Need help looking for a Hunting/Survival knife

craytab said:
Right on the front page of the general knife discussion:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1026687-Falkniven-F1-3G-Sadly-disappointed

We aren't going to agree on this as you have made very clear in your first post. No worries, different strokes for different folks.
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Sorry, I'm not buying that post. Microchipping/breaking tips off can occur with any knife if abused in the right way. That blade is still usable, and isn't in pieces. The durability of Fallkniven knives (especially the F1) is well documented. It's also well known that the 3G version is more brittle than the VG10.

I have ESEE, Fallkniven, Bark River knives in my stable. The F1 is the one that lives in my pack. It is the best blend of all things, with the least amount of sacrifices. It's the Porsche 911 of survival knives.


-Freq
 
I recommend that you consider the type of hunting you do and the area in which you might find yourself in a survival situation to help determine what best suits you. If you share that information here, or better yet in the one of the Outdoor subforums here, you will most likely get some excellent advice.

Keep in mind that most dual purpose products provide mediocre performance for each purpose, so you might want to consider a 2 knife solution to your needs or even a knife/saw or knife/hatchet combo. Try not to get confused by all the ESEE vs. Becker vs. Fallkniven vs. Bark River, Busse, Spyderco, Benchmade, etc. talk that goes on here. I have many knives from all those companies and they all make a good product and back them up well. All knives can fail if not used properly and having the best warranty is useless to you if you are stranded somewhere with a broken knife. Concentrate on finding the type of knife or knives that meet your needs and learn the skills to maintain and use it efficiently & safely.

Between $100-$200 will also get you in the range of some custom hunter/woods knives that in many cases are better designed and constructed than production knives, so check out the exchange once you have a better idea of what size of knife, blade geometry and steel that fits your needs.
 
The OP states in post #6 that he is looking for a survival knife that can not only clean game but Chop/Saw. I think the F1 would fall short in those duties. I agree Fallkniven are great knives but if I were going to chose that brand I would chose a larger model like the A1 or A2.
 
shaving sharp said:
The OP states in post #6 that he is looking for a survival knife that can not only clean game but Chop/Saw. I think the F1 would fall short in those duties. I agree Fallkniven are great knives but if I were going to chose that brand I would chose a larger model like the A1 or A2.
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Having a knife that excells at wood craft, chopping wood and batoning as an example, may not be the best knife for skinning and quartering game in a hunting situation. I think the knives you mentioned would be a bit large to work well as solely a hunting knife. The OP is going to find that a knife to do both hunting, and bushcraft will mean a compromise for one or the other, or both. A knife that excells at one skill set may not excellent at the other. All the knives mentioned so far are good knives though, and would work.
 
Brisket said:
I recommend that you consider the type of hunting you do and the area in which you might find yourself in a survival situation to help determine what best suits you. If you share that information here, or better yet in the one of the Outdoor subforums here, you will most likely get some excellent advice.

Keep in mind that most dual purpose products provide mediocre performance for each purpose, so you might want to consider a 2 knife solution to your needs or even a knife/saw or knife/hatchet combo. Try not to get confused by all the ESEE vs. Becker vs. Fallkniven vs. Bark River, Busse, Spyderco, Benchmade, etc. talk that goes on here. I have many knives from all those companies and they all make a good product and back them up well. All knives can fail if not used properly and having the best warranty is useless to you if you are stranded somewhere with a broken knife. Concentrate on finding the type of knife or knives that meet your needs and learn the skills to maintain and use it efficiently & safely.

Between $100-$200 will also get you in the range of some custom hunter/woods knives that in many cases are better designed and constructed than production knives, so check out the exchange once you have a better idea of what size of knife, blade geometry and steel that fits your needs.
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Good advise.
 
In the 100 200 dollar range you can get a nice kephart. That will cover the skinning and most camping, survival tasks. If you skin alot a nessamuck style may be more for you. I have a bk 16 im happy with. I have taken it to camp and the kitchen. It carves well. I have not processed a deer with it yet.
 
freq18hz said:
Sorry, I'm not buying that post. Microchipping/breaking tips off can occur with any knife if abused in the right way.
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Call the poster in that thread a liar if you want, but with a great warranty you get a new knife......even after 2 years!

freq18hz said:
That blade is still usable, and isn't in pieces. The durability of Fallkniven knives (especially the F1) is well documented. It's also well known that the 3G version is more brittle than the VG10.
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That blade broke and the company wouldn't replace it. All this well known knowledge you speak of may not be known by the OP, so thanks for enlightening all of us. I was really considering an F1 until I read the linked post yesterday. For the reputation the F1 has I was absolutely shocked to find out they only have a 2 year warranty. Shocked.

freq18hz said:
I have ESEE, Fallkniven, Bark River knives in my stable. The F1 is the one that lives in my pack. It is the best blend of all things, with the least amount of sacrifices. It's the Porsche 911 of survival knives.
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Facts are facts. The F1 has a 2 year warranty. Not good enough for what the price is IMO. The OP can decide if that is a deal breaker or not.

Lots of people don't like 911s.
 
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Brisket said:
I recommend that you consider the type of hunting you do and the area in which you might find yourself in a survival situation to help determine what best suits you. If you share that information here, or better yet in the one of the Outdoor subforums here, you will most likely get some excellent advice.

