Looking for a budget camping/EDC fixed blade.

Moras are great knives to figure out what you like in a knife.
Classic, 511 or companion are all great.
I’m sure their other models are great too but i haven’t tried them all personally yet.
 
chalby said:
Depends on what you are using. Most people who get into "bushcraft" seem to use a ferro rod as far as striking a spark to start a fire. They work equally well with stainless.
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Not always. I've used some cheaper stainless blades that would throw barely throw sparks no matter what...
 
Arathol said:
Not always. I've used some cheaper stainless blades that would throw barely throw sparks no matter what...
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If the object you are using has an edge, then it will throw sparks off a ferro rod. You can use the jagged edge off a baked beans can. I would guess the knife you were using had a rounded spine or something if you struggled to get sparks. Carbon/chromium content is completely irrelevant when using a ferro rod.
 
chalby said:
If the object you are using has an edge, then it will throw sparks off a ferro rod. You can use the jagged edge off a baked beans can. I would guess the knife you were using had a rounded spine or something if you struggled to get sparks. Carbon/chromium content is completely irrelevant when using a ferro rod.
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sharp edge works, carbon or stainless, usually the back of the spine to save damage to the edge. As stated above, the spine might have been rounded off so it would not have a sharp spine, usually that is why there are knives with 90% spines. Or the steel may be too soft on the spine.
 
Have the Brisa Bobtail 80, it is a nice small knife, though the scales are a bit too smooth. Also own a 511 and HD mora, both have held up to what I've put them through using them around the farm. Though if you want something different Joker, ESEE, and Becker are great options. Recently got the ESEE 3 in S35VN and like it, still haven't really got to use it much.
 
I am certainly in the Mora camp, too. Unlike so many other knives that are built with an eye for "cool" design or for today's requirement of perceived duty (rather than based on actual) they kill it. Missing from C Cajun Carry 's post was what TYPE of camping he is going to be doing. Car camping? Overnight? 3-4 nights out? 10 days out? Will their be hunting to supplement the meals requiring game prep or just dehydrated bag food? Distance hiking included?

For about 15 years my pack was always ready, and I carried a variety of knives. In the end, back to Mora. I started with the 2000, then one of my buddies liked it so much I gave to him. A few years back I bought one of the Kansbol. Lightweight, affordable, a good sheath (a poly "clicker" or pouch), a hard edge for ferro strike, good stainless that didn't rust. Also, in a pinch it could be used in the kitchen. Love the offset grind that makes the tip more "slicey" but the first 2/3s of the edge is thick enough for some light chopping and splitting.

And it even comes in orange so if I drop it in the water when doing a wet trip at in the grass at the end of the day(twilight when I always seem to be setting up my camp) it is easier to find than all the green/black/gray stuff.

Link to authorized vendor: https://tinyurl.com/yem44pny
 
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midnight flyer said:
I am certainly in the Mora camp, too. Unlike so many other knives that are built with an eye for "cool" design or for today's requirement of perceived duty (rather than based on actual) they kill it. Missing from C Cajun Carry 's post was what TYPE of camping he is going to be doing. Car camping? Overnight? 3-4 nights out? 10 days out? Will their be hunting to supplement the meals requiring game prep or just dehydrated bag food? Distance hiking included?

For about 15 years my pack was always ready, and I carried a variety of knives. In the end, back to Mora. I started with the 2000, then one of my buddies liked it so much I gave to him. A few years back I bought one of the Kansbol. Lightweight, affordable, great sheath (not a poly "clicker" or pouch), a hard edge for ferro strike, good stainless that didn't rust. Also, in a pinch it could be used in the kitchen. Love the offset grind that makes the tip more "slicey" but the first 2/3s of the edge is thick enough for some light chopping and splitting.

And it even comes in orange so if I drop it in the water when doing a wet trip of in the grass at the end of the day it is easier to find than all the green/black/gray stuff.

Link to authorized vendor: https://tinyurl.com/yem44pny
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I appreciate the reply. Most of my camping is done out of a canoe, and usually 2-3 day trips. We go down a river and camp on the banks. No hunting involved but we do try to catch and cook fish. I have a tacklebox that fits a small filet knife, so the new knife wouldn't need to clean any animals.

I am definitely going to pick up a Mora. I like the look of the Kansbol, and I hadn't really considered that model. Would the grind make it hard to sharpen? I typically sharpen with an angled system (Worksharp Precision Adjust).
 
Start with a bunch of inexpensive knives to figure out what blade profile and thickness works for you. Then use both carbon steel and stainless.

Everybody has different age, skill, strength and acceptable levels of maintenance and carry weight, as well as frequency of knife loss out in the woods.

Finding what works for you is a process of self discovery.

