.
The CRKT F4 is a good design with, what I believe to be bad execution. I don't care for the Zytel sheath or the poorly heat treated AUS6M steel but as Kit Carson himself has said "What can you expect for $20?" - I can expect the quality of my 420HC Arclite, which the CRKT F4 couldn't even come close to matching.

Higher end neckies I've never tried:
MOD Scorpion (or whatever it's called), cute... small... too small...
I think Microtech makes a neckie called the Option II
Benchmade makes an Elishewitz neckie, can't remember what it's called though.
I wouldn't be surprised if Cold Steel made a neckie or two... not sure though.

Good luck, hope this helps!
 
Check out Scandinavian style knives at ragweedforge.com. Another very handy small fixed blade in excellent steel (1095) that can easily be customized is Shrade's Sharpfinger.
 
3 of my Coopers with the leather sheath.

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