Newbie here - fixed blades

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KC8QVO

Joined
Apr 7, 2011
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I figured I would jump over here based on a reccomendation on another forum. I am very new to fixed blade knives, I have never had one. All of my knives have been folding and lock blades. My daily carry knife for the past 10 years has been a Swiss Army Swiss Champ (the big fat one).

My purpose for a fixed blade knife is I want a good general purpose knife as well as something to split fire wood with on backpacking and camping trips. I have a folding hand saw that works extremely well. We have taken hatchets on trips in the past but one of the guys I've gone backpacking with had a nice fixed blade knife and split the wood with that. I figure a knife is lighter than a hatchet and can be used for many more tasks = perfect addition to my gear.

I picked up a SOG Seal Pup last night, just the standard one. It is a light knife and just the right size for my uses. However, I noticed its made in Taiwan. I've also since learned the quality of SOG's can vary. I am not sold on the durability of the kinfe overall.

What comments can you offer? Are there any suggestions those experienced in fixed blades can offer as to other higher quality alternatives? I don't want to spend an arm and a leg for a knife, but I also want a quality tool that doesn't weigh 5lbs. That may be a loaded question with 10,000 replies, but keep in mind I'm very new to fixed blade knives.
 
I'd recommend several of the Becker line, you wouldn't go wrong with a BK-2, 7, or 9. Also, look at the BK-5, the swept belly would be ideal for camp kitchen applications, and the length would make it a fine splitter as well. Personally, I love my 2, but it is a brick, and unless your batoning wood under 5" (the length of the blade), you're going to have to get creative. Not hard, but not as easy as batoning from the tip either. Anyhow, for the price, quality and durability, you can't go wrong with a Becker. If you'd like to spend a little bit more, check out Himalayan Imports...they have some SERIOUS choppers as well! Good luck and good hunting!

-Matt-
 
Most Himalayan imports kukris are too heavy.

If you are accustomed and satisfied with your folding saw then I would suggest swaying away from "moster chopper" path. They are heavy, expensive and can be cumbersome to perform smaller tasks.

BK2, BK7, ESEE 6, CS SRK are good options.

Good took combination for you is BK7 + folding saw + Swiss army knife
 
Becker BK2, BK7, or a Swamp Rat RatManDu. With the BK7 you'll get a sheath that fit's an altoids tin for other needs. It also comes with a smaller blade that will be good for cleaning fish etc.... Best value, BK7.. You can put it through the ringer and it won't let you down.
 
My vote goes for an ESEE-6.
Light enough, tough enough, well buit and 1095 is a joy to sharpen !

Regards,

Andre Tiba - Brazil
 
You edc'd a swiss champ? I find that very humorous! What line of work are you in and how did you carry it?
 
Thanks for the replies. The more I look through all these knives the more I think I'll hang on to this seal pup. It is about half the weight of some of the other options. I'm still not convinced of the quality, and the weight doesn't help matters any, but it will be a decent addition to my gear. I'll just get a better knife in addition to it. :D

I am noticing that most of the knives have much thicker and wider blades than the seal pup. That really goes against the weight. Are there any blades that are around 1-1.25" wide and about 5" long that are real durable? Or do you pretty much have to go with the bigger thicker blades?

How about the pommel ends/tangs - are there any knives that have flat/wide tangs that stick out (rather than the tang width through the rest of the handle that has the handle formed exactly over top) - IE, something that would provide a more solid platform for beating with a log? The ESEE's look like good knives but the pommel on the ESEE-5 is the glass breaker. The ESEE-6 pommel is more flat but the knive is a bit big.

Any comments on having a straight edge or partially serrated?

How about blade material? I see the 1095 steel is a common material - ESEE and Becker use it.
 
Arakiel said:
You edc'd a swiss champ? I find that very humorous! What line of work are you in and how did you carry it?
Click to expand...

I used to carry it on my belt but I broke the belt loop somewhere around 2003/4. I just throw it in my pocket in the sheath. Its not what line of work I'm in, I use my swiss champ every day though. Its a tool box in my pocket and gets used.
 
There's nothing wrong with the SOG seal pup. I have the Tiger striped model and have used it extensively. It was the first Real fixed blade that I bought, then found this forumn and got into other knives. Becker mostly, the bk2 is a must have in my opinion. The SOG will serve you well..Good luck.
 
