Good all around fix blade.

R

Reapers

Joined
Feb 1, 2013
Messages
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Hi, I’m new to this forum. I joined because I’m having problems deciding on a good all-around fix blade knife and was hoping I could find some help here. I’m looking for a fix blade knife that I can take with me when I do outdoorsy stuff, like hiking, fishing and camping (I don’t hunt often). I’ll be using it to gut fish for bait, some light duty bush crafting and some other small chores. I’ve been looking at fallkniven , Swamp Rats, ESEE, Bark River, the Spyderco bush master, and some others. I’m pretty sure I won’t need more than a 4” blade as I have been using my Para military 2 Spyderco( which I hate doing because it is my EDC knife and It’s a chore getting it clean and removing the fish smell from it) and the blade length is fine. Maybe, a little longer blade would be nice IDK. There are too many options in the world of fixed blades, just learning about the kinds of steels is driving me nuts lol.
 
Check the Becker Tweeners, BK 15, 16 and 17, either would be a great choice. For food prep i prefer the 15.
 
All the knives you mention will do you well for the purpose you have stated. Personally I'd go with either the Bark River Aurora or ESEE-4.
 
If you need something for fishing jobs, you need an inox blade, not too thick, recurve and full flat.
Other ways, everithing dipends on what you need to do. Scrap and Swamp should be good choice. Becker too. But, you know...the best thing is asking a makers you own knife.
Anyway, how much you want to spend? I mean...there a lot of differents choiche out there.
To me, in my experience, except custom knives, the best choice are Busse&Family, Becker for a lower price and big results, Randall too if you don't need to chop or batoning.
To carve wood and fishing, Mora or Hultafors are the best for price and materials.
 
ESEE 4 all the way. It's just the right size for most jobs. Of course you need a different style knife all together for fishing.
 
Take Marttiinni/Rapala or Mora: stainless good for fishing, really light, and not a big loss if you drop the knife into water or otherwise loose it. And also buy a nice knife to carry around with you, to play and enjoy! And I am very serious about that.
 
Check out the Bark Rivers, you can't go wrong with their fine products.


If your looking for a deal on a Bark River, there are several exchange forums that specialize.





Big Mike
 
I want to keep it under $200.00. I like the Swamp Rat Rodent Solution and the Rodent 4. I also really like the Bark river knives in 3v but I don't know if they are worth the extra money over the Swamp Rats. What do you guys think? Also, I've read that the Swamp Rats do not come with a sheath. Where would I get a sheath for one?
 
I really like my Swamp Rats and Scrapyards, but a Fallkniven F1 arrived this week and it is the real deal. Seriously consider the F1 for a general purpose outdoors knife, I can't put mine down..
 
Reapers said:
I want to keep it under $200.00.


...I also really like the Bark river knives in 3v but I don't know if they are worth the extra money...?
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Why do you think you need to spend the extra money on CPM 3V?

Bark River's A2 has stood the test of time and is much easier to keep sharp then 3V.


For the tasks you describe A2 is all you need.




Big Mike
 
Thanks for all the responses. The Bark River Aurora 3V is a little longer than I would like but I don't think it's a big deal. The North Star is nice aswell but no 3V version. The fox river is nice too. (they're all nice:)) Can the Bark River knives take some good abuse? I'm asking because even though I don't abuse my knives, I'm not easy on them either. What are "exchange forums"? Thanks again this is all very helpful.
 
I carried a Kephart for about a year EDC while traveling as a heavy equipment mechanic. It was used daily for anything that needed a knife, food prep, cutting rope or zip ties, cutting branches, even fire prep and camping duties. I personally feel that the Kephart is the most utility knife style I have used yet. Not scary to others and normally accepted wherever I went. It would also be very easy to find you a custom on the exchange here in your price point.
 
What kind of steel would be best for me? I've looked at knives in D2, A2, O1, SR-101,3V,1095 etc.
 
Reapers said:
What kind of steel would be best for me? I've looked at knives in D2, A2, O1, SR-101,3V,1095 etc.
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That question is virtually impossible for us to answer without knowing more about you and what you want out of a knife.

Since you are asking the question (and don't take this as an insult...it isn't) then ANY of those steels will be fine. The two things you will notice are rust and ease of sharpening. Rust is easy to deal with...just dry off your knife. If you aren't a sharpening junkie, go with something relatively easy to sharpen like O1 or 1095.

I think for doing "light outdoors chores" your primary concern would be geometry for slicing. To me that means thinnish full flat grind....like your Spydie PM2...that's why it is working so well for you doing those tasks (except for the fish guts).
 
Mine I carried was O1. It is totally your preference as to cost, edge retention, and stainless or not. You can have large swings in price depending on materials used. My personal favorite steel to date is S90V.
 
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