Help me choose my next woods knife

G

glockfire

Joined
Apr 7, 2008
Messages
312
Hi guys,

Normally I don't post these threads but I am stuck.

I'm looking for a woods knife to replace my ML Knives Kephart. Beautiful knife, but I'd like a little more knife than the Kephart offers, plus I like having more of a clip type point than the Kephart has. I do VERY little knife play in the woods, and spend more time glamping with a camper than anything else. I like having a nice knife on my belt, and I like the idea of fending off 2 legged critters with it just as much as chopping or batoning.

I have been drooling over the Winkler Belt Knife (Maple, sculpted or tribal) for a hot minute, and find myself in the financial position to buy one now. I feel like it has everything that I need, except I like a pouch style sheath that carries a little lower.

The next knife I really want is a CPK FK2, but there aren't any to be found....

Finally, I am eyeing a Gray Wolf Forrester in 3V (Ironwood Scales, Black Linen Micarta Bolsters, White Linen Micarta Liners). Adam said he could make the Forrester with a thumb ramp similar to the Belt Knife, which I think would be awesome.

What would you do if you were me? Either way I'll need to commission a custom leather sheath.

Also, could someone with a Belt Knife tell me the blade width (height, not thickness) at the widest point? Thanks.
 
Nathan (cpk) had a sale last Friday with a few field knives offered. They're slightly harder than his typical 3v heat treat, but apparently very similar to the treatment he used on his original field knife. I own one of those and have never been disappointed with how that knife performed.

Might be worth shooting him or Jo an email and inquiring if a carothers is what you want.
 
Check out JK Handmade Knives here, he has a subforum.
His knives have all that charm and elegance of Kepharts.... And Tough.
He will make what you want, and he's currently taking orders.

All different fancy handle options too.
Reasonable costs. :)
 
I liked the Spyderco Province, the Winkler and the Carothers FK2. I wound up with the Carothers and am very happy with it.
 
glockfire said:
Also, could someone with a Belt Knife tell me the blade width (height, not thickness) at the widest point? Thanks.
Click to expand...
Just checked a couple, from the top of the thumb ramp to the edge is approximately 1.75".
 
I'm not a fan of honking thick full tang knives for the woods, myself, though I own a few. The TRC South Pole (Elmax, made in Lithuania) is very nice if that's your sort of thing.

Outside of feeling cool in hand I haven't found heavy knives all that useful in my life. For 99.99% of the things I'm likely to do with a knife, a Mora works better than any of my thick-bladed full tang brutes would. I don't know if a Mora would help deter two legged threats much, but then I carry a firearm for that use case.

When I don't go for a Mora and decide to take on more unnecessary weight then I still go for something that cuts well, like this DED Universal M (flat ground, M390, thin enough to slice like crazy):

ZmSqQPP.jpg


If you're really set on a full tang brute one good reason to go CPK is the handles, they have great shape to them that is very functional. That's actually part of why I love that DED Universal M as well--you can't tell from that photo but it has a heavily sculpted hourglass handle if you look at it from the top down, it's crazy comfortable to use. That knife is one of my favorite purchases; neat looking, cuts great, super comfy handle.
 
I don't know how you feel about Bark River knives* but the Bravo 1 with thumb ramp is very close to the Winkler in size and is about $110 cheaper. The Bravo 1.25 is a little longer and can come with the thumb ramp too. BR offers A2, 3V, and CPM 154 blade steel. I'm sure you could a dangler option to lower the sheath if you wanted.

https://www.bladehq.com/item--Bark-River-Bravo-1-LT-Ramped-Fixed--38920

* some people don't like Bark River and their owners business practices. Use the search function if you want to know more.
 
While I know you did not mention this one my vote goes for Michael Morris handmade, great handmade ,by a really good guy, they ain't no sissy knives
Troy
 
I’m like you, I like clip points. And I want a Camp knife to be usable for food, but not look like a kitchen knife. And light is good, corrosion resistant with high wear resistance, etc.

These are my favorites, coming from one of the top 2 Russian knife workshops/designers:

i-CXKGwMJ-X4.jpg


Might fit your budget comfortably.
 
ferider said:
I’m like you, I like clip points. And I want a Camp knife to be usable for food, but not look like a kitchen knife. And light is good, corrosion resistant with high wear resistance, etc.

These are my favorites, coming from one of the top 2 Russian knife workshops/designers:

i-CXKGwMJ-X4.jpg


Might fit your budget comfortably.
Click to expand...

Love the second one from the left. Who makes those?
 
ferider said:
I’m like you, I like clip points. And I want a Camp knife to be usable for food, but not look like a kitchen knife. And light is good, corrosion resistant with high wear resistance, etc.

These are my favorites, coming from one of the top 2 Russian knife workshops/designers:

i-CXKGwMJ-X4.jpg


Might fit your budget comfortably.
Click to expand...
I also need to know who makes these. Very nice pieces!
 
ferider said:
I’m like you, I like clip points. And I want a Camp knife to be usable for food, but not look like a kitchen knife. And light is good, corrosion resistant with high wear resistance, etc.

These are my favorites, coming from one of the top 2 Russian knife workshops/designers:

i-CXKGwMJ-X4.jpg


Might fit your budget comfortably.
Click to expand...

holy these are gorgeous
 
I just seen a nice Winkler field knife for sale in the fixed blade knife section and it's right in your price point. I believe one of our local knifemakers has it up for sale. Good luck on your hunt.
 
AntDog said:
Love the second one from the left. Who makes those?
Click to expand...

Thanks guys. These are Cheburkov fixed blades, from left to right: Tactic, Hunter-1, Finnish, Bear-1. For scale, the Tactic has 4.5", and the Bear-1 has 6.5" blade length. All made from 4mm M390 stock (.16"). Not bad, even in the kitchen :)

i-TDLxfgC-X2.jpg


Roland.
 
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glockfire said:
I like having a nice knife on my belt, and I like the idea of fending off 2 legged critters with it.
Click to expand...

If you prefer American instead of Russian, and more along those lines (not ideal for Peanut butter :) ), there is this as well:

i-v7rg5zq-X3.jpg


Love this one, the Ferox from OK&T, and in comes in two sizes, 4.5" and 6.5" blade lengths, and two steels you can choose.

Roland.
 
Good God that Ferox is beautiful.

I used my discount at Monkey Edge, picked up a Belt Knife in Maple (sadly not tribal) for $315 shipped. I think I'll still end up ordering something from Gray Wolf Knives, but man that Ferox is mean....

Thanks all.
 
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