Help me pick a saber ground knife

G

Gil P.

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Jan 21, 2015
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I have been using scandi and flat ground blades for woodworking, but im not sure I like the scandi very much. I was thinking of trying a saber ground knife that will work well, but is not too expensive. Im thinking right around $60 with a spine thickness at or greater than 1/8 inch. I want to see if the saber will suit me better for woodworking than the scandi does.

Does anyone know of a fixed blade saber ground knife around $60 that is at least 1/8 inch thick?
 
An older Becker BK16 if you can find one. They are all flat ground now. Maybe a Cold Steel SRK but they are pretty thick for woodworking.
 
Take a look at the Becker BK15. They can be found for under $50.00 now for some reason. It's kind of pointy though.
 
The so-called "Scandi" ground knife is defined by it's inventors as a saber ground knife without a secondary bevel.


So we more-or-less know what you're after but not all of what you have found wanting.

To complicate things, all manner of knives are called "scandi" whether they fit the British definition or not. (Monty Python would understand this situation very well. After all, "It's just resting.")
 
So instead of saying saber, I should have said: A fixed blade knife, with a blade that has a high flat grind that extends from the the edge to at or above the middle of the knife, but does not extend to the spine, and has a secondary bevel.
 
Just curious why a saber grind in particular? Saber vs. full grinds are just a by-product of the grind angle and stock thickness. For instance, the BK-16 and the BK-2 have the same primary grind angle but the BK-2 is a saber grind instead of a FFG because its blade is so much wider.
 
I thought it would be a good compromise between scandi and full flat. I guess a high ground saber isnt much different than a full flat, would you recommend one over the other? I have a small full flat with a thin blade. I like it for cutting food, it does a good job of just about everything else too. Maybe a full flat blade with a thick spine would be just as strong as a high saber or scandi.
 
The labels are not holy, but they can help in communication when there are shared definitions.

Your description plus the 1/8" in your OP tells us what you want except for a few of details.
1. length? (I assume not too long for wood working.)
2. single, double or no guard? (Most wood working knives have no guard.)
3. any preferences as to handle material?
4. stainless steel or non-stainless?
5. price range?

You will find no shortage of fans ready to suggest their favorites (even if it means totally ignoring your specifications).
 
To answer your questions:
1. Length - 4 to 5 inches
2. No guard, but it wouldnt be a deal breaker
3. no preference to handle material
4. non stainless
5.price range - 60$ give or take

I left my OP intentionally vague. I mostly posted it to try out the grind. And my price point is only 60$ so that I can try it out and, if I dont like it im not out a bunch of money. Im also open to trying a full flat grind.
 
Gil,

On the scan page of new topics, this thread shows as "Help me pick a saber." That may be dissuading people from clicking. By now I would have expected lots of suggestions.

Your specs rule out the MORA's with their low bevels.

All the flat-ground are out.

Most of the economy models these days are in stainless.

A good many saber-ground knives have a hollow-ground bevel, something not usually thought of as ideal for wood work.

ESEE, RAT, TOPS, and EKA are outside the price spec. unless you find one used.

If you consider the secondary market, you are describing the Western knife sold as the BSA 1359 http://www.antiquesnavigator.com/d-46071/antique-western-hunting-bowie-knife-skinner-knives-old.html [You would want a better handle. Just illustrating general characteristics)

- or a Marble's Ideal. http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/6315708 [sold in 2009]

Both were highly regarded and still are by those not put off by patina.

If you click on the triangle at the lower left of each post screen maybe you can get the thread title changed to something that reads better, like "Good saber ground knife?" Or start over.
 
Sounds like an Old Hickory hop knife wouldn't be a bad choice.
 
Take a gander at Becker, Ontario, and Condor.
However, you won't find a better "woodworker" than a scandi grind knife.
 
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