In Search of My First Fixed Blade

If you like the izula check out White River. Their backpacker/ caper knives are really nice. They have larger models as well. Good stainless steel. Usa made.
 
White River Backpacker Pro. Love this little knife and it comes with a very functional kydex sheath that you can wear either vertical or horizontal on your belt.
 
22-rimfire said:
White River Backpacker Pro. Love this little knife and it comes with a very functional kydex sheath that you can wear either vertical or horizontal on your belt.
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I really like that you have both options with the sheath. I will definitely look into it!
 
I really wasn't trying to be a smart-ass, tho I might have come across that way. You're not a noob to knives, just the EDC fixed blade kind. At the small end, under 5" or so, fixed blade performance is generally pretty equal to folders of the same general size and steels, just less worry about breakage, for about 98.3% of knife users. You're not really going to be chopping with a 4 or 5 inch knife, if you have a better choice. And if you work on a farm, you will more than likely have a better choice. As a work knife, especially on a farm, I'd take a fixed blade over a folder any day. You probably want stainless, for the obvious reasons. And because farm knives can get exposed to crap(literally) and chemicals that most city knives would never experience, stainless is just smart. It's a little over your budget at about $250, but look at the White River Knives Sendero Classic.
 
Oh, and by the time this thread has run its course, you'll have so many good suggestions for tools that do the exact same thing(they just look different doing it), that in the end it's going to come down to the question, what do YOU like? What I like doesn't matter if it's YOUR money that's getting spent!
 
justjed said:
I really wasn't trying to be a smart-ass, tho I might have come across that way. You're not a noob to knives, just the EDC fixed blade kind. At the small end, under 5" or so, fixed blade performance is generally pretty equal to folders of the same general size and steels, just less worry about breakage, for about 98.3% of knife users. You're not really going to be chopping with a 4 or 5 inch knife, if you have a better choice. And if you work on a farm, you will more than likely have a better choice. As a work knife, especially on a farm, I'd take a fixed blade over a folder any day. You probably want stainless, for the obvious reasons. And because farm knives can get exposed to crap(literally) and chemicals that most city knives would never experience, stainless is just smart. It's a little over your budget at about $250, but look at the White River Knives Sendero Classic.
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No worries. Yeah stainless is definitely preferable for me as well as a decent blade steel. White Mountain seems to be a recurring theme on here so I'll definitely check them out. Appreciate the info.
 
justjed said:
Oh, and by the time this thread has run its course, you'll have so many good suggestions for tools that do the exact same thing(they just look different doing it), that in the end it's going to come down to the question, what do YOU like? What I like doesn't matter if it's YOUR money that's getting spent!
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Yes absolutely. At the end of the day it's personal preference. So far I am loving these suggestions though. I'm gonna have to make a trip into town (about an hour away) and get some in hand.
 
007Airman said:
Take a look at the cold steel master hunter in 3v steel
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I was reading the [big online 2 day shipping retailer] reviews for that thing and a ton of people were saying the blade micro-chipped, does Cold Steel have heat treat issues with 3v?
 
MegaLARP said:
I was reading the [big online 2 day shipping retailer] reviews for that thing and a ton of people were saying the blade micro-chipped, does Cold Steel have heat treat issues with 3v?
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Had not heard that but if a lot of info suggests it then opt for the San mai version, always good reviews on San mai.
 
I like Condor for heavy outside yard work, really good sheath also. Many styles and sizes to choose from, and you could get 3 or 4 different ones to try out for $200. I have the mini bushlore, kephart, khukri machete and small scout axe. Just my experience because I am not a big fixed blade fan
 
If your use is primarily "farm or field use", a larger fixed blade (say a 5" blade) would be useful but still pretty easy to carry. But in town wear, I prefer a smaller fixed blade. I don't really like to stick out carrying a knife in an urban environment and I live in one. The BK-14 (1095 carbon steel) is another good one, but I would add after market handles. Just don't care for a fixed blade either handles wrapped in paracord or bare steel. As mentioned, I really like the Backpacker Pro (more than the BK-14). Not many dealers stock White River knives as I am told that they can't keep up with demand.

I understand the folding knife experience. I grew up in the country and never really felt I needed a fixed blade knife at all. To this day, if I need to use a knife, without thinking, I reach into my pocket and it's usually a SAK although I have other folders that get used.

Been downsizing my folders and carrying a small Vic Tinker for the last few months (watch pocket carry). I think this will nudge me toward using a fixed blade in the woods as previously most of my folders had a 3" to 3.25" blade and the fixed blade use just seldom came up. My go to smaller fixed blade is the White River these days. My others in this size range tend to get left at home.
 
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if you want a smaller fixed, then a plain mora companion will be excellent for hard use and the best bang for your dollar, great starting point for fixed and it will never outlive its usefulness as a spare/pack/utility tool

if you want an old style traditional heavier duty and longer blade, try the recent kabar becker kephart
 
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Esee 4, bk16, bradford guardian 4 and ruike jager f118.
I these are the 4 inch I rotate. I have a guardian 3 and izula but need to get kydex sheaths.
Lt wright has nice ones. Esee also has the hm handles. Bk16 handles feel comftorble compared to esee handles but the sheath on esee 4 works iwb.
 
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