Fixed blade knife help

B

Barkbuster30

Joined
Sep 29, 2021
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14
I need a good USA made fixed blade knife. Primary uses and needs

1. Mushroom picking - sliding blade under cap and through duff so as not to overy disturb soil and get clean cut.
2. Sharpening tent stakes, marshmallow sticks.
3. Occasionaly lopping off blackberry vine across trail.
4. Field dressing, boning , skinning (only in a pinch I have knives suited to processing game)
5. Ability to fend off bear or cougar ( .0001 chance)
6. Knife will be carried often - fishing , hunting, camping, mushroom picking.

Things I will NOT need this for

1. Chopping wood , splitting kindling ( hatchet, axe, or machete would be utilized here)

Here are the knives I have been looking at - and I have been reading for days on this forum trying to decide.

1. Ka-bar bk62 ( worried that if I ever did have to defend myself against wild animal my fingers could slide over blade)
2. Ka-bar mark 1
3. Any of the full size usmc style ka-bars
4. Case buffalo horn 5" combination skinner hunter
5. Case buffalo horn 5" skinner hunter (6 inch would be an option as well)

The bk62 seems to oddly fit into my criteria but has an intangible appeal.

The mark 1 seems very logical and attractive.

The case buffalo horn options seem very attractive and im a big fan of case.

I am open to other suggestions as well. Just needs to be USA made and under 300$
 
Except for fighting off a bear, I recommend something below 5”, closer to 4. Yoko’s recommendation would be perfect.

And regarding the cougar ? Only worry if you’re married. She might be cute and like mushrooms and camping. :D
 
I think my odds of getting attacked by a bear or cougar was accurately stated. I think cougars have killed as many or more people in the lower 48 than black bears in recent years. In the last 5 two people within 100 miles of me have been killed by cougars.

Under 5 inches im going to have trouble using it mushroom picking. Often times the mushroom will be half burried in pine needles with a 6 inch or greater cap diameter. I want to be able to cleanly harvest the mushroom without disturbing the mycelium.

Hopefully she likes camping and picking mushrooms.

...beauty is in the eye of the beholder but that dek1 is one ugly.....
 
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The CPK DEK1 is a great option, but I believe now out of production, so may be difficult to find one for under $300 (the D3V version was just over $300, and the AEBL version was just under). For a bit more blade, check out the CPK Basic Field Knife, which is also a bit cheaper, and there's going to be some for sale on Fri Oct 8.
 
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Carothers Kephart since you mentioned BK62? Is the 3V upgrade over 1095 better? Yea - higher toughness, better edge retention, and more corrosion resistant. Unless you prefer leather, the kydex sheath is an upgrade, too.

A bit cheaper than the DEK1 (either 3V or AEB-L), as well.

I don't think you'll have an issue with hands sliding over the edge since both BK62 and CPK have the handles swell laterally at the guard. It's not as pronounced as a dedicated finger choil; though, it does the job well preventing your hands from sliding pass the scales. Micarta scales (a la CPK) would also provide a bit more traction than straight up walnut wood (BK62).

As of this writing, seems like the Kephart (3V) and DEK1 (AEB-L) are available on CPK's site. :thumbsup:
 
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Welcome to the forums!

A few brands to consider. Bradford, White River knives, LT Wright, and Bark River (BR). Some folks aren't BR fans due to owner/business practices. Use the search button upper right if you want to know more.

Check out the Bradford 4 or 4.5 if you want a smaller blade. 5" is a good size :D
https://www.dlttrading.com/bradford-guardian-5-5-3v-3d-black-blue-g-10-stonewashed

Great overall shape imo. Nice sheath too.
https://www.dlttrading.com/white-river-ursus-45-natural-burlap-micarta

Many models to choose from.
https://www.dlttrading.com/bark-river-bravo-1-25-lt-3v-green-canvas-micarta-matte-69
 
OP, didn't mean to give you a hard time with my joke ....

There is a huge choice. I've been rotating fixed blades since beginning of the year:

i-2HZCKDn-X3.jpg


There are 3 Russian knives in there, the others are American. All of these would work.

I'd suggest a slightly smaller knife, as it's easier for mushrooms, cooking, wittling sticks, etc. For example, one of these (all American):

i-VNmDpPM-X3.jpg


Let me know if you like the look of any of these and I can give you more details.

Roland.
 
The Becker BK62 is a perfect knife, and cheap enough you can get it dirty.

If you want a tiny set-up in features, LT Wright is a wonderful Ohio company.
I have a few. I will get more.
A good length, stainless blade that is priced reasonable is their Traveller model.

BK62 (modded)


Traveller (second one down) not my pic, but I have the knife.
 
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gazz98 said:
Welcome to the forums!

A few brands to consider. Bradford, White River knives, LT Wright, and Bark River (BR). Some folks aren't BR fans due to owner/business practices. Use the search button upper right if you want to know more.

Check out the Bradford 4 or 4.5 if you want a smaller blade. 5" is a good size :D
https://www.dlttrading.com/bradford-guardian-5-5-3v-3d-black-blue-g-10-stonewashed

Great overall shape imo. Nice sheath too.
https://www.dlttrading.com/white-river-ursus-45-natural-burlap-micarta

Many models to choose from.
https://www.dlttrading.com/bark-river-bravo-1-25-lt-3v-green-canvas-micarta-matte-69
Click to expand...
Yes!
Check out these 4 brands, especially if you have never browsed through their offerings. Top picks that come to mind are;
White River, Ursus 45
LT Wright, Gen5
Bark River, Fox River EXT2
 
The fox river ext2 is really nice but with a blade length of 4.5" its too short. Right now at 5" min and that is a compromise. 6 would really be more suitable to most of its intended uses. (The bk16 was also taken out of consideration due to blade length)

Another point is i have zero need of this knife being capable of chopping or splitting wood. Definitely no batoning. It will potentially see use field dressing/skinning/ boning/

The buck knives dont appeal to me very much in regards to there fixed blades.

I always have a medium stockman in my pocket and one of those 3 blades is usually capable of any light duty cutting I may need to do.
 
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In all honesty I've had Beckers and they awesome knives for the price, but at your price cut off something from carothers and delta 3v is my pick

This is a basic field knife that went into a Ford truck bed side with no damage

Screenshot_20210923-090656_Gallery.jpg
 
I think you should get a dedicated mushroom knife and separate one for your other needed tasks.

Mushroom knives are best with thin blades and a hooked profile. Trying to cut a mushroom stalk with a big, beveled prybar will only crush it.
 
I do have a dedicated mushroom knife - several actually. I have a knife dedicated for just about anything I can imagine doing.

I want something that is going to be pretty good at a few different things. It needs to look nice. I'm not into "tactical" or stabbing truck beds... Lol
 
Right now the front runners are

1. Buck 105 (has a thin blade which is good)
2. Case 5" skinner hunter (very attractive - not sure about blade thickness...assuming full tang)
3. Ka-bar bk62
4. Ka-bar mark 1

- Ferider I like all of your knives , but I think the ones you posted pics of are more robust than I need.
 
A lot of great suggestions so far.

I love the mark 1. If you have small to medium hands you will too.

There is just something cool about leather stacked handles and a simple leather sheath.

It had a nice full flat profile and works as a good knife in a pinch.

Ka-Bar stands behind their products.

A Buck 119 is also a great option.
 
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