Enzo Trapper vs. Jantz vs. ???

C

cm_bushman

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Oct 22, 2012
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I've recently been interested in knife kits and assembling my own knife. This saves me money and gives me greater pride of ownership, among other things. I have plenty of wood on hand and have no problems getting the hardware, so I'm really just looking for blades. I was mostly considering an Enzo Trapper in O1 or D2, (This would be a camp/bush knife), given their great reputation and several direct recommendations. I had always seen the ads for Jantz Knife Supply in knife magazines, but had dismissed until this interest in kits took hold and I did a quick search. They seem well respected, and have a great affordable selection.

The only real downside I've picked out is that I don't think Jantz does a convex or Scandi grind on any of their blades, which I prefer, and I was also wondering if the Jantz blades were inferior in HT or anything else to the Enzos, since their half the price in some cases.

So you guys, what is your opinion on a Jantz pattern in D2 (I see no O1 blades) vs. an Enzo Trapper in a ~4" bladed camp knife, or are there better options out there for under $100 in prefab knife blades?

P.S.
Not to turn this into a double thread, but I know O1 is the de facto standard for bush work, and I'm wondering if you guys have found any steels that improve upon it for this line of business. I've only used 1095 myself, and I'm really hoping for as big a step up as the budget allows.
 
I have an enzo in 01 and the finsh of it is excellent..

I would get the enzo S30V for less maintenance...
 
Helle, Stromeng, Brusletto and Mora all sell bare blades for you to put a handle on.
 
Thanks guys,

Pap11y: Does S30V work as well as 1095 with firesteels, given that it is stainless?

I was looking at Heele and co. before, but I don't think I'm ready to try and handle a stick-tang knife, I like the simplicity of simply shaping, bolting, and sanding a handle onto a full-tang knife.
 
My understanding is that the steel is not important. Its the shape of the scraper that you are using on the firesteel.

i.e. a rounded spine is no good but if you file in a flat section in the spine it will be fine.

I'm sure it would be fine..

I don't do it as it just messes up my knife but if I had to(in an emergency), I wouldn't think twice..

I like the awl on my swiss army knife. It works great. Some people use the saw...
 
Okay, I had heard accounts either way, but I had never heard any solid fact as to why SS wouldn't work.
 
I have had an Enzo Trapper in O1 for several years. I bought the blade and did the handle up myself which kept the cost relatively cheap. Mine has seen lots of use and is still going strong. It's easily sharpened and holds an edge quite well. It also throws sparks very well with a fire-steel. Good luck choosing.

beaversbendthanksgiving2011041.jpg
 
I just got finished putting scales on a D2 scandi grind Trapper. What a great knife! I'm still putting the finishing touches on it and will post some photos soon. I hand-built a laminated set of handle slabs. On the bottom next to the tang is a 1/16" red G10 piece and in the middle is a 1/8" GITD Moon-Glow acrylic piece. The acrylic is kind of soft and scratch resistant, so I topped it off with a tougher 1/8" layer of "natural" G10, which is translucent. I epoxied the pieces together and clamped them down. When cured, I trimmed them down and cut/shaped them for the Enzo Trapper. Pics coming!

I've also got another stick tang Enzo on the workbench as well. This is the 95mm version with the threaded tang and nut. It is going to have a stablized Karelian birch handle with nickle-silver bolster, a 1" maroon linen micarta spacer behind the bolster, and black g10 thin spacers. It should be fun.

TedP
 
Stick tangs aren't more difficult, just different.
I'm a big fan of kit blades.
Here are some of my completed pieces.

Jantz Appalachian Bowie, full tang.
1_21_SnakeEyesBowie-_zps526ff753.jpg


Buck 119 (rescue)
Buck119Woodie.jpg


(Large) Stromeng stick tang with leather
(Small) Brusletto stick tang with leather
stromengmystery.jpg


Fun and rewarding kit blades (& rescues) are. :D
 
Phillip: Be sure and let me know when the pictures are up!

Ebbtide: Thanks for the examples, I'll have to look into stick tangs, puukkos are my favorite knife style.

How does 1095 compare to O1 and s30v in sharpening and maintenance?
 
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