Hard use knife?

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Bushleague270

Joined
Dec 25, 2023
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I've recently been trying to find a folder to cary when I'm exploring the bush that is relatively lightweight, can handle some hard use, and has a handle that stay's comfortable when I'm really leaning on the knife.

I pretty much always carry a SAK, which handles any light duty cutting quite well, and often carry a Mora for heavyer duty tasks when I'm in the bush. Nothing wrong with that combo, I would just rather have a folder than the Mora sometimes. I've tried a Stockman, Trapper (not bad actually), and a few modern folders... but other than the Buck 110 I run into the same problem with all of them, if I'm really pushing the knife the handle quickly becomes uncomfortable.

So right now I'm looking for something lighter than the 110 that has a nice full handle, probably just a single blade, prefferably weighing under 5 oz. The two knives I'm wondereing about are the 110 LT (are these tough enough ?), or the Otter Messer knives. Not really familiar with the sizes of the Otter knives, I tend to like my folders around 4- 4.25" closed if anyone has a reccomendation.
 
Bushleague270 said:
I've recently been trying to find a folder to cary when I'm exploring the bush that is relatively lightweight, can handle some hard use, and has a handle that stay's comfortable when I'm really leaning on the knife.

I pretty much always carry a SAK, which handles any light duty cutting quite well, and often carry a Mora for heavyer duty tasks when I'm in the bush. Nothing wrong with that combo, I would just rather have a folder than the Mora sometimes. I've tried a Stockman, Trapper (not bad actually), and a few modern folders... but other than the Buck 110 I run into the same problem with all of them, if I'm really pushing the knife the handle quickly becomes uncomfortable.

So right now I'm looking for something lighter than the 110 that has a nice full handle, probably just a single blade, prefferably weighing under 5 oz. The two knives I'm wondereing about are the 110 LT (are these tough enough ?), or the Otter Messer knives. Not really familiar with the sizes of the Otter knives, I tend to like my folders around 4- 4.25" closed if anyone has a reccomendation.
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The 110 LT should be plenty tough enough, I think. You might also want to consider an Opinel 8 or 9. You wouldn’t want to do any prying with one, but for any kind of use on wood, they’re just fine, and very comfortable in the hand (in addition to being light in weight). I have pushed mine pretty hard, cutting through knots in hardwood and things.
 
Sodbuster aka Hippekniep. About the same overall dimensions a a 110, but much thinner and lighter. A lot of makers have a version of this pattern, often calling it a “work knife”, either as a slipjoint or a back lock. Sodbuster is Case’s name for the pattern, which also comes as a smaller Sodbuster Jr. Maserin has a couple of models in an intermediate size.

Opinels would work for you too, in sizes 8, 9, or 10, the numbers corresponding roughly to centimeters of blade length. I find the round handles quite bulky, and need to slim them down for pocket carry.

The Mercator K55K Black Cat, now manufactured by Otter Messer, their flat, thin construction makes them carry easily for a knife of that size.
 
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Bushleague270 said:
So right now I'm looking for something lighter than the 110 that has a nice full handle, probably just a single blade, prefferably weighing under 5 oz. The two knives I'm wondereing about are the 110 LT (are these tough enough ?), or the Otter Messer knives. Not really familiar with the sizes of the Otter knives, I tend to like my folders around 4- 4.25" closed if anyone has a reccomendation.
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+1 for the 110LT! I vastly prefer its handle to the 110 Slim. In fact, I had it in my pocket with a peanut while I was working outside today. Mostly clearing snow, so no heavy cutting though.

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Henry Beige said:
Sodbuster aka Hippekniep. About the same overall dimensions a a 110, but much thinner and lighter. A lot of makers have a version of this pattern, often calling it a “work knife”.
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Yes! I have a couple Sodbuster, Jr's. I find the delrin handle makes a great work knife, and the bone handled version carries a little easier in my pocket.
 
First thought was of one of the larger Opinels (No. 09 or larger). Very light with a full, round, comfortable handle to hold onto and a very strong lock. I also have a 110LT which basically checks all the boxes too. My only issue with my 110LT is it tends to be a bit weak on closing. Not very strong closing pull on it, and it's worse if/when I've used it outside and it gets just a little bit of dirt/dust in the pivot.

Sodbuster could work too. The pivot on them may tend to loosen a bit over time with heavy lateral stress on it. But otherwise, they're very comfortable in the hand and are an honest working knife.
 
"Sodbuster" pattern, 110LT, Larger Opinel (#9 or larger), Douk Douk (your choice of model), SVORD Peasant; standard size or the small.
A friction folder, but you can tighten/loosen the two screws (factory handle) to adjust the ease of opening/closing. Also, using a "hammer grip" or reverse grip, the extended tang is under your hand, effectively "locking" the blade open. The Svord is quite comfy in hand during extended use, as well. The carbon steel blade takes and holds a "wickid sharp" edge, yet is easy to field sharpen, too.
(My (full size) SVORD Peasants. About 8 inch over-all open, 7 inch closed. I carry by putting a trigger clasp on a split ring on the extended tang, then hang from a belt loop. (refer to the orange one.)
Wood handle is a custom one piece with a pinned pivot, made by the young Sir that gave them to me.)
View attachment 2451327
The Cold Steel KUDU (and/or if you can find one, the discontinued slightly larger ELAND) is another solid choice for a "heavy use" budget knife. The ring lock holds quite well. Current production has 5CR15MoV blade steel. Older production have 1.4116 KRUPP blade steel.
(I'm not sure about their folding BUSHMAN knife. I've heard "finger guilotine when closing" rumors when it first came out.)

