Need help, complete newbie analysis paralysis

[Venator82]

All- I’m trying to lighten up my pack, currently hauling around an Esee 5 Rowan I believe which tips the scales at around 1lb.
I also carry knives of Alaska hunter combo.

I’m not interested in replaceable bladed knifes. Full tang only and fixed. I’m ok with carrying 2 knives as I understand they have different purposes.
Knife 1.) in the field game processing and skinning
Knife 2.) survival, camping, back up.
I understand strength and weight probably come hand in hand, but what is a good mix of rigidity and lightweight/comfortable?

Can I get both in one package understanding 2. Is a worst case scenario?

I’m not concerned with price tag, I’m not rich but willing to spend some coin if it’s worth it.
Get confused with fallkniven, reached out to Phil Wilson knives with no answer.

No china.

 

[betzner]

If weight reduction is really important, you may want to at least consider titanium for the blade. Raimund Lhotak (Austria) puts out some nice stuff, heat treated by Mecha, image of some examples below:

 

[shinyedges]

You want a carothers knife. Perhaps a field knife. One knife that will do both tasks.

 

[Jsega51]

For a combination of everything, I’d carry my Carothers FK2. 4-5/8” blade, 9-3/4” OAL and weighs 8oz. You can find lighter for sure but with the Delta 3V steel they’re all but unbreakable. They were designed to be a do it all knife and I don’t see why it couldn’t be. I pair it with a pocket knife because I can’t go without a pocket knife lol.

I missed a buck and had to dig my arrow out of this rotted but frozen solid log. No issue there and I got to use the knife on the same buck a couple of weeks later.

 

[KenHash]

I believe Full Tang is the best (most rugged) for fixed blades. However the drawback is that they usually add the most weight to a knife for obvious reasons. If one considers hidden tang models (Fallkniven,Cold Steel, etc) the overall weight can be reduced. But that's a matter of personal preference.

 

[Murphjd25]

Yup, FK2.

 

[Jsega51]

Yup, FK2.

I was going to add that the newer BFK (Basic Field Knife, has a slightly longer blade) would be a good option to look for as well since they’re quite similar.

Thanks for letting me use your quote

 

[Venator82]

Overwhelming support for the Carothers, crazy I can search the web for 2 weeks and learn something new from you guys in 5 min.
Looks like direct buy, I sent an email to them.
Thanks all for the info, do you guys know if it’s hard to get your hands on one of his knives? Long lead times?

 

[Jsega51]

Overwhelming support for the Carothers, crazy I can search the web for 2 weeks and learn something new from you guys in 5 min.
Looks like direct buy, I sent an email to them.
Thanks all for the info, do you guys know if it’s hard to get your hands on one of his knives? Long lead times?

They’re a small outfit so they run their knives in batches as they move from model to model and they sell some by pre-order, some in their Friday sales, and some on their website. For models not in current production, like the Field Knife 2, you just have to watch for them to pop up in the exchange, and CPK has their own sale thread where most will be found. CPK Buy/Sell

With your email to them, they may be able to help you with the Basic Field Knife since they just ran sales for those not long ago.

 

[Arathol]

How much does that Hunter combo weigh?
The Esee is 22oz with sheath btw.

 

[gazz98]

Welcome to BFs

I've heard nothing but great things about Carothers knives but they can be hard to find so I will go in another direction. Linked from BHq for easy reference.

Camp/hiking knife = Buck Compadre
https://www.bladehq.com/item--Buck-Compadre-Camp-Knife-Natural--92983

Skinner = ESEE 3
https://www.bladehq.com/item--ESEE-Knives-ESEE-3-Fixed-Blade--105729

These two companies have two of the best warranties in the business too.

PS. I had an ESEE 5 too. Great knife but .25" thick. I went down to an ESEE 4.

 

[UNBLF]

I believe Full Tang is the best (most rugged) for fixed blades. However the drawback is that they usually add the most weight to a knife for obvious reasons. If one considers hidden tang models (Fallkniven,Cold Steel, etc) the overall weight can be reduced. But that's a matter of personal preference.

Well...Let's just say "full tang adding weight" is not because full tangs are heavier, it's because the blades are longer / thicker / heavier, then the full tang also comes in heavier to balance the blade.

Remember, when it comes to handle weight, balance is always of higher priority than total weight for any quality modern knife.

 

[UNBLF]

Get one CPK knife, then the only thing you might need a 2nd knife for is losing the CPK in the field. lol.

Paracord-wrapped Benchmade 375 Adamas is a really good backup knife. The whole package is very thin and lightweight for what it is, and it's in CPM-CruWear which is both very wear resist and tough.

IMO, ignore Fallknivens. VG10 and CoS are not really on par with quality modern outdoor knife standards anymore. It's only a matter of time that limited steel options kills the entire Fallkniven brand...

 

[fishface5]

V Venator82 if you decide to pursue a FK2 hit me up I have one in green micarta

 

[Arathol]

Well...Let's just say "full tang adding weight" is not because full tangs are heavier, it's because the blades are longer / thicker / heavier, then the full tang also comes in heavier to balance the blade.

