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Logical next knife?

D

Dubins

Joined
Mar 20, 2011
Messages
84
So in the month I've started purchasing and using knives I've amassed 3 thus far. A buck 119, a falkniven f1 with a custom kydex sheath, and a PM2 that I carry everyday. My issue is what to get now! Every time I touch my iPad I'm looking at bushcraft oriented knives yet I have a great setup going with the f1. Should I add a bigger blade to my collection first? All I know is I need more knives so what would you guys suggest to someone at the beginning of their collection?
 
As far as smaller blades go, I think a Becker BK24 would be a great addition to what you have so far.
if you want to have a more powerful chopper I highly recommend a BK7.
 
Add a machete or something to your setup. Condor makes some really nice(and affordable) ones, so look at what they have to offer.
 
You got a good thing going with the F1. Next knife would be what you want! Personally I would check out the customs on here....plenty of nice blades being made. But it's a matter of preference. Think about what you like vs don't like about the F1 and include those factors in your next knife purchase!
 
Also depends if you want it for collecting or using. Where you live, what you might use it for etc
 
My question is, and the one I think is most important to any collector or enthusiast to ask is: What do you really want?

If you like "Bushcraft" marketed knives, go for one. There are certainly more good ones than bad ones in my experience, especially compared to "tactical" or "Survival" marketed knives. If you already have an F1, you own what many here consider a great knife for bushcrafting, granted, but if you're interested in collecting knives, no need to let the fact you own one type of knife stop you from buying more of that type, quite the contrary. Many times, it is the only way to refine your tastes and find out what you truly look for in a knife. Just look at all the members here who buy a CRK, Hinderer, and a Strider just to see which they like best. It's what it's all about for some of us. Grab a Bark River, Koster, or Spyderco Bushcraft and see how they stack up. You can even buy a kit or blade blank and make your own.

If you feel you would like a big knife, again I say go for it! Especially if you have a place or task to really use a chopper, you may find it the most enjoyable type of knife to own. Many here collect just choppers, and Busse fans are in no short supply. I recommend something like the Rodent 9, ESEE Jungalas, a Condor Golok, or SURVIVE GSO-10. These run the gamut of materials, geometry, and price.

If you like your PM2 especially, go for more folders, especially Spydercos. You may end up a connoisseur of folding knives and not rest until you have sampled every production company, mid-tech operation, and eventually as many custom makers as you can find. I recommend looking at the Southard if you really like your PM2, it has equal or better quality, a relatively uncommon "super steel" blade, and a different opening and locking mechanism in a similarly-sized package. There's also ZT, for overbuilt-type folders, Benchmade for their Axis, and Kershaw for their lower-tier lineup that has some knives that showcase features usually only found in higher-priced knives. Of course, all of these companies may do each of these things, this is just an overview. There's also traditionals a la Case and GEC, if you'd like to sample them.

Lastly, my advice is to look at your current knives and ask what features you like or don't like about them, or wish they had. This will lead you on your quest for the "Grail" knife. Maybe you'd like different handle material on your F1? Grab a BRKT Gunny and see what you think of their Exotic woods, or a SURVIVE! GSO-4.1 to check out M390 steel in a fixed blade. Wish your PM2 had a more convenient locking mechanism? Go find a Benchmade 710 and see about the AXIS lock. You may even find you don't need any other knives and that what you have is all you need, though I doubt that's a factor in this equation.
 
As for folders, Benchmade makes great knives and so does Spyderco. I would recommend looking at the Benchmade Rukus, a Blackwood design. Also a Bob Lum design in Benchmade or Spyderco.
 
Hi Dub,

Wow, that was quite a excellent response by CM Bushman. I think you have the start of a nice collection. I too agree with the poster who mentioned a Machete. They are (mostly) inexpensive, come in all shapes and sizes and (at least for me here in Maine) a lot of fun to use in the woods. That being said, I noticed straight away what I think is missing from your early collection. Start researching this and you'll be going crazy (like me) in no time. Try finding a nice fixed blade......a small EDC fixed blade. Say something with a OAL of no more than 7" and a blade of no more than say 3". I have been trying to find the perfect EDC with around a 4" handle as I have XXL hands. This search alone has keep me crazy busy. The quest continues. Good luck in your quest.

Regards,

HARDBALL
 
Thanks for the responses guys! Great write up cm! Hardball, if I kept track of the hours I spent researching and looking at knives online I would probably be upset with myself when I saw the total haha. I'll keep all this in mind when I'm picking out my next blade. I love my PM2 and use it multiple times a day for small tasks but there just something raw and primitive about holding a solid piece of steel in your hand, that I find extremely appealing! I've been looking at the Survive GSO series and some of the BHK offerings recently. I've held a few ESEE's and really like the feel of micarta (the 5 was a bit too massive for my taste) but I'll start looking into some larger blades and some small fixed edc's.

