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I need some help on a few knife decisions
- Thread starter jwolfert
- Start date
Here's my advice.
Slow down!
Too many random questions about random knives at the same time.
Here's what you can do to help us help you.
1) Define exactly what you mean by "survival/bushcraft". Right now those are just meaningless buzzwords spat out by marketing departments. What do you really, honestly expect to do with this knife? You need to know that....we need to know that.
2) Tell us how much you want to spend on your knife.
Answer those 2, we should be able to go somewhere.
Decaf might help, too.
Slow down!
Too many random questions about random knives at the same time.
Here's what you can do to help us help you.
1) Define exactly what you mean by "survival/bushcraft". Right now those are just meaningless buzzwords spat out by marketing departments. What do you really, honestly expect to do with this knife? You need to know that....we need to know that.
2) Tell us how much you want to spend on your knife.
Answer those 2, we should be able to go somewhere.
Decaf might help, too.
I suspect also that you aren't particularly experienced with said "bushcraft/survival" type work or you'd have pretty clear ideas about what you want and need.
From my perspective and experience I would never use a plain carbon steel knife as my primary bushcraft//survival knife. If I'm out in a SHTF type situation the last thing I need is a knife that is losing its sharpness due to rusting, or rusted away quietly in the BOB, while it was "waiting" on an emergency.
1095 or similar is great for regular users who wipe down their blade and sharpen/touch it up often. (Daily or weekly if in dry and limited use environment.) Personally I would rather be making a fire, or gathering food, or finding a way out, or other critical life saving things, than sharpening my knife if I'm out in the bush.
Other may not agree, but thats my view.
Edit: Just saw your other post that you're 15 and want your first fixed blade. do you have someone to go out and teach you bushcrafting skills? IF not you can do something like join scouts. They will teach you the skills and responsibilities that go with owning a knife. I'm sure that would go a long way in convincing your mother that you would be responsible and safe with such a knife.
If you don't learn, practice and train then you can't use the thing properly any way so there's no point in having it.
From my perspective and experience I would never use a plain carbon steel knife as my primary bushcraft//survival knife. If I'm out in a SHTF type situation the last thing I need is a knife that is losing its sharpness due to rusting, or rusted away quietly in the BOB, while it was "waiting" on an emergency.
1095 or similar is great for regular users who wipe down their blade and sharpen/touch it up often. (Daily or weekly if in dry and limited use environment.) Personally I would rather be making a fire, or gathering food, or finding a way out, or other critical life saving things, than sharpening my knife if I'm out in the bush.
Other may not agree, but thats my view.
Edit: Just saw your other post that you're 15 and want your first fixed blade. do you have someone to go out and teach you bushcrafting skills? IF not you can do something like join scouts. They will teach you the skills and responsibilities that go with owning a knife. I'm sure that would go a long way in convincing your mother that you would be responsible and safe with such a knife.
If you don't learn, practice and train then you can't use the thing properly any way so there's no point in having it.
Last edited:
Sorry if I sounded a bit too excited. When I say survival/bushcraft I guess I mean a knife that would be good for camping, batoning, chopping, carving, and to help me start a fire. My birthday is coming up, so on the subject of price, I think my parents would be willing to pay anything under $200
deathofallthings
@DeathGripScales
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2011
- Messages
- 914
One thing some people don't notice when looking at the esee 5 on paper is it's a full quarter inch thick. Most knives of that size are more like 3/16 thick. So just be sure that the extra thick blade is what you want. If not go for the 4 or the 6. All excellent knives.
If your mom let's you get a knife, choose the knife based on what and how your dad teaches you. You are coming at this the wrong way. It's not "knife then skills" it's "skills then knife."
If your dad is good at this stuff, and been around a while, he may be a 4 inch slicer kinda guy who has never seen a tanto, a black coated blade, or has batonned in his life, or chopped with a knife. Maybe he's hatchet guy.
