Looking for a knife for my girlfriend.

I

ItalianStallion303

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Mar 22, 2015
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Hey guys! My girlfriend's birthday is coming up and I thought I'd buy her a good knife. She loves to hike, go on canoe trips and spends a lot of time at her cabin. So this knife would need to be fairly durable and require little maitenance. She prefers fixed blades and loves the authentic wooden look of a handle, but she also doesn't mind a leather or kraton handle.

So basically, what are your guys' recommendations for a good outdoors, fixed blade knife which would be used on hiking and canoeing trips? I would like to also get your guys' recommendations on good wooden handled fixed blades.

Thanks in advance!
 
I know it's a lot to ask, how much maitenance and how durable would a leather handle be/take? I have been eyeing up the Kabar Mark 1 leather or kraton handled knife.
 
You can try either one of these below, ( + an ESEE Candiru, or ESEE Izula II). Convex edges are really easy to maintain once she gets the hang of it. The ESEE 1095 is also easy to sharpen and if she keeps the coating intact, she'll have minimal maintenance chores. Don't discount a Victorinox SAK. Alox ages beautifully.

The ESEE's are not Traditionals, however. You'll find wood scales on any Bark River knife.

Bark River Mini Fox River (top knife)...

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Bark River Woodland Special

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ItalianStallion303 said:
I know it's a lot to ask, how much maitenance and how durable would a leather handle be/take? I have been eyeing up the Kabar Mark 1 leather or kraton handled knife.
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Add hot wax to leather handles and never soak them in water and you'll be fine.
 
If it's going on canoe trips why not get her a canoe knife. Case or maybe GEC's little Indian girl Canoe.
 
ItalianStallion303 said:
I know it's a lot to ask, how much maitenance and how durable would a leather handle be/take? I have been eyeing up the Kabar Mark 1 leather or kraton handled knife.
Click to expand...

Leather handled USN Mk 1 would be a good gift, sure to do all she needs it to. But she may get a lot of mileage out of a Becker BK-15. Oops, not traditional. OK, stick with the Mk 1.

Zieg
 
Please limit the oopses. That is what the edit button is for.
 
If you don't have a particular style in mind, I'd honestly suggest you check out the Fixed Blade section of the Maker's Market here. You'll see a lot of different styles and materials, and it should at least help you narrow down what you want a little. More likely, you'll have a list of knives that would work perfectly. ;)

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php/754-For-Sale-Fixed-Blades

The great thing about buying from the market here is that it's super easy to research the makers. Just do a search for them in the GB&U section and if they've been around for any amount of time there's bound to be feedback from people that have dealt with them before.
 
how about the buck 102 woodsman very light in hand, small and nimble.
I like mine just received it today in the mail.

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you could try Hess Knives as well, a lot of nice traditional styles, and either 1095, or 52-100 steel, convex ground, at very good prices.
 
A knife for canoeing is subject to the same constraints as a pilot’s knife. It cannot be too long.

The original US Air Force Pilot’s knife was six inches long. The flyboys shortened it to five inches, where it stayed ever since. The Swedish Pilot Survival Knife is a four inch Fallkniven.

Those are your constraints. Long enough to be useful, short enough wear sitting down. You can accomplish a lot with a four to five inch blade.

My recommendation? Take a look at the Grohmann Boat Knife.
 
Condor Kephart, you may have to reprofile the edge for her, although I have heard their edges have gotten much better. My favorite design at a great price. If she likes it, you can get a custom Kephart for her. I would also get her a SAK and if she likes that, get her a more traditional slipjoint down the road.

If you want to spend a lot right out the gate, go for a Bark River Kephart and a Great Eastern canoe, or Case canoe, or Queen canoe, you get the idea. Or you could go for a fixed blade from John Kiedaisch, Matt Liesnewski etc. The next level would be Scott Gossman, Andy Roy etc. The sky is the limit and you're still under 300.00 with those names. 4" woodcraft knives, with full flat convex grinds.
 
I'm surprised nobody's said Mora yet. But if she doesn't want a plastic handle, she'd be limited to the old flattened barrel wood handle. I like Helle for their more familiar handle shapes, and their reasonable (for Norwegian) prices.
I'd stay with stainless, to limit the maintenance. I agree with the above that you don't want it too long, and I would add that you don't want it too thick either, if she's going to be cutting rather than digging or prying.
Have you browsed the fixed blade thread here?
 
An Opinel No. 6 is a smaller blade with a low cost. Minimal investment in case she dislikes it. The Spyderco Enuff series looks interesting. No shortage of choices. May it be asked how much you're willing to spend?
 
fällkniven or an enzo trapper. good combination of traditional (especially the enzo) and modern (both support modern steels) at a decent price.
 
For the price point, Hess Knives, Battle Horse Knives and L T Wright knives are great values.
 
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