Mountaineer I

B

barny

Joined
Jan 27, 2007
Messages
474
HI, I'm new to Chris Reeve knives and I was wondering about how the Mountaineer I would do as an outdoor/EDC knife. Things I am wondering about, handling, edge holding, resharpening, very light chopping, whittling, light batoning, and food prep.

Thanks in advance,
Eric
 
I don't have one, but I just ordered a mountaineer II because looking at the pictures I thought the handle on the mountaineer I would be a little small.
 
I have just started using one as my main outdoors blade and love it. Some find the handle a bit small/short and if I was using it for chopping and heavy work I would too. The beauty of this knife is that it is small and strong. As a slicer it excells, it is not a chopper but for most knife tasks it is fantastic.

I really like the fixed blade nature of the design - I used to carry a folder but find the fixed blade faster and more 'secure' feeling. My bush folder ( Manix ) is by no means a wimp of a blade but I find the CRK more comfortable to hold/use, as a result I pull it out more often.

I also have a Proj I for heavier bush tasks so I use the Mountaineer I for a slicer/utility use blade and leave the heavy tasks to a more substantial blade. I do not find the 'small' handle an issue at all but have smaller hands.
 
I spoke to Chris at the last SHOT Show (He is a friend of a friend and a nice guy). My life style is outdoors. We live in the mountains of Western North Carolina. For hunting, hiking, fishing and all around utility, Chris recommended the Mountainaire I. I bought one and heartily agree. In truth, I have found anything bigger than a 4" blade is really in the way except for chopping and I figure that's what an axe is for. If you don't believe it try gutting a deer with a Rambo Special.
 
The Mtn II has been my primary wilderness knife for quite a while. It performs everything you mention brillantly. It makes wood curls for starting fires like nobody's business, can carve triggers for dead fall snares, cleans fish, game, holds an edge, sharpens easily in the field and back at the shop. I've baton with it and carved fireboards...I can't say enough good about it. I carry matches and a needle in the handle which is very convienent.

I have a custom kydex sheath made with the Tek Lock clip in a high riding style which works best for me.

The only drawback (and this is no fault of the blade) is the handle...since I use the knife for both wilderness and self defense this style handle doesn't lend itself as well as a flat handled knife.

If I wasn't so concerned about it being used as a dual purpose tool (woods and self defense) I would still be using it....it will work fine for self defense and I trained with it but the CR Warrior works better for the type of work I use my primarly fixed blade for.

I still have it and it resides full time in my day pack...goes with my anywhere I travel close to home.

I'm confident you will not be disappointed.
 
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