Newbie with a knife question

For Fixed I like Fallknivens, I believe the S1 would fit the bill nicely, convex edge, stainless, secure sheath (Although not as nice as others, the sheath is light and simple). Great handle that you wont slip off of even if your hands are bloody from skinning. Super tough and the weight is excellent. It is a 5" blade. Fallkniven has an F1 also but it is shorter and an A1 which is longer...6". The S1, you can find for 120 or so. Oh and forget about the coated version, they dont last and if you are skinning at night you can lose it in the dark easier. I have Barks, ESEE, Kabars, Ontario and Beckers, my fallknivens have been hands down my favorite. They have out performed all other listed. Only down fall is the warranty isnt as good as ESEE or Bark but I find the knife design so much better and the performance that I dont even worry about the warranty. Not to mention I have absolutely abused my Fallknivens far more than my other and they are still perfect! You dont need to spend 200 to get a stellar knife. Here an S1:

FALLKNIVEN%20S1%20BLANCO%20ZYTEL.JPG
 
Last edited:
Wait, capeing/Skinning, you might want something with a thinner blade. S1 might be a little thick. A benchmade bone collector 15000 might be better. I am not a huge fan of Benchmade fixed blades...they make a much better folder. Here the Bone Collector:

15000_15010_pair.jpg


Cold Steel make a Master Hunter also:

CS-36G-Cold-Steel-Master-Hunter.jpg


Not bad and will work best at your task. I have never used either but once again looks to fit the bill for what you need.
 
First of all, Welcome!

I'll chime in here with a different option for you. Don't get me wrong, I have and use quite a few of the above mentioned knives from ESEE (outstanding company and knives,) ZT (ditto,) Spyderco (Sal Glesser is a class act,) and Bark River (functional art.)

My dedicated skinner/caper/hunting knife (FB, I use a Buck 110 folder when hunting too) is a Knives of Alaska, Alaskan Hunter. It's a BEAST. D2 steel, so it's almost stainless, grippy "suregrip" handle scales that are easy to clean up when they get coated with blood, tallow/fat, etc. when butchering/skinning/field dressing, and the blade shape is, IMO, perfect for field dressing and skinning whitetails, etc.

The D2 takes and holds a frightningly sharp edge (even when I've dropped it to ~20° inclusive) and doesn't take much to maintain. Several seasons ago, I field dressed and skinned my buck and two culls that hunting buddies shot in one afternoon without touching up the edge at all. When I got home after we dropped the deer into the meat locker to hang, I spent longer cleaning the blood, hair & fat from the knife than I did stropping it back to a hair-popping edge.

In short, I'm a BIG proponent of the KoA for a hunting FB. Enjoy!
 
Regarding folders, I'd suggest looking at:
Zero Tolerance - 0550, when available
Spyderco - Military/Para Military/Police/Endura/Gayle Bradlely

Benchmade 710 (Knifeworks has it in M390)
Emerson Waved CQC8,
Bradley Alias II

For Fixed Blade Skinner:
Gene Ingram Knives ( a bit above the $200 price point, but very nice knives)
Falkniven eg: F1 or WM1 (suppose to be very comfortable to use, esp with smallish hands)
Dozier (see A.G.Russell): Yukon Pro Skinner, White River Skinner, Master Skinner, etc

Check out YouTube reviews by Virtuovice. A Japanese knife enthusiast with lots of Deer skinning experience.
 
soapboxpreacher said:
For Fixed I like Fallknivens, I believe the S1 would fit the bill nicely, convex edge, stainless, secure sheath (Although not as nice as others, the sheath is light and simple). Great handle that you wont slip off of even if your hands are bloody from skinning. Super tough and the weight is excellent. It is a 5" blade. Fallkniven has an F1 also but it is shorter and an A1 which is longer...6". The S1, you can find for 120 or so. Oh and forget about the coated version, they dont last and if you are skinning at night you can lose it in the dark easier. I have Barks, ESEE, Kabars, Ontario and Beckers, my fallknivens have been hands down my favorite. They have out performed all other listed. Only down fall is the warranty isnt as good as ESEE or Bark but I find the knife design so much better and the performance that I dont even worry about the warranty. Not to mention I have absolutely abused my Fallknivens far more than my other and they are still perfect! You dont need to spend 200 to get a stellar knife. Here an S1:

FALLKNIVEN%20S1%20BLANCO%20ZYTEL.JPG
Click to expand...

I'm seriously thinking of the Fallkniven A1 for my next (and hopefully last) fixed blade. If they would only do something about the flipping hideous sheaths. It's so ugly it hurts my eyes to look at it. So one faces using it or shelling out $$ for a custom sheath. :(

fna1z.jpg

A1 Courtesy of Knife Works
 
Fishin6061 said:
My experience with quality knives is limited to my benchmade mini griptillian that I have carried for about 5 years. I really appreciate the input. This is a great forum and will let my shooting and hunting buddies know about it.
Click to expand...
Since you're already familiar with the Benchmade Mini-Griptilian, why not get a full-sized Griptilian.
They're great knives IMO.

