Help me choose my first knife!

Harleybane

Harleybane

Joined
Feb 14, 2015
Messages
53
Hello!

Im going to buy my first knife with a fairly large budget, around 200 dollars.

Its the knife im going to carry while camping out in the woods. And i want a knife thats good at pretty much everything. I ont be hunting so no skinning required. Just the basic chopping, batoning etc.

Im leaning towards a Fallkniven A1, SOG Seal team elite, SOG Force or a esee 4-6. I mainly want a stainless knife.

What would you pick, got any other suggestions? If so, what and why would you pick?

Would appreciate some help, thank you!
 
I would go cheaper until you really know what you need.

Try a Mora Companion or No 1. Use it on a few outings and then go from there.

Going straight into an expensive might not be a good plan for a beginner.
 
Do you have a good hatchet or axe yet? It might be good to get a Mora for the small tasks and spend some money getting a good quality axe/hatchet for the chopping.
 
Appreciate the answers!
I dont have an axe, Not sure i even want one. Just a good allround knife. :-)

Which of the following knives would you pick? Fallkniven a1, sog seal team elite? Im ordering either of those. Your pick and why?


Thank you!
 
Esee knives are are well thought out and have an unbeatable warranty. Beckers are also top notch with a value second to none.......also great warranty. Busskin blades are amazing and if you search the exchange, you might find something you like in that price range in a Swamp Rat or Scrapyard.
 
I'm not too sure about carbonsteel knives though.

Does it require alot of work to keep them from rusting up?
 
Harleybane said:
I'm not too sure about carbonsteel knives though.

Does it require alot of work to keep them from rusting up?
Click to expand...

Most of my outdoor knives are carbon steel.

I field dressed a deer with my Mora Companion this weekend. I wiped the blood and fat off the blade with some pine straw immediately after, but it was a couple of hours before I got home and gave it a proper cleaning. It had some staining developing by the time I got it home. It scrubbed off with a gentle scrubbing from a kitchen scrubber. Blood is particularly tough on carbon steel knives in my experience, just a little water has never been a problem for me.

I have never had one rust to the point it was a lost cause , and I much prefer carbon steel.

Don't let that be a concern.
 
I realy appreciate the answers.

I'm now looking on a Esee 5 and 6. Considering ordering one. the warranty is amazing.

What kind of oil should I use?


Lets say i go camping in the woods for a few days, oil is must then yes?
 
I like carbon steel alot more for an outdoors knife. After use just wipe it down with some sort of oil or silicone cloth when you get a chance. No worries. You can easily force a patina on it to help protect it some. Plus it looks good with a patina.

Another thing I have done on carbon steel hunting knives is to coat them with car wax. This helps most of the blade except the edge which will stay fine with use and sharpening anyway.
 
Harleybane said:
I realy appreciate the answers.

I'm now looking on a Esee 5 and 6. Considering ordering one. the warranty is amazing.

What kind of oil should I use?


Lets say i go camping in the woods for a few days, oil is must then yes?
Click to expand...


I don't normally worry about oiling my knife while camping. I just do it when I get back after sharpening.

Any oil will do. If you are going to use your knife for food prep, you can use olive oil.
 
Battle Horse Knives makes some great stuff as well.

You might have your heart set on the above choices, but it doesn't hurt to take a look.
 
I have an Esee 6, its a great knife I don't think you can go wrong there. Sounds like this would be the perfect knife for what you are looking for.
Also if your into Bushcraft type activities I just purchased a Battle Horse Knives Fieldcrafter, it has a Scandi grind and is an all around great bushcraft knife.
 
Favorite Blade said:
I don't normally worry about oiling my knife while camping. I just do it when I get back after sharpening.

Any oil will do. If you are going to use your knife for food prep, you can use olive oil.
Click to expand...

+10000

All the talk of oil and wax had me cringing lol. I always use my knife for food prep when camping especially and wouldn't want any oil other than olive on my food or skinned/filleted game.
 
pistonsandgears said:
I have an Esee 6, its a great knife I don't think you can go wrong there. Sounds like this would be the perfect knife for what you are looking for.
Also if your into Bushcraft type activities I just purchased a Battle Horse Knives Fieldcrafter, it has a Scandi grind and is an all around great bushcraft knife.
Click to expand...


I just got my Fieldcrafter recently. It is a fantastic knife!
 
Check out Bark River Knife Tool also the Exchange here in the Blade forum. The KnifeMaker section has some great knives., what size do you want to carry?
 
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