Hawaii Knife Life - daily use for work and play

[MolokaiRider]

The KaBar Dogs Head arrived today so I took it out with a few other knives in the same size range. We are getting the tail end from a passing hurricane so the weather is windy and overcast with light rains. Perfect for tromping around outside!

This is my first experience with a stacked leather handle, and I can see why it’s popular. It feels nice and offers good traction. The sheath is acceptable for the price point and snug.

The edge grind is ok, not perfect, but I’ve rarely seen knives at this price with perfect symmetry on each side.

It’s kind of neat to hold it in hand, there is a “feeling” you get from it’s design and history that many knives do not have.

I also see how this is a well rounded camp knife that will work well for a wide variety of tasks. It’s longer blade will work well for snap cuts and the nimbleness will make whittling and carving easy enough for a blade this size.

 

[MolokaiRider]

I took a spin up to the rain forest today and took the Cold Steel Recon 1 in CTS XHP.

Stopped at the Sandlewood pit and one of the lookouts, and found some berries to munch on. Also checked on one of the shelters the kids and I started last year. We wanted to see if the moss bundles would survive stacking.

The Recon 1 is in my opinion a great tool for general outdoor tasks. It is certainly robust and with the great steel makes a formidable folder that can be relied on for poking and prying around, and even basic carving.

 

[MolokaiRider]

Afterwards, I hiked a pig trail and did some clearing while looking for fresh sign. I took my .22 mag and the OKC SP5 Bowie.

This knife sort of blends as a short machete and chopper melded together. It works pretty well at cutting back overgrowth that’s both soft and hard. It seems very focused on utility with no frills, but worked well today.

 

[halden.doerge]

Glad to see this thread up and running! Great stuff as always.

 

[jbmonkey]

great pics Sir. great to see your world in hawaii....which island are ya on?

 

[MolokaiRider]

Glad to see this thread up and running! Great stuff as always.

great pics Sir. great to see your world in hawaii....which island are ya on?

Thank you gentlemen, I appreciate it.

JB Monkey, we are fortunate enough to live on Molokai.

 

[MolokaiRider]

Well after some consideration and seeing all the great following and positive Becker community I finally ordered my first... a BK9 with green micarta handles. I’m very excited to finally get “the King” in hand and see how it feels and performs.

Using large knives is a lot of fun and this one looks like it’s going to be right on point.

Thanks and shout out to all the BeckerHeads and to Ethan. I have a sneaking suspicion a BK16 hunt is going to be in the near future.

 

[bobobama]

Came home to refuel. I love Old Hickory knives. Very easy to sharpen and inexpensive. The KaBar sheath works great, but you have to be careful as the snap is too long to retain the square handle. I’m considering shortening it and re-attaching the snap.

Awesome pictures, and looks like a pretty cool lifestyle.

For the Old Hickory, if it's the 7" model, a sheath kit from that well known leather supply company starting with a "T" (not sure if I can mention them by name here) will fit the knife perfectly. You might have to modify the retaining strap (it's pretty small) but I just took it off and the knife fits in and stays secure without it. Makes for a cool "pioneer" type set up, although the "Old Hickory" side of the knife faces inward so you can't see it.

 

[cbach8tw]

Cool posts, have you (molokairider) thought how to protect the leather handle of the Kabar dog's head knife? Tropical weather and leather you know. Have you always lived in Hawaii? Thanks for the great input on your knives and adventures. I bet you will enjoy the Becker 9 (aka the King).

 

[MolokaiRider]

Awesome pictures, and looks like a pretty cool lifestyle.

For the Old Hickory, if it's the 7" model, a sheath kit from that well known leather supply company starting with a "T" (not sure if I can mention them by name here) will fit the knife perfectly. You might have to modify the retaining strap (it's pretty small) but I just took it off and the knife fits in and stays secure without it. Makes for a cool "pioneer" type set up, although the "Old Hickory" side of the knife faces inward so you can't see it.

Thanks for the great suggestion! These knives are really great for all kinds of uses and I reach for them for quite a bit of different tasks. I’ll check out the sheath suggestion.

Cool posts, have you (molokairider) thought how to protect the leather handle of the Kabar dog's head knife? Tropical weather and leather you know. Have you always lived in Hawaii? Thanks for the great input on your knives and adventures. I bet you will enjoy the Becker 9 (aka the King).

Thanks for mentioning the idea of protecting the leather. I’m toying with the idea of seeing how it weathers under normal use. If the leather degrades faster than I’m comfortable with I may try some leather boot preservative. At the moment the raw leather had a nice feel to it.

I moved from the Midwest after school, met a local girl, had kids and stayed. I miss Carharts... but I can’t complain about the nice weather here.

And yes, I’m excited about the Becker!


Thank you both for the kind words!

