Finding the perfect Outdoor fixed blade knife...help

Joined
Feb 24, 2016
Messages
16
first, I want to say hello and admit that I am becoming....ok...i AM a knife addict.
I went to a knife show this weekend and a nice guy with a table full of knives asked me what I was looking for, I replied “the perfect knife”.
Well that got quite a few chuckles from the group around me and a few sad knowing sympathetic glances.
They too, were all in search of the “perfect knife”.
I know it’s out there someplace but even when I think I found it, and buy it,it turns out there is even a MORE perfect knife somewhere else.

I like my bk16,BUT the handle is too small. Cramps my hand.
I like the Cold steel Master hunter in 3v, it was perfect until the edge seemed to...not roll, but flatten when I was splitting some kindling.
Bk7, too big
Esee laser strike... so close, but that choil. kind of bugs me. And truth be told I am not fond of the spear point . But the best knife so far.
Almost forgot, Tops lite traveler...just....never liked it.
My Mora of course, too anemic. Benchmade Bushcrafter handle felt weird to me.
My recent find was the jakkit something. I really thought this had it all, but I just can’t seem to get it as sharp as I would like. And it’s rather large sharpening choil gets hung up on stuff.
All this has lad me to looking at the bark river bravo 1.25 lt
Or the white river knives Ursus45.
Here is my wish list
4-5” blade
Full flat or a high saber grind(not fond of the hollow grind)
Rust resistant
Better handle than bk16
Slight or no drop point
Decent sheath
3/16 or a little less thick.
Little or no choil .
$250 limit.
So I turn to all of you, for guidance. It must be out there.
Thanks in advance for all your helpful suggestions.
Stevemag
 
This one will come in at far below your $250, but I'm really liking it so far. I have not yet had a chance to get it into the woods on any extended use testing, but that will happen soon.
The handle is really really spot on for my largish hand, but I'm only 6' tall, so it may be a little too snug if you're taller.
14c28n is really interesting steel, being partly Nitrogen based, and only about .6% Carbon. It's tough stuff, but also manages to hold an edge nicely. Again, further more extensive testing needs to happen, but others who have used it really like it on these forums. The sheath is quite nice also, having a multi-point rotation pivot which locks so you can carry horizontally on your belt, or even 45 degrees if you want, or anything else. It locks up very tightly, I'd have no worries about inverted carry.

Jager F118 Fixed 4.33"
RKEF118Gb.jpg


...
Now, outside of my budget/value choice above, (which is from China), you have room...

First to mind is the Bradford Guardian 4 line, with many many nice options, in both steel and handle. Personally I'd lean toward the 3v steel over the v4 extra, just because it's really really high in carbon at 1.4% (I'd worry about chipping in woodcraft use etc). They are not stainless either, but tough as heck. (I don't own anything in v4 extra... fwiw)

Here is the link for the 4, in 3v with a cf handle - this is on my short list for high priced fixed knives. You may like the black finished steel variant of this if you want more stain protection. I've never really been a fan of any coatings but some people really like them. (they both look really excellent imho) If cf handles are too modern for you, check the micarta variants, or cheaper g10.
https://www.bladehq.com/item--Bradford-Knives-Guardian4-Fixed--67671
Bradford-Knives-Guardian-4-3d-carbon-fiber-sabre-sw-BHQ-67671-er.jpg


Let us know what you eventually get :) I'd love to find something better (if it exists;) )
 
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I was instantly going to recommend the master hunter in 3v, but I see you didn't care for it. Out of curiousity, was it the Taiwan or Italy made version? Thanks
 
first, I want to say hello and admit that I am becoming....ok...i AM a knife addict.
I went to a knife show this weekend and a nice guy with a table full of knives asked me what I was looking for, I replied “the perfect knife”.
Well that got quite a few chuckles from the group around me and a few sad knowing sympathetic glances.
They too, were all in search of the “perfect knife”.
I know it’s out there someplace but even when I think I found it, and buy it,it turns out there is even a MORE perfect knife somewhere else.

