General purpose fixed blade.

Carlos

Carlos

Joined
Jul 9, 2000
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I've decided to try a fixed blade, after living in tactical folder land for the last several years. I can legally carrying just about anything as long as it isn't concealed, so there's no size limit other than practicality. However I am a bit clueless about the fixed blade market, having spent so much focus on folders in the past.

My basic criteria:

1. Upper eschelon stainless steel -- something that holds an edge well and doesn't need too much care in terms of rust prevention and edge maintenance. S30V is my favorite thus far of the steels I've used. VG-10 second. I live in a desert so I don't need to chop through major foliage, however the water here is exceptionally corrosive due to heavy chlorination.

2. Full tang construction.

3. Micarta or G10 scales.

4. A tip that can handle some prying.

Basically I'd like one nice knife that can cover my everyday cutting/opening needs (which are modest) as well as in extremis needs like personal defense or emergency wilderness survival (the latter situations I prefer to avoid, but better to be prepared). The idea is to always have it within arm's reach for whatever need.

I've been leaning towards the CRK GB and Pacific, and they mark the top of my price range. I've tried to muster some enthusiasm for the Fallkniven A-1, but I dislike the handle.

Any suggestions beyond these three models that I ought to have a look at?
 
Have a look at anything by RAT Cutlery. Range of blade lengths, choice of handle material, tough as nails, unbeatable rock solid warranty, made in the US, excellent value for the money.:thumbup:
 
Another :thumbup: for RAT Cutlery. It's not stainless, but it's quite tough. S30V wouldn't be something I'd pick for prying.

After that, the A2 from Fallkniven. :) Laminated VG-10/420JS. Tough stuff. Runs you around $200.
 
A lot of the knives that occured to me right off hand (RAT RC-6, BRKT Bravo 2) might be good choices except they are tool steel instead of stainless.

If you want to consider something a bit less "combat knife" looking, maybe one of the Spyderco Hossom knives, which run from 4.75 to 9.1 inch blades. They all nice looking flat ground blades, N690CO stainless and green-gray Micarta grips. List price runs up to $400 for the largest one, which should put the street price of the most expensive close to your ceiling.
 
Carlos said:
they mark the top of my price range
Click to expand...

I’m sorry I totally missed that part of your post…

I used to have a RAT 3 and I loved it, its high carbon but I never had any problems with rust. And they have a ton of stuff within your price range.

If however your only looking for stainless and S30V is your preference your gonna have a hard time beating the knives your mentioned in your OP.
 
CRK's excellent choice. Also BRKT Bravo-1 in SS. Wide choice of handle materials and tough as old boots.
 
I'll admit I've never owned a tool steel knife, so perhaps I am allowing my inexperience to get in the way. I have managed to rust S30V with sufficient neglect so perhaps the problem is the "stainless" mentality. How much work does it take to keep the edge of one of 1095 blades rust free?
 
Again, not stainless, But give Rat Cutlery a try. And if you break a tip while prying with it, RAT will replace it for free. No one elses warranty will do that. (as far as I know)

Other suggestions: BM Rant DPT, Spyderco Street Beat, anything from Becker Knife and Tool (made by KA BAR).

Taking care of rust on 1095 is not bad. RAT puts an inhibitor on it that lasts a while, but you should oil the edge every month or 2, or after contact with water, or after lots of hard use.
 
If it is going to be an edc knife you might want to look at something with a blade length of around 4" or so. You might want to look at Entrek Knives. They have a couple of four inchers that are built tough, real tough. One is a clip point called the Cobra, the other is a drop point and I cannot remember the name. These are built from 3/16" thick 440C steel. Before you dismiss it for the steel know that custom maker Ray Ennis is Entrek Knives, and the 440C steel is done right with a special heat treat that brings out the best that 440C has to offer. Good luck on the hunt!
 
Smaller blade - Fallkniven F1
medium blade Fallkniven - A1 or BK&T BK-7
Larger blade - Fallkniven A2 orBK&T BK-9
 
Another vote for the Bark River Bravo 1SS. It's made of CPM154 Stainless Steel which is a fine grain steel that's extremely tough & holds an edge well. A fantastic knife for the money!
 
+1 for RAT. If I had to replace my (Camillus) Becker BK7, it would be with a RAT4. You could get a couple for what the Reeve knife costs. (Nothing against Chris Reeve Knives, but the $$ is too much for me right now.)

thx - cpr
 
Given your criteria and penchant for stainless then I would suggest a custom handled fallkniven F1. A few suppliers off Falkniven F1's with Bark River mircata slabs, they are very nice. The F1 is 3.8" and a good EDC blade. It is made of laminated VG10, the sides are 420J,the core is VG10. The laminate gives the blade flexibility while the core allows an edge consistent with your favorite steel.

There is also a stainless steel version of the Bark River Bravo1 that is a tough as nails knife. This knife is 4.25" and more robust in other dimensions aside from bladelength from the F1. It is a great and well tested blade made out of 154CPM stainless.

Ratcutlery makes excellent knives but they will rust on you. They are also coated blades which keeps maintenance down. If you are using your knife regularly, i.e. cutting things with it, the edge will stay clear of corrosion. Its just the dreaded storing it wet that will do you in. They are a great product but require some maintenance to keep them that way.

Gut luck and try stopping by W&SS with your question as most of us folks who hang there use Fixed blades almost exclusively.
 
I'd go with the Benchmade Fixed Resistor.:thumbup:
154CM steel,0.160" thick, nothing bad about it at all.
Discontinued I believe, but still available at some sites.
 
cutter17 said:
If it is going to be an edc knife you might want to look at something with a blade length of around 4" or so. You might want to look at Entrek Knives. They have a couple of four inchers that are built tough, real tough. One is a clip point called the Cobra, the other is a drop point and I cannot remember the name. These are built from 3/16" thick 440C steel. Before you dismiss it for the steel know that custom maker Ray Ennis is Entrek Knives, and the 440C steel is done right with a special heat treat that brings out the best that 440C has to offer. Good luck on the hunt!
Click to expand...

I think you're referring to the Entrek Javalina, and that would be a good suggestion which can be found for less than $100 online. One is on my 'get' list.

How about a compromise on the steel? D2 is 'almost' stainless and the results Bob Dozier gets from his HT of it are legendary. You can get one of the Dozier models that A.G. Russell keeps in stock for quite a bit less than some of your other choices. Those knives became became legends for a reason!

Either of these just makes me drool: http://www.agrussell.com/dozier-professional-guides-knife/p/DKhhhGUI/ or http://www.agrussell.com/dozier-master-skinner---black-rucarta/p/DKhhhK21BRV/

this one's even more appealing: http://www.agrussell.com/dozier-buffalo-river-hunter-cocobolo/p/DKhhh334CO/
 
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Have you considered a Extrema Ratio Shrapnel? Mine has been good to me. N690 Steel and it has a Forprene grip but it's tough stuff. It comes in SP and Tanto blade configs.

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If you can find one, a Buck Strider BU888 is a tough FB with ATS-34 and G-10...

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