Fixed Blade Survival Knife

S

Shakeyfly

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Jan 27, 2014
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Looking for recommendations around a fixed blade camping/hiking/survival knife. The one that really caught my eye was the Fallkniven F1. I like the size (looking to go smaller. Easier to carry and less weight).

But I wanted to see if anyone else had any other thoughts or advice on knives around the F1 size and price point. Looking to spend about 125 - 150. The only con I've read about the knife is that the Convex edge is tougher to sharpen or maintain?

Any other knives out there that I should be looking at? Thanks
 
The F1 is a great knife. Not heavy at all. For 125-150 mark the F1 would be up there on my top choices. The convex edge isn't hard to sharpen at all. Piece of card board and some different grit sand papers, then strop. Finish off with a leather strop and you'll get it razor sharp!

Also might want to consider, Esee 3 or 4. Helle knives are nice too, very light and easy to sharpen.
 
I just came across the Esee 4 recently. Is it also convex?

What grit sandpapers are reccomended for stropping the F1?
 
Becker BK7, custom scales and sheath = 150.00 ..... if looking to go smaller, BK12 Doug Ritter RSK MK2



 
The F1 isn't hard to sharpen at all. You don't even need sandpaper, strops, compounds, etc...

Just sharpen on a stone, in a circular motion, and your done.

In fact Fallkniven even recommends their DC4 stone to keep their F1 sharp. It's on the paper included in your F1's box, if you buy one.[emoji4]

Mine....after many, many years of use.

27y047b.jpg
 
The Esee knives are not convexed. They are flat ground with a v edge. Their 1095 steel is great, easy to sharpen and holds an edge well. But they aren't stainless, not sure if that's an issue or not. You may also want to consider the Esee JG3 if you were looking for a bit smaller then the 3 or 4. I love mine! I like it more then my F1. But that's just me.

I like a 220 grit(if very dull), 400, 800, 1600. Then pick up a nice leather strop and your set! An old mouse pad works great to to put the sand paper on if you don't want to use card board. Best thing to do is give the knife a good strop on the leather after using each day.
 
The f1 is a great tool. The category you're asking about has literally hundreds of options. There are dozens of knives in this range people will recommend and for good reason: it's the most common, most useful type of tool people start with. Some other recommendations to go with your fallkniven:

Kellum Wolverine
Becker bk16
Tops bob

Two that I think blow most out of the water are:
Lt wright bushcraft
BHK bushcraft


Some others that have a big following are:

Esse 4,5,6
Mora bushcraft
Swamp rat ratmandu or rodent 4

My advice is to start with one or two of these and start your journey to find your favorite. Use them as much as possible and if it doesn't make the cut, sell it on the exchange.
 
Shakeyfly said:
Looking for recommendations around a fixed blade camping/hiking/survival knife. The one that really caught my eye was the Fallkniven F1. I like the size (looking to go smaller. Easier to carry and less weight).
Click to expand...

I doubt you will not be impressed with a F1. I agree on the size thinking. You'll carry the F1. If you want something a bit bigger, go with the S1.

Yes, there are lots of good choices in your budget area.
 
Yep, as stated, the F-1 is very popular for a reason. Another perennial favorite is the Bark River Bravo-1. It comes in several different steels and handle materials, and with or without the ramp on the spine. Here's one of mine that I carry into the woods with me quite often:

 
Check out the Benchmade Steep Country.

S30V, 3 and a half ounces, and just under a hundred bucks.

Gonna get me one, looks right up your alley too.
 
The Fallkniven kolt is a bit smaller than the f1 but it comes in their Lam CoS steel which is phenomenal stuff. Second choice would be Dpx gear Hest fixed blade which comes in niolox steel which is some impressive stuff as well.
 
F1 is great for an all around fixed blade. It is light, cuts very well, and its easy to carry with the compact plastic sheath.
As said above, the Dpx Hest is nice, if you like its looks, and is utilitarian with that pry bar, but it is thicker behind the edge.
 
My absolute favorite fixed blade for survival junk and woods stuff is the TOPS HOG 4.5. The stock sheath kinda sucks, but I've made a kydex sheath for it and it's much better now.
I've bent the knife blade while prying and just bent it back and continued to pound on it, not that I recommend prying with it.
They have the heat treat down on 1095
797b26cb4d38793e951f8ee6c93c2ff2.jpg
 
Thank you everyone for your suggestions. I've been researching all of them. As a newbie it's tough for me to figure out the which steels are better etc.

Some great suggestions out there.
 
Shakeyfly said:
Thank you everyone for your suggestions. I've been researching all of them. As a newbie it's tough for me to figure out the which steels are better etc.

Some great suggestions out there.
Click to expand...

Honestly all of these knives and steels are going to be more than adequate for almost anything you are going to use them for... if you like the F1, i totally second that. it's small enough to get the job done and stay out of the way when you don't need it. i have carried one since 2007 all over the world and i absolutely love it. the diamond sharpener from fallkniven can stick right to the hard plastic sheath and you simply strop it on occasion to keep it running smooth. buy whatever one you like... out of all of the ones suggested, you can't really go wrong.
 
I would still recommend this


It's really useful for this


To make this

For this
 
Now that's a great picture. I really think I'm going to go with the Fallkniven F1 . I liked the idea of strapping the Fallkniven diamond sharpener to the sheath for the stropping.
 
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