Looking for the right knife

B

BunsOfSteel

Joined
Apr 25, 2023
Messages
38
Hello, I'm pretty new to the "Knife world" however I am an industrial designer by trade. I like to do my research before making the right purchase. I am looking for a high quality Outdoor, survival, Bushcraft knife (I am fully aware that this is very broad). I'm looking for something that I can take hiking, do some batoning for firewood with, maybe some bushcraft, and that would not be useless in a Zombie apocalypse ;). I have been given the following suggestions but am open to anything.

TRC South Pole, Fallkniven S1 Pro or X (heard nightmares about their quality and service but very well known), Lionsteel T5 or M5 CPM 3V (I'm living in europe so the 3V version exists here), Survive knives GSO 4.5/ 4.7/ 5.1, Someone suggested the Bradford guardian series but I can't seem to find much about them.

Of course I have received many suggestions for Carothers, LT Wright, and Bark River. But i'm looking for something that is actually possible to find and purchase.

This is my first high quality knife and I prefer to buy from a licensed dealer and to buy it New. i'm sure some of you can appreciate the pleasure of a brand new knife/ unboxing/ etc.

I like to purchase things that last so I'm willing to pay the price if the quality matches it.

I very much appreciate any input as people on this forum seam to have an unbelievable amount of knowledge.

Cheers
 
Lotta options out there Do you have any preferences about:
Size
Weight
Blade thickness
Carbon or stainless steel
Handle material
Type of sheath
Ease of sharpening
Price
?
 
fishface5 said:
Lotta options out there Do you have any preferences about:
Size
Weight
Blade thickness
Carbon or stainless steel
Handle material
Type of sheath
Ease of sharpening
Price
?
Click to expand...
Size: I guess under 10 inches total 5again i'm new to this so this based on what I've read is the sweet spot.

Weight: Ill use it mostly for hiking and camping So I guess not too heavy. Let's say 300g max but more towards to 200 mark

Blade thickness: I'm too uninformed as to what the right answer here is. As I will do some batoning and bushcraft I guys I need some thickness but I really have no idea how thick.

Carbon or stainless: I'm leaning towards something modern in the "supersteel" category. As a product designer I like to expérience high end innovations in materials however I can be convinced otherwise. I guess Strength and edge retention are important

Type of Sheath: This is not import at all to me and won't be a factor in my purchase. I'm really a. perfectionist so I will probably be getting a custom aftermarket sheath made for it eitherway.

Ease of Sharpening: Not too much of a factor as my trips will be one week long Max. I like to get to know the blade and learn how to sharpen even if its challenging.

Price: I'm wiling to pay whatever the price is for the right knife however i'm looking to stay more on the Production or semi custom price range. I'm not looking to spend 1000 on a custom knife as no knife is perfect and I'll probably want improvements from this purchase anyway. So maybe 400 max.. although if the right knife is cheaper i'm definetly not against the idea.

Thanks so much for getting back
 
conan11 said:
There are some survival knives for sale at the custom fixed blade knives for sale forum also.

For Sale: Fixed Blades

www.bladeforums.com www.bladeforums.com
Click to expand...
Thanks. yes i've noticed. I just don't really know what i'm looking for yet. I also have never bought a knife from a forum and I feel like I should buy from a liscensed dealer for now. Maybe i'm wrong but I take comfort int he fact that I'll have some kind of customer service and return option.

Thanks anyway
 
You can probably find what you want here on the for sale threads... Usually like new in box is available but most times you can get a used one with all the papers and box and other paraphernalia is A+ condition...
There are European members that sell here you can post a wanted to buy within Europe thread too!!
Good luck and happy hunting for your blade!!
 
CPK - BFK

carothersknives.com

5" Basic Field Knife

More Coming Fall 2023 The Basic 5" Field Knife is a stout, medium sized woods knife and general purpose work knife for tradesmen and hunters. It is based on our very popular standard Field Knife, the FK2, but it has been tweaked in order to invite some tough love from you knuckleheads who don't
carothersknives.com carothersknives.com
 
They are all good knives you've suggested. If you want to go something a little different York Knives in the UK (not sure where you are in Europe) do some lovely handmade knives in your size range and price.

Currently got aeb-L and 80crv2 knives up although they use Magnacut and other more model steels. Both the above steels well HTed are excellent outdoor hard use steels though so I wouldn't get too fixated in a steel more how good the knife is, grind, HT etc...

I'd personally take well done aeb-L over most "modern" steels, very tough, stainless, decent edge retention and easy to sharpen back to a razor edge.

If you want a certain steel such as Magnacut etc.. they'll probably make you a knife in it.
 
Last edited:
Kettleman said:
CPK - BFK

carothersknives.com

5" Basic Field Knife

More Coming Fall 2023 The Basic 5" Field Knife is a stout, medium sized woods knife and general purpose work knife for tradesmen and hunters. It is based on our very popular standard Field Knife, the FK2, but it has been tweaked in order to invite some tough love from you knuckleheads who don't
carothersknives.com carothersknives.com
Click to expand...
Yes I've seen this knife but it's never in stock. Also do you think that the grind is ok for batoning?
 
