Let’s pretend you are:

dialton

dialton

Gold Member
Joined
Jan 1, 2007
Messages
2,269
1. Not a collector but an enthusiast/user. Possibly a younger you or someone getting going but could afford what you want.
2. Not someone with a heavy accumulation of blades but you DO have the knowledge you currently have
3. You want to own a few knives that cover all you needs but not much more. Slip joint and or lock blade pocket knife and a limited number of fixed blades that you desire
This is the CPK forum so tell me what you think.
Me personally, as I age I am trimming the fat and trying to have a few really quality pieces that both trip my trigger and with an honest evaluation fill all my “perceived” needs.
Right now among other things I have a custom wharncliff slip joint, a CRK small Sebenza clip point and a Bradford guardian 3 on my belt that I am happy with and cover all “normal” needs. No plans to change that right now. I have a FK1 in the mail and WAY more fixed blades than I use.
Let’s say you feel the 3” isn’t enough knife so you go to the FK. What is the next step above that if necessary or is it indeed a knife (and not another tool) if a 4 1/2” or so blade is not enough.

I know this comes up all the time but to me it is fun knife porn thought processes that I think about all the time and now I’m interested specifically in the CPK community thoughts as I have seen several say that CPK ruined other knives for them. It isn’t limited to one brand though.
I also realize that many here (after all it’s a knife forum) shudder at this thought, are sick of hearing about it and wouldn’t dream of not having lots to choose from but what can you conceivably and realistically see a use for? I have a 9” chopper and although I have used it I have not seen a true need for it.
So, outside of the collector in you (possibly you could think outside that box for a minute) what would you choose?
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I like larger knives in the 9-12 inch blade range to do "belt knife sized" tasks more efficiently- think carving notches to make a try stick, or use as a draw knife to peel bark or shape a tool handle. They seem to be better at certain tasks than a hatchet or boys axe, but I've been disappointed when I've tried to use a 9 inch knife to split 7 inch rounds. That said I shouldn't have been using a knife for that job in the first place 😆. I've since learned that I could be happy with just my FK2 and a silky saw, even on a winter outing if there's enough dead standing wood to be had. But, if you like larger knives and plan to not pretend they replace an axe, I've enjoyed options like the BK9 and Terava Skrama 240. I haven't had the pleasure of using a CPK chopper yet but I'm really looking forward to the Light Medium Chopper (Medium Light Chopper??) because I'm thinking it will be perfect for what I like to use larger knives for.

This particular video was helpful when I was digging more into this subject a couple years ago. I like this guy's content a lot, wish he made videos more often:



TLDR; Light Medium Chopper, can't wait!
 
dialton said:
Let’s say you feel the 3” isn’t enough knife so you go to the FK. What is the next step above that if necessary or is it indeed a knife (and not another tool) if a 4 1/2” or so blade is not enough.
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If a 4-1/2 - 5" blade isn't enough, I'm reaching for my SDFK.

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dialton said:
I know this comes up all the time but to me it is fun knife porn thought processes that I think about all the time and now I’m interested specifically in the CPK community thoughts as I have seen several say that CPK ruined other knives for them.
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I think these thought experiments are fun. Also CPK has totally ruined other knives for me, I'm pretty much down to CPKs and moras.
 
UF2, FK2 and a large Sebenza would cover all my cutlery needs now and especially years ago. I was a river guide and ski patroller and slept outside for 5 or so months a year.

I spent my net worth on a Sebenza when I was 18 ($350 for a large regular I believe). My friends thought I was literally insane haha. Still do when they see my knives now

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I have a few Busse Combat and a couple of Swamp Rat RMD’s left that I have owned for many years but times change and so have I. I have listed my Basic 9 chopper twice and withdrawn it. Seems it is worth more to me than to others so that will remain my chopper. I would love it if I could discipline myself for it and one more of something (possibly the FK2) to be my fixed blades and get rid of the others but these pictures you post, oh these pictures. Bladeforums is a wonderful place but it feeds the OCD for blades fo sho. Getting outside, using what I have and get out from in front of the screen is a better option. I digress.
 
dialton said:
I have a few Busse Combat and a couple of Swamp Rat RMD’s left that I have owned for many years but times change and so have I. I have listed my Basic 9 chopper twice and withdrawn it. Seems it is worth more to me than to others so that will remain my chopper. I would love it if I could discipline myself for it and one more of something (possibly the FK2) to be my fixed blades and get rid of the others but these pictures you post, oh these pictures. Bladeforums is a wonderful place but it feeds the OCD for blades fo sho. Getting outside, using what I have and get out from in front of the screen is a better option. I digress.
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In my time here, I have been through well over 100 Busse knives (probably closer to 200 TBH), including some extraordinarily rare and very highly desired Busses. They have all been sold off save for two--a Basic 11 and a satin Battle Rat. I will be keeping and using both. I will also be keeping and using my small cadre of CPKs.

Anyway, if what you are looking for is a do-it-all kind of knife and you've decided it's going to be a Carothers, I really think you just need to decide what length blade it is that you do want and then pick a model that fits the bill. Sure, a DEK is going to have a different intent behind it's design than say the FK; just start by figuring out what your intended best use is. Also, I did a destruction test of an FK1 a few years back and I can tell you in no uncertain terms that that knife punches WAY above it's size, so you may not need quite as large a blade as you think. Of course, I am not you, but it's just something to consider.
 
