good skeletonized all purpose knife

BryFry

BryFry

Gold Member
Joined
Jul 29, 2009
Messages
1,722
I'm looking for a flat "no scales on handle" fixed blade knife that I can clip to the inside waistband of my shorts when I go swimming, canoeing, and such. I prefer plain edge, flat ground, in the 6" to 8" range for over all length, and a good water resistant sheath. Price is not a huge factor, but if I can find what I need for cheep that'd be great.

This knife will be used for general cutting as well as some occassional digging and prying with the handle, and it'll probably get thrown some to.

-This is the knife I've been using for this purpose for years, it's cheep and it has worked well but I'm looking for a change, hopefully to something better:
various2008-2009147.jpg


note that it's low profile with a means for cliping it anywhere...
various2008-2009146.jpg


Some of the knives I'm considering are:

-Becker Necker ...good price ($35) but not sure about the water resistance of 1095 carbon, and no belt clip
-Rat HEST ...same as above
-Rat Izula ...same as above, and it's a bit small, with not much pry/digging capability
-Chris Reeve Pro Soldier ...nice, stainless, but a bit pricey, ...and still no clip
-Fehrman Thru Hiker ...maybe, if I can find one

If anyone has any suggestions please let me know. -Also, if anyone knows of a good aftermarket clip that can be attached to these types of sheath that'd be great, as I don't realy like wearing knifes around my neck, and I don't want to wear a belt when swimming.

-Thanks!
 
Last edited:
I'd say an Izula, but the water issue could be annoying. I also really like the Subcom fixed blade. It's 440C, but the beadblasted finish isn't stupendous on corrosion resistance. It also smudges easily and shows fingerprints like crazy. The Izula's stock sheath is way better than the Subcom's. As far as a side-by-side comparison, the Subcom is thicker and wider, but stubbier than the Izula; it's also an ounce or so heavier. Both of them have excellent ergos (I have narrow, longish hands), and the Subcom feels beefier, although I doubt that it's stronger. Also, the Subcom is pretty much the same price as the Izula, but RAT's warranty is absurdly good.

I haven't got a camera right now, but here's a link to Chad Los Banos' (the designer's) page on the Subcom fixed blade.
http://www.clbdesign.info/content/view/9/81/

Hopefully this is at least somewhat helpful.

Edit: I forgot to mention, I think the Spyderco G-clip is the way to go as far as a belt clip, since you can also use it IWB without a belt. I'm not positive, but I think you can call their factory store and order one for around 4 bucks. I don't think they sell them online, but I'm pretty sure you can get one by calling to place an order. Don't hold it against me if I'm wrong about that...
 
I wonder about the Fehrman thru hiker. It is in the CPM 3V. I would imagine it might be a good option on an extraordinary piece of steel. I think the new BRKT Bravo necker might be in the Sandvik steel....could be an option.
 
The RAT stuff as well as the becker are all 1095 which tends to not like being in/around water all that much.

There has been talk of RAT making some of it's stuff with 440C stainless, maybe wait for that. An Izula seems like it is tailor made for what you want out of a knife.

Maybe check out Gerber/Buck rafting knives, they could work for you and aren't that expensive.

There is also a couple of spyderco H1 fixed blades that might fit your needs.
 
I wouldn't recommend a 1095 blade for water. I have an Izula and it got wet
and the edge picked up a lot of rust. It came off after a little use, so it's not
a huge deal, but I don't believe it's a dive/water knife steel. H1 would probably
be the way to go or something dive specific.
 
yeah 1095 probably won't work with water, too bad since some of my favorite designs of this style are made of the stuff.

I don't want an actual sea diving knife as I don't live near any salt water. I just need a decent blade that works for basic bushcraft, that can handle being wet, and be easily consealed in the inside waistband of a pair of shorts/swim trunks.

I guess if 1095 is out I can still consider the CR Pro Soldier, and Fehrman Thru hiker, in CPM S30V and CPM-3V. -Both are a bit expensive though, at around $185 and $120 respectivly.

I still would need a way to clip the sheath on too.
 
How about the Spyderco Caspian Salt in H1 or the Chris Reeve Soldier in s30v.
 
Buck Pak-lite. $15 and is more comfy in the hand than my Becker Necker. Comes in to different patterns too....
 
I've got a Thru Hiker but I wouldn't sell it to you because the edge will pick up rust. It's a beautiful knife but no better than 1095 in that regard.

You might look for a Strider ED. The ultimate skeleton handle knife: the cutouts form a skeleton! It's 1/8" S30V, 6.5" overall, 2.5" blade. Basic shape is a fixed blade Strider PT.
 
I thought of the Camillus Arclite CUDA, but I don't know if it would be better than what you have. This knife was made with both partially serrated and plain blades.

"Made" because Camillus is gone, but I think these still exist in the supply pipeline.

420HC so it is stainless/rust resistant. (I think there may have been a D2 version, but I'm not positive.)

Comes with a necker type sheath though.

CUDA_SERRATED_121.jpg
 
Thanks for the suggestions, I've been looking at all that have been mentioned, but still haven't found the perfect fit yet.

I like the Chris Reeve Pro Soldier, but for what it costs I could get three or four Becker Neckers (which I also like) but then I would have to deel with rust.

And nothing I've seen has a useful clip on sheath like I want. But oh well, I'll keep looking. :)
 
Guyon said:
I thought of the Camillus Arclite CUDA, but I don't know if it would be better than what you have. This knife was made with both partially serrated and plain blades.

"Made" because Camillus is gone, but I think these still exist in the supply pipeline.

420HC so it is stainless/rust resistant. (I think there may have been a D2 version, but I'm not positive.)

Comes with a necker type sheath though.

CUDA_SERRATED_121.jpg
Click to expand...

A plain edge version of this would prolly work for me, but I can't find any for sale! :grumpy:
 
This one is a no brainer for me. Contact one of our Knife Makers here and tell them exactly what you want, they will fix you right up.
 
I'd say the KaBar Becker would suit you, out of those. You can buy clips from most art supply stores that you could probably rig up to a sheath.

P.S. Please don't throw the knife, it's just not good for it. Buy a set of cheap throwing knives for that, they're more fun anyway.
 
Again thanks for the suggestions. Still trying to narrow it down, currently these are my thoughts on some that have been mentioned...

Becker Necker, Rat Hest, Rat Izula, and Fehrman Thru Hiker are all nice but probably not rust resistant enough.

Chris Reeve Pro Soldier, great but quite expensive. -no clip

Buck Mayo Kaala, not bad but the sheath is crap from what I hear. -no clip

Spyderco Caspian Salt, not quite the style of blade I'm looking for. -no clip

As for having one custom made, I've never delt with a custom maker before, and I wouldn't know where to begin or what to expect as far as price, quallity, time and such... but it sounds interesting though.
 
BryFry said:
A plain edge version of this would prolly work for me, but I can't find any for sale! :grumpy:
Click to expand...

Hmm... when I was looking for that pic, I thought I saw some, but I see now that the links don't work.

I see combo-edged on a certain auction site, but no plain. :thumbdn:

Shoot me an email BryFry. You don't have any contact info available.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top