Dav1 said:
They are all good knives you've suggested. If you want to go something a little different York Knives in the UK (not sure where you are in Europe) do some lovely handmade knives in your size range and price.

Currently got aeb-L and 80crv2 knives up although they use Magnacut and other more model steels. Both the above steels well HTed are excellent outdoor hard use steels though so I wouldn't get too fixated in a steel more how good the knife is, grind, HT etc...

I'd personally take well done aeb-L over most "modern" steels, very tough, stainless, decent edge retention and easy to sharpen back to a razor edge.
Click to expand...
Appreceiate it! I'm currently in France but I'm American and have my family in Florida so I can have them send me purchases or grab them when I'm visiting. Basically I'm not limited to where the blade is. Appreciate the rec. i'll check them out
 
BunsOfSteel said:
Appreceiate it! I'm currently in France but I'm American and have my family in Florida so I can have them send me purchases or grab them when I'm visiting. Basically I'm not limited to where the blade is. Appreciate the rec. i'll check them out
Click to expand...


Then I'd probably go for one of the great US makers and have it sent over. Put "gift" on it which it will be from family 😉
 
BunsOfSteel said:
Yes I've seen this knife but it's never in stock. Also do you think that the grind is ok for batoning?
Click to expand...
The knife is an all around get it done field knife that for all intents and purposes is un-breakable. It will baton, make all the feather sticks you can use, kill your dinner, process your dinner, cut up your dinner and then dig a fighting position.
As for out of stock, they are only sold here on BF

The NEXT SALE

I'm going to "sticky" this thread so it will stay here on the top. I'll update this 1st post weekly to let you guys know what we're preparing for the weekly sale and to announce any upcoming pre-orders. Twenty 5" Basic Five Field Knives, optimized CPM Cruwear, $295 plus shipping. Friday 30th...
www.bladeforums.com www.bladeforums.com

Or

Carothers Performance Knives For Sale

Forum for the buying & selling of Carothers Performance Knives
www.bladeforums.com www.bladeforums.com

It’s worth the hunt!
 
I bet Shane45-1911 will be able to offer more advice and options. He will also share some pictures so that he can make guys like me feel jealous.
 
With your background and specifics, id recommend customs, too.
Lots of Great makers here, and There.

You are going to anyhow. Eventually....haha.


You Will probably buy Many knives, before you find The One.
Maybe we can narrow it down for you.

Me personally I'd think about handle design, handle materials, blade shape, thickness, and sheaths...... Don't worry too much about steels.
Most steels are impressive. I like more than I dislike.

All of us have different opinions on these.
 
For a practical camp knife I can highly recommend looking at JARS. Very ergonomic + they are well ground for slicing. Advantages being that they are European based and wont break the bank as much as some others. I wouldn't get too hung up on super steels. They are great but you need to know how to maintain & sharpen them, which can be a problem if youre not experienced. Steels like N690 are also easier to touch up in the field. If you really want Magnacut, maybe look at UG Tools.
 
Kettleman said:
The knife is an all around get it done field knife that for all intents and purposes is un-breakable. It will baton, make all the feather sticks you can use, kill your dinner, process your dinner, cut up your dinner and then dig a fighting position.
As for out of stock, they are only sold here on BF

The NEXT SALE

I'm going to "sticky" this thread so it will stay here on the top. I'll update this 1st post weekly to let you guys know what we're preparing for the weekly sale and to announce any upcoming pre-orders. Twenty 5" Basic Five Field Knives, optimized CPM Cruwear, $295 plus shipping. Friday 30th...
www.bladeforums.com www.bladeforums.com

Or

Carothers Performance Knives For Sale

Forum for the buying & selling of Carothers Performance Knives
www.bladeforums.com www.bladeforums.com

It’s worth the hunt!
Click to expand...
Thanks so much! Let the hunting beggin
 
TC said:
How about starting out with a Mora Bushcraft (/Black) - it will do all the things you list and runs around 40 euros. Use it for a while to see what your like or dislike about it before spending bigger bucks blindly.
Click to expand...
This exact recommandation was given to me by y survival course instructor and is exactly what I did. Now the Industrial designer/ consumer in me wants something "high performance"
 
Crag the Brewer said:
With your background and specifics, id recommend customs, too.
Lots of Great makers here, and There.

You are going to anyhow. Eventually....haha.


You Will probably buy Many knives, before you find The One.
Maybe we can narrow it down for you.

Me personally I'd think about handle design, handle materials, blade shape, thickness, and sheaths...... Don't worry too much about steels.
Most steels are impressive. I like more than I dislike.

All of us have different opinions on these.
Click to expand...
Haha. I'm assuming it takes one to know one. I am without a doubt eventually going to go custom. I think that I just prefer to get something as good as possible that is factory made and build from that.
 
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