Hunting/camp fixed blade

Many folks consider the Kephart design to be a great all around outdoors knife.

Here's a Bark River example:
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Flaminghog2099 said:
No not necessarily , what ever grind that would be best for skinning deer and grind that would also work best for general camp chores
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My recommendation is that you get 2 inexpensive but high quality knives with different grinds and use them for a bit. There is no definitive "best" in terms of grinds that knife people will agree on. My take is that hollow grinds perform the best for cleaning came and a convex (or scandi) grind does best wood working including splitting wood. In balance, I would rather clean game with a convex ground knife than baton wood with a hollow grind. But really, how often do you really need to split wood with a knife. Not often.

The Buck Bucklite Max can be found for about $25 and has Buck's excellent hollow grind.
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The Mora Companion can be found for about $15, which is just ridiculous. I always end up putting my Moras on a stone and convexing off the shoulder of the scandi, but that's my pref.
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Both knives have great blades and combined, you're only out aboub $50. Put them both in your kitchen drawer and use them day in, day out. Then take them out to your back door, split some wood and make a mess of feather sticks. You'll develop your own personal pref on blade grinds pretty quickly.

After this, you can seek advice on budget busting beauties based on your preference and not the preferences of the rest of us.
 
Venerable old BK16....its just hard to beat, and if using it for skinning and field dressing game, I'd skip the handle upgrades and just use the grivory it comes with...though I would replace the handle nuts and bolts with stainless asap.
 
If you are someone who likes to beat the crap out of your knives, then my recommendation would be a Bark River Bravo in whatever blade length that you prefer. For actual knife work, an LT Wright Genesis in flat grind is, imo, the perfect execution of the classic Kephart design. If I had to limit myself to one fixed blade knife, that would be the one.
 
Hawgsnawt said:
Venerable old BK16....its just hard to beat, and if using it for skinning and field dressing game, I'd skip the handle upgrades and just use the grivory it comes with...though I would replace the handle nuts and bolts with stainless asap.
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If you order a Becker from CoyleOutdoors (supporting member), he will supply you with complimentary stainless hardware at no cost to you.
So no worries about finding the right size.
 
pinnah said:
My recommendation is that you get 2 inexpensive but high quality knives with different grinds and use them for a bit. There is no definitive "best" in terms of grinds that knife people will agree on. My take is that hollow grinds perform the best for cleaning came and a convex (or scandi) grind does best wood working including splitting wood. In balance, I would rather clean game with a convex ground knife than baton wood with a hollow grind. But really, how often do you really need to split wood with a knife. Not often.

The Buck Bucklite Max can be found for about $25 and has Buck's excellent hollow grind.
BU679BKS.jpg


The Mora Companion can be found for about $15, which is just ridiculous. I always end up putting my Moras on a stone and convexing off the shoulder of the scandi, but that's my pref.
FT11824a.jpg


Both knives have great blades and combined, you're only out aboub $50. Put them both in your kitchen drawer and use them day in, day out. Then take them out to your back door, split some wood and make a mess of feather sticks. You'll develop your own personal pref on blade grinds pretty quickly.

After this, you can seek advice on budget busting beauties based on your preference and not the preferences of the rest of us.
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Alright, thanks for the advice, I really appreciate it
 
Consider the Grohmann products too. Their #3 is an impressive knife, especially considering the relatively low cost. These have been tried and tested in the northern woods for decades. Outdoorsmen actually had a hand in their design.

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I wouldn't personally choose a BK24(or BK14) for general purpose woods, camp, or hunting knife (even small game). As a backup, sure or if it is all you have, but to purposely choose a BK24 for this, nope. The BK16 would be a better choice in the Becker line.
 
My top choices for a camp knife that could also cross over in to processing game would be the bk16, tops bob, benchmade Bushcrafter/162, bk2, and a mora companion or robust.

But out of those if it were to be my dedicated knife for dressing game I'd pick the bk16 or the 162
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Of the ones you mentioned any would be great for your intended use. The ESEE's have a little less belly than the KA-BAR's, but it's hardly enough to matter.
 
Bobby3326,

All good choices. The Becker Sweet 16, as well as the 15 are great for everything from skinning to food prep to whittling, etc. The BK2, as well as the BK9 are beasts and don't forget the BK4 - especially if paired with a Mora Companion.

For one, the BK7 can do it, as could the BK5 (my favorite) - as could, on a lighter scale, the BK Sweet 16 or the BK5's little cousin the BK15; for two ... I would go with a Mora Companion and a BK9 even though I have really enjoyed the BK4 the more I got to know it.
 
Kephard design, try the Condor version to see if that is what you like, or a great bargain is the LTWright Bushcrafter HC or there newer but smaller version of the Genesis, the Next Gen with a three inch blade.
 
A lot of great Knives mentioned to choose from;

Along with the ones already mentioned, I'll throw in the Boker Plus TUF Gen2, for a <$50 knife, and a Knives of Alaska Alpha Wolf for some thing a bit pricier...

Whatever you decide, buy a Mora Companion as well to compliment it, for the price you can't go wrong with the 2nd lightweight/cheap option on hand.It's a cheap knife worth owning.
 
SALTY said:
Bobby3326,

All good choices. The Becker Sweet 16, as well as the 15 are great for everything from skinning to food prep to whittling, etc. The BK2, as well as the BK9 are beasts and don't forget the BK4 - especially if paired with a Mora Companion.

For one, the BK7 can do it, as could the BK5 (my favorite) - as could, on a lighter scale, the BK Sweet 16 or the BK5's little cousin the BK15; for two ... I would go with a Mora Companion and a BK9 even though I have really enjoyed the BK4 the more I got to know it.
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Yea I wouldve mentioned the 9, but was trying to stay close to the length he was looking for.

The 16 and 9 are my favorite combo, but any of the knives you or i mentioned would pair nicely with a 9 to cover everything from field dressing, to small and large camp tasks.
 
cbach8tw said:
Kephard design, try the Condor version to see if that is what you like, or a great bargain is the LTWright Bushcrafter HC or there newer but smaller version of the Genesis, the Next Gen with a three inch blade.
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Almost forgot to mention the Maverick Scout by Blindhorse knives, and I think LT Wright is also making them again.
 
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