I like my bk16,BUT the handle is too small. Cramps my hand.
I like the Cold steel Master hunter in 3v, it was perfect until the edge seemed to...not roll, but flatten when I was splitting some kindling.
Bk7, too big
Esee laser strike... so close, but that choil. kind of bugs me. And truth be told I am not fond of the spear point . But the best knife so far.
Almost forgot, Tops lite traveler...just....never liked it.
My Mora of course, too anemic. Benchmade Bushcrafter handle felt weird to me.
My recent find was the jakkit something. I really thought this had it all, but I just can’t seem to get it as sharp as I would like. And it’s rather large sharpening choil gets hung up on stuff.
All this has lad me to looking at the bark river bravo 1.25 lt
Or the white river knives Ursus45.
Here is my wish list
4-5” blade
Full flat or a high saber grind(not fond of the hollow grind)
Rust resistant
Better handle than bk16
Slight or no drop point
Decent sheath
3/16 or a little less thick.
Little or no choil .
$250 limit.
So I turn to all of you, for guidance. It must be out there.
Thanks in advance for all your helpful suggestions.
Stevemag
I forgot to ad
No crazy gimping , to my wish list
 
This one will come in at far below your $250, but I'm really liking it so far. I have not yet had a chance to get it into the woods on any extended use testing, but that will happen soon.
The handle is really really spot on for my largish hand, but I'm only 6' tall, so it may be a little too snug if you're taller.
14c28n is really interesting steel, being partly Nitrogen based, and only about .6% Carbon. It's tough stuff, but also manages to hold an edge nicely. Again, further more extensive testing needs to happen, but others who have used it really like it on these forums. The sheath is quite nice also, having a multi-point rotation pivot which locks so you can carry horizontally on your belt, or even 45 degrees if you want, or anything else. It locks up very tightly, I'd have no worries about inverted carry.

Jager F118 Fixed 4.33"
RKEF118Gb.jpg


...
Now, outside of my budget/value choice above, (which is from China), you have room...

First to mind is the Bradford Guardian 4 line, with many many nice options, in both steel and handle. Personally I'd lean toward the 3v steel over the v4 extra, just because it's really really high in carbon at 1.4% (I'd worry about chipping in woodcraft use etc). They are not stainless either, but tough as heck. (I don't own anything in v4 extra... fwiw)

Here is the link for the 4, in 3v with a cf handle - this is on my short list for high priced fixed knives. You may like the black finished steel variant of this if you want more stain protection. I've never really been a fan of any coatings but some people really like them. (they both look really excellent imho) If cf handles are too modern for you, check the micarta variants, or cheaper g10.
https://www.bladehq.com/item--Bradford-Knives-Guardian4-Fixed--67671
Bradford-Knives-Guardian-4-3d-carbon-fiber-sabre-sw-BHQ-67671-er.jpg


Let us know what you eventually get :) I'd love to find something better (if it exists;) )
I will look at the rutile...the guardian has that darn choile
 
Hello and welcome to the forums Steve.

If you like the ESEE Laser STrike, you probably saw the ESEE 4. You can improve the handle tho.
ESEE 4 with TKC extended G10 grips from The Knife Connection (TKC) knife builder?
https://www.theknifeconnection.net/esee-knife-builder/
Not sure if choil + 1095 is a spoiler.

BM Contego?
https://www.bladehq.com/item--Benchmade-183-Contego-Fixed-Blade--21336

You could always try looking at the knife makers here at the forum. Browse the For Sale thread. See what catches your eye and what is in your price range. You can always email/PM the maker and ask them to tweak their knife to your specs. That way you know you will get exactly what you want.
https://www.bladeforums.com/forums/for-sale-fixed-blades.754/

Or try here...
https://www.bladeforums.com/forums/wanted-knifemaker-craftsman-related-services.871/
"I need a knife similar to the ESEE laser strike but more of a drop point profile + no choil + kydex/leather sheath. Budget $250. Please contact me if you think you can make it happen with those parameters + budget?" Or something similar of course.
If you get some responses, trade some emails, ask to some previous work, etc and see what happens. You might be able to get exactly what you want.

Good luck!
 
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Sorry to tell you that no matter what you end up getting, you will soon find out a few things that could be improved. Even if it is not about the knife per se, it would be about it's performance in a certain duty. This search will never ever end, and you know it.

