Finding the perfect Outdoor fixed blade knife...help

anthonycastorena2014 said:
Gotcha. I haven’t rolled mine but I’ve only used it for game skinning. The grind is pretty thin. If you get another one with a thin grind use it for a while then send it to TLE Sharpening for a reprise to a wider angle. Did you watch that video? I was pretty impressed. I’d like to own one.
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I thought for sure the the master hunter was a keeper. I will look for the video..
 
Stevemag said:
Hey Jordan, I got your email about the handle size of the bravo, thank you. Have you ever held a bk16? If so, how does the handle compare to the bravo?
Steve
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Bravo has more room than the BK 16. I wear XL gloves and find the Bravo handle very comfortable, though I prefer the Outback's handle personally.
 
The middle size of the Becker line like the BK-16 tend to have smaller/thinner handles. For basic cutting, I think they work extremely well. But for chopping which a BK-16 really isn't designed for anyway, the handles are too small. If you feel that a handle in the Bark River line might be a bit "thin" for you, I would simply buy one with the added liners which give you a little extra room. Folks add a liner to Beckers all the time. But I'm pretty comfortable with the Becker handle sizes overall. I however find the BK-2, BK-7, BK-9 handles too fat for regular cutting for me. But they are a multi-purpose design.

I was a little tentative about the handles on the BRKT Wilderness Explorer model (without liners), but after buying, I am completely satisfied with them for my kind of use. I suspect you will feel the same way about the Bravo line.
 
22-rimfire said:
The middle size of the Becker line like the BK-16 tend to have smaller/thinner handles. For basic cutting, I think they work extremely well. But for chopping which a BK-16 really isn't designed for anyway, the handles are too small. If you feel that a handle in the Bark River line might be a bit "thin" for you, I would simply buy one with the added liners which give you a little extra room. Folks add a liner to Beckers all the time. But I'm pretty comfortable with the Becker handle sizes overall. I however find the BK-2, BK-7, BK-9 handles too fat for regular cutting for me. But they are a multi-purpose design.

I was a little tentative about the handles on the BRKT Wilderness Explorer model (without liners), but after buying, I am completely satisfied with them for my kind of use. I suspect you will feel the same way about the Bravo line.
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Unless you get extra thick liners the liners on BRKT don't add any appreciable thickness.
 
That is good to know.

SteveMag, a while back you mentioned that you didn't like the standard sheaths for the ESEE 4 and 6. I feel the same way which is another reason I have drifted away from an interest point of view.
 
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Stevemag said:
As petty as it sounds, I hate the sheath that the 4 and 6hm come with.
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You probably are already aware, but the ESEE 4HM now comes with a Kydex sheath option. Pretty sweet...

ES-4HMK.jpg
 
Wishing ESEE would bring out a stainless 4HM...
Also wanted to note that Bradford recently released the Guardian 4.5. It loses the finger choil in favor of a deep finger guard and gains a little handle length in the process. I have 2 of the smaller 3.5s and love them. They're both stout and nimble at the same time (if that makes sense...).
 
SteveMag -

I have used the Spyderco Bill Moran when hunting and camping for many years with no issues. It is light weight, good steel, nice sheath, easy to clean up, reasonably priced, and the handle is perfect for getting into the wet & goo.

 
With that price tag and a clear understanding of what you want getting in contact with one of the knifemakers on the forum might be a great option. I find some of the knifemaker's prices on fixed blades to be a great value. I think there are a few pukkos that might fit that bill regularly showing up. @Nicholas Crawford cutlery does some pretty good stuff in AEB-L and Nitro-V which is are pretty tough stainless steels. AEB-L is very similar to the sandvic on mora knives.

Some off the shelf-options that come to mind:
  1. BM bushcrafter, seems people hate or love it from what I've read. Similar with spyderco
  2. Bradford guardian 4.5. The 4 and 5 may be options too but they do have a choil, however it's much more into the handle than out into the blade.
  3. LT wright, has a few options. I think he's using some AEB-L more often and some 3V. Several of the bushcraft blades have saber and scandi grind options and some are FFG. Quite a few options at DLT trading and other forum supporting vendors. Too many potential options to list.
  4. fiddleback forge production kephart is a neat option. There used to be a bushfinger that I think was around that spec as well but I don't see it anymore.
  5. Go to BladeHQ and start looking for fixed blades with a 4-5" blade and the different tips you're looking for. They have the best sorting system I've seen on the web when looking for a specific design of knife without caring as much who makes it.
 