Keep in mind that most dual purpose products provide mediocre performance for each purpose, so you might want to consider a 2 knife solution to your needs or even a knife/saw or knife/hatchet combo. Try not to get confused by all the ESEE vs. Becker vs. Fallkniven vs. Bark River, Busse, Spyderco, Benchmade, etc. talk that goes on here. I have many knives from all those companies and they all make a good product and back them up well. All knives can fail if not used properly and having the best warranty is useless to you if you are stranded somewhere with a broken knife. Concentrate on finding the type of knife or knives that meet your needs and learn the skills to maintain and use it efficiently & safely.

Between $100-$200 will also get you in the range of some custom hunter/woods knives that in many cases are better designed and constructed than production knives, so check out the exchange once you have a better idea of what size of knife, blade geometry and steel that fits your needs.
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Very well said. A perfect do it all knife will do everything but not at an A level. With your budget you should be able to get 2 knives that will perform the various tasks you require. Besides ESEE, you should for sure look at Becker Knife and Tool. They are budget friendly, tough, and most are made in the USA.
 
Fallkniven F1,I don't have any experience with it but I own the S1 and is a very good knife,only the leather sheat is bad,but you can choose the zytel sheat.VG-10 is a very nice steel,right now is my favorite knife steel,I can get it sharp very easy,hold edge for long time and is no a brittle steel,it will not chip if you use it like a knife.I think you will need to reprofile a little the bevel of F1 because it is a "fat" knife.Search "virtuovice",he own a lot knives,I think all are hunting knives,he use it a lot and he talk about the advantages and disadvantages of the knives.
 
When's the last time someone snapped a Fallkniven, and needed to use the warranty?

ESEE's rust if left outside even overnight, especially in snow. Also, the grinds while sharp, don't push through wood very easily. The handles do nothing for blisters (especially while processing wood/firemaking) and the knives are generally heavy for their size.

ESEE makes a great knife, but Fallkniven is a step up.
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I have found the same to be true.

Becker and ESEE are similar knives, made from similar steel, with similar handles. ESEE is a step up from Becker, IMO, with the LS being the most usable of their knives. However, few of them are ideal to work with for extended periods of time, aside from the LS, ESEE-4 and ESEE-4 which have more rounded handles that won't give blisters as easily as their knives that have squared handles.

freq18hz said:
I have ESEE, Fallkniven, Bark River knives in my stable. The F1 is the one that lives in my pack. It is the best blend of all things, with the least amount of sacrifices. It's the Porsche 911 of survival knives.
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I have the same, but would never consider the Fallknivens, wtih their molded plastic (FRN or whatever) handles, to be the Porche 911 of anything. More like the Toyota Camry. The F1 is basically a fixed bladed version of the Spyderco Endura, same materials and made in the same factory right?

DHB02_zps34f92529.jpg


Bark River knives, with their smooth, rounded handles, are far superior working knives. Because they use shape instead of texture to provide grip, they work equally well when wet, cold, dirty, or whatever.

Wolf Trait said:
I've recently been going hunting but don't have a good knife for it. I also need that same knife to be a good survival knife. Any recommendations?
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If you can afford $200, you can find an A2 Bravo 1 for $180 or less. Look at GP Knives, The Knife Connection, Knives Ship Free, Chestnut Ridge, and others for a great price and great service.

You'll be amazed by the knife. Between the custom level fit and finish, lifetime warranty, handle material, steel, convex grind, and handle profile it is the most knife you can buy without spending many times more. It also comes with a nice leather sheath, and if you don't like the leather you can mail the knife and sheath to BRKT, and they'll hand mold a kydex sheath to your knife.

If you do decide to sell it you'll find lots of buyers because the warranty is transferrable. I've bought used BRKT knives that came in aweful shape, but a trip to the factory for the free "Spa Treatment" had the knife looking like new and ready for me to put my own marks on it.
 
That Bravo 1 does look sweet! Made in the USA by a US company and with an actual warranty!

For me the sheath is a no go but if they can make a nice kydex one, that would be great. If the funds are available this would be a good option for the OP.
 
Rather than try to find that mythical 'one knife does it all' blade, get the tools that best suit the tasks you want to perform.
I'd be more inclined to have a folding saw for wood, maybe a small ax, such as a Wetterlings hunter, and a good 4 inch knife from a decent commercial source or a custom.
 
Also, I am tired of all this ESSE vs Fallkniven vs Bark River vs ...

IMO ESSE is not in the same league with those manufacturers.

Here is why

1. uses low end steel that will rust fast
2. coated in backed epoxy which renders it useless if you try to throw off sparks from fero road (unless you use edge which is not advisable in survival situation)
3. because of coating and geometry it is not effective in wood splitting or game prep
4. one can probably overcome the first 3 negatives but ESSE has the most uncomfortable handle I have ever seen on a knife. It is boxy and will rip off you skin with prolonged use.
 
The F1 is basically a fixed bladed version of the Spyderco Endura, same materials and made in the same factory right?
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Except for the F1 blade being laminated VG-10, 50% thicker stock and having different blade grinds, profile and geometry they are basically the same.
 
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