My First Fixed-Blade

EDCeeker

EDCeeker

Joined
Apr 9, 2006
Messages
732
So, in a couple of weekends I'll be headed for a weekend at a friend's cabin out in the woods. Used to go camping and the like regularly, but it's been years & years. This seems to be a good excuse... er... worthy occasion for the purchase of a good belt knife.

Now I'd been considering what to get in the way of fixed blades back in June/July. Then I got distracted by other things and kind of walked away from knife issues for a bit. But, according to my notes, I'd narrowed my fixed-blade choices down to:
  • Spyderco Kumo
  • Fallkniven S1 Forrest Knife
  • Swamp Rat Camp Tramp
  • SOG Hunter Revolver
Now the Kumo, I must admit, I want more because it just plain looks cool than anything else. The SOG looks like a Neat Idea, and I think I'd like to have one some day, but I'm thinkin' (from my recollections of comments posted here) that either the S1 or the Camp Tramp would be a better way to go for my first, and, for a time, only fixed-blade.

Unfortunately, the Camp Tramp has been discontinued. (Why'd they do that? ISTR that was an exceedingly popular knife.) I went to Swamp Rat's web site and there's no product there anymore? What's up with that?

So, Swamp Rat apparently having put themselves out of contention, and having re-read Cliff's test/review of the S1, now I'm leaning toward the Fallkniven A1. My biggest question at this point is how comfortably such a knife carries as opposed to the 1" shorter S1? Is it likely to get in my way when sitting in normal chairs, etc.? Better a knife you're carrying than a "better" one you're not.
 
You should give Bark River a look as well--they have a huge variety of knives suited for your needs.

Cheers,
Daniel
 
Knives that size are not going to be a problem when sitting if they are properly sheathed.

I second the recommendation for BRKT.

Another knife in the 6" range that you might consider is the Busse SJ-TAC. A few sold here just recently. You would have to find them on the sale forums or Bladebay, however, since they're out of production right now.
 
I will 2nd the bark river line for a woods knife. I have two and they are awesome knives. THey are also up in your neck of the woods, pun intended.
 
4" Kershaw Echo
5" Sog NW Ranger
6" Timberline Zambezi or Fallkniven A1
7" Becker BK7
 
Yet another recommendation for Bark River. I'd get one of theirs before any of the models on your list. Great knives.
 
Thanks for the replies, everybody!

Bark River certainly has some nice knives. And it sure would be nice to buy a product made in my home state. Can somebody identify for me a BRKT knife with properties similar to that of the Fallkniven A1? Other than the BRTK Sandstorm, I haven't been able to find such a beast.

I'm looking for something that's a bit of a chopper.

Btw: Whatever I choose, it'll likely be accompanied by my Spyderco Delica, CRKT S2, Leatherman or SAK. (Haven't decided.)
 
For light chopping the S1 is too small.It's an exelent cutter/slicer though.My personal woods edc is a Ka-bar D2 extreme in a Spec-ops survival sheath.On my other hip I cary an S1 or an F1 depending on what I'm doing.

My recomendation is for a Ka-bar impact D2 fighter or D2 spear point.
Their not too long,D2 is a tough steel,micarta handles are both nice looking and tough, and their not too expensive.Just my .02$(cdn)
 
Bark River does make a Golok, but I haven't seen one for sale. I own the Sandstorm. It is a tad light for chopping, but it is a great knife for camp chores and batoning. Great size and the sheath it comes with is pretty good too.

Mike Stewart puts a wicked sharp convex grind on the Barkies. The advantage for me is that in the woods I just take my leather belt off, strop a couple of times, and the edge comes back like new. Great knives.
 
savagesicslayer said:
For light chopping the S1 is too small.It's an exelent cutter/slicer though.
Click to expand...
That's why I'm considering the A1, instead.

savagesicslayer said:
My personal woods edc is a Ka-bar D2 extreme in a Spec-ops survival sheath.
...
My recomendation is for a Ka-bar impact D2 fighter or D2 spear point.
Their not too long,D2 is a tough steel,micarta handles are both nice looking and tough, and their not too expensive.Just my .02$(cdn)
Click to expand...
Thanks for the suggestion, but... I'd like to get a survival/hunting/utility knife that doesn't look like a "combat" knife. That's one of the things I like about the A1: Is is a survival/combat knife, but it doesn't look like one. The other thing is: I'm already wondering if a knife with a 6" blade might not be approaching the "unweildy" stage for all-day, around the camp/cabin (as well as in the woods) carry, much-less one with a 7" blade. But again: Thanks for the input.
 
I have the Fallkniven A1(older model) and also an A2 (8"blade). I don't think you can ever go wrong by getting a Fallkniven knife. I have several and like them all.
As for how does it carry, I have EDC'd both the A1(which is not piggybacked with a F1) and the A2. If you get the "dangler" sheath you will have no problems with sitting or getting in and out of a vehicle. I really like the way a "dangler" sheath just gets the knife out or your way when it needs it.

Go for the Fallknive, but be warned it will be hard to get just one!!!

Ciao 4now
Ron
:eek:
 
Timing might not work out for you but there are several knifemakers on BF that would have good sheath knives for you.

Nick at NWA, Ray Laconio, G L Drew, Derek Goodson to mention a few.
 
Just in case you hadn't seen the new Doug Ritter RSK Mk3 ... it is the new big brother of the legendary Rittergrip:

4gs0krc.jpg


4.5 inch long, 0.140 inch thick semi-custom S30V blade with full tang
G-10 composite machined handle w/ lanyard hole
9.1 inches overall
5.7 ounces
Built by Benchmade
Ballistic nylon sheath with ABS liner
$165 (and a portion of the price goes to not-for-profit equipped.org)

Much more information at http://www.equipped.org/rsk_mk3.htm
Only available for sale at http://www.aeromedix.com
 
I like the Bark River recommendations. I've read nothing but good things about them. I also like Glockman's recommendation of Cold Steel's Carbon V models. Finally, I'd look at the Ontario RAT models. I'd look at the RAT3, RAT5 and TAK. I've been buying them from DLT Trading but they're available from many sources.
 
JurT said:
From that list of yours I would buy on the sale forums a Camp Tramp. Also consider other Rat models and consider Busse.
Click to expand...
Well, I checked the sale sections, searching on "Camp Tramp.". Of the first five or six threads I checked (For Sale, Production, Individual), everything was sold. (I sure wish that when the sale was done, sellers would amend their subjects to include the word "SOLD".) The Camp Tramp was the only SW model in which I was interested. As for Busse: IIRC, they're kinda pricy, are they not? Looking at Busse Combat's home page, I see two 10"... machetes? Not what I'm looking for.

Thanks for the suggestions, however.
 
SpearZ said:
Timing might not work out for you but there are several knifemakers on BF that would have good sheath knives for you.
Click to expand...
Timing, and probably cost. Timing in that, well-known as these makers may be to you and others here, I know neither them nor their offerings. And this purchase is somewhat price-sensitive. (My fault for not mentioning that in the first place.)
 
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