Looking for first light survival knife!

Hey Dave, welcome to the forum, you'll have alot of fun here. Some of my favorite knives are Bark Rivers. Check out thier website or A.G. Russell (just shop around before you buy from russell - they are a little pricey, but thier service is top-notch).

http://www.barkriverknifetool.com/deluxegame/index.html

Happy hunting(knife hunting) and don't be afraid to spend some money on a knife that catches your eye. You probably won't regret it.
 
I agree on the mora. I have the Eriksson clippers 711/746 and the 2000 and prefer the clipper. I think i prefer the stainiless. Buy one (or a few)first and abuse it before you buy something else. They are all of 11 or 13.5 at ragweedforge plus $5 shipping.

They are light, great blade design, surprisingly good handles, easy to sharpen, and cheap. :-)

And you can kydex sheath for $20 for clipper.
 
The Mora knives are OK. I also like the USAF survival knife, the Marbles Plainsman, and the Buck Vanguard.
 
DavezFever said:
What do you meen by SAK and folder? Mabye ill look into a military type knife, like you said. I was looking into multitools as well. Was looking into getting a leatherman. What would you guys suggest for multitools?
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Multi Tool: Leatherman Wave if you like the one handed opening function like I do (Or a Charge if you have the $$.) If not, the Victorinox Swiss Tool Spirit S is fantastic quality (like all Victorinox, probobly even better than Leatherman) and owners swear by them. I'm not a fan of the Gerbers. Some like the SOG because of the extra leverage on the pliers.

And I agree with posts here - dont count out a good SAK (Swiss Army Knife). Victorinox and Wenger. A thousand possibilities there. I prefer multitools, but to each his own and I often carry both.

As for folders (Folding Knives) I can recommend Opinel for a very cheap excellent knife. A little better probobly is Spiderco but I dont like the looks. A million possibilities here.

I carry either an Opinel #6 (dont spend more than $14 shipped) or a Victorinox Tourist or a Buck 110 along with my Leatherman Wave.

Hope that helps
 
Wow alot of choices in knives. I have no idea which one to get now. Im thinking about getting some moras to practice with, but i really like some of the more expensive ones, hell mabye ill just get both :) Also are there any cheap urban survival knives? That have the bottum handle of the knife for breaking windows or that type of thing. Loving this forum you guys are great!
 
Another vote for the Mora. An Opinel #9 should be attainable for under $12. A machete with a 12" blade would work for you. Ontario makes them for around $15.
 
I have a Fallkniven F1, S1, & Mora 2000. If we are talking about actual survival situations I feel much more comfortable having the F1 or S1 due to the quality of construction, materials, full tang, thickness, etc. when I am out in the wilderness. The kydex sheath is also much more bombproof than the plastic Mora sheath.

The Mora is easy for (even) me to sharpen and along with the low investment I am more likely to experiment and practice with it.

I am not highly experienced in the knife world so take my comments lightly.
 
The RAT5 has a skull crusher/window smasher, its a great blade, looks a little bit tactical but not out of place in the woods too.
 
I agree with everyone about the moras,even though their a $10 knife they will cut with or somtimes even above alot of the more expensive knives.Spend the small amount and try one, most likely you will and if not it would still be a good backup knife. Same for the saks and opinels not the newest or most expensive but a tool that does what it's intended to do and does it well.:thumbup: :thumbup:
 
I have to say over the years I've pucrchased alot of knives in the 50 -100 dollar range, I know that's not expensive but for me it is...I still have most of them floating around but what I've been usuing in the woods despite the dufflebag in my closet full of various knives is a stainkess mora clipper, an ontario 12 ich machete and a vic fieldmaster sak total price for all 3 $56 bucks and it is a trio that is hard to beat...my edc is my sak and an opinel #7
 
If you've been happy up to now with a SAK then a Mora will probably work fine for your first fixed blade.

The more remote and isolated the area you hike/camp in the "more knife" you should carry in addition to the SAK. The Mora would not be the best choice knife to dig with or hammer with, or cut 3" saplings for a shelter, for example. If you frequent more remote areas you can augment your Mora with a "chopper" like one of the Ontario/Ranger choices or carry a larger "all-in-one" knife in the 5"-7" range. Lots of choices here.
 
If you'd like something a little more aesthetically pleasing than a mora, I'd recommend something from Bark River Knife and Tool. They have superbly made knives in a variety of sizes, many near your price limit. I have a Mini Canadian, which may be smaller than you'd want. I'd also suggest a Grohmann #1 or #4 as a good all-purpose knife. Be sure to get the Flat Grind version.

In multitools, I think the Victorinox Swisstool line is the best. I carry a Spirit most days and have a regular Swisstool for heavier use. Leatherman tools have become a bit too gimicky in recent years, although I still have (and like) an original Wave.
 
I like the Mora knives as well. I have two that I use quite a bit. The Eriksson Mora 2000 and the Frost Mora 760, Swedish Army Knife (SwAK). Here they are, dress in their new On/Scene Tactical kydex sheaths.

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The Mora 2000 with my favorite Victorinox EDC.
P1020787.jpg
 
:eek: I cant beleive I forgot about barkriver, just didnt come to mind. They make some very nice knives, prices can be up there, but they are certainly worth it.
 
One of my favorite places here at BF is the Makers area, fixed blades. Prices vary from $60 up to.... I love seeing the artistic abilities of the regular makers over there. Watch for a while and you'll get an idea of which makers come in around your price range and keep an eye out for their posts. GL Drew is one of my favorites and his knives are highly rated by those who buy them. He intends his knioves to be used so he prices them accordingly. I own 5 of them now.
 
My recommendations have already been well covered - Moras (and other Nordics), F1, Buck 192, and Grohmanns 1, 3, and 4 (I much prefer the flat grind). Barkies are great, but try to handle the model you want if possible - their "fit" varies a great deal between models. For a first FB I'd go with a smaller "cutter" (4-6") rather than a big chopper, but I'm old school (okay, just old) and use an axe.
 
Great recommendations everyone. I was thinking of asking a similar question myself before I found this thread. A few of you have mentioned the Opinels for folders. I had one of these and carried it for a while I loved it for the most part, but I did notice one drawback. Whenever it got hot and humid and I started to sweat it could become rather hard to open, because the wood expanded and pinched down on the blade I guess. It was a great blade tho. I just wouldn't carry one in my pocket, and take more care than usual to keep it dry.

-Sal
 
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