Buck 110 drop point.
Copper and Clad has them, a couple choices of steel.
Way under your maximum budget though.
Condor "Nessmuk". Again, under budget.
Buck 103 "Skinner", but still under budget.
If you absolutely have to baton, get a Buck 108 Compadre Froe to baton and/or chop with.
The Buck 108 Froe plus any of the three knives I suggested will still be below your maximum budget.
 
I read through some of your responses to other's suggestions and I think this patter might be up your alley. This has a scandi grind but I'm sure a different grind could be used easily enough. This is a Nick Crawford woodlore model, I know he has one listed in the knifemaker's forum now but he has been good about getting customized stuff in the past if his time allows as he was working with a local machine shop earlier this year for his day job, it sounds.

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Didn't realize how poor the 2nd pic came out, just over a 5" blade with just over a 4.5" handle. If I were to critique the model it's that the handle could use to be .25-.5" longer but he does pretty well adding a big of girth to the handles to make them feel nice in my size large hands. I wouldn't recommend that model for hands larger but you may be able to work out something more custom too, the glory of working out a knife build with the forum maker's.

https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/relighting-of-the-forge-sale.1595302/#post-18221023

P.S. Enjoy the search. I've found that trying out knives is even more fun than buying them. Getting things used from forum members is a nice way to keep that expense low and then buy something new once you have worked through the theoreticals of what perfect means. I actually tried a few schrade knives that were dirt cheap to try out a design and then get something nicer later on, kind of how I ended up with a ratweiler (bk7 on steroids with some nicer handles, it's a compact/portable chopper).
 
I've determined for me the fiddleback forge pro-kephart is the best user knife out there. Every year at blade, I try to find something better and have not so far. The lightweight and the milled scales make for a hell of a great knife. I believe I have a mini review in the main. Good luck.
 
I am in search for a 4-5" fixed blade too. Cold Steel MH with stonewashed cpm 3v blade looks good, but the handle material is a big turn off. Multiple reviews said the handle will wear out poorly down the road. Why can't/won't CS replace it with g10 or micarta?

That Bradford 4 looks really nice. Maybe I should give it some serious consideration.
 
Bmurray said:
I've determined for me the fiddleback forge pro-kephart is the best user knife out there. Every year at blade, I try to find something better and have not so far. The lightweight and the milled scales make for a hell of a great knife.
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For about a year, I was all about getting a Kephart that was about 5" for an all arounder in the woods. I have looked at Fiddleback Forge's stuff and it's really appealing overall, but the prices keep going up. I like to visit their tables at Blade too. I found the Bark River modlified Kephart with the guard and thought "this is the one". Him-hawed around for about 6 months and then the Wilderness Adventurer model came out. It embodied most of what I was looking for including my preferred shape. Got it and I'm pleased.

In the back of my mind, I always felt that I wouldn't be satisfied with the Kephart spear point design and after getting one would likely be looking for another middle range priced outdoor knife. So, maybe I saved myself some money....
 
22-rimfire said:
For about a year, I was all about getting a Kephart that was about 5" for an all arounder in the woods. I have looked at Fiddleback Forge's stuff and it's really appealing overall, but the prices keep going up. I like to visit their tables at Blade too. I found the Bark River modlified Kephart with the guard and thought "this is the one". Him-hawed around for about 6 months and then the Wilderness Adventurer model came out. It embodied most of what I was looking for including my preferred shape. Got it and I'm pleased.

In the back of my mind, I always felt that I wouldn't be satisfied with the Kephart spear point design and after getting one would likely be looking for another middle range priced outdoor knife. So, maybe I saved myself some money....
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the Fiddleback pro or production kephart looks nothing like the original. the only thing similar is the name. you'll like it. they run about $225.00 out the door new but sometimes one pops up used or second hand. good luck and congrats on you finding a knife that fits your needs.
 
Being a knife knut, I can't really keep myself from looking at Fiddleback's stuff. I will take another look at it.

You might think that I push Bark River stuff even with the bad press that is often given here. I own two Barkies and a few Blackjacks that they made. I have always been pleased with the stuff they made.
 
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Nothing beats a Mora, Jääkäripuukko, or Hultafors GK. Best bang for buck knives you'll find, period.

If you can and want to afford it, though, you should check out Bark River knives! I'd never pay that for any tool that I abuse and am likely to drop somewhere it will blend in with the surroundings and get lost. Nope, no way Jose.
 
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