 

[MolokaiRider]

I swung by a mangrove today to check on it’s growth. It’s invasive and has steadily been overtaking the reef on the south shoreline.

The seed pods release and float in the ocean with the root tip pointed down until it lodges in the ocean silt. They are really hard to control and the island has been fighting it for some time.

I carried the CRKT folding Razel today. I love the micarta and the blade design. The knife itself is fairly robust, but the LAWKS system is directly in the way of your thumb. I tried to disassemble the knife but to no avail. I was hoping to remove the LAWKS but the knife is quite difficult to tear down.

 

[MolokaiRider]

Stopped by another mangrove further east today to snap some pics of the Buck 112.

Not a whole lot more that can be said about this classic. It’s an awesome knife!

I am thinking a pocket slip would be handy. I carry this in my pocket and it’s definitely noticeable. I’m a fan of peoples modifications that add a clip, and it would be neat if buck offered one in this model.

 

[SeppukuSamurai]

God I love this thread.

 

[JJ_Colt45]

More great pictures ... I miss Montana and the ability to go out daily and have views that would just amaze you ... get those here once in awhile when life isn't so hectic I can get away.

Think you'll enjoy the BK9 in that enviroment it should find plenty of uses ... mine got put to work finally after putting off buying one far too long ... but it holds it's own with my other big choppers ... at a great value and is just slightly lighter than my others.

Thanks for sharing the pictures ... I'm a midwest guy myself that moved to Montana and fell in love ... but for now I'm back in the midwest ... maybe one day I'll get back out there.

 

[jbmonkey]

Stopped by another mangrove further east today to snap some pics of the Buck 112.

Not a whole lot more that can be said about this classic. It’s an awesome knife!

I am thinking a pocket slip would be handy. I carry this in my pocket and it’s definitely noticeable. I’m a fan of peoples modifications that add a clip, and it would be neat if buck offered one in this model.

View attachment 967209 View attachment 967210 View attachment 967211 View attachment 967212 View attachment 967217 View attachment 967218

bucks new slim 110s and 112 will have pocket clips. in micarta and s30v on the pros and plastic 420hc on the regulars.

 

[Sonnydaze]

Gosh, what great pics and life-style! Great selection of working knives. Beautiful place you have there, even though it's hard work to maintain.
I got to spend 45 min at the Honolulu airport...getting eaten by sand-flies while bomber was refueling...on way to Korea in mid-1950's. Wish I had an excuse to stay on your great islands.
Thanx for such a great run of pics and showing what the island has to offer. Wish I were much younger...could perhaps check it out. Dreaming again!
Happy for you.
Don

 

[3fifty7]

Still patiently waiting on more Bronco pics you teased in post 12.

 

[MolokaiRider]

God I love this thread.

Thank you sir!

More great pictures ... I miss Montana and the ability to go out daily and have views that would just amaze you ... get those here once in awhile when life isn't so hectic I can get away.

Think you'll enjoy the BK9 in that enviroment it should find plenty of uses ... mine got put to work finally after putting off buying one far too long ... but it holds it's own with my other big choppers ... at a great value and is just slightly lighter than my others.

Thanks for sharing the pictures ... I'm a midwest guy myself that moved to Montana and fell in love ... but for now I'm back in the midwest ... maybe one day I'll get back out there.

Montana is very beautiful, I was fortunate to visit a few times. Lots of open country!

bucks new slim 110s and 112 will have pocket clips. in micarta and s30v on the pros and plastic 420hc on the regulars.

Thanks for mentioning that JB I just now saw the thread with that announcement. That’s going to be a great knife! I have a feeling you and I will get one (or two)!

Gosh, what great pics and life-style! Great selection of working knives. Beautiful place you have there, even though it's hard work to maintain.
I got to spend 45 min at the Honolulu airport...getting eaten by sand-flies while bomber was refueling...on way to Korea in mid-1950's. Wish I had an excuse to stay on your great islands.
Thanx for such a great run of pics and showing what the island has to offer. Wish I were much younger...could perhaps check it out. Dreaming again!
Happy for you.
Don

Thank you for your kind words and service sir. I’m glad you enjoy the pics and I am sure your neck of the woods is beautiful as well!

Still patiently waiting on more Bronco pics you teased in post 12.

Hahaha thanks! It’s not a resto it’s a daily driver so it’s not that nice. But it has certainly been the most reliable truck I’ve ever owned! I have had it for 20 years!

 

[3fifty7]

That’s what the world needs more of!!
Keep it Real
Keep it Dirty

I took mine to work a few days ago and had a little welding job to do on our grain bins.

 

[MolokaiRider]

That’s what the world needs more of!!
Keep it Real
Keep it Dirty

I took mine to work a few days ago and had a little welding job to do on our grain bins.
View attachment 967542

Nice rig! I agree with keeping up maintainance rather than buying new all the time.

You’ve got some serious grain storage! Are you growing corn only?