Light duty camp knife for small hands?

H

hariph creek

Joined
Dec 17, 2014
Messages
79
I am looking for a light duty camp knife for my wife. She is 4'-11" with proportionate small hands.
Mainly for food prep and eating. About the hardest use it will see is opening packaging and making marshmallow sticks.
She will only use it a few times a year and will not give it a thought otherwise. Hopefully after getting her used to a having a handy knife she will take an interest? Then maybe later, something nicer?

Criteria:
- 4" blade, more or less
- fixed blade
- stainless
- small synthetic grip
- light weight
- Good blade geometry (slicey)
- inexpensive, say $20-$25 max
- synthetic belt sheath
- not tacticool

A Mora Companion is kind of the default, but she is not a fan of the Scandi for food prep. She has held one and gave it an uninspired "that's ok."
Looked at the Cold Steel Canadian Belt Knife. Not a fan of the hollow grind, but it does seem well suited. For $12-$14, I can just get a new one when it is all used up. Showed her pictures, said she would try it.
A Fallkniven F1 would be about perfect IF ... it cost $100 less and had a much thinner FFG.
Maybe a sturdy 4" paring knife? Then make a sheath.

Suggestions?
 
Old Hickory 3 1/2 inch paring knife. Excelent 1095 blade.
As a plus, she can use it at home in the kitchen and the BB-Q pit.
if you need a sheath for camping use, you can find a suitable leather sheath for a 4 inch knife online for a low price.
 
afishhunter, must be stainless. She does not like or take care of my carbon blades.

retired01, yep the stainless Companion is "Plan B." Trying to stay away from the Scandi though.
 
The put a primary bevel on it and it would then essentially be a Saber ground knife.

Once it is sharpened as a "normal" knife and smaller bevel is introduced, it would be a micro bevel until it is established as a primary bevel.
-------
Just because it is a "scandi" ground knife, doesn't mean you cannot sharpen it like a "regular" knife. While it may not be a "flat ground" knife, that hasn't been asked for.
 
I could get a Forshner/Victorinox paring knife.

Oh! Hey, I could get F/V skinner and mod it into a sort of stainless Nessmuk! That might be kind of handy.
 
The 4.5" Spyderco paring knife looks interesting. I think the 6.5" might be a little big as a belt knife for a sub-five foot woman?
 
How about Buck's 673 Bucklite Max. It actually checks off every single one of your criteria. Can be had for around $20 delivered with your choice of orange or black handle. Hollow grind, so nice and slicey. Even made in USA with Buck's excellent 420HC.

I wouldn't want one for a hard use buchcraft knife, but for light duty around a camp kitchen, I think you'd be damned hard pressed to find better bang for the Buck (see what i did there?)
 
19-3ben, that is a definite candidate. I really do not like hollow ground blades. But for as little as it will be used, it should last quite awhile. Plus Buck does 420HC right (frankly they are the only company I would buy from with 420HC steel).
 
So far we have got:
- Cold Steel CBK
- Spyderco 4.5" Paring
- Buck 673
- Victorinox Fibrox Skinner/Nessmuk mod?

She needs to pick one for herself. But will not do any research. So the more choices I can give her, the better.

The Stainless Mora Companion is still "Plan B."
 
hariph creek said:
19-3ben, that is a definite candidate. I really do not like hollow ground blades. But for as little as it will be used, it should last quite awhile. Plus Buck does 420HC right (frankly they are the only company I would buy from with 420HC steel).
Click to expand...

I'm USUALLY not a fan of hollow grinds, but owning a couple Buck 110's with their hollow ground 420HC, I have to say, I'm a believer. It takes a fine edge and really does keep it well in my experience. I use my Worksharp to put a 34 degree inclusive convex edge nicely mirror polished and it will keep well. Opening packages and making marshmallow sticks, I'd bet the edge on a Buck 673 would last a lifetime.
 
Another option, though I do not own one so cannot comment specifically on the handle size: Gerber Gator Fixed Blade

4" fixed blade
420HC stainless steel though an upgraded S30V option is available
non-tacticool
lightweight
synthetic handle and belt sheath
~$30, made in Portland, OR, USA

I've been thinking about the gut-hook version, maybe modding-off the hook to leave a "slicey" FFG

gerber-gator-fixed-gut-hook-fine-06906-large.jpg


but you can also get the saber-grind version:

GB6904a.jpg
 
19-3ben said:
How about Buck's 673 Bucklite Max. It actually checks off every single one of your criteria. Can be had for around $20 delivered with your choice of orange or black handle. Hollow grind, so nice and slicey. Even made in USA with Buck's excellent 420HC.

I wouldn't want one for a hard use buchcraft knife, but for light duty around a camp kitchen, I think you'd be damned hard pressed to find better bang for the Buck (see what i did there?)
Click to expand...

For the record, the 673 is the 3.25" blade model. The 4" (which is what harsh wanted), is the 679. Still only about $25 and all other info on the knife still applies. Sorry for any confusion.
 
Yep, you are right. Marshmallow sticks is really the toughest and rarest use. Mainly eating (cutting steak) and a little food prep. I am trying to get her in the habit of having and enjoying a belt knife.
I got her hooked on SAK'S years ago, she always has and uses her Explorer.
Now she is hopefully ready to move up. If she takes to it, I will buy her something much nicer.
For as often as she asks to use my knives, she needs her own.
 
If you aren't opposed to modding, then the whole Victorinox stainless line opens up, as well as dexter-russell, Montana knife works, and all of the other commercial brands.

While the edge holding may be on par with aus8, inox or comparable.
 
I'll add my vote for the Buck 673. It is a very nice knife and I would consider the handle a medium/small size. The only downfall is the sheath, but for occasional use it should be fine. I used one for kitchen duty for a few months when staying with inlaws and it performed well. I especially like the green handled version if you can find one.
Bruce
 
Check out the rough rider rr176. Fixed blade nice wood handle crap sheath but oh well. Seriously not bad for 10-15$.
 
chiral.grolim, those are a little out of my price range. Are they ACTUALLY made in Portland? I would think these were Chinese?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top