Recommendation? Large Fixed Blade Knife Suggestion

It's not custom, but considering their outstanding reputation for build quality and warranty, the Spyderco Lum Darn Dao is basically a mini machete, with a great sheath, and cpm-154 which is respectably tough as far as stainless goes... nice thick stock too...

Also, check out @gollik knives here on the forum... has his own sub-forum, does a lot of work with Elmax, might be able to get something made to your liking...
 
Motega said:
I'm not sure what backpacking has to do with anything. It may not sound or feel or look as cool, but taking down grass-like brush is a job for something like a machete, and getting hardwood out of the way like cutting shooting lanes for hunting is a tool for ratcheting pruning shears.
I like a large-ish blade vertical (tip up) with MOLLE or at least lots of belt options on my right backpack strap for instant use, I like the Gerber fixed blade (I have the predecessor to the Strongarm, I forget the name but I think LMF II or something like that) in 420HC. The sheath has a sharpening rod and it never comes loose yet easily draws. I can and do have lots of more expensive options, but I can't think of a single time I wished it was a different steel...and I have a good sharpener so it's not about being easy to sharpen.
Few people outside these forums have any idea how much knives cost, so it's not like it's about flexing either.
It was given to me by a friend now deceased and not something I'd buy myself since it's partially serrated and black coated and doesn't have "super steel", but I'm sure glad he gave it to me. No qualms about beating it up and it hasn't let me down yet.

If you want something beautiful and enjoy chasing the latest and best I'm right there with you, but practically speaking it's just as good as my knives that cost 10X as much.

I don't think you can do a fancy leather sheath in the same configuration and access it as easily. I just looked it up and they are now going for $175 which is like 3X the MSRP. I wouldn't hesitate to pick up the Gerber Strongarm and spend the other $400 on more knives : )
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Thank you very much for your suggestions! I am very sorry to hear about your friend, I lost a good friend to COVID a few weeks ago.
 
I don’t think you’d regret a CPK chopper in whatever flavor you can find for 500ish. It isn’t just the 3V, it’s the handle design, the blade geometry, the very good sheaths included with most.
 
CPK for the win! Delta 3v is considered nearly stainless. In fact, I've had less issues with corrosion on D3V than with the S30v on my Spydercos!

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Thanks for the shout out. I have a large hand and a halfer in AEB-L out for waterjet cutting as we speak. Was planning to keep it for myself, but then again, I always tell myself that until it's done and somebody wants it.... Then I have to go and make myself another.... and then another, etc.

It's going to be an AEB-L version of this:
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I call it the Barax (courtesy of Ruari Ruari for the suggestion, and short for Barong Seax, it's former less interesting name). I designed it to have elements of the seax (blade shape and tip style) and the barong (bird's beak handle), and it is by far my favorite large knife design to use and carry in the woods. The seax blade profile makes it a mean trail clearing knife, less likely to slip off when slashing at branches.

I've made them with varying specs in thicknesses ranging from 3/32" up to 1/4", and depending on what you want it to do, it's formidable in each range. The large handle makes it versatile, and even the heavier ones were limber enough to carve with. The one I have coming is going to be .118", or just a hair under 1/8". The blade is a bit long for what you're after though.
 
My preference is always to try a knife from a custom maker if possible because there are so many excellent custom makers and that often can be done locally or from the makers that frequent this place. Personally, i used to do "extreme" canoeing and kayaking trips with the main camp knife first being a Cold Steel Trailmaster but much prefer a Busse Steelheart or BattleMistress, except for kitchen. Also really good are Fehrmans and three nice ones were on sale here not long ago. I would prefer a coated blade. If you're like most of us you will try a few eventually.
 
Ron Sabbagh said:
you sure you want a blade length of 8-10"? Or overall 10”?
That's sounds like an awful big blade for a backpacking/hiking knife.
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It may be an awful big blade for a backpacking/hiking knife if everything is normal on the trip. Unfortunately no one can guarantee that. Emergency and/or survival situations happen in a forest wilderness and everywhere else.

My primary wilderness knife has a 10" blade with a finger choil. I haven't found a better tool that can do it all, from chopping wood to delicate camp tasks, while keeping the weight and bulk to a minimum. I also usually carry a smaller fixed blade and multi-tool, but if I could only carry one edged tool it would definitely be the 10" blade.

Of course, if someone has a vehicle or pack animal to carry their equipment for them then they can take a hatchet, axe, saw, or whatever other cutting tool they want.
 
I thought of this thread looking on some auction (ahem) site from a custom Polish maker... called it GOLIAT 2 D2 6MM MICARTA TD

Also, no one brought up Busse yet? The Battle Mistress is kinda a go to choice for a lot of folks who want to "go big"...
 
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