Buy it is fun to try and you can do as you wish with your money. If you have such a list of requirements, I would certainly contacto a knife maker in this forum and see what they can do.
 
Hello and welcome to the forums Steve.

If you like the ESEE Laser STrike, you probably saw the ESEE 4. You can improve the handle tho.
ESEE 4 with TKC extended G10 grips from The Knife Connection (TKC) knife builder?
https://www.theknifeconnection.net/esee-knife-builder/
Not sure if choil + 1095 is a spoiler.

BM Contego?
https://www.bladehq.com/item--Benchmade-183-Contego-Fixed-Blade--21336

You could always try looking at the knife makers here at the forum. Browse the For Sale thread. See what catches your eye and what is in your price range. You can always email/PM the maker and ask them to tweak their knife to your specs. That way you know you will get exactly what you want.
https://www.bladeforums.com/forums/for-sale-fixed-blades.754/

Or try here...
https://www.bladeforums.com/forums/wanted-knifemaker-craftsman-related-services.871/
"I need a knife similar to the ESEE laser strike but more of a drop point profile + no choil + kydex/leather sheath. Budget $250. Please contact me if you think you can make it happen with those parameters + budget?" Or something similar of course.
If you get some responses, trade some emails, ask to some previous work, etc and see what happens. You might be able to get exactly what you want.

Good luck!
Thank you for these suggestions, you guessed right the esee4 choil is a spoiler.
 
Hello and welcome to the forums Steve.

If you like the ESEE Laser STrike, you probably saw the ESEE 4. You can improve the handle tho.
ESEE 4 with TKC extended G10 grips from The Knife Connection (TKC) knife builder?
https://www.theknifeconnection.net/esee-knife-builder/
Not sure if choil + 1095 is a spoiler.

BM Contego?
https://www.bladehq.com/item--Benchmade-183-Contego-Fixed-Blade--21336

You could always try looking at the knife makers here at the forum. Browse the For Sale thread. See what catches your eye and what is in your price range. You can always email/PM the maker and ask them to tweak their knife to your specs. That way you know you will get exactly what you want.
https://www.bladeforums.com/forums/for-sale-fixed-blades.754/

Or try here...
https://www.bladeforums.com/forums/wanted-knifemaker-craftsman-related-services.871/
"I need a knife similar to the ESEE laser strike but more of a drop point profile + no choil + kydex/leather sheath. Budget $250. Please contact me if you think you can make it happen with those parameters + budget?" Or something similar of course.
If you get some responses, trade some emails, ask to some previous work, etc and see what happens. You might be able to get exactly what you want.

Good luck!
I will look at this thread! Thanks
 
The only reason I want to stray from 1095 is because it always seems damp when I camp, often at a lake. So I wanted to try something else.
Has any of you held a bk16 AND a bark river bravo? The handles look very similar in size. I hate to get one and send it back and pay a 20% restocking fee.
 
The Ratmandu,Bravo1LT & Bravo1.25LT are all good candidates, some really good options also pop up in the knife makers section as well.
PlP0J5s.jpg
 
The Ratmandu,Bravo1LT & Bravo1.25LT are all good candidates, some really good options also pop up in the knife makers section as well.
PlP0J5s.jpg
Wow! That bravo is a beauty. I think the handle on the mora is perfect. The BArk handle seems a little small in pictures
 
Wow! That bravo is a beauty. I think the handle on the mora is perfect. The BArk handle seems a little small in pictures
The Bravo handle fits my medium size hand alright with the only downside being a smooth handle that could possibly tend to be slippery unlike the textured handle of a Mora with palm swell.
 
Bravos are great knives. Bark River has a facebook page, you could pickup a bravo 1 1.25 or 1.5 for under your price range there from one of the members. Everything from used to new.
 
I will echo a previous post. Check the exchange here, some great values, pride of ownership, and if you have an issue the maker will address it a lot quicker than a large company will.
There are some really respectable knives for under 100$ which would allow you to buy two or invest in some sharpening equipment.
Take a look before you buy some mass produced knife, it only takes a few minutes, what have you got to lose?
 
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