First fixed blade ever!

[bflying]

Quite the list. But out of all of them, the only one I have is the zt180. Out of the few dozen fixed blades I have, it is one of my favorites. In my eyes, a singe knife "can" do everything, but any one knife will not be the "best" at everything. Something that is an amazing heavy chopper may not be the best fine slicer. Just sayin'.

There was someone here that did a hard use test with the 180, and I was really impressed with what kind of crap it took. At the time of reading that thread and seeing all of the grotesque pics, I had just made a pretty leather sheath for my 180, and wouldn't even think of doing anything like that on purpose. But it was nice to know it could handle it.

Enjoy the search. If this really is a first fixed, it will most likely not be your last. So I wouldn't be too concerned about it doing "everything" perfectly. Just go with your gut and buy what interests you the most. Enjoy it, and when the time rolls around for another, you will better know what you like, want to accomplish, and what will fit your hand the best.

 

[bodog]

Quite the list. But out of all of them, the only one I have is the zt180. Out of the few dozen fixed blades I have, it is one of my favorites. In my eyes, a singe knife "can" do everything, but any one knife will not be the "best" at everything. Something that is an amazing heavy chopper may not be the best fine slicer. Just sayin'.

There was someone here that did a hard use test with the 180, and I was really impressed with what kind of crap it took. At the time of reading that thread and seeing all of the grotesque pics, I had just made a pretty leather sheath for my 180, and wouldn't even think of doing anything like that on purpose. But it was nice to know it could handle it.

Enjoy the search. If this really is a first fixed, it will most likely not be your last. So I wouldn't be too concerned about it doing "everything" perfectly. Just go with your gut and buy what interests you the most. Enjoy it, and when the time rolls around for another, you will better know what you like, want to accomplish, and what will fit your hand the best.

It was this one. I rehandled it to suit me better. I carry it most days, on duty and off.

Since then I've been harder on it in my job than what I was during the test. I have total faith in the knife. I wish it pierced a little better but it's a willful sacrifice for tip strength.

 

[pinnah]

So, after using several folders in the past few years I've decided to obtain a fixed knife, the first in my life.
There's no particular task I'd like to use it for, the main aspect would be to find a well balanced tool for some bushcrafting, food prepping, wood carving and occassionally for heavier duties (batoning, opening cardboard boxes in succession).

Something of an alternative point of view...

I find fixed blades more fun to use once their in my hand, but I find them incredibly frustrating at all other times. I find them to be extraordinarily cumbersome to carry. They interfere with my pack waist belt. They bang around when I hike or ski. I find they upset a lot of people as they aren't used to seeing people carrying a fixed blade and they're fearful a bit.

At this point, I only carry a fixed blade in the woods if a) I'm hunting (and even then, I may just take my 110) or b) I'm packing a small box style wood stove like an Emberlit. The latter is very rare and pretty much restricted to backcountry XC ski trips.

My recommendation would be get an inexpensive fixed blade and to use for the jobs and tasks and in the places you describe to see if the whole fixed blade thing actually works for you.

You can get a Mora Companion for a 1/10th of the cost of some of the knives you've listed. It's an astoundingly good knife regardless of the cost. The grip is just amazing. The 12C27 steel is excellent and on par with any 1095 I've used. I prefer mine convexed but this is an easy mod that takes me about 20 minutes on a course stone.

If the Companion works for you, then you can think about getting a nicer knife. Just a consideration.

 

[ebar]

Enzo Trapper. Various steels available, full tang, handle a little narrow for my medium hands. Thick blade makes for sturdiness but deters slicing ability. Very sharp out of the box. Nice basic leather sheath.

Helle Fjellbekk. Laminated stainless (a little soft but very easy to sharpen and to fix small dings with a strop), not full tang (makes for a light knife), "full" handle with great ergonomics. Great slicer. Very, very sharp out of the box (the sharpest knife I've owned). Great leather sheath. Did I said very very sharp?

Both are under $135

 

[link2derek]

Welcome to the Forum! For me, it's Bravo-1 all day long:








Bravo Squad Leader is also a nice choice - just a bit longer than the regular Bravo-1, and with a bit of a drop-point and an exposed pommel like with the Fox Fiver models:

 

[jascolli]

Check out the subform for fiddleback forge. Andy and his crew make some of the best fixed blades available.

 

[link2derek]

^^^ Another great choice. I've got a couple Bushfingers and a Camp Knife on order - can't wait to get them.

 

[bflying]

It was this one. I rehandled it to suit me better. I carry it most days, on duty and off.

Since then I've been harder on it in my job than what I was during the test. I have total faith in the knife. I wish it pierced a little better but it's a willful sacrifice for tip strength.

Wow!!! Remembering what you put that thing through, it looks like a show piece with that custom handle. And almost as impressive as the sweet functional grind on Vanadis 4E steel, is how well the coating has held up through both abusive and actual real life hard use.

Now I'm even more in love with my 0180. So I'm going to have to give another vote for the ZT as a well made, nicely balanced, do anything fixed blade. Here's mine in the sheath I made.

 

[bodog]

Wow!!! Remembering what you put that thing through, it looks like a show piece with that custom handle. And almost as impressive as the sweet functional grind on Vanadis 4E steel, is how well the coating has held up through both abusive and actual real life hard use.

Now I'm even more in love with my 0180. So I'm going to have to give another vote for the ZT as a well made, nicely balanced, do anything fixed blade. Here's mine in the sheath I made.

Yeah man, it's surprised me too. A different sheath is almost mandatory though, as you've found out yourself.

 

[bflying]

Hey Folks,

Sorry if this one is the umpteenth of "what do you think about these knives" type posts but seriously want to hear your judgments before making my next purchase.

So, after using several folders in the past few years I've decided to obtain a fixed knife, the first in my life.
There's no particular task I'd like to use it for, the main aspect would be to find a well balanced tool for some bushcrafting, food prepping, wood carving and occassionally for heavier duties (batoning, opening cardboard boxes in succession).

The following knives are still on my list regardless the type of blade, the handle, the size or the price (we can say that the list is mainly based on emotions )

- Bark River Bravo 1
- Benchmade Bushcrafter
- Blackjack Knives Tac Ops 5
- DPx H.E.F.T. 4
- Entrek Javalina
- Fantoni HB Fixed
- Fallkniven F1
- Lionsteel M5
- Zero Tolerance 0180

If I had to choose the top three that would be Lionsteel, DPx, Fallkniven respectively.
What do you think about these candidates?
Would you be so kind an make some suggestions keeping the serious advantages (ease of sharpening, edge retention, shape of blade, etc.) and disadvantages (susceptible to rust, chipping, etc.) of each of them in mind?

Thanks a lot!

So, WalterWhite, what did you land on? I always love seeing the diverse responses from the gallery, and comparing to the actual desires of the OP.

Of course, sometimes when I pose the help me pick question, I find so much positive that I never really considered, and end up buying multiples way over my budget. Wife HATES when I do that. [emoji56]. Me, "But Babe, they are all so different, I NEED them all." Her.... "But you work part time in an office doing accounting ."