First higher end bushcraft knife?

M

Mykke

Joined
Jul 4, 2017
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21
I'm looking for a higher end bushcraft knife for about 200€. I've always used scandi grind blades that i have modified into convex style blades.

Right now i have my eyes on the Benchmade 162 S30V and the
EnZo Trapper 115 Flat grind ELMAX.
Suggestions for other knives in this price range/steel?
Does the flat grind perform as well as the scandi-vex for bushcrafting?

ps. I'm also eyeing the EnZo 115 S n690. Steel is shittier than ELMAX but it has a scandi grind instead of a flat one.
 
I'd avoid bark river due to many reasons. I've owned 3 benchmade 162s and liked them very much. I see many happy customers of fiddleback forge, I'd give them a try.
 
Hmm... I've heard many good things about about bark river knives. Why don't you like them?
 
Here in Finland Bark Rivers cost about 310-400€ for the 3V versions and they would take 3 months to ship, though if they really are great knives i could get one in the future.
 
LT. Wright makes great knives and have top notch costumer service. Their ergonomics are awesome and LT does A2 steel right.
 
Mykke said:
Hmm... I've heard many good things about about bark river knives. Why don't you like them?
Click to expand...
Google mike stewart scam, steal, lied any of those. Also bark river doesn't have the greatest heat treatment of any steel. Search this site as well for a plethora info.
 
Enzo looks good, I have my eyes on one as well. N690 is comparable to VG10, so its quite a good steel.
I am also looking at Aurora LT from BRKT. I heard good things about Barkies, and its a given that a mass producer wont have the best HT.
 
Wrong ruso. Many manufacturers have excellent heat treats, sure not custom level from phil Wilson but excellent non the less. Bark river has a history of poor heat treat, miss labeling steels, and the owner is a liar and thief. I suggest you read up on this here on the forums, MANY MANY years of documentation for your reading pleasure.
 
Ruso said:
Enzo looks good, I have my eyes on one as well. N690 is comparable to VG10, so its quite a good steel.
I am also looking at Aurora LT from BRKT. I heard good things about Barkies, and its a given that a mass producer wont have the best HT.
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Why does everyone compare N690 to VG10? Its composition looks alot closer to 440c with a little cobalt added.
 
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Go with bark river.. you really can't go wrong and I see too many negative things about them from things other people have read.. first off if u buy a knife from knives ship free then you can turn the knife back in after 30 days if you don't like it and it's unused.. they are an awesome company and will do anything to help their customers. Second off if you do have a problem with the knife bark river will do everything they can to make it right. I've read several post about there awesome customer service and even seen a couple where they made brand new knives for people who were unhappy and one person who ended up getting two new knives for a knife being ground too thin. They have an awesome heat treat and a lot of new supersteels if your in to that. If you buy one and want it modified or anything done to it just send it to bark river and they'll fix it. They have a strict no questions asked warranty all you have to do is pay for shipping. Sorry for the rant I just don't understand all the negative post on the quality of their knives. Happy fourth!
 
Ruso said:
Enzo looks good, I have my eyes on one as well. N690 is comparable to VG10, so its quite a good steel.
I am also looking at Aurora LT from BRKT. I heard good things about Barkies, and its a given that a mass producer wont have the best HT.
Click to expand...

What do you think of the Trapper blade size. 95mm/3.8 inches vs 115mm/4.5 inches.
Not sure which one i'd get.
 
Gradyw said:
Go with bark river.. you really can't go wrong and I see too many negative things about them from things other people have read.. first off if u buy a knife from knives ship free then you can turn the knife back in after 30 days if you don't like it and it's unused.. they are an awesome company and will do anything to help their customers. Second off if you do have a problem with the knife bark river will do everything they can to make it right. I've read several post about there awesome customer service and even seen a couple where they made brand new knives for people who were unhappy and one person who ended up getting two new knives for a knife being ground too thin. They have an awesome heat treat and a lot of new supersteels if your in to that. If you buy one and want it modified or anything done to it just send it to bark river and they'll fix it. They have a strict no questions asked warranty all you have to do is pay for shipping. Sorry for the rant I just don't understand all the negative post on the quality of their knives. Happy fourth![/QUO

shinyedges said:
Wrong ruso. Many manufacturers have excellent heat treats, sure not custom level from phil Wilson but excellent non the less. Bark river has a history of poor heat treat, miss labeling steels, and the owner is a liar and thief. I suggest you read up on this here on the forums, MANY MANY years of documentation for your reading pleasure.
Click to expand...
DeadboxHero said:
Malanika puukko, changed my life. Highly recommend.
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It's a great and beatiful knife, but being of a finnish design (i own a few martini knives) it is probably not full tang. Because of this reason i would not baton with one. Sure knive are not ment to be batoned with but i do it anyways.
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I have tried several and admit Moras for value are hard to beat ... and they now offer a fulltang version still below $100.00 ... I own use and love my Esee the newer 4HM or 6HM over the older models seem more comfortable to me .. but of all the knives I've tried I couldn't reccomend anything more then an LT Wright ... they make some great knives ... very comfortable to use all day ... various knives ... various grinds ... various steels on some models. I have an LT Wright Bushcrafter that takes any task I throw at it ... I have a GNS thats a bit different shape but still great for anything around camp ... and they have several other models that I can't reccomend them any higher.
I recently bought a Bradford Guardian 4 in M390 but is also offered in 3V and comes in a 3 - 4 - 5- or 6... and so far I love it ... its great from food prep and processing game to woodcraft chores making a feather stick or detailed carving for useful tools to help around camp ... and its a FFG and cuts like a lightsaber ... I'm going to get a Bradford Saber grind next and bet it is as capable. Bradford also uses 3V as an option on their knives.
 
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JJ_Colt45 said:
I have tried several and admit Moras for value are hard to beat ... and they now offer a fulltang version still below $100.00 ... I own use and love my Esee the newer 4HM or 6HM over the older models seem more comfortable to me .. but of all the knives I've tried I couldn't reccomend anything more then an LT Wright ... they make some great knives ... very comfortable to use all day ... various knives ... various grinds ... various steels on some models. I have an LT Wright Bushcrafter that takes any task I throw at it ... I have a GNS thats a bit different shape but still great for anything around camp ... and they have several other models that I can't reccomend them any higher.
I recently bought a Bradford Guardian 4 in M390 but is also offered in 3V and comes in a 3- 4 - 5- or 6... and so far I love it ... its great from food prep and processing game to woodcraft chores making a feather stick or detailed carving for useful tools to help around camp ... and its a FFG and cuts like a lightsaber ... I'm going to get a Bradford Saber grind next and bet it is as capable. Bradford also uses 3V as an option on their knives.
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I've been using moras and martinis because they don't cost much. Now that i'm pretty good at water stone sharpning i've been looking for something with better edge retention and steel toughness.
 
Then I would look at the LT Wright and Bradford Guardians ... both offer in 3V and some models in M390 or S30V ... and the LT Wrights even still in A2 or 01 are done right and make great knives.
If you wanted their are several great Custom Makers on our forums that could give you something personal that fits your style and would use the steels and handle materials you'd prefer.
 
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