Help/suggestions on knife choice!

[whistlepig]

I have been looking at several different customs, semi customs, etc. trying to decide on what to buy. There are so many great choices I am overwhelmed! I have a budget of around $200 +/-, prefer a 4"+/- blade, scandi grind, for general woods use, bushcraft etc. Knives I am strongly
considering are ML, Sugar Creek, Etowah Knife & tool, Bark River Bravo (field), JK, and the Canteen shop blind horse.
Canteen shop is currently topping the list but I would like to have thumb jimping.

I need it strong enough for baton work but easily controllable for whittling, snare making, etc. any suggestions, makers overlooked or other thoughts would be awesome. Just hoping for some clarity so I can pull the trigger!

Thanks!!
whistlepig


"The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time." -Jack London

 

[Hawk45]

Of what you have listed I have a Bravo 1 and it is a beast. You can't beat the warranty and customer service either which makes it worth the price for one in my book. I recently got an ESEE4 to compare and I think it will be a great wilderness knife as well. The blade is a bit thinner and the handles a little shorter but weight is substantially less as well. I know it's not a custom but a great value outdoors blade.

 

[whistlepig]

I have also looked at the ESEE but wasn't sure about the coating. That was actually my first choice a couple of months ago... How does the coating play into usage?

 

[foxx]

For that small of a knife, I don't find the coating to cause too much drag. The two knives are both good, if not great, but different in their grinds and handles by great measures. The Bravo 1 has much more of a rounded handle, while the stock ESEE4 is thinner and no contours to it really.

Another company to look at would be Fiddleback Forge and even Grossman Knives, both make a bushcraft knife. Andy does a great scandi edge, at least my Nessmuk is excellent.

 

[Guyon]

For bushcrafty stuff, you might also check out whatever Ray Laconico is selling.
You probably won't find a Scandi from him though.

 

[Bowxpress]

I was gonna suggest the Bark river aurora for you,

Foxx how do you like the EsEE4 custom grip?

 

[foxx]

They fit great. The contour and texture add grip for sure. They are thicker and longer, so they fit my hands better. I wear a large in most gloves, and even have shorter fingers.
My favorite aspect of these scales is that they are wider, less pain during harder use. Really, I've only taken that knife on two backpacking trips this summer, and didn't use it that hard. But, I can tell from past experiences that having the wider grip helps.