Recommendation? help finding fixed blade

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luisdent

Joined
May 29, 2012
Messages
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I'm looking to add a fixed blade to my edc. i currently have and love the benchmade bugout.

i was hoping to find a fixed blade knife that is similar in blade style and length. In fact, overall length and design too.

my main criteria would be.
- roughly 3-3.25" blade
- $150 max
- skeletonized handle i can wrap with paracord
- thumb guard and jimping similar to bugout
- included, preferably sleek, quick release sheath for pocket carry
- no ultra low quality steel

I've seen a few close. kabar has a few but the blades are pretty poor steel and sheaths are cheap. esee has one but the blade is a bit small and tall. gerber has a bear grylls model that looks a bit large but seems similar in length..

by far the sexiest one I've seen is the mc speedgoat, but it is way over budget. i don't mind 154cm, sv30, or similar grades. i don't need magnacut or some insane steel. and i don't mind a plastic sheath if it is designed well.

my goal is edc, but I'd like the ability to have it in my pocket but be able to quickly deploy it in an emergency. any help is appreciated.
 
The skeletonized part is the curve ball imo..

My immediate off the top picks would be either the ESEE Xancudo or White River M1 Backpacker in S35VN, or some variation of the Bradford Guardian 3. Acta Non Verba P100 maybe, not a huge fan of Sleipner steel though..

The ESEE and Bradford both come with removeable scales, the White River comes with scales or paracord, ANV paracord only.

Might also be worth flipping through TOPS catalog as well. They probably got 10 different knives that roughly fit your criteria.
 
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Wanting it skeletonized and supplied with a sheath might be an issue.

If you wrap it in paracord later, it probably won't fit that sheath. You might need to modify it or get a different one.
 
There is a Bradford guardian 3 for a good price in the individual fixed blade section. For 110 see under “ great deal.” From yesterday.
 
Crag the Brewer said:
Wanting it skeletonized and supplied with a sheath might be an issue.

If you wrap it in paracord later, it probably won't fit that sheath. You might need to modify it or get a different one.
Click to expand...

pardon my ignorance, as I'm new to fixed blades for EDC. I've had some I've used for camping and things like that but they're much larger. can I ask why paracord is a bad idea? The main reason I want it is because I prefer the slim profile.

I'm not super concerned with absolute comfort as much as quality of carry. another thing I want is the handle to not be in the sheath... so why would it matter if it's wrapped in paracord? I want to be able to grab the handle and pull the knife out. I'm actually not a fan of the sheaths for the knife goes in 90%. I've seen a lot of kydex sheets this style. but am I missing something, lol?

I'll check out all these recommendations from everybody. thanks so far for all the help.
 
luisdent said:
pardon my ignorance, as I'm new to fixed blades for EDC. I've had some I've used for camping and things like that but they're much larger. can I ask why paracord is a bad idea? The main reason I want it is because I prefer the slim profile.

I'm not super concerned with absolute comfort as much as quality of carry. another thing I want is the handle to not be in the sheath... so why would it matter if it's wrapped in paracord? I want to be able to grab the handle and pull the knife out. I'm actually not a fan of the sheaths for the knife goes in 90%. I've seen a lot of kydex sheets this style. but am I missing something, lol?

I'll check out all these recommendations from everybody. thanks so far for all the help.
Click to expand...

I don't think parasite is bad, if that's what you like...

Me personally, I don't want it because it's harder to clean...blood, food, slime, yuck.
It gets in the rope nooks and crannies



For kydex sheaths, it changes the handle shape.

Kydex wraps around the front of the scales.
Different shape with added rope = no fit

*edit... The knife right above might not interfere with a kydex sheath, maybe
 
scorpnsnake said:
Adamas 375 fixed, pre-loved? 🤷‍♂️
Click to expand...
dang this is sexy. lol

this is available:

g10

I know I'll send ultra picky, but the only thing I don't like the looks of on that is the deep finger recess. and I was probably just a personal preference but I actually prefer something closer to the bugout and similar knives where the finger groove is just a slight indent. otherwise that knife is probably the closest to meeting every qualification and looks very nice.

I considered saving money for the speed goat, but not only is it pretty expensive, it's not even available. I also just don't know that it's worth the extra cost. I'm basing my opinion on primarily the way it looks. and honestly I'm more of a practical knife guy in the sense that I want a strong durable blade that cuts well and holds an edge well. I'm sure that's a very nice knife, but it's probably more nice than I need practically.

If I forgo the paracord, this knife looks pretty nice and slim as someone recommended

bradford

just curious, if I didn't like the handle is that removable?
 
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White River Backpacker / M1 arereally comfy and easy to carry with scales, you can carry without them. Esee Izula is another easy to carry option with the scales, but you can remove the scales and wrap with paracord if you wish. Both are great knives, my preference (slightly) of the two is the White River ... it's thinner, lighter, and easier to carry. The White River is S35VN stainless and the Izula is 1095.

I have never used and don't know anything about the quaility or cost of Argali Knives, but they look like they may fit the type of knife you're looking for.
 
Crag the Brewer said:
I don't think parasite is bad, if that's what you like...

Me personally, I don't want it because it's harder to clean...blood, food, slime, yuck.
It gets in the rope nooks and crannies



For kydex sheaths, it changes the handle shape.

Kydex wraps around the front of the scales.
Different shape with added rope = no fit

*edit... The knife right above might not interfere with a kydex sheath, maybe
Click to expand...

Parasites aren't bad? Spell check has jokes today. 😂

Great points Sir! Hadn't ever considered one of this style, but would have learned the hard way.
 
scorpnsnake said:
Parasites aren't bad? Spell check has jokes today. 😂

Great points Sir! Hadn't ever considered one of this style, but would have learned the hard way.
Click to expand...

Oops, my bad.... This tablet Sucks. Every third word it changes on me!
 
definitely makes sense. I'm not too worried about cleaning myself, as I'm not hunting or anything. and I can always unwrap clean it and rewrap it with new paracord. but definitely a valid point.

however, I did realize there's a store locally that sells some knives so I stopped in. they had 2 nice benchmades and a ka-bar mk11?

the kabar was ok. not super impressed but it's also $40-50. the benchmades were nice. they have an adamas 375 for $190!

but two i really liked were the

altitude

and the steep country

I really like the sleek design of the altitude, but it's definitely more expensive and probably less stout in the hand. The steep country felt perfect. It literally almost seems like a bug out with a more substantial handle in a fixed style. The blade is super flat ground all the way to the end is nice in flat. so it seems like it would be a good slicer.

The only thing I wasn't able to see are the sheaths that they come with. and they were literally closing so I didn't want to keep them. any thoughts on those two options? I definitely tend to prefer slim light sleek things especially for EDC, however the steep country just feels like a more practical hand holdable knife especially if you had to use it for any kind of defense or hard cutting purposes.
 
If you get a chance to handle the White River Backpacker you might be surprised how comfortable it is in hand. And it is now available in Magnacut. I have to admit, that Steep Country looks mighty nice too but it is discontinued:(
 
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