Heavy Duty Wilderness Knife

M

Mike Baugh

Joined
Jan 11, 1999
Messages
23
I am wanting to buy a quality knife for wilderness camping. I want a heavy duty knife with a 7-7.5" blade. I am looking at the Fehrman First Strike and the Chris Reeve Project I or II. The Busse and Swamp Rat knives do not interest me. Are there any other semi production knives I should be looking at? Which one would you pick between the Fehrman and the Chris Reeve?

Thanks, Mike
 
Check out Ranger Knives. Justin will make you a knife the way you want and for a great price.
 
I went with the Fehrman Final Judgement and the Peace Maker. The First Strike would be a great choice.
 
I know you say you have no interest in it, but my Desert Tan Camp Tramp is one hell of a knife. My standard Ranger RD7 has taken nail impacts with no damage or *maybe* the slightest roll of the edge (less then the thickness of a dime). This knife did come with a thicker edge though.
 
Thanks guys for the replies.

I have had a couple of Busse Basics and they just were not to my liking, I have also handled the regular Busse line. Nothing against those of you that like them, they are just not what I am looking for. I don't mind spending $300-$350 for a knife, I just want to make sure I know all my choices before I buy it.

Thanks, Mike
 
Mike Baugh said:
Which one would you pick between the Fehrman and the Chris Reeve?
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That is not even much of a contest. The Fehrman has a much more efficient wood working blade profile and ergonomic handle.

-Cliff
 
The CRK Project I or II would be a great choice in my opinion. I have carried CRK knives for many years and I wouldn't carry anything else. They are extremely tough. I prefer the non-serrated model though.
 
The Busse handles never felt comfortable in my hand and since they only let you buy one style every few months there is nothing there that interests me. The Swamp Rat blade width [not thickness] and its handle turns me off on the Camp Tramp. Like I said no Bash they are just not for me. I have had a couple Tops knives and they were pretty nice. Of everything I have been able to check out the First Strike and Project series are so far the winners, the Green Beret from Reeves also has me interested.

Mike
 
Fehrman make nice quality blades. They are almost identical to Busse in style fit and finish.

I have handled both and they are both great. Micarta is sanded down to ones own personal specs of comfort. Fehrman handle slabs are virtually the same as Busse so am confused about your issue.

I see little difference between the 2 other than steel.

The Green Beret is a totally different blade thus your final 2 choices are confusing when side by side.

Skam
 
Skammer, I have never handled the Fehrman so I didn't know the handles were the same. From the photos they look shaped a little different to me. The Green Beret is another one I have only seen photos of, to me it seems in the same ballpark style wise as the Fehrman, different steel and thickness but more similar than the Project series. Those 3 are the only ones that have caught my interest so far.

Thanks, Mike
 
Mike Baugh said:
The Swamp Rat blade width [not thickness] and its handle turns me off on the Camp Tramp.
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The blade width is necessary to allow a decent cutting profile on that stock thickness, handles are fairly person dependent.

...the Green Beret from Reeves also has me interested.
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That is one of the worst knives I had used in almost every respect.

-Cliff
 
I have the same Fehrmans as RAS, and just love them. Especially the Peacemaker. The ergonomics are head and shoulders above most of it's competition, and the steel is superb. Plus, they are great people to work with, and actually follow through on what they tell you.
 
Fehrmans are some of the best knives in the business.

If you hold one, and hold a Busse, the handles definitely do not feel the same in any way, but I can see how one might think that from some pictures.
 
Brian Jones said:
Fehrmans are some of the best knives in the business.

If you hold one, and hold a Busse, the handles definitely do not feel the same in any way, but I can see how one might think that from some pictures.
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I have handled both and yes they are very similar in design. The fact they are both MICARTA means they both can be sanded to your own unique comfort and grip. The same cannot be said of other handle materials. Micarta is by far and away the best all round handle slab material for any blade I have used.

100% identical no of course not but dam close and when micarta is involved, excuding a make of blade soley on the slab materials and shape should not be the reason.

Both are fine makers you can't go wrong with either.

Skam
 
Primative junk. Get a Fallkniven.
 
skammer said:
excuding a make of blade soley on the slab materials and shape should not be the reason.
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The problem with the EJ grip wasn't simply a Micarta shape problem, but issues like it doesn't extend down to cover the end hook, which is too sharp/short, and the index finger cutout is also too sharp and grip limiting. To address these you would need an angle grinder and a decent epoxy to add material.

The Busse grips also have changed drastically, the SH versions were thin with a sharp end hook. The "e" models went a large step in overall curvature and sharp, the new ergo models have a really unique two stage grip with different checkering and shape for close work and a far back grip for power cutting.

-Cliff
 
skammer said:
I have handled both and yes they are very similar in design. The fact they are both MICARTA means they both can be sanded to your own unique comfort and grip. The same cannot be said of other handle materials. Micarta is by far and away the best all round handle slab material for any blade I have used.

Skam
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Actually, if you are talking about the older Busse smooth micarta, then I agree they are similar. I was thinking about their newer grooved handles.

Also agreed micarta is my fav handle material, too!
 
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