General Outdoor Knife

F

Flashman

Joined
Jun 6, 1999
Messages
19
There is considerable discussion of rather specialized knives such as "survival", hunting or skinning, defense and so on. However, maybe a more generalized knife is more appropriate for what many of us do. I am thinking in this case being outdoors: hiking, birding, hunting, stump shooting, fishing, mountain biking, etc. I do all of these activities, individually, or in combination. A fat skinning knife isn't terribly practical for cleaning a 12" Rainbow although it can be done. What about a discussion and/or suggestions for a good practical knife for all around outdoor use. I might suggest a fixed blade with an ample handle in both length and width with a blade no longer than 5". Would a Randall #5 work the best--any alternatives?
 
For an all purpose "outdoor" knife, I would recommend the Camillus/Becker Companion, Fallkniven S1 Forest knife, or Cold Steel Master Hunter.

All of these knives are reasonably priced and have excellent blade shapes for "general" wilderness use. Plus the blades are not too big so they can be carried easily.

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Louis Buccellato
http://www.themartialway.com
Knives, Weapons and equipment. Best prices anywhere.
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"only the paranoid will survive":)


 
I'll vote for the Benchmade 140 (Nimravus). It is a nice blade design, if fits my hand very well, and it can be taken down and cleaned very easily.

--JB

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e_utopia@hotmail.com
 
Busse Basic #5, 5" blade with a decent amount of belly and the ability to chop with a decent handle.

I admit I'm biased. For some reason Spyderco flat grind blades and Busse's INFI have spoiled me.
 
I'd also suggest pretty much anything in the Marble's line. They are nice looking knives and have very practical blade shapes in what I consider to be excellent steel.

Also consider the Fallkniven line, they are nice!
 
I carried a Spyderco Moran for the longest time, great knife.

But I am selling it, having acquired a Allen Blade MEUK.

I would suggest a well made drop point or trailing point knife, no more than 4.5" of blade. Nice Kydex or Concelaex sheath.

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Thank you,
Marion David Poff aka Eye, Cd'A ID, USA mdpoff@hotmail.com

Talonite Fire

"Many are blinded by name and reputation, few see the truth" Lao Tzu
 
Ditto MDP -- Away from my asphalt habitat, I've carried a sturdy 4"-4.5" blade (pref drop pt or short clip pt) for over 15 yrs. It is fully adequate at most everything short of chopping (which is really unnecessary in my view -- not while backpacking and hiking, anyway).

Glen
 
Depends on your price range and how much use/abuse you plan to subject the knife to. In ascending order of price/use-abuse, I suggest the following:

a> Buck 105 "Pathfinder"
b> Fallkniven S1
c> Chris Reeve Shadow IV or other 5.5 inch, per your own personal use/style preference. BTW, a Busse of that size would not be a bad choice either.

Campanion looks good, but I have not used one. The above, including Campanion, will probably give you a lifetime of "general" outdoor enjoyment/service.
 
I will have to recommend the smaller Fallknivens, the Spyderco Moran, or for a folder, the Spyderco Wegner. All are great outdoor knives.

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Dennis Bible
 
I'll second all those above. If you want to go cheap, look into the excellent knives from Mora, Sweden, or for a better one on the same general puukko pattern check out Chai Cutlery (chaicutlery.com). There's a red plastic handled utility knife by Marttinni that is superb steel. I've re-handled three of them and given them to friends.
 
A four inch long (10 cm) blade that is relatively narrow is all that a knife really needs to be. The Frost's nife works well in 95% of the situations we will be in. It is good carbon(rusty if wet) steel that holds an edge very well. A folding saw fills in for the other 5% of the time.Thirty years of canoe tripping in Algonquin Park and Killarney, and I have yet to chop down a tree with a knife or anything else.You would probably drop it on ourself or someone else anyway. Whether a knife can chop well or not is not terribly relevant to any situations I have been in.

[This message has been edited by bansidthe (edited 04-18-2000).]
 
Thanks for the responses. I agree chopping isn't something I would use a knife for. In fact, I remember reading a comment by a moderator that a small fixed bladed knife and a machette are an excellent combination. I often carry an old 14" Brazilian machette in my rucksack. However, I think the importance of a fixed blade is a sufficient handle size but at the same time a workable blade. Maybe a Puuko (?) is the best of all worlds.
 
Check out SOG's NorthWest Ranger, it's a great utility knife! 5 inch blade, flat ground, great kraton handle!
 
The synthetic handled nordic knives are really great.

I have some Frosts, Ericksons, a Martinni, and a Kellam.

I may post more on them in the future.

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Thank you,
Marion David Poff aka Eye, Cd'A ID, USA mdpoff@hotmail.com

Talonite Fire

"Many are blinded by name and reputation, few see the truth" Lao Tzu
 
Grohmann Camper.

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Hoodoo

The low, hoarse purr of the whirling stone—the light-press’d blade,
Diffusing, dropping, sideways-darting, in tiny showers of gold,
Sparkles from the wheel.

Walt Whitman
 
Preparing myself for not too long and not too hard travel or if I would be limited with weight conditions to a knife only - I would choose:
Fallkniven S1 Forest Knife
or Benchmade model 140 Nimravus

Another set, more suitable for long travels in Siberian Taiga or North Canadian wilderness.
Smaller knife like:
Fallkniven F1
or Spyderco Moran
or Benchmade Nimravus Cub
supported with a decent medium sized axe.
I'm not partial to machetes, think they are more suitable in tropical jungle with generally soft greenery.

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Sergiusz Mitin
gunwriter
Lodz, Poland


[This message has been edited by Sergiusz Mitin (edited 04-22-2000).]
 
Cold Steel SRK, plenty of knife to do just about anything outdoors that your heart desires. Not to big, Not to small. Good for chopping and skinning your game.
 
I'll go along with the puukko folks. Love my puukkos. Puukkos good. Puukkos friend.

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AKTI Member #A000832

"Sometimes you eat the bear, and sometimes, the bear eats you."
 
Whenever I head out into the woods, i head out with a Cold Steel SRK. For hunting, fishing, or camping it has been great. I have chopped wood with it, skinned deer and catfish with it, and it keeps on going strong.



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Know Yourself, Know Your Weapon, Know Your Enemy; then Know Victory! ---DaHaMac
 
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