Fallkniven s1 v benchmade 162 v others?

Irish_Iron_Spring

Irish_Iron_Spring

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Jan 3, 2019
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Hello all, looking for a general farm/camp/hunt fixed blade knife, stainless preference, 4-5 length about. Mainly looking at these two but open to suggestions as well. Would like to stay under $350.
Anyone have hands on time with both and an opinion or insights that’d be helpful to a perspective buyer?

Thanks!!!

Irish
 
For camp knife I like a tool steel... Bark river bravo 1.25 3V, Bradford guardian, production fiddleback forge Duke, LT GNS, FK2... You could even get up to the malanika Bushcraft/Hunter (4V is nuts), adventure sworn or custom knife route for that. Gray Wolf knives, for example.

S1 is cool - but I liked all the above over the S1... Some of those you can track down stainless versions too (elmax, s45 etc). TRC makes some quality stainless knives too... South Pole, classic freedom etc.
 
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rileybassman1 said:
For camp knife I like a tool steel... Bark river bravo 1.25 3V, Bradford guardian, production fiddleback forge Duke, LT GNS... You could even get up to the malanika Bushcraft/Hunter (4V is nuts), adventure sworn or custom knife route for that. Gray Wolf knives, for example.

S1 is cool - but I liked all the above over the S1... Some of those you can track down stainless versions too (elmax, s45 etc). TRC makes some quality stainless knives too... South Pole, classic freedom etc.
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I would add the Bark River Bravo 1.5 in 3V. I was just handling one of mine today. It's 5.8-in. and over-built, but it feels right to me.

Esse knives seem like they might be fun. The Esse 4 comes in S35V. Never owned an Esse, but people like them.
 
Mister Coffee said:
I would add the Bark River Bravo 1.5 in 3V. I was just handling one of mine today. It's 5.8-in. and over-built, but it feels right to me.

Esse knives seem like they might be fun. The Esse 4 comes in S35V. Never owned an Esse, but people like them.
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ESEE 4 is nice... Smallish handle, but cool... I liked it but the others I listed I liked more. YMMV. The new handles may be better idk.

I haven't handled the 1.5 - looks good tho!
 
I don't recommend the Benchmade 162. Mine rolled it's edge easily. I sent it in to Benchmade and they sent me a whole new knife as they said it was defective. Left a bad taste in my mouth. IMO, S30V is not a great steel for that kind of knife to begin with, and Benchmade's quality control issues make it even less desirable for "bushcraft" type stuff.

The 162 has a pretty obtuse grind if I remember.


I would personally get an Esee, Becker, Bradford, or maybe even a custom in a tool or carbon steel.
 
You can't go wrong with the Fallkniven S1... If you stay with the base model with zytel sheath, they represent a good value.

Mikel
 
I really like my Esee 4, BM 162 and Carothers FK2. They all work great as a Bushcraft(camping tool.
 
My 4 main knives in this category are the Benchmade 162, the TRC South Pole (fantastic knife really), Bravo 1 LT 3V, and the Spartan Blades Harsey TT. My 2 favorites are the South Pole and the TT. The Benchmade is great, but needs the edge thinned out to be really useful. I had a S1x, liked it alot, but couldn't bring myself to keep it.
 
Irish_Iron_Spring said:
Hello all, looking for a general farm/camp/hunt fixed blade knife, stainless preference, 4-5 length about. Mainly looking at these two but open to suggestions as well. Would like to stay under $350.
Anyone have hands on time with both and an opinion or insights that’d be helpful to a perspective buyer?

Thanks!!!

Irish
Click to expand...
For this budget, do yourself a favor and try a CPK. Outstanding ergonomics and steel (D3V is quite corrosion resistant, and CPK AEB-L is no slouch either). DEK1, FK2, or the new field knife.
 
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