Need help deciding on a small hiking, canoeing, camping knife (narrowed down list)

For a light and slicey camp knife, which also needs to be light, I might go with a Grohmann No.1 or the even smaller Grohmann No. 2 (seen in picture, top). The Morakniv Classic No.1 or 2 would also be good. One light fixed blade that I don't have, but that I would recommend is the Spyderco Bill Moran. The Condor Huron is also light and slicey, but with a usable sized blade. A Kephart would also be a good camp knife, like either the Condor Kephart or the Enzo-Brisa 115 Kephart, both possibly on the heavier side of what you're looking for.

As much as I like my Bradford Guardian, it's got a thick blade that wouldn't be my first choice for food prep at camp. The White River M1 is a nice overall, light utility knife, but a bit short for food prep and only a hair less thick than the Bradford Guardian. The Joker Avispa isn't a great camp knife and is probably my least favourite Joker knife. Before getting crazy about knives, if I was going backpack camping, where there was going to be cooking that required food prep, I'd carry a light folder for general use and the lightest 4-6" kitchen knife I had in the pack.

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Hi All,
I am new to the whole Knife thing...and to be honest I don't think I will be a huge knife collector. Hence I need some help finding a great small allrounder knife that I can have for a longer time and use in the outdoors.

Bit of a background (maybe it helps, who knows).
I'm a female with medium sized hands (not small, fine hands but medium stronger hands). I like to hike, canoe and on occasion go camping. I'm not a bushcrafter so I won't be doing a whole lot of batoning, splitting and carving out a whole table set of spoons ;) (only when I go camping sometimes, and I carry a laplander saw and Mora Knife or a Brisa Tra pper 95 as backup).

I'm looking for a smaller knife that I can scout carry. Something I can mainly use on my hiking and canoeing trip. Something that is light, small, inconspicuous and I can use on food prep, light feathersticking and cutting jobs. I have this idea in my head that I also would like a knife that has a sharp spine so I can create a fire with it (ferro rod) however I think its more of a ideal picture or heads in the clouds type of thing. I might get a kydex sheath and carry a rod and striker on it - would that make sense? What type of handle should I pick- micarta or G10.

So my list that I have narrowed down and researching are:
  • White River M1 (CPM S35VN Steel)
  • White River Sendero Pack (CPM S35VN Steel)
  • White River F3.5 (that whole firestarting galore) (CPM S35VN Steel)
  • White River Ursus Cub (will be released this month: Blade length 3.5" (8.8cm), Total Length 7.6" (19.3 cm), weight 5.9oz (167gr) with CPM Magnacut steel
  • Bradford Gaurdian 3.5 (either drop point or I like the Sheepsfoot blade) (either M390 or Magnacut)
  • Joker Avispa (but somehow when I look at it, the handle seems really thick and fat) (14C28N Steel)
I would appreciate any input or help I can get. Where I live I can't get access to these knives to look at and handle beforehand.
Thanks!
I just saw the Ursus Cub being available- it looks like a great all-around knife at a very fair price. I love the MagnaCut blades I have.
 
In the size range you're talking about, I have a White River Caper and several Bradfords, as well as a Dozier Personal Utility, a Winkler SD-1, and several customs. The White River is an excellent knife. But... I have no end of trouble with that handle shape if I need to do any serious gripping and cutting. The Bradford is streets ahead of the White River in ergonomics for me. Granted... I have some serious arthritis in my hands and some nerve deadening, which affects how things feel in my hand and how well I can grip them. But that's something to consider since you're talking about river and woods uses for this FB. You never know when an outdoor trip will call for some unexpected and serious blade use. Better to be prepared for it.

Also, let me offer something for your consideration when you're deciding how to carry your knife while you're "out and about" in nature. I suggest you carry in a position where you can reach your knife with either hand. You never know when your strong side will be engaged or damaged and you'll need to use your other hand. Something like Armatus' horizontal kydex sheath can be worn on your weak side at say, 10:00 or so, and the knife will be out of the way, yet easy to reach with either hand.

Good luck with the search. Let us know what you decide on.
 
I like the Les George Magnate in Magnacut. Excellent rust resistance, but maybe a bit bigger than you want.
 
I know of the F1 but it's too big for me, or for what I want. However your suggestion made me check out the Fallkniven site, and I found the R2 Scout knife which has the dimensions I am looking for. It has Elmex steel...Is that a good steel, or better said is it good to use by the water?
There is a falkniven wm1? I think. Which is supposed to be a women's knife.

But I own one and I am a man with man like hands and I really like it. I have no issues with the handle. It works amazingly for a small knife and doesn't rattle in the sheath like the Fi.

 
Mora Eldris with factory ferro rod is what I have on my PFD for canoeing.


The Mora Bushcrafter or Mora Garberg are also nice choices for a slightly larger knife. Lots of aftermarket kydex and leather sheaths available for these also.

I have the Mora floating knife and it is very nice and light (good for food prep and cleaning fish), the handle is comfortable and the knife does float.

 
High-end: Chris Reeve has a great looking "Backpacker" in Magnicut. It'll cost you though.

Low-end: Years ago, I was invited to trap alligators in deep south Louisiana. My friend was a loal boy whos family had moved to New Orleans from Morgn City. I had no idea what to expect. I had several nice belt knives at the time but didn't want to lose one over the side. I also did not want to look like a "city sport" who had maxed out s gold card at Cabella's or Gander Mountain.

So I went to Kroger and bought a 4" "Old Hickory" boning knife from the kitchen wares section, carbon steel, full tang riveted handle. Then went to Goodwill and bought a beat up leather purse. Cut that up and put together a simple sheath for it.

Had a great time. We managed to hook and tag 23 'gators in a few days. It was pretty much like Swamp People in TV. I met deep swamp, off-grid livers who would never have accepted me If not for my friend. I did get some good natured ridicule for being a city boy with book learning . . .but no one made fun of my knife.
 
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