Ideas for a hard use field knife

R

rollintent

Joined
Jul 24, 2015
Messages
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Give me ideas for a "If I only had one knife forever" fixed blade for hunting/big game processing, bushcraft tasks, general use, what I would realistically carry on a backwoods hunting trip, hiking/backpacking adventure. I would like to keep the blade somewhere over 3.5" and under 5.5". Im willing to spend some bucks and go full custom if need be to get a very high quality knife. I'm more of a quality before quantity guy. I'm looking for something that's going to have the best blend of toughness and edge holding capabilities available. Looking for a knife that will have tightly controlled heat treat processes and high performance steel. A knife that I've looked at so far is Carothers field knife. Id like to stay somewhere above the ESEE's and K-bars.
 
Winkler Knives might be a consideration. I believe there may be an express run of their Belt Knife in 3V available somewhere presently. Good all-around knife with a 4.5" blade.
 
Busse Ratmandu in INFI steel with the full height flat grind is at the upper size limit but would do everything you're specifying. It was released recently and there are still a few being sold on the secondary market.

CPK field knife would be perfect.

Custom knife makers sell great knives here on the bladeforums exchange. If you wait long enough you'll definitely find something good. The other benefit is that some of them will happily design a knife to your specs. E.g. you couldn't go past Shannon Steel Labs.
 
rollintent said:
Im willing to spend some bucks and go full custom if need be to get a very high quality knife. I'm more of a quality before quantity guy.
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Well, you asked for ideas.

I'd say you have a pretty good idea right there.

See you over in the custom forums.
 
WValtakis said:
You're not going to find a better knife (especially for the money) than the CPK Field knife...may as well stop looking;)
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This!!

I have customs, and have had about 13 or so Busse.

I'd guide you to a Carothers with no hesitation.

INFI is a fantastic hard use steel, and and essentially stainless in my uses, Including submerged in fresh water for canoeing and wading/floating. I find it is suited well to high impact high torque choppers.

I think I give the edge to CPM3V in the size you are looking at. My belt finish CPM3V has been pretty tarnish resistant. I feel like it holds a longer edge in abrasive uses and also is just as strong. Harder to sharpen in my experience than INFI, though!


In that price range, though, don't overlook the custom forum.
 
Do you need to be able to sharpen it in the field? If so, with diamonds, with a rock, with synthetic stones?

Think about your specs and desired uses and let that play into you production choice or give the specs to your custom maker. Metallurgy and heat treat trade or compromise characteristics depending on your desired tasks.
 
bdmicarta said:
For the stated use it will be very hard to beat an ESEE.
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I have an ESEE 4 and 6. Im hoping to find that little extra edge in edge holding if possible.

Apalachicola said:
Well, you’re probably not going to carry the same knife for game processing as you do for backpacking...
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I believe I will if its the right size and characteristics and design. The way I see it for myself is if you really need a knife you need one you can count on and I like equipment that I can count on and would rather have one knife that goes on all my adventures that when my adventuring days are over it will be my old faithful.
 
Gossman Polaris in whatever steel floats your boat. I have one in 3V. He recently had a few with S7 available. I wouldn't scoff at one in A2 either.

I also have one of his Deer Creek models. He has a few for sale on his site.

He builds a BOMBPROFF, hard use knife that I strongly recommend!
 
Get a Frost Cutlery fixed blade with steel so secret, it doesn't have a name.

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Now that I have your attention, get a CPK fixed blade.
 
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