New to forum... Need help picking next blade

M

Maraco

Joined
Apr 13, 2013
Messages
4
Hello all!

I have been reading the forums for a while but now I am looking to make a purchase in the near future. There are a few knives that have my attention already but also looking for any recommendations I may not have come across in my search already. Looking for a fixed blade full tang, 4-5 inch for camping and general outdoors use in the Midwest US area mainly. Current blades are a light my fire mora (girlfriends blade), my Edc folder is a spyderco delica 4 vg10, and also have a kabar eskabar in 1095 in the bob. I was not entirely thrilled with the eskabar as the 1095 doesn't seem to be the steel quality I was hoping for. However for the price its fine. I much prefer the vg10 in my spyderco in that I can get it crazy sharp and easy to touch up, holds edge decently well. But that is also more influenced by blade thickness / edge type / grind. Currently looking at the following...no particular order

Ontario sk-5 (not really too sure about this one, but generally well liked and a decent price)
Fallkniven f1
Gso 4.1 in m390 or cpm-3v (probably the highest end of my price range, also interested in the steels)
Not really that interested in esee as they are 1095
But a kabar tweener bk16 is interesting as well for the price all things considered

More interested in better steel, edge retention, ease to re-sharpen, not really planning to baton but I would like to be able to if I ever needed it in a pinch and not think its gonna break to easily... (Not that likely though)

I also have a fiskar x7 hatchet so it's main use is fire prep work.... Hence batoning not that important in the knife. Besides I think you need a 6+" for that anyways.

Also in the future looking for a better hatchet as the steel on the fiskars seems a bit weak to me. And possibly a machete/kukri in my future but we will save that for another post.

Well that should get this going so lets have it at it!

Thanks
 
Hey Maraco welcome to the forum!

Folding:
Spyderco Endura
Spyderco Manix2
Spyderco Native
Benchmade 550
Benchmade 15020
Buck Vantage Line

Fixed:
Beckers are awesome! BK14 and 16 are a must.
Ontario RD4
Mora Classic
Kabar Kukri
Kabar Heavy Bowie

Hatchets:
Try Estwing
 
Yo mama

Thanks for the suggestions. I will take a look into those.

Edit: Actually I was leaning a bit more towards an ontario kukri vs kabar...... Particular reason for kabar? Or you just like kabar :)

Anyone else with ideas and or recommendations?

Thanks
 
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I'm right there with you looking for the same kind of knife. 4 inch camping, general purpose. I'd like to think I could baton with it, but I'm not likely to do more than just try it out, I've bigger knives for that. I'm looking hard at the 3v, man, that Bark River Field Bravo looks nice (but they're pricey). I'm sure a BK 16 would be fine, probably even make my own wooden scales, seems like the budget route, and I am on a budget. I'm noticing the local Knife Maker's Market has some really nice blades right there in the under 200 range with a nice sheath too.

My big question right now is steel. 3v, because it'd be fun to have something that tough, harden it to 60-61, try that out. 1095 is the old standard, all I've heard is praise for the tweeners. O1, I've seen some nice knives in O1 on the market, but this brings me to my big quandary: corrosion. I live on the northwest coast (California), and it's damp here year round. I don't want to have to baby my general purpose knife. I don't want to have to oil it a few times a day on a camping trip. Cuz I will, just to play with it some more. But I don't wan to have to. So now I'm looking back at the stainless steels. That Survive M390, I've got to look at that again. I'm pretty sure we have some stainless as tough as 1095, and 3v is supposed to be pretty corrosion resistant.

Anyway, no answers here, but I'll need to check back in this thread and see what people think.
 
Maraco...I've got my lightly used Fallkniven F1 for trade...only because I own two of them. Send me your offer$ if you're interested.
 
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Thanks for the offer.... Any others care to chime in on this? Still hoping to see if there is a diamond out there I have not found.

Am515: pm sent... Once I figure out how...lol. New to this forum

Edit: a little off my own topic but came across the work sharp knife and tool sharpener "wskts" seems to be the way to go for a convex edge system.... I already have a lansky type set that has done me proud for years.... However I am thinking my issue with the 1095 kabar eskabar and its thickness is related to my lansky system / my not used to sharpening thicker blades. Opinions?
 
They are often over looked which is sad but take a hard look at the Entrek line. For what you want the Javalina would be fantastic. It is made out of 440C so it wont rust easily also Ray Ennis does 440C as well as anyone does. Its an often an over looked steel but it will do 99% of anything you ever need it to.

Also if you are worried about rust email Ray and ask him to make it in a satin finish instead of bead blasted.
 
I am not particularly worried about rust. I don't expect it to see hard use for more than a week at a time on a trip. Then it will get sharpened / touched up and oiled ready for storage for next trip or use.
 
Edit: Actually I was leaning a bit more towards an ontario kukri vs kabar...... Particular reason for kabar? Or you just like kabar
Click to expand...

No reason, I just don't own or have experience with the Ontario Kukri. I have had great experiences with the RD4, so I'd say go for it.

However I am thinking my issue with the 1095 kabar eskabar and its thickness is related to my lansky system / my not used to sharpening thicker blades. Opinions?
Click to expand...

You'll see alot of love for the Spyderco Sharpmaker. Also, a strop and compound is a must.
 
BK&T ---they are ALL excellent !!!
Ontario ---the Spec-Plus series is excellent !!! As are the RANGER RD series !!!
ESSE ---they are all excellent !!!
KaBar ---makes some excellent big blades. Their Kukri is friggin awesome !!!
Condor ---makes an excellent product for the price, just not Made in America like the others i mentioned, if that matters to you.

I have an Ontario Kukri (officially a KLO or kukri-like-object to the Himalayan Imports crowd ). I LOVE it. I had to reprofile the edge a little. (that tends to be the case with "blue collar" knives, meaning quality knives that are mostly Made in America, at working mans wages, that have to compete with import priced blades, they have to scrimp somewhere). That sucker is wicked sharp now & holds an edge. You simply can't go wrong with one.

:D
 
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MARACO: Email replied. Another thing to know about the Fallkniven F1...It's not a full convex, it has a micro bevel. Too me, convex is not more difficult to sharpen (the contrary actually), but if you were intimidated by the convex, just know that this one is not.
 
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