Newbie needs a camping knife.

If you want a factory knife, I would that the say ESEE-6 is one of the best options out there.
Is this a knife you will be carrying on your belt? Or in your pack?
I usually need to modify factory sheaths or have new ones made because I generally don't like the carry options that factory sheaths offer. But if you like the typical vertical carry then I'm sure you wont have any problems with most sheaths.

What I generally take with me is a smaller fixed blade knife (mora usually) for making kindling/tinder, carving and food prep and a small axe/hatchet for splitting larger pieces of wood. I also take a small folding saw.

What a nice uncle you have! I wish I had an older family member who'd help me out that way.
 
cramsey3006 said:
$200 will get you at least one very nice custom blade from several of the makers on this forum, and possibly could get you two.

I agree with OrdnanceBubbaUSMC. I've get a 4"-5" bladed knife for all around general use and then get a bigger blade for a chopper. You won't always need the chopper, but since your uncle is footing the bill, might as well make the most of it. :D

Maybe pick up the smaller blade from a custom maker and then get something from Condor for the chopper. One of the machetes, the Hudson Bay, or the Kumunga. All of those are under $50, much less than that for the machetes.
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That's some darn good advice! :thumbup: (Don't tell anybody, but I think one could do pretty darn well with just a SAK and that Condor Hudson Bay, especially if its a "SAK in pocket/Hudson's Bay in camp" kinda deal.)
 
Thanks all. If I am backpacking the knife will be in the pack. If at camp or car camping then the knife will be on my belt.

Thanks again for the great advice. I am of course needing to consider the custom router now too.
 
For camping, general dinking around in the woods, I love my Ka-Bar Becker BK-2. Of course, most of the replies (including this one) will feature blade partisans advocating for their pet blade. It just so happens that I'm right. :-p

Just kidding - I haven't seen a bad suggestion yet. Do you have the ability to get to some biggish knife store where you can handle some of the more popular recommendations? That might be your best bet.

Any here is my outdoor setup (love it to death!)...

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Yes I do have a Bass Pro near me and a Sportsman Warehouse, so I will those up over the weekend to get some feel of different sizes, etc. Not sure what brands they all carry.
 
Perhaps a little more info would be helpful. What type of camping do you do. Wilderness, build your own shelter type? RV or Jeep to site or Backpack? Short hikes or Extended Treks?, Is minimal weight/minimal impact important? Winter/Snow camping? or Summer? Mountain Climbing? Floating/Kayak or Canoe? Biking? Salt water? Fishing? Solo or Group.
What do you expect or hope to do with your knife?

In my experience, "less is more". I think a smaller knife is often more useful than a BIG blade. And, if you are backpacking, then weight is going to be an issue. When I was young, I carried a big-ish knife and pretended I was Daniel Boone, but as I developed more experience, I found that it was unnecessary weight, and less manageable for most camp duties. In fact, I use to solo backpack with just a leatherman.
I think a smaller knife such as a Falkniven F1 or a Mora would be as much knife as I would want to carry, plus perhaps a folding, japanese type Pruning saw, to cut limbs, kindling etc.
If you are Jeeping or weight is not a big issue, then an Axe (eg: Gransfor Brux) would be more useful for kindling, than a big 'ole knife.
If you are fishing, and plan to eat the fish you catch, then a small thin fillet type blade would be rather useful.

As regards knife suggestions, there are many, including those mentioned above, as well as
Bark River knives such as the Fox River, Highland Special, Gunny, etc. or you might like a Benchmade Activator (?Plus), or
Spyderco Moran, Temperance 2, Aqua Salt( H1 Rust resistant), Rock Salt (chopper)
Helle (Skandi type, a step up from the Frost Moras),
or if you want customs, Gene Ingram, is one maker I've always wanted to try. He makes some elegant, functional knives, some of which are about $200. http://geneingramknives.blademakers.com/
Just my $0.02
 
GingivitisKahn said:
For camping, general dinking around in the woods, I love my Ka-Bar Becker BK-2. Of course, most of the replies (including this one) will feature blade partisans advocating for their pet blade. It just so happens that I'm right. :-p

Just kidding - I haven't seen a bad suggestion yet. Do you have the ability to get to some biggish knife store where you can handle some of the more popular recommendations? That might be your best bet.

Any here is my outdoor setup (love it to death!)...

IMG00620-20100730-2045.jpg
Click to expand...

I like everything about that Becker except the handle. Last time I was at SMKW I toyed with one on and off for over an hour. The handle just didn't feel right to me. I have small hands, and that grip is big, so I guess that was it. Maybe if it was a different material it would feel ok to me? Who knows?
 
I'd suggest the Fallkniven S1.

It's lighter than most knives of its size and thickness, which is an important consideration for backpacking. The convex edge geometry will excel at cutting/chopping wood, yet allow you to do some food prep, too.

The steel will require less maintenance than carbon steels used in many of the other blades on your list, yet hold an edge longer than straight-up stainless steels.

It even has a fine tip for doing delicate work, should you not have a smaller knife handy.
 
For 200 you could look into Scrapyard or Swamp Rat knives. they both have a few models in that size range. The scrapper 5, scrapper 6, Ratmandu, etc. Just check out the subforum on the exchange. they are all very excellent knives with an unbeatable lifetime warranty.
 
$200 and a little extra would get you a Dozier, which has recently come out with a bushcraft model.

Dozier12.jpg
 
cramsey3006 said:
I like everything about that Becker except the handle. Last time I was at SMKW I toyed with one on and off for over an hour. The handle just didn't feel right to me. I have small hands, and that grip is big, so I guess that was it. Maybe if it was a different material it would feel ok to me? Who knows?
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My hands are pretty big and the handle is what first attracted me to that knife - different strokes. Heh. The handles can be replaced with micarta or whatever but then you lose some of the charm of the low price point.
 
Let me introduce you to "LOBO" by JK handmade knives (known as Stomper here on Blade Forums) :D
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This knife is built like a Tank & is scary sharp ! it's got a 5" blade thats 3/16" thick, 2" wide & is made from 01 steel. Yes you will need to apply a little oil every once in a while but what a sweet knife !
 
Here is another of my favorites :D this is the SAR-5 by Mark Wohlwend (he is on the makers section here on BF)
This knife is made from 1095 so it will need a little oil every once in a while but Mark is the 1095 master:p this knife has a 5.5" blade & is 3/16" thick.
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This knife is a very tough knife & holds it edge really well ! This is my Current belt knife & I really like it !
 
Mebbe for $200 you should get two knives -- a reasonably stout fixed blade with around a 4"-5" blade, then a smaller folding knife with about a 3" blade. Plus, throw in a swiss army knife for another $20. I'm not a big fan of SAK's, but even so I've always got a couple lying around, 'cause they do come in handy once in a while.

For years (like, 25) my usual combo was an old Marble's Ideal and first a folding KBAR, then later a Buck 110. These days I've "modernized" with with a Swamp Rat Howling Rat or (more frequently) a Bark River Northstar and a Benchmade folder.
 
Just thought I'd add to my previous post. Don't consider a modern Marbles knife. Sigh, another knife brand that was once associated with quality products, but now makes mostly crap, like Gerber and Cold Steel.
 
Thanks for all the replies and advice. Well I ended up ordering a BRKT Bravo-1. I was able to hold one this weekend and I just loved the feel and weight of it.
 
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