Knife for future wife.

J

JamesofArc

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Apr 19, 2016
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So I do a lot of hiking and camping and I have found what works for me and I buy under 100 dollar knives for me but I am going to start adding my girlfriend and future wife to come with me and I need to start getting her outdoors equipment. Right now we car camp but soon we will be doing some ATV camping deep in the woods.

Her main job will be fire making and food preparation and maybe some minor game cleaning.

I want to get her a quality fixed blade belt knife for her to carry and I want it to be nice with a nice leather sheath.

What would be a good knife for her. I don't want custom, I want something nice for her like a Falkniven, Bark River or maybe something by Bob Dozier. It must be slim for food prepping but thick enough to make fires. I want quality and a nice looking knife for her to be proud to wear it and I want it to be her favorite knife.

What do you guys suggest?
 
Take a look at Enzo knives. They have some great fixed blades; very well made and very usable.

Rich
 
I need to add that the steel must be good enough for heavy use with minimal maintance for up to a week at a time while we are camping.
 
Did you have a size range in mind? You would have a better idea of what she's be comfortable carrying than we would.
 
Does your fiancee currently engage in these outdoor activities or is this something new that you plan to introduce her to? Ah, never mind - I see that you car camp now but are planning on starting more adventurous expeditions, and this will be her first time. So she doesn't already have preferences or experience in making such a decision for herself, I take it.

You could get her a custom knife from Buck if you wanted. Design it yourself on their web site.
 
JamesofArc said:
What would be a good knife for her. I don't want custom, I want something nice for her like a Falkniven, Bark River or maybe something by Bob Dozier.
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You answered your question. These are all great choices but am partial toward Dozier. You can also save money initially and get a

"Mora Sweden Pro S Stainless Steel Fixed Blade Black Blue Handle Knife 01506".

Made in Sweden, buy for less than $15. If upgrade later to Dozier, can keep as spare. Doesn't have leather sheath though, a waterproof rubber one.

 
Don't be surprised or disappointed if she doesn't share your enthusiasm for knives. Most women are not really into knives like men are.

Pay close attention to what knives she reaches for in the kitchen. Many women will use only one knife while in the kitchen because of size, weight, or design ergonomics. Also, let her use your knife, at first. More than once. After a while, ask her what she likes/dislikes about yours. That will give you a good place to start.

For an actual knife, may I suggest the Boker Field Butcher. It is a great field knife aimed at food prep and dressing game but should work well for all your needs.

EDIT: Make sure you get her a small folder to go with her fixed blade. :)
 
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Jonnygomes said:
How about a Fallkniven F1, Benchmade 162, Bark River Bravo 1. These are some pretty good knives.
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I own the Benchmade 162. A very well made knife but, the grip does take some getting used to. And, the leather sheath just..... how do I say this.... it sucks.
 
My wife and I really like the Spyderco Sprig for camping, or kitchen, food prep.

Light weight, good slicer, S90v steel, very nice f&f and plenty strong enough to make feather sticks or any other light camp chore. We pair it with an old case kitchen knife. (again, light weight)

Comes with a well fitted sheath. Add a tek-lok and you can clip it to your belt or pack.

The 940 is there for size comparison.
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You need to get her something you will want if she ends up not enjoying it...haha.

I would suggest something functional, durable, controlable with a large dab of eye catching appeal. Follow the knife maker fixed blade section and look at Childress, Daado, Hard Edge, Austin Goldman, Kosa_PL and others. All use great steel and have different design across the size range and there are many out there right now to look at or buy. A ~$100 (some are less, some are more) knife from any of them will perform just as well as a commercial fixed blade, but the detail in make and materials will be a BIG upgrade. If you find a maker's style you like, remember to check the individual sales section for people reselling their knives. Plenty are unused as well. Also the WTB section is great for a specific knife from a specific maker or you can custom order.

For my wife I bought a Fiddleback custom Kephart in Flame Box Elder. For my 2 girls Fiddleback Handymen in various handles with custom sheaths (dragon scale, owl feather). When they don't use them I do...........no harm done.
 
I'd suggest a Bradford Guardian4 or a Fiddleback production Bushfinger. I would also suggest you make a list of the final few knives you think she'd like and then show her pictures of them and let her make the final decision. Unless it's a surprise, I'm sure she'll be happier with it if she at least helped pick it out.
 
How big a fixed blade? Chopper or Bushcraft?

I recommend watching Dutch Bushcraft knives on YouTube. You will laugh cry and see lots of knife testing and Bushcrafting. They test a lot of knives.

I'd suggest something in 3v steel. I wouldn't recommend Bark River despite there (and other's) enthusiasm for them, just read the recent Bark River thread for why.

Also don't forget there are some really good makers here that can make way better knives than any mass production models.
 
Does she need it to be pretty or do you? ;)

My wife isn't really into knives beyond how they work for her so her favorite hobby knife isn't one of my high end super steel knives. It's a svord mini peasant. She loves that knife.

Point being that higher end doesn't always mean higher functionality. My advice would be to start her out on a knife that everyone knows works and have HER pick out a nicer knife later based off of what she likes or doesn't like. If she even wants a different one. You could be forcing her to use a poorer knife functionally because it's "nice" and was a gift rather then something she could really learn on. Get her a mora. My .02.
 
if your future wife doesnt already have her own knives and gear for hiking and camping etc she likely aint gonna like your hobbys and activities once married. unless ya get real lucky and maybe you will?

so id buy what you like as it will likely end up being yours eventually or go cheaper so when the interest fades you didnt spend a bunch. your call though.
 
I get that you want your girlfriend to have something expensive, but is she really going to appreciate or notice the difference in a higher end steel? Does she have experience using/maintaining knives? Metallurgical or metalworking background? Especially since you admittedly "get by" on lower end knives yourself, why is she going to ascribe a higher value to a higher priced knife?

Why not get a $10 Ontario butcher knife, put an edge on it you like, maybe knock the scales off and make a set of nice wood ones, make or buy a leather sheath for it, and give that a whirl first? Something that you put work into will probably go farther with her than a more expensive knife.

Failing that, if you just want to spend money, I like the Bark River Aurora's alot, in all shapes and forms. The Aurora 2 in 3V is my current favorite of them.

Hope this helps some.
 
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