More Opinions on Small Fixed Blade

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buckeyeman

Joined
Feb 25, 2006
Messages
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Looking for a small fixed blade for hunting / camping in the $50-$70 Price Range. I've Narrowed it down to the following choices. WOuld love anyone's opinioin.

1) Spydercon Bill Moran FB01 (VG-10).
2) Cold Steel Master Hunter (Carbon V).
3) Benchmade Fixed Griptilian (154CM).
4) ????? Any other recommendations?
 
For your list, I'd take the Spyderco Moran any day.

For a suggestion, have you considered Frosts/Erikson Mora knives? The Mora 2000 as well as the SWAK are both very nice knives, and quite reasonable in price. Can be found at:www.ragweedforge.com. Nice knives, although some people have trouble with the sheaths. You can get a new one from Normark PLUS the cost of the knife (or 2 perhaps) for your price range.
 
Another vote for the Spyderco Moran - I like Spyderco's VG10 a great deal, knife is light weight and has a good Kydex sheath. Since I prefer drop points I would personnally choose the FB02, but then that's just me.

Also second SpyderJon's suggestion of a Mora 2000, a lot of knife for $30; sheath is kind of so-so, but it works OK. Also have to mention: on the ragweedforge site is the model 545 mora from Eriksson .... IMO the best $10 knife I've ever used, same Sandvik 12C27M steel as the Mora 2000, great ergonomic handle and a very useable plastic sheath.
 
From your list, the Spyderco Moran. Check out the Benchmade Outbounder with D2 steel. I owned the 440C version produced until last year. A hair above your price range for brick and mortar, right in your price range for the net.
 
I would add the Fallkniven F1 to your list. And then that's what I'd pick
 
The Master Hunter is a good knife for a production and I know a lot of guys that have used that one in the deer camp and talked very highly of it.

Even though they are out of your price range you may want to look at some of the great value, good price customs on the market. There are some fine knives being made out there for a very good price considering all the work and skill going into them.

Look at Gene Ingram or Charles May knives as they make some well built smaller fixed blades for just $135 or so in some cases.

http://geneingramknives.blademakers.com/
http://charlesmayknives.blademakers.com/

Also, don't discount other customs for good prices like these here at Pack River knives. http://www.packriverknives.com/

In my opinion any of these customs are some high value for the bucks spent.

For a little more you could have a Dozier small fixed blade also which is also a knife for a lifetime. http://www.dozierknives.com/

STR
 
You many want to take a look at www.grecoknives.com and especially at the small knives at the bottom of the page. I will tell you that I own three of his knives and am most impressed by all three of them. Further, when you give him a call to discuss an order, he is a gentleman of the old school and a real pleasure with whom to deal.
 
I second Bark River--I'd take the A2 over any of those other 3 steels, you can get almost any handle you want, a variety of blade shapes and sizes that you can't hurt, and a lifetime guarantee no matter what you do to the knife.

Did I mention they're wicked sharp and easy to sharpen?

Daniel
 
Just posted on another thread about this maker. Good choice if you're ok with carbon steel, and discoloration.
 
I would take the Moran over the Master Hunter, never used a Fixed Grip, so I can’t say how it compares to the other two.


Other good choices:

Spyderco Temperance (recently discontinued) – great knife with an excellent sheath (the Moran’s sheath is similar).

SOG Revolvers – feature integral saw blades.

Grohmann DH Russell knives – very well made knives, which deserve better sheaths.

Fallkniven F1 – some similarity to the Master Hunter, but I consider the F1 a step up.

Foster Fears Survival Knife – Excellent knife that features removable G10 scales (in a choice of colors) and comes with an excellent custom sheath from On Scene Tactical (costs a little more than your budget, but worth it).
 
redhawk44p said:
Yet another vote for the Spyderco Moran. The Ontario D2 RAT 3 is also excellent.
Click to expand...

I'm glad you mentioned the RAT 3. I just picked up two of them and am in the process (a laborious one at that!) of reprofiling the edge angle and getting it ready to tackle the wilds of my backyard. It's a very comfortable knife from the initial handling. No sharp edges and the choil is nice for choking up on the blade. I'm looking forward to really using it, but dang that D2 is tough to grind!
 
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