Fixed Blades for Outdoor Use

B

B.F.U

Joined
Jan 1, 2013
Messages
8,469
I am looking for a fixed blade for general outdoor use, camping, some bushcraft, some hunting, and some survival type stuff.

I was wondering what steels, handles, blade styles, blade lengths, and blade thicknesses you much more experienced knife enthusiasts prefer, or would suggest. Also, specific knives that you prefer would be interesting to see.

I seem to prefer drop point or spear type blades, between 4 and 7 inches, from .15 to .25 inches thick, and with a longer yet thinner handle. The problem with that, however, is that it is a wide range of preferences.

So basically I would just like to read what you all have to say about a knife for such purposes.

Thanks

ALLHSS
 
research all you can then get a Becker knowing you did the right thing.
 
LG&M said:
research all you can then get a Becker knowing you did the right thing.
Click to expand...

A Becker is on my short list to get. Right now I have an Esee 4 and a Gravelle custom that I use outdoors. I like them both. The Gravelle is A2 and .25in thick. It's blade is 5 1/2in. I put a convex edge on it and it gets my wood working duties done at camp and in the yard. The Esee 4 helps out, and does well for the smaller jobs and cleaning game. Prior to these two I was using an F1. I'm finding that I like the A2 for real hard use, and the 1095 Esee puts out is real good as well.

Is the steel on the Beckers similar to the Esee steel?(I prolly should ask that in the Becker forum, but figured it may be ok since you mentioned Beckers)
 
The steel ESEE uses and the steel that the Kabar manufactured Becker knifes use are almost identical. ESEE knives use plain old 1095 carbon steel with a great HT. Becker knives use a slightly modified 1095 crovan steel (1095 with some cromolly and vanadium added) that should slightly improve its corrosion resistance. The Becker knives also have a great HT. So in terms of the actual steel of each knife there, they're more or less identical in quality and their physical properties. The ESEE blades generally just cost a bit more because they come with some "aftermarket" type accessories like kydex and micarta, while the beckers do not. The beckers tend to be almost exactly the price of those two accessories cheaper than their rough ESEE equivalents, but you'll get to have "custom" stuff.

Good luck man :).
 
ocnLogan said:
The steel ESEE uses and the steel that the Kabar manufactured Becker knifes use are almost identical. ESEE knives use plain old 1095 carbon steel with a great HT. Becker knives use a slightly modified 1095 crovan steel (1095 with some cromolly and vanadium added) that should slightly improve its corrosion resistance. The Becker knives also have a great HT. So in terms of the actual steel of each knife there, they're more or less identical in quality and their physical properties. The ESEE blades generally just cost a bit more because they come with some "aftermarket" type accessories like kydex and micarta, while the beckers do not. The beckers tend to be almost exactly the price of those two accessories cheaper than their rough ESEE equivalents, but you'll get to have "custom" stuff.

Good luck man :).
Click to expand...

Thanks! I appreciate the info on that.
 
There are tons of good options out there. To me it all depends on what you want to spend. I would stake my life on my busse knives but wouldn't hesitate to use another knife unless the situation could be life or death. Not trying to say others won't perform everything you want them to. There was a thread where a guy broke his Ontario blackbird trying to baton some wood and thought to myself, that sucks. There was another thread were a guy chopped a car in half with his and thought to myself, that's awesome. If he was in a survival situation or in the middle of nowhere he might be screwed. If you plan on hard use go with .25. If you plan on carving some sticks for hotdogs, gutting fish, skinning deer, food prep, and not batoning wood, chopping trees, or cutting cars in half, I would go thinner. Just do some research and pick whatever suits your price range and needs.
 
If I were you I would look into the Becker BK16 and BK15. They're in the right size and thickness range with a smallerish handle.

The BK2 is another great knife, but for most uses its a little overkill (its .25in thick and 5.25in long. Like an ESEE 5 but with a slightly higher grind). However, it will do just about anything that you can think of, it just might not always be the ideal knife for the job. Not that its terrible at stuff, its just not really specialized for anything other than being tough as nails :p.

Here is one being put through the ringer.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...Kqu5JiH0I6ygb-EpiPkfQ&bvm=bv.1355534169,d.aWM

Other ones I'd look at are the ESEE 6, condor rodan, ESEE laserstrike and the Becker BK7.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top