Not saying the esee 5 is too large I was just stating that for a 5 inch blade it's got a bit more girth and weight than I'm looking for
 
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You need to add some sort of SAK into that group. Next to that id say pick up a cheapo MORA

I partner my F1 with a mora when fishing or camping and it works great
 
I think you need a SAK in there, a Cadet sounds good if you ask me. Or a Rally to put on your keychain those things are just useful. Beyond that with how you're going I try to get good quality budget knives so you can experiment with different styles and find the kind of knife you like most and then go high end there. Wish I could say your quest will then be over, but it probably won't. So rinse and repeat.
 
Sebenza! If you are serious about collecting modern knives, you will eventually have to get one. Why waste the time, just get one now.
 
As Cm Bushman stated, a Condor Parang, or Golok would be quite useful for general woods bumming/craft. I believe Ray Mears was a big proponent of the Parang, but I could be wrong. I've got the Golok, and it chops all out of proportion to it's size, it'll surprise you. Maybe a quality folding saw, like a Bahco, or Silky could be of some use to you, I know they're not near as exciting as a chopper, but I've come to appreciate them.
 
He's BAAAAAAaaaaack!! I just learned that one of the best survival knife makers, who has been out and kept from doing what he does best, which is making survival and bush craft knives, for almost a year due to a very severe injury while forging and multiple surgeries around that injury, has now healed fully and has been cleared by his physician to pick up where he left off and continue once again to making knives. Mr. Andrew Clifford, known for his awesome knife making and sheath making work, is now back up and running.

Andy is well known for his expert attention to detail, his high quality and tireless work, and also for his own designs. One of Andy's most famous knife making designs of all is his Full Round Tang type knife style. He came up with this idea ears ago. Andy described this design of his as having a round handle as if the knife was hollow handled, However, looks can surely be deceiving, even in the knife making world. This design, as Andy described it, is a knife that is full tang, but has a solid round handle.

Andy said he came up with the full round tang knife design, which he also describes as being one of the hardest, most difficult designs he makes, after a US soldier stationed in Iraq contacted him and asked Andy to make him a solid knife with a round, para cord wrapped handle, that was almost indestructible and had the strength of a tank! The soldier also wanted it to have as close to perfect balance and as straight a blade as Andy could get. When he was finally done, Andy sent this knife to the US soldier who sent Andy many compliments and also recommended Andy's work to his military buddies. Andy's famous new full round tang style survival knife saw and endured much of the battle in Iraq.

About 9 years later and after the soldier returned to the USA to his home, he decided to be kind enough and pass his ACK knife along to one very lucky winner in Ebay. I became that winner and proud new owner of this prestigious handmade Andrew Clifford survival knife and I myself have now had the knife for going on 3 years. And with me is where this knife is going to stay!! The knife sports a blade just over 8inches and about 3/ 16th inches thick. It has the famous Rambo style split serrations and then the raker teeth towards the tip of the blade. The blade material is a very high quality 40C steel, as well as the guard and handle. The handle again is round but is solid.

Prior to Andy's injury, he had begun his own line and style of Sly I and Sly II survival knives as well as his own line of serrated bush craft knives. Pics of these new ACK knife styles are coming soon. I had the opportunity to view the first pics of these two new ACK knife styles, and all I can say is MMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMM Nice!

Welcome back Andrew Clifford Knives. if you'd like to know more about this Incredible knife/ sheath maker and his work, and/ or if you'd like to place your order for a new knife or a new sheath, or even both, or if you'd just like to read all about Andy and his shop, please just go to www.andrewcliffordknives.com. And while you are there, be sure to send a message to Andy, and welcome him back from his long, hard road to recovery from serious injury. Just be sure to give Andy a warm and sincere Welcome Back Andy!!!!!
 
If you want something smaller than the esee 5, I love my spyderco buscraft. I use one in conjunction with my esee 6. It is an awesome pairing. If you appreciate a good folder I carry the manix 2 at work, and it is possibly the best made folding knife I have ever used.

As far as a machete, that depends on where you live. I live up in canada, and a machete is underclassed due to the hard and knotty wood we have up here. Perhaps a decent axe is in order. I have a small, very well used gerber, and the 24 inch estwing.

Either way, the best part of knife collecting is that whatever you get...it won't be your last!
 
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