Knife suggestion for sister...

Rumble

Rumble

Joined
May 10, 2001
Messages
853
Hi folks,

Need some brainstorming...
sister is going to Europe; backpacking for at least 3 months, alone. She will check in at least one piece of luggage since she can't take nail clippers into the cabin of an aircraft so airline security is not an issue. She's not a knife person but realizes that she will need one. So, here are the requirements:

- fixed blade
- 3.5" to 5" blade
- fits small to medium hands (average Asian female)
- grippy, secure handle/scales, maybe with finger notch
- good corrosion resistance (perhaps coated blade will do)
- easy to sharpen with a flat diamond hone
- under US$100
- serrations are optional

She's already getting a SAK Hunter II from me but will
need something to double for heavier use and perhaps SD.

What do you think?

Cheers!

Burton
 
an FRN Delica or Merlin. They should be legal anywhere a lockblade is legal (under 3" for both). They're light weight and should fit small hands well. If she's not going to be sharpening it herself the Spyder edge might be good. The Delica was also made in blue FRN (instead of black) for a while, you might still find one around. Good luck.

Frank

Oops, just saw the sharpening requirement, plain egde Delica would be easier to sharpen on a flat stone than the hawkbill Merlin.
 
How about The Mouse by Spyderco?

Blade-Tech has them now on sale for $64.95!!

The scales are smooth (you want textured I think) but other than that you won't believe the quality of this knife. I bought one for my wife a year ago and it still doesn't require sharpening. VG-10 steel is sweeeeeet!!!

Very, very nice knife. Especially for a small handed person.

--The Raptor--
 
I agree the SE Delica would be a great pick. However, there may be a larger question. How will she be traveling? If she is flying, which I assume is the case since you are on the BC side of Canada, will she be able to get the knife on the plane? I don't know if knives are removed from checked luggage that will be in the hole or just luggage that will be in the cabin area of the plane. You may want to find this out. It would be a shame if she gets to Europe and finds that her knife is gone. If that is the case she may have to wait and buy one in Europe.
 
Are you confident that your specs won't get her into trouble? My impression was that Europe tends toward shorter blade limits than the US.

Given that concern, I would like to suggest something a little different... Get her a Spyderco S.P.O.T. neck knife (the micarta version in VG-10).

spot.jpg


It is a strange-looking beast, but the S.P.O.T. is light, easy to carry, tough, and simple. That grip makes it impossible to slip and allows you to use it in ways you couldn't manage with a much larger traditionally-handled blade. The blade shape is great for all sorts of utility cutting, but can become a fearsome weapon if necessary. Finally, I doubt a sub-2" blade will get her into trouble in too many places.

--Bob Q
 
So far so good! Thanks!

I forgot that she could probably get away with a neck knife of some kind...The Spot seems like a good one or maybe a .

What I should have added was that I'm looking for fixed blade suggestions. She'll have the SAK for smaller, sheeple friendly uses but a fixed blade would be nice if she's bouncing around the countryside (alone).

I know that there might be some legal issues but I'm just looking for ideas; anything goes for now.

She'll be flying and, I'm assuming, using the trains in Europe. No matter if she carries a knife or not, she'll be checking in luggage anyways (just cuz of the silly nail clippers and whatnot).

What else you guys got? Throw 'em out here!

Thanks!

Burton
 
What kind of 'heavier use' are you talking about?

Legal issues aside, when you're carrying your life on your back every ounce has to pay for itself, are you sure a fixed blade is what she needs?

Unless I expected a lot of heavy use, I'd probably stick with a heavy duty folder, Endura/Delica VG10 is great, and easy to sharpen, or AFCK/710. If you're dead set on a FB, Fallkniven make some good functional knives, or you can get a Spyderco Perrin for about $80 online, looks strong and practical, though I've never handled one.
 
