Fixed blade advice

I

I eat glue

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Mar 9, 2025
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Just joined kinda new to knives. always just carried pocket knives on the farm for work. Firearms have always kinda been my thing, but now knives are working there way into draining my bank account.

Hoping to get some advice on steels from people who know alot more then me. I'm wanting to get a fixed blade for my bag, my trips vary alot. sometimes I'm hiking in alaska winter or in caves in NC/TN and a few trips in canyons in Utah. I'm wanting a kinda do all knife as far as camp chores making fires small tender feather sticks ect. I never use my knives to baton through wood. I carry a silky saw and gransfors bruks small forest axe for actual firewood. So unless it's in a very desperate pinch there shouldn't be any major abuse. I'm mostly worried about corrosion but with still decent toughness, I thought about trying some magnacut, between the caves and just over all humidity in alot of places I'm wet alot all freshwater. I'm pretty much never in saltwater. wanting something bigger then my mora companion but smaller then my esee 6, I like the size of my half face blades crow jr but it's 3v and I was told it's corrosion resistance isn't the best so it never made it in my bag.

Sorry post is so long tried to answer all the baseline questions people might base there advice on sure I missed some.
 
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I like MagnaCut and AEB-L for wet/snowy conditions.

Carothers BFK in MagnaCut. Kephart from Carothers or Volunteer Knife in AEB-L. These are some of my favorites.

* There are many great knives that would fit your needs well. You could get an excellent knife from Buck in 420 or S35 that would not set you back much. Check out the threads ‘Fixed Blades’ and the for sale area and you might get a good idea of the variety.
 
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I would suggest using the HF knife (but wiping it off) and find out how it performs. If you like. It, great, if not then sell it and buy something else. You could contact David Mary, he is active here on BF and seems to be able to make nearly any design to customer spec for a reasonable price, including in magnacut. Also look here
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/volunteer-knife-thread-show-them-off.1999209
 
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You seem to have a better understanding of what size knife and what you will realistically be doing with it than most of us. For the cost you are looking at might I suggest having a custom made by one of the talented knife makers here on the forums. You could give them a few ideas of models you like and style of blade and handle materials and they could draw something up for you. You could suggest magnacut as a blade steel or another corrosion resistant steel of your choice or their suggestion.
 
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Well...I'm not sharp enough of a fella to recommend much, but I can tell you what works for me. I also tend to carry a hatchet/saw combo when I can here in Alaska. There is a fair bit of canoeing, hiking, edible and medicinal foraging, some hunting and some fishing. I typically have a David Mary knife in AEB-L with me most of the time, as well as in my day to day carry. When I'm foraging and doing alot of scraping, or just feeling the need for something bigger, I've never gone wrong with a simple Mora Kansbol. I usually choose David mary knives because he has excellent grinds, and the man's edge profiles...well...they jibe with my personal preferences. If you're feeling flush there are Magnacut options, if you're not so flush AEB-L will exceeds most people's expectations if given a chance. I know there are a lot cooler and fancier options out there, but this is just what's worked for me in the most recent years.
 
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thebrain said:
You seem to have a better understanding of what size knife and what you will realistically be doing with it than most of us. For the cost you are looking at might I suggest having a custom made by one of the talented knife makers here on the forums. You could give them a few ideas of models you like and style of blade and handle materials and they could draw something up for you. You could suggest magnacut as a blade steel or another corrosion resistant steel of your choice or their suggestion.
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Anyone reputable you would recommend specifically? if i could find someone that could actually make the exact knife i want id pay a pretty penny. I have exactly what I'd want design wise in my head. I've talked to a few custom knife makers but either they don't wanna work with magnacut or a few told me that they really only use natural materials when I mentioned G10 scales haven't had alot of luck with custom makers
 
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I have a feeling Runs With Scissors and I eat glue would be best buddies. Just a hunch 🤣.

Anyway, I would consider an Architect Knives AK 4.5 in Magnacut. Have to wait until they become available again but it's a great size and you can build it the way you want. Can't beat the AK's handle, very comfortable and removable for cleaning. Also, they are reasonably priced. Another great option would be a TRC South Pole in Magnacut or Polheim if you want a bit smaller knife with a taco sheath. These are in the 4" range and come with good kydex sheaths.
 
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Glue is tasty! It used to come in it's own serving jars when I was a kid!! 🤣🥲

Magnacut and AmeriGrip would be a great combo for you! AmeriGrip is like Suretouch, G10 and rubber, so you get the bright G10 colors, with a softer feel and rubber traction, similar to how a Micarta handle feels. AmeriGrip has more layers of fiberglass between the rubber, so the colors are a touch brighter. I hated G10 handles because they feel hard and glassy under heavy use, but the G10/Rubber laminates help soften the feel, give great grip and some cushion, without feeling squishy. GripTec is another material that may work as well.

AEB-L would be MUCH tougher and easier to sharpen, but without the same edge holding ability as Magnacut, but the steel is much less expensive.

Full custom doesn't have to be super expensive, either! Lots of people work with Magnacut and G10!
 
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You probably are over thinking your needs for corrosion resistance.

If you wanted 3v. 3v would be Fine. It's not going to rust on you. You would probably have to try to get it to rust.

I also agree about loving AEB-L and similar steels such as 14c28n and Nitro V. If ran harder like 62-63 it can hold a nice edge.

Cruwear is my personal fav. It is less stainless than MC, but it's slightly tougher. And still Very resistant to weather!

Heck, D2 makes a great critter cutter......

You have Tons of steels to choose from. My suggestion is to buy the style and handle type that you want, steel is less important
 
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Wolverine666 said:
I recommend a custom fixed blade made by navman here in the forums. Check him out. His reputation is outstanding. So good in fact , I had him make me a knife. It’ll be here tomorrow. He made one exactly to my specifications. And at a very reasonable price. Can’t wait 😃
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Glad you went that way, and that he was able to make it for you quickly
 
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If cost is an issue, there are still a lot of affordable knives that will stand up to an Alaskan trip or two. Cold Steel, Buck Schrade . . .all make pretty good knives. There are many other makers. I would say, get something you like and bring it along. At some point your idea of what will be a better knife for your needs will become more focused. . When you have a less than rndome isea of what you want, then go for that ideal knife, even if you have to set money aside for a bit to buy it.

At the higher end, there will be a lot of recommendations as to steels , models and makers.

I am looking at the Cris Reeve "Backpacker": Four inch blade, Magtnicut, canvass Micarta scales, kydex sheath. The design philosophy is said to be performance with light weight. MSRP is around $500 at retail. Looks good to me, but I am recovering from several surgeries and don't plan on roughing it for a while if ever again.
 
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Because I have been recommending the demko freereign. And don't want to be typecast as a one trick pony.

The victorinox venture might fit the bill. It is a stainless survival knife geared more towards cutting than batoning. But comes highly recommended.

 
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