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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
I'm not sure what knife to buy...
- Thread starter BMCGear
- Start date
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- Feb 3, 2013
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- 172
I have a BOB, but I rarely use it. It's a solid knife but something about it I don't like. Maybe it's the scale. It did come with a whistle!
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Knives I have used most while camping are the Esee Junglas, Esee 6, Bravo II, Bravo I, and a PM2. A Bravo 1.5 might be a great option as well.
Nice reflector man! How big is the mirror?
Oh, and nice knives too...
TheJeepster
BANNED
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Jeeps Rule!
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Oh you are so wrong here
. Becker handles are the most ergonomic handles I've ever held. I just got a BK16 and this thing is awesome. It'd make a perfect camp knife for you. Just look at all the threads on it here and you'll see why everyone loves it. The handles are very ergonomic (might be a bit thin if you have large hands. Mine are small so I don't have a problem). The blade came very sharp, but I touched it up on the Sharpmaker and now it's really dang sharp. It's a great design. The sheath might seem cheap but it's surprisingly nice. The knife is also perfect for customization/mods if you're into that sort of thing. Beckers are great knives. Definitely look into them.- Joined
- May 30, 2014
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Camp knife: ESEE 4, 5, or 6
Machete: Ontario machete. It's sold w/ and without sheath.
Machete: Ontario machete. It's sold w/ and without sheath.
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- Jan 26, 2012
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- 29,050
Thanks! It is a 10". That's my other hobby. And people think knives can get pricey......
It's nice when the two hobbies meet up though.
For a general outdoor knife a 5 inch blade is too big, as far as my experience, and many more besides me, goes. A knife of around 3 3/4 to 4 inches is optimal and you can do with shorter. However, a camp knife in the 6 inch range can be helpful for meat processing. Camp chores requiring chopping and batoning are best handled by a light hatchet like the GB Small Hatchet or Gerber Bear Grylls Survival Hatchet, which can double as a knife, and are lighter than big knives. Larger chopping and splitting are best accomplished by larger hatchets and axes. If you are camping in a truck, there is unlimited potential. If you are hiking in, weight is paramount.
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- Jul 30, 2009
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In the 5" range, I had a ESEE-6 but sold it because I liked my Ratmandus better. More comfortable for me and I didn't need the slightly longer reach of the ESEE6. If you want a (pretty much) stainless RMD, the Infidu was released just last month in a ganzaa. You may still be able to order one from the shop or should see a few up on the exchange soon.
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- Feb 7, 2014
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- 11,432
I'm not in the one blade does it all camp...but when packing/camping for a few days at a time, you don't always want to carry a small knife, medium knife, large knife, and machete.
For a machete, I've tried a bunch of them; and - hands down - my favorite is the Tramontina. You can't beat the price (mine is the 20", and I paid $12.99 for it brand new). For heavier work, I like the Ontario HD (22") - though it is unusable (DULL) on arrival.
Personally, I feel that a 3-4" blade is invaluable. There are numerous choices, starting with the Mora line. I'm not a huge fan of Mora knives, myself; but it's hard to argue with the value per dollar. I'd rather carry my Kellam Wolverine or Enzo Trapper. Depending on my plans, I may skip the small fixed blade in favor of a folder
After that, it really depends on the size ranges you like, and what you want to do with them.
For a machete, I've tried a bunch of them; and - hands down - my favorite is the Tramontina. You can't beat the price (mine is the 20", and I paid $12.99 for it brand new). For heavier work, I like the Ontario HD (22") - though it is unusable (DULL) on arrival.
Personally, I feel that a 3-4" blade is invaluable. There are numerous choices, starting with the Mora line. I'm not a huge fan of Mora knives, myself; but it's hard to argue with the value per dollar. I'd rather carry my Kellam Wolverine or Enzo Trapper. Depending on my plans, I may skip the small fixed blade in favor of a folder
After that, it really depends on the size ranges you like, and what you want to do with them.