No, not necessarily. Full tang really has nothing to do with blade length. Its all about construction, nothing more.
These are full tang construction, but the blades are only 2" long.....

Added weight because of the full tang is just unneeded added weight because of the full tang.....
Full tang isn't really any stronger than a proper skeleton tang construction.

 

[Arathol]

All- I’m trying to lighten up my pack, currently hauling around an Esee 5 Rowan I believe which tips the scales at around 1lb.
I also carry knives of Alaska hunter combo.

If you are really serious about shedding weight, you might want to move away from the "indestructible sharpened prybar" mentality. Your kit probably weighs in at close to 3 pounds. That can be reduced considerably if you learn to use the proper tools for the work and not abuse them.
You can pack a small axe and a couple good fixed blades of different sizes and still be under the 22 oz that the Esee 5 alone weighs if you choose wisely.
Axe - 13oz

Two knives, 3 1/2" and 4 1/2", 8 oz combined total with kydex

 

[KenHash]

Well...Let's just say "full tang adding weight" is not because full tangs are heavier, it's because the blades are longer / thicker / heavier, then the full tang also comes in heavier to balance the blade.

Remember, when it comes to handle weight, balance is always of higher priority than total weight for any quality modern knife.

Not sure what you are saying. A "full Tang" that runs to the edges of the scales simply contains more steel in volume. than a stick tang that is smaller/thinner and
runs only through the center of the handle. Below is my Falkniven Micarta 3G full tang alongside my 3G F1 stick tang Thermorun handle. While the stainless bolster and the weight difference in scale materials, as well as the two rivets is an additional factor, I consider the biggest difference in weight; 7.0 oz for the Full Tang and 5.4 oz for the stick tang comes from the considerable difference in the amount of steel used. There is no difference in blade length or thickness between these two knives.

There is a reason why most military knives today use a stick tang and synthetics. USMC loads average 117 lbs and US Army loads average 119 lbs. Weight is a consideration.

As for balance, of course that is cruciual for any good knife and I am unaware of any stick tang knife sold that has a "balance" problem. In the kitchen knife world both full tang (German./French) and Japanese (stick tang) are popular among professional chefs, who readily recognize a difference in balance but find it not significant beyond personal preference in use. And we are talking blade lengths of 240-330 cm (9.4 inches - 12.9 inches).

 

[eveled]

Nothing wrong with a full length hidden tang. They have less hot spots better balance and weigh less.

IMHO. Full width tangs are a fad. You tube has convinced everybody they are best and its just not true.

Its a knife not a froe.

 

[craytab]

All- I’m trying to lighten up my pack, currently hauling around an Esee 5 Rowan I believe which tips the scales at around 1lb.
I also carry knives of Alaska hunter combo.

I’m not interested in replaceable bladed knifes. Full tang only and fixed. I’m ok with carrying 2 knives as I understand they have different purposes.
Knife 1.) in the field game processing and skinning
Knife 2.) survival, camping, back up.
I understand strength and weight probably come hand in hand, but what is a good mix of rigidity and lightweight/comfortable?

Can I get both in one package understanding 2. Is a worst case scenario?

I’m not concerned with price tag, I’m not rich but willing to spend some coin if it’s worth it.
Get confused with fallkniven, reached out to Phil Wilson knives with no answer.

No china.

You want a carothers knife. Perhaps a field knife. One knife that will do both tasks.

This is the way.

Pick your favorite flavor and start looking. Getting one can sometimes be a task but it is well worth the effort and/or cost.

Subforum here: https://www.bladeforums.com/forums/carothers-performance-knives.929/

Website: https://carothersknives.com/

I humped around an Esee 5 on one camping/hiking trip back when I first seriously got into knives. Never did that again. I still have an Esee 5, it is a fun quality survival tool, but not a great knife to actually carry and use.

A CPK in D3V is going to be better in every way over not only the Esee 5 but nearly every other all around fixed blade out there. I'd recommend a Field Knife or the Kephart. Since you describe hunting and survival, look hard into the Kephart style knives as I one tool solution. Combined with Nathan's work on the grind and faithful rendition of the Kephart, and the D3V steel, it might just be the best one knife solution.

 

[craytab]

If you are really serious about shedding weight, you might want to move away from the "indestructible sharpened prybar" mentality. Your kit probably weighs in at close to 3 pounds. That can be reduced considerably if you learn to use the proper tools for the work and not abuse them.
You can pack a small axe and a couple good fixed blades of different sizes and still be under the 22 oz that the Esee 5 alone weighs if you choose wisely.
Axe - 13oz

Two knives, 3 1/2" and 4 1/2", 8 oz combined total with kydex

Spot on about the weight. That said, there isn't much savings in weight with that combo, and it is carrying more stuff which takes up space. Not sure he wants a hatchet. Also seems like he is going to carry a replaceable blade knife with the "survival" knife. I think he wants to replace one tool for another, not with several.