Get serrated if you need that, it's made to cut rope, or webbing. A straight edge is eaiser to re-sharpen, for many.
1095 is as good as it's heat treat, as in most steels.
Don't get too focused on the spine thickness. It is important, but also look at the grind. A full flat grind will not be as much steel as a sabre grind, given the length, thickness, and height are the same on both knives.
 
sounds like you want to start with something sub $100 and reasonably light. i would say something like the kabar 5011, 1211, 1213, heavy bowie or becker bk2, bk5, bk7, bk9. any esee is a great choice too, but the price is higher.


i stared with the kabar 5011 and still use it all the time..just like today, haha.
 
esee or rat cutlery have rc3 and rc4 (3" & 4"blades) 1095 steel with or w/out serrations -I'd probably stay away from serrated edge unless your going to cut a bit of rope ,it's also a little bit extra work to sharpen, food prep might favor a plain edge
 
KC8QVO said:
...My purpose for a fixed blade knife is I want a good general purpose knife as well as something to split fire wood with on backpacking and camping trips... I figure a knife is lighter than a hatchet and can be used for many more tasks = perfect addition to my gear.

I picked up a SOG Seal Pup last night, just the standard one. It is a light knife and just the right size for my uses. However, I noticed its made in Taiwan. I've also since learned the quality of SOG's can vary. I am not sold on the durability of the kinfe overall.

What comments can you offer? Are there any suggestions those experienced in fixed blades can offer as to other higher quality alternatives? I don't want to spend an arm and a leg for a knife, but I also want a quality tool that doesn't weigh 5lbs...
Click to expand...

The SOG Seal Pup is probably made of relatively soft AUS-6. It's not the highest quality steel or construction, but Taiwan-made is not crap. It's a light knife, easy to care for and sharpen (which will give you practice), and durable enough for what it sounds like you'll use it for. Take it outside and put it through the paces a bit to garner confidence in the tool. If it suits your needs, :thumbup:.

A similar (but less costly) alternative to the Seal Pup is the Gerber Bigrock or you could try the updated version of Gerber's BG "Ultimate" knife. Another brand to look into is MORA - low cost, good quality.

Fallkniven and ESEE are among the most popular brands of fixed-blades here - high quality but more expensive: F1, S1, H1 (Fallkniven) or ESEE 3 or 4 might be the size you'd prefer. Becker/KaBar makes a variety of camp-knives at low cost, as does Schrade. Scrapyard, Swamp Rat, and Busse knives are more expensive but quite impressive - I recommend the HRLM or the RatManDu These are just a few brands & models, there are so many more. Take your time, there a a variety of design-features offered by different knives from any company, and there are also custom-makers about...

Regarding your preferred specifications, specifically the weight, skip the BK2 and ESEE-5, these are among the heaviest you could buy at that length. Aim for knives 3/16" thick or less, or make sure the design compensates somehow for additional thickness (e.g. BRKT Bravo1 is lighter due to skeletonized tang). Full-flat grind will be lighter and allow for a more acute bevel than saber-grind, but you do lose some support metal - decide what you prefer. Most manufacturers will include weight among a knife's specs.

If the scales are micarta, they should be tough enough to handle the pounding you're suggesting. But before you go about pounding, learn a decent technique. Some companies do offer no-questions-asked warranties...

If you find your Seal Pup's serrations useful (as in you find yourself putting them to use in specific cutting roles like rope, sawing, etc. fairly regularly) then by all means get them on your next knife... otherwise, go with a plain edge which is simpler and also more useful for the majority of users.
 
Seal Pup Elite was what I would say as my first real Fixed Blade... Honestly I had no qualms with it, took it backpacking a few times and gave it a hell of a workout and it only asked for more. I've now passed it onto my brother to live out the rest of its days...

Currently I am using a Fixed Griptilian as the fixed blade I take on hikes with me, which is a great little knife.

I think the combination of a folding saw or hachet and a small fixed blade can't be beat for camping.
 
Swamp Rat Ratmandu...needn't look further. Best all around camp knife and some are currently available (which is not the case often).
 
Why not get something really nice? See what Matt Bailey has for sale, he makes a great blade. (Just search the forum.)

Here's the one I use:
IMG_7013.jpg
 
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