Once you know yourself better you can have a knife made or confidently purchase a more expensive knife.
 
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ESEE 4 with contoured canvas scales in 1095. Better grip than the G10, not overly big but uber tough and easy to sharpen/maintain and nice simple sheath. Shouldn't need anything out of the box. Mora Black is a pretty darn good knife for the money too on the lower budget. Simple but effective.
 
Dav1 said:
Another vote for the Ruike Jager. Ruikes heat treat of 14c28n is good and an excellent underappreciated steel; easy to sharpen and very tough. Or the Terava Jaripukko, great sheath, good tough blade. Mine has taken everything I've thrown at it including batoning thick dried/seasoned wood.

Although I'd not buy another Terava product again due to their lack of support for the UK market (they won't ship). It's a great blade but a shite company.
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The Ruike Jager is a lot of knife for $70. It is also much more comfortable in hand than I expected it to be. The proud tang is nicely rounded. The scales are good. It's also generally resistant to the elements. The Sandvik 14C28N not only has excellent resistance to corrosion, it's one of the toughest stainless blade steels.

The sheath is decent and that can matter a lot for budget fixed blades. I've really come to enjoy the rotatable belt clip. It can lock into eight different orientations with a little tab release. It has adjustable tension but tends to wear at that point when tight. It has held up for the years I've had it but I have been thinking about an upgrade to actual Kydex from RK Cutom Kydex.

pVJBHIv.jpg
 
Another vote for the Ruike Jager. Pretty much bullet-proof. Their heat treatment of 14C28N is quite good. I've carried one of their P108 folders pretty much every day for about 3 years. No rust, even in Oklahoma summers, even with only minimal care. Easy to sharpen, easy to keep that way. Maybe not the best edge holding, but above average for a budget steel. I don't have one, yet. Buuuuuut, there's a gun show next weekend, and I know the distributor will be there. So, probably won't be long...

Or, you might check out the Civivi Tamashii. A Japanese inspired practical tactical. I have the Micarta/black blade version, and another green G10 with uncoated blade on order. I like this knife! D2, but seems to be GOOD D2, with a nice toothy edge . A good Kydex sheath is provided, with a T-Clip. Order a second T-clip($5ish), pirate the hardware, and use all 4 screws to lock the T-clip to the sheath. It's possible to catch the sheath on something, and break the clip, if only 2 screws are used.
 
midnight flyer said:
I am certainly in the Mora camp, too. Unlike so many other knives that are built with an eye for "cool" design or for today's requirement of perceived duty (rather than based on actual) they kill it. Missing from C Cajun Carry 's post was what TYPE of camping he is going to be doing. Car camping? Overnight? 3-4 nights out? 10 days out? Will their be hunting to supplement the meals requiring game prep or just dehydrated bag food? Distance hiking included?

For about 15 years my pack was always ready, and I carried a variety of knives. In the end, back to Mora. I started with the 2000, then one of my buddies liked it so much I gave to him. A few years back I bought one of the Kansbol. Lightweight, affordable, a good sheath (a poly "clicker" or pouch), a hard edge for ferro strike, good stainless that didn't rust. Also, in a pinch it could be used in the kitchen. Love the offset grind that makes the tip more "slicey" but the first 2/3s of the edge is thick enough for some light chopping and splitting.

And it even comes in orange so if I drop it in the water when doing a wet trip at in the grass at the end of the day(twilight when I always seem to be setting up my camp) it is easier to find than all the green/black/gray stuff.

Link to authorized vendor: https://tinyurl.com/yem44pny
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Is the kansbol full tang? It looks nice
 
Arathol said:
This review shows the tang construction.
About 2/3 partial tang with overmolded polypropylene handle....
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Which is honestly fine most of the time. Even the hultafors heavy duty doesn't have a full tang.

And even Gary gas mask couldn't kill it.

Now a kransbol would probably snap a bit quicker. But it is thinner and slices better. So if you are not trying to cut steel poles with it. It shouldn't matter.
 
Chronovore said:
The Ruike Jager is a lot of knife for $70. It is also much more comfortable in hand than I expected it to be. The proud tang is nicely rounded. The scales are good. It's also generally resistant to the elements. The Sandvik 14C28N not only has excellent resistance to corrosion, it's one of the toughest stainless blade steels.

The sheath is decent and that can matter a lot for budget fixed blades. I've really come to enjoy the rotatable belt clip. It can lock into eight different orientations with a little tab release. It has adjustable tension but tends to wear at that point when tight. It has held up for the years I've had it but I have been thinking about an upgrade to actual Kydex from RK Cutom Kydex.

pVJBHIv.jpg
Click to expand...
Nice and eye-catching stunning look.
 
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