I would recommend the Spyderco Fred Perrin bowie .

fixed blade
Blade length is 5"
nice, secure, and comfortable FRN handle w/ Kraton inserts, with pronounced finger choil and textured spine
VG-10 steel--good corrosion resistance, easy to sharpen, and can take a razor sharp edge
Only $84.99 at 1sks website!!!

Hope this helps. ;)
 
If SD isn't that important a sub 3" Frost Mora would probably do.
 
I've heard good things about the Al Mar SERE Operator fixed blade, although it's right at the edge of your limit with a 5" blade. The Camillus Talon in 154CM is about $100 from 1sks and a bit smaller than the SERE. I have a Camillus Arclite in D2 that I got from AG Russell, it's a very nice small fixed blade, but with a recurve, requires a bit of sharpening experience in order to get a nice edge. There's the Benchmade Nimravus cub, which I have seen favorable reviews of. The Becker Campanion is another small fixed blade I've seen good reviews on, as well as anything from Fallkniven. Marbles has lots of fixed blades in the size range that you're looking at, and their traditional style could help to prevent unwanted attention from authorities. I've heard good things about their new steel, although I have no experience with it myself. I also just read several reviews about the new SOG X-42 Field Knife and the Field Pup; everything I've seen about both of these has been good and they're well under $100 too.

While I've only ever actually used the Arclite, if you look around here on the forums you'll probably be able to find reviews of nearly all the knives I have listed. I hope this helps.
 
You state that she isn't a knife person, but state the blade should be easily sharpened on a flat stone. Unless somebody will be with her who knows how to use a bench stone, she would probably be better off with at least a partially serrated blade. They stay sharp longer than a plain edge in most situations, but do have their limitations as far as wood cutting etc. If she doesn't know how to use a stone, and tries to sharpen her own knife, she will probably be like most people here who tried a stone for the first time. Her blade will be duller than before she "sharpened" it.

Mike
 
http://www.ragweedforge.com/SwedishKnifeCatalog.html the mora 2000 is what you want amazingly sharp out of the box and easy to sharpen for regular people, comes in a nice secure sheath, as close to rustproof as you can find, it doesnt look like a weapon, the handle is a rubber covered plastic. A great knife for the price and is she breaks or loses it you not out 50+ bux.
 
Since I am a very petite woman who has extra small hands, and my prefered knife is a fixed blade and not folders, my suggestion is your sister get a BUCK VANGUARD DROP POINT and the handles are available in two different materials. cost around 65.00 you can find them on ebay for 30.00

I bought the first one and loved it so much, I went and bought another. The drop point blade is my favorite type, one reason is that I personally believe it to be the most versatile of all, it can be used for all of the normal knife tasks and it preforms well. It fits my hands extremely well, I don't recommend anything that has a serrated edge, these are not user friendly if you've small hands, as I learned from experimenting with a various number of serrated blades and I always had a difficult time, quite often my hands would start hurting.
 
no offense, but backpacking alone through Europe alone is not a smart idea... and damn near suicidal if you're a woman.

Well, it's my opinion anyway...

Yes, it's been done and done safely, but skydivers have also survived malfunctioning chutes... I certainly would not do it myself, nor let my sister do it...
 
I'll second Lady Colt re the Vanguard's utility. I love mine, and it has served me very well while in the woods. It has cleaned many a deer and fish, and it has helped build plenty of campfires and shelters. It was bought at Wal-Mart for $39 several years ago. Razor sharp out of the box. Again, I can't stress too much the need for your sister to learn how to sharpen her knife on a bench stone prior to needing to do it for real, alone in the woods. Might suggest she carry a small steel to keep it sharp longer.

Mike
 
Take a look at the Fallkniven F1. It is a lot of knife for the money. At about 4" with a full tang blade and high quality corrosion resistant VG10 steel. The non- complicated shaped rubber handle material will provide a secure grip in all conditions and will allow for many hand sizes to fit. It is big enough for just about all backpacking needs and is not flashy looking if that is a consideration. It can be had for about $60- $70 to start with. But probably at about $50 on the secondary market.

Nakano
 
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