Help a newb pick a bushcraft/small game knife

A

ASharpCanadian

Joined
Sep 12, 2011
Messages
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Hi bladeforums. Im new to the party but have already read a good bit here- enough to try not to bog your nice forum down
with another "I want a knife that does everything" thread. Im new to knives and want something

1. I can start a fire with(make fuzzies/kindling)
2. wont feel bad batoning wood with, and
3. that I can use to dress rabbits/ducks.

this leads me to look at the esee 3 or 4. at the same time the faalkniven series offers a superior handle for cold weather (im Canadian) but has a worse sheath
than the esees. I dont wanna start another VS thread Im just wondering FOR THESE SPECIFIC USES which knife you guys would pick up.

Also- Im a bit worried about that carbon, it tends to get wet here with all the snow. seems the faalkniven has 1 up there but I
wonder- just how much stronger is the carbon than stainless?
 
I have mostly 1095 Carbon steel blades. I have had zero issues with rust. I do not leave my knives outside all the time. If it will be outside in the wet for a long time, oil the blade. I'd say the ESEE 4 would be a fine choice. There are also others for much less & much more $$$. If rust is a big concern, then get a stainless blade. I thought i read somewhere that ESEE was gonna make a stainless 4 ??? IDK for sure.
 
Welcome to the forums. Without knowing your budget, will go in the range of a F1 or ESEE 4: (both good choices)

Blind Horse Bushcrafter
Barkriver Gunny (Bravo 1 a wiska' more)
Rat Man Du
Benchmade Pardue Rant (older ones about half the price and 440C )

I'm a little partial ;) ... But a Becker BK 2 paired up with a Mora would do you fine too.

Try the Exchanges here on the forums too. Some REAL nice custom stuff.
And some nice "pre-owned" stuff too.

Lots of good knives available.

Good luck and stay safe out there.
 
Falkniven F1 all the way. Good convex edge for slicing, very resistant to the wetness, good steel and edge retention.
 
Id say an ESEE 3/4, fallkniven f1 or swamp rat rodent solution are your best options for a production blade.

But with that said for a small blade i would look in the For sale fixed blades category on the exchange and go with a nice custom. There is always a huge selction of nice custom small blades from makers here. I only have one custom, a S90V nessmuck by Jim Rosa and it is simply amazing
 
Why not "go Canadian" with a Russell/Grohmann Canadian Belt Knife? It's made just for what you are doing and where you are doing it!
 
thanks guys- opinions are good its all stuff to think about. the more I ponder the more I think Im gonna end up with the esee 4, though I kinda wish it had the handle of the f1 I
just know that micarta is gonna be cold in the winter and maybe tricky to deal with a gloved hand. the sheath helped me make the call its pretty great and I can easily tie a
ton of paracord to it. maybe if I get really into hunting and have to dress alot of small game I'll buy an f1 as well, seems that would have the edge as a hunting knife.
 
I think the way to go here is two different knives. A good knife for beating on wood is going to be a somewhat beefy blade. A good knife for cleaning game (especially the small game you describe) is going to be a much more delicate blade. If you insist on splitting the difference, the rodent solution suggested above is the best recommendation that I see. I have a swamp rat howling rat and like it a lot as a knife on my belt for whatever comes my way but it is way too beefy to be anywhere near an optimal game cleaning blade.

Someone above suggested the canadian belt knife. I think this would be a great choice for the game cleaning part of your question. Also look at an older, made in usa old timer sharpfinger for a similar design. I picked one up for game duty, and it is extremely small and light, and so there is really no reason you wouldn't throw it in your pack or on your belt to use specifically for game. A spyderco delica is also a nice knife for game. You could get the cheaper made in china byrd version which is also nice.

For general camp-type use, I think the esee 4 and F1 are good. I personally would say the swamp rat howling rat or ratmandu. If you want a great knife specifically for wood, you could also get a more traditional bushcraft knife with a scandi or convex grind. Koster, fiddleback forge, off the map, and spyderco all make good bushcraft knives. There is another one for a great price -- grey wolf I think?
 
i'd go with a Fallkniven myself.

i have the S1 in lam VG-10 and a 3G WM1. both are sensational performers.
 
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