Fixed blade recommendations for canoe trip.

A

AmosPaul

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Dec 17, 2014
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I'm going on a three day canoe camping trip soon. I have some great fixed blades in my collection, but they all have leather sheaths; and most of them are 1095 steel.

I'm having trouble finding a suitable knife. What would you take on a trip like this?

Here is my criteria:
1. Stainless steel
2. Blade length = 3-4 inch range
3. Full size handle (four finger grip)
4. Under $200
5. Kydex sheath
6. Prefer thin slicing blades
7. No plastic scales
 
Any thing from Spyderco Salt line fits your description perfectly aside from the "Plastic" handles. Even though FRCP and FRN aren't "plastic", I am sure many would consider them close enough to not matter.

That being said, I would still suggest a Spyderco Salt, fully serrated.
 
What do you plan to do with the knife? Is it primarily for canoeing, in which case, it would have a more boating oriented purpose, or is it for the camping portion of the trip?

If you are using it for camping, do you do wood/fire prep with a knife? or would it just be for light duty food prep, and cutting incidents light stuff?
 
I agree, is this a general use knife, or a life saving, emergency line cutting dedicated knife?
 
I would be using it for food prep, fire making (no batoning though), and smallmouth bass fishing duties.
 
Take a look at the production Hiking Buddy from Fiddleback Forge. S35VN, textured Micarta scales, right size, great little knife @ $195.00. I have a production Bushfinger & several of the handmade Fiddlebacks, great company & beautiful knives. Highly recommended
 
TimberlineSpyder said:
Take a look at the production Hiking Buddy from Fiddleback Forge. S35VN, textured Micarta scales, right size, great little knife @ $195.00. I have a production Bushfinger & several of the handmade Fiddlebacks, great company & beautiful knives. Highly recommended
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Thanks, I forgot all about Fiddleback Forge. Edit: FF has leather sheaths, I'm looking to avoid leather as it would hold water on a long canoe trip.
 
Bradford Guardian 3. Check out his website. M390 Steel with whatever grind you like, he does saber and full flat. The 3D handles are nice! Call him about the sheath. I believe it ships with a leather with index inside, but he would change it to kydex. He sells kydex sheaths as well and would probably ship that instead.
 
I'd pick up a stainless Mora, keep your regular 1095 blade in a sealed zip lock for use around camp, and carry a reasonable folder for general cutting.
 
AmosPaul said:
I would be using it for food prep, fire making (no batoning though), and smallmouth bass fishing duties.
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I hate to say it, because it doesn't fit a few of your criteria, but for what you're describing, a Mora Companion in stainless would really fit the bill. It would cost you a whopping $15 and do every chore you're asking.
 
I tend to think cheap especially when I suspect the OP already likes the other fixed blades. Personally, I am not a big Mora guy, but I own a few.
 
I would agree that a stainless Mora Companion would do well.
Aside from that, look into the:
- CPK D2V edc or field knife
- Bradford Guardian 4 in m390 (one in the exchange now, in production fixed blades)

That Bradford 4 looks to be a Great fit for you.
 
Buck 105, 102, or 103. Some come with leather, but some come with nylon. I have the 105, have taken it on the river a few times in the past two weeks, and have been very impressed. The 102 is like it but smaller. I plan to get a 102 because its size is so handy and comfortable. I was not a fan of Buck until I saw their lineup of American made fixed blades. Now I want all of them.


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22-rimfire said:
I tend to think cheap especially when I suspect the OP already likes the other fixed blades. Personally, I am not a big Mora guy, but I own a few.
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I got a bright orange Companion that does stay on my hip when I go canoeing. I use it for improvised camp sites if we are paddling and come across a nice camping spot. It serves for "general camp use" just perfectly. And if I lose it in a lake I'm only out $15 bucks. Same reason my folder that I carry canoeing is a Byrd CaraCara2 Rescue with full serrations rather than one of the nice H1 knives.

I try no to lose stuff, and I haven't lost the Mora nor Byrd yet, but when you have an inexpensive knife, it's just less pressure, and the whole point of the journey is to enjoy myself. if I stress over the equipment it takes away from the fun.
 
Another vote for Mora. I'd buy two with one dedicated to food prep. It will help keep things clean and give you a backup knife for a total of $30 or so.
 
Great recommendations, thanks guys! I'm going to save some money and go with a Mora. I hadn't thought about losing the knife, the rationale for taking a Mora is spot on. The Bradford Guardian and the Buck look great as well; I'm putting them on my list for future purchases. This forum is awesome.
 
If you get two of them, you can sharpen one Very toothy, like 120 grit toothy for rope, line, fish bellies, and other needs that require a bite. While the other can be brought up to a higher polish.

Or, one can be a utility knife for wood work, cleaning fish, and other dirty tasks, while the other can be a "clean" knife for food usage.
 
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