The large one or two blade slipjoint folding hunter might be another option.
(offshore Old Timer 25OT shown. I don't have a US produced Schrade family, Case, (Camillus made) Buck 317 or other domestic maker's.)
View attachment 2451329

Nessmuck used the Moose pattern (a two blade) for his "sturdy"/heavy duty folder when afield.
 
Just Tom. said:
The 110 LT should be plenty tough enough, I think. You might also want to consider an Opinel 8 or 9. You wouldn’t want to do any prying with one, but for any kind of use on wood, they’re just fine, and very comfortable in the hand (in addition to being light in weight). I have pushed mine pretty hard, cutting through knots in hardwood and things.
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I had an Opinel for some time and I broke it, though I cant quite remember how. For the price I wouldnt be opposed to trying another, but I do a lot of wet wading while fishing in the summer, and I could see running into problems with the handle swelling and the blade getting tight. With that in mind, if the 110 LT will put up with some muscle it might be a good knife for me. I think I've even seen kydex sheaths for them, saving me from carrying around a damp sheath for hours afterwards.
 
Bushleague270 said:
I had an Opinel for some time and I broke it, though I cant quite remember how. For the price I wouldnt be opposed to trying another, but I do a lot of wet wading while fishing in the summer, and I could see running into problems with the handle swelling and the blade getting tight. With that in mind, if the 110 LT will put up with some muscle it might be a good knife for me. I think I've even seen kydex sheaths for them, saving me from carrying around a damp sheath for hours afterwards.
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My 110LT came with a nylon sheath, which would dry a lot quicker than the leather. I'm a stubborn old coot though & carry mine in the beat up old leather one that came with my 50+ year old 110.
 
Just go buy a regular, run-of-the-mill, Buck 110 or a Buck 112. This 112 was made prior to 1976 and keeps on giving. Whoever (or is it whomever) had this 112 before me tried to kill it but couldn't no matter how hard they tried. I brought it back as a user and it works well for that.

As it was when I got it.

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After ole Ed's spa treatment.

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Any of the choices given in the above posts would work well too.

Edited to add:

A Buck 500 Duke is a tough knife and weighs less that a 112. It has a drop point blade which is a good, all around, blade.

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Bushleague270 said:
I had an Opinel for some time and I broke it, though I cant quite remember how. For the price I wouldnt be opposed to trying another, but I do a lot of wet wading while fishing in the summer, and I could see running into problems with the handle swelling and the blade getting tight. With that in mind, if the 110 LT will put up with some muscle it might be a good knife for me. I think I've even seen kydex sheaths for them, saving me from carrying around a damp sheath for hours afterwards.
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Yeah, I would definitely pick the 110LT over the Opinel if you were going to get it wet regularly, or use it on something smelly like fish guts - I imagine you would never get the smell out of the wood.

I bought my 110LT at Walmart for around $20 a few years ago. They are a little more expensive now I think, but still worth picking one up just to try it anyway. Unless you aren’t in the US of course - I don’t know what they go for other places.
 
Just Tom. said:
Yeah, I would definitely pick the 110LT over the Opinel if you were going to get it wet regularly, or use it on something smelly like fish guts - I imagine you would never get the smell out of the wood.

I bought my 110LT at Walmart for around $20 a few years ago. They are a little more expensive now I think, but still worth picking one up just to try it anyway. Unless you aren’t in the US of course - I don’t know what they go for other places.
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I'm in Canada, the LT goes for around $50, generally a little more than half the price of a regular 110. The 112 usually goes for a bit more, I had a 112 and liked it, but ended up losing it to my eldest daughter in a high stakes cliff diving dare-off a few years back. The 112 is deffinatly one I'd consider getting again, but its weight combined with a SAK Farmer is about the same as a Leatherman Wave, which I'd consider to be about the max weight I like hanging off my pants. I dont know how much that leather sheath would like regular wet wading either.
 
The Buck 110 LT is a great light carry and plenty tough for hard use. I have a few of them and they perform very well. I have one in a cpm 154 clip point and one in cpm 154 drop point. Then one in standard 420hc clip point, I keep one in each vehicle for the times I need a larger knife and as backup.
 
Well, I've owned a 110 LT, and I currently own a 426 (with replacement 110 blade), which is the old style Bucklite; my vote is for the Buck 110 LT.

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The 426 bucklite is good stuff! The 110lt is probably a no brainer for this scenario.


If you want a bit of a different suggestion, the Ibberson Action Knife from The Egging ton Group is a pure utility knife that has an awesome ABS handle and many blade configurations. It also has a respectable price and is built to beat on. I have a hawk and became a fan pretty quickly. Will be ordering some different ones in the future for sure.
 
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