A big, black, thick tanto may be useless in the woods as far as he's concerned (and many would agree).
I agree with Marcinek
Nothing wrong with having your Dad teach you, my Dad taught me, and I learned all that and got really into it and and learned lots more along the way.
I'd talk to your Dad about what he thinks is right and/or ask him for a "good knife"...
He's the one with the skills, he'll know what will suit better than you.
I still have my first "real" knife my Dad got me, more than 30 years ago. I had a couple "learners" before that. But this one was the "good" one that I worked up to and he got for me when thought I was ready, and it was what suited the skills I learned from him.
Nothing wrong with having your Dad teach you, my Dad taught me, and I learned all that and got really into it and and learned lots more along the way.
I'd talk to your Dad about what he thinks is right and/or ask him for a "good knife"...
He's the one with the skills, he'll know what will suit better than you. I still have my first "real" knife my Dad got me, more than 30 years ago. I had a couple "learners" before that. But this one was the "good" one that I worked up to and he got for me when thought I was ready, and it was what suited the skills I learned from him.
Cheaper option: Mora Forest knife or Bushcraft Force
Just under $200: Fallkniven F1 or Bark River Bravo 1 in A2 steel (F1 is stainless, A2 will rust if not cared for properly)
Slightly over budget: Bark River Bravo 1 in CPM 3V steel. (3V will rust if not cared for properly)
I have the Fallkniven F1 and use it for camp chores and I also keep it in my emergency bag under the seat in the helicopter while working in remote areas. It's stainless, very tough and well built. The perfect bushcraft/survival/camp knife in my opinion. But I still want a Bravo 1 in 3V too. CPM 3V is probably overkill for most knife uses, but it's the toughest steel in it's wear resistance range. I tend to use an axe for larger chopping duties and a 4-5 inch knife for light batoning and everything else. There will be many different opinions of what works, but your Dad will teach you a way that works for him.
Hope that helps you.
Just under $200: Fallkniven F1 or Bark River Bravo 1 in A2 steel (F1 is stainless, A2 will rust if not cared for properly)
Slightly over budget: Bark River Bravo 1 in CPM 3V steel. (3V will rust if not cared for properly)
I have the Fallkniven F1 and use it for camp chores and I also keep it in my emergency bag under the seat in the helicopter while working in remote areas. It's stainless, very tough and well built. The perfect bushcraft/survival/camp knife in my opinion. But I still want a Bravo 1 in 3V too. CPM 3V is probably overkill for most knife uses, but it's the toughest steel in it's wear resistance range. I tend to use an axe for larger chopping duties and a 4-5 inch knife for light batoning and everything else. There will be many different opinions of what works, but your Dad will teach you a way that works for him.
Hope that helps you.
- Joined
- Apr 13, 2007
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- 12,294
Hey buddy if you want a tough as hell camp knife for splitting,chopping and getting a fire going ASAP take a look at the Scrapyard Knives 711, pair it up with a Mora for finer tasks and you will be good to go no matter what the situation.......both these can be had within your budget as well !
- Joined
- Aug 1, 2012
- Messages
- 161
USMC Fighting knife is a better choice than the Tanto. Blade design is better for stabbing.
ESEE 5 is an excellent blade but very heavy. 1/4" thick steel. Go with the ESEE 4
Mora Companion MGS (stainless) or MG (carbon) are both excellent knives. Thicker steel than the clipper.
It's not the knife that makes you a good woodsman, it's your skills that does.
Check out the Condor Bushlore or Condor Rodan if you're on a budget.
ESEE 5 is an excellent blade but very heavy. 1/4" thick steel. Go with the ESEE 4
Mora Companion MGS (stainless) or MG (carbon) are both excellent knives. Thicker steel than the clipper.
It's not the knife that makes you a good woodsman, it's your skills that does.
Check out the Condor Bushlore or Condor Rodan if you're on a budget.