Possibly another tack at it would be to describe what tasks each size range and blade style excels at.
Crossovers where 2 work fine for the same task.
The, DEK1, FK1 and the current Basic field blade are all within an inch of one another in blade length so which one is preferable all around? Things like that help folks determine where they fit in their blade lineup.
Sometimes less can be enough. Sacrilege I know 🤷‍♂️
 
dialton said:
Possibly another tack at it would be to describe what tasks each size range and blade style excels at.
Crossovers where 2 work fine for the same task.
The, DEK1, FK1 and the current Basic field blade are all within an inch of one another in blade length so which one is preferable all around? Things like that help folks determine where they fit in their blade lineup.
Sometimes less can be enough. Sacrilege I know 🤷‍♂️
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At the moment, my HDFK is my only kitchen knife. Does an admirable job for such a thick beast. There is nothing this knife can’t do.
 
dialton said:
Possibly another tack at it would be to describe what tasks each size range and blade style excels at.
Crossovers where 2 work fine for the same task.
The, DEK1, FK1 and the current Basic field blade are all within an inch of one another in blade length so which one is preferable all around? Things like that help folks determine where they fit in their blade lineup.
Sometimes less can be enough. Sacrilege I know 🤷‍♂️
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Well, you had initially asked for a CPK rec for a knife over 4.5" but if you want to bring the DEKs and Field Knives into the convo, then we're opening a whole can of worms... 🤔

I'll get the 🍿🤣
 
on_the_edge said:
In my time here, I have been through well over 100 Busse knives (probably closer to 200 TBH), including some extraordinarily rare and very highly desired Busses. They have all been sold off save for two--a Basic 11 and a satin Battle Rat. I will be keeping and using both. I will also be keeping and using my small cadre of CPKs.
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I remember you from the Busse forums for sure. I have had over 50 of them (along with a few of other brands) and am down to 7. I suppose for my tasks: in addition to my previously mentioned edc’s, a 4-5” all around user along with my basic 9 would realistically do everything I am going to do. Now to actually go to those 2 only would be a difficult move but liberating at the same time. Kind of like removing a band aid. Hurts so good.
Carothers blade shapes, handles and the thumb ramp with Jimping put them further up my design desires than what I have previously had. No doubt the performance of either brand is way above anything I would test the limits of so it’s just a matter of personal preferences.

Edit: on a side note to everyone. I am not bashing any other brands. I have enjoyed Busse and several other manufacturers products for decades but this is the CPK forum and I am mostly inquiring about them.
 
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dialton said:
I remember you from the Busse forums for sure. I have had over 50 of them (along with a few of other brands) and am down to 7. I suppose for my tasks: in addition to my previously mentioned edc’s, a 4-5” all around user along with my basic 9 would realistically do everything I am going to do. Now to actually go to those 2 only would be a difficult move but liberating at the same time. Kind of like removing a band aid. Hurts so good.
Carothers blade shapes, handles and the thumb ramp with Jimping put them further up my design desires than what I have previously had. No doubt the performance of either brand is way above anything I would test the limits of so it’s just a matter of personal preferences.

Edit: on a side note to everyone. I am not bashing any other brands. I have enjoyed Busse and several other manufacturers products for decades but this is the CPK forum and I am mostly inquiring about them.
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I try not to recommend a particular knife bc personal prefs do play a huge role in what is someone's favorite, but I will go out on a limb here and suggest that if you do not have a BFK5, I would very strongly suggest that you keep it in mind and try to grab one when Nathan makes the motherload available to the masses. Currently configured, there is no jimping on the thumb ramp, but that is always something that could be easily added after the fact if you really want that. That said, it is very early on for me to have mine, but it is an incredible knife in the 5" blade range. Heck, if we were closer, I'd let you thrash mine about and you could decide for yourself. Yes, the HDFK is an incredible knife, but it commands a price point right now that is going to hurt your wallet a whole lot more than a BFK5. And trust me, I don't think you'd feel like you were settling with a BFK5 either.
 
I'll start my answer saying that the points of separation on my favorites are so very few that it's almost impossible to say for sure what I would pick,.

Easier to say that if my house were burning down and I could only grab three it would be my original FK, my HDFK and my Light Chopper. I'd probably try and get a DEK1 and DEK2 out pinched between my butt cheeks or something.

Folders is really hard so it would be a toss up between my Scrimgeour folder and my Demko AD10, would likely slip my American Service Knife (Medford SAK) in my pocket.

As to the usefulness of a large knife question.. my Light Chopper is lighter than an axe, is 70-80% as effective (speculative) but can do so much more than an axe, so yeah, I'd grab a large blade over an axe. (I say that knowing full well there's always an RMJ in my truck :D)
 
I'd also throw in an honorable mention for a knife no one bought, no one has and no one wants.. haha, okay admittedly that's rough but said out of love because I feel it's a brilliant bush design that's just never caught on in spite of several re-launches of the knife. I have put this one through the paces as much as any fixed blade I've owned and it's an amazing all-arounder.

Vulture Equipment Works Cholera MKII

Pic of mine on IG
 
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