Knives I have used most while camping are the Esee Junglas, Esee 6, Bravo II, Bravo I, and a PM2. A Bravo 1.5 might be a great option as well.
Which Bark River is that?
- Joined
- Sep 8, 2014
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- 547
For me - Esee 4 with a set of TKC scales for added comfort. It's a great knife and the warranty is over the top...shoot your knife with a rifle and they'll send you a new one (and probably call you a dick amongst themselves. lol).
I have three Esee 4's (clip point serrated with TKC scales, clip point serrated with the Esee factory scales, and a plain edge with TKC scales). Another upside to ESEE is that you can find aftermarket stuff like scales and sheathing. I believe you can find stuff for the Beckers too, though.
I have three Esee 4's (clip point serrated with TKC scales, clip point serrated with the Esee factory scales, and a plain edge with TKC scales). Another upside to ESEE is that you can find aftermarket stuff like scales and sheathing. I believe you can find stuff for the Beckers too, though.
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The small one is a bravo I. The big one is a bravo II.
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- Apr 3, 2001
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- 27,068
Very cool! I'm an amateur astronomer myself. Made my own 4" reflector when I was 11 years old. Ground the mirror myself, (hours and hours of polishing against a blank set on top of a barrel - grind, grind, move to the right 1 step. Grind, grind, move to the right one step, repeat for days on end - literally) sent it off to be silvered, constructed the body - the whole 9 yards. I still have it and the thing is a light bucket for it's size! It'll knock your eyes out looking at the moon.
And hey I love the Barkies! I've only had a couple but never used them before I traded em off. Almost unbelievable because A2 is one if my absolute favorite steels. How does their A2 hold up? I have several other knives in that steel, but no Bark Rivers anymore.
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Esee: All business, unfortunately they have rather flat handles
TOPS: Getting more to business lately, used to be mostly ninja tactical operator designs
Bark River: Superb design, not so sure about the rest
Habilis: wat
Becker: They are cheaper knives, ka-bar makes them, the handles are quite comfortable but very hard and slippery, also the butt is way too large
Swamp Rat: Ratmandu looks killer!
It is
TOPS: Getting more to business lately, used to be mostly ninja tactical operator designs
Bark River: Superb design, not so sure about the rest
Habilis: wat
Becker: They are cheaper knives, ka-bar makes them, the handles are quite comfortable but very hard and slippery, also the butt is way too large
Swamp Rat: Ratmandu looks killer!
It is
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Do you think you have bought a full tang knife?
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- Jan 26, 2012
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- 29,050
Very cool about your scope!
BRKTs A2 does great but it will rust. A patina is a must on any exposed part of the blade. My Bravo II handle rusted like crazy until I finally put a patina on it. Blade never rusted though. I have a custom kydex sheath for it. I love the grinds on these two BRKTs. They eat wood up!
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- Feb 3, 2013
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- 172
Oooh? I must obtain a Bark River ASAP! That one pictured above is inspiring.
Anything which is easy to sharpen and holds an edge a little longer than usual
Would be top of the list.
Anything which is easy to wield, doesn't weigh a ton
Is top in the list.
Anything which slices, cuts and chops with ease,
Has got to be in that list too.
That prescribes just about every knife I've bought.
And I have long suspected that I might be chasing some utopian dream knife.
So eventually, it became apparent that I was using my victorinox
more so than any other knife on a regular basis.
I guess some of us just aren't in such thick woods as we had imagined.
I discovered the hatched to address just such a probability.
Would be top of the list.
Anything which is easy to wield, doesn't weigh a ton
Is top in the list.
Anything which slices, cuts and chops with ease,
Has got to be in that list too.
That prescribes just about every knife I've bought.
And I have long suspected that I might be chasing some utopian dream knife.
So eventually, it became apparent that I was using my victorinox
more so than any other knife on a regular basis.
I guess some of us just aren't in such thick woods as we had imagined.
I discovered the hatched to address just such a probability.