As for the skinning fixed-blade....

Check out this Buck Skinner I got at the BassPro Shoppe....

HPIM6642.jpg


HPIM6643.jpg


HPIM6650.jpg


HPIM6652.jpg


HPIM6657.jpg


HPIM6656.jpg
 
There are so many variables involved with folding knives that are need-based or personal taste. To get down to that one knife that works for you, you're either going to have to do your own homework or give more information about your preferences. Tip-up/tip-down, left/right hand, blade style, steel, scale material, lock mechanism, deployment, etc..

On the other hand, a knife that has to pull off skinning AND caping duties needs to be thin and light, have good belly and good point control. I can give a couple of good examples at opposite ends of your price limit. Going all the way out to the limit gives you uniqueness, quality, and possibly resale value. Staying down in price gives you uniqueness (sheath), quality, and more money to put into that folder.

http://www.dozierknives.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=133

http://agrussell.com/ag-russell-deer-hunter/p/AGDHhhhD2/
 
allenC said:
Since you're already familiar with the Benchmade Mini-Griptilian, why not get a full-sized Griptilian.
They're great knives IMO.

As for the skinning fixed-blade....

Check out this Buck Skinner I got at the BassPro Shoppe....

HPIM6642.jpg


HPIM6643.jpg


HPIM6650.jpg


HPIM6652.jpg


HPIM6657.jpg


HPIM6656.jpg
Click to expand...

That's a dandy! What are the specs on it?
 
Fishin6061 said:
...Second, I would like to finally invest in a dedicated capeing/skinning knife that is unique, fixed blade, and has a secure well made sheath. Same price range of up to $200. Thanks everybody.
Click to expand...

Welcome to the addiction Chris. For as you purchase these knives, you will become addicted. ;) Check newgrahmknives and knifecenter for on line good priced knives.

But I've been using the Street Beat as a all round butcher/skinner etc knife for a few years now. The VG10 steel holds up well. It's small enough to control well and has enough 'belly' to work for skinning and de-boning. Just keep care of your fingers as you work!! :p
 
Folder for self defense-
You want something you can deploy f-a-s-t.
I can not think of anything faster than a "Waved Emerson".
The only thing faster is a fixed blade (at least for me, maybe it is the practice?)
 
DSCF0034.jpg


DSCF0045.jpg


Images used without permission, orig. thread here:
http://www.spyderco.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37898

After a lot of time and $$, I've found the Spyderco Temperance 2 to be the best fixed blade for $200. Handle fits really nice and the blade is a great slicer while being able to be pressed into batoning if necessary (ie-hardly ever).
I used to have an ESSEE-6, and while it felt/looked great, it was too thick for food prep and seemed more suited to batoning wood and seemed like overkill everytime I took it out......anyway, my 2 cents ;).
 
I was thinking about your post more so about capeing and skinny...so today while I was out in the backyard working I reached for my 30 dollar Mora 2010 and thought this would be an absolute perfect knife for capeing and skinning. The blade is the perfect profile. The steel is excellent and they are some of the sharpest knives I have used this far. The sheath is plain and simple but works well and the knife stays put...at least mine does. The handle is very grippy. Many of us absolutely love these little knives, they work hard and play hard. I have punished mine many o-time and it has never let me down. I know you wanted to spend around 200...but for your use I believe this to be an awesome fit. Check it out:

1244843696-Mora2010_4.jpg


1244843705-Mora2010_1.jpg


1244843713-Mora2010_2.jpg


Save your money, You will be amazed at how incredible this little gem is. It is in my top 5 fixed blades and one I used a lot.
 
Fishin6061 said:
A friend of mine who is a LEO has a ZT knife and I am impressed!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...

My ZT 0350 is so well tailored for SD I cant think of another blade I would grab...and the price is right. $110! As I said before, I would pick up a mora 2010 for a fixed before you drop some big cash on a custom for capeing and skinning I think it will fit the bill so well you might not want a customer. Also, wood handles and blood dont mix well...when I was little guy I slipped on the grip and got a nice gash that left an even nicer scar from my wood handle skinner my buddy loaned me...never again!
 
Well, I can't help you much with the fixed blade, but I'm perfectly willing to recommend any of Cold Steel's more recent folders with the Triad lock.

Depending on how big is too big, the CS Rajah 1 or 2 could work. Waved deployment, 6 inch kukri blade, Triad lock.

If those are too big, maybe a Recon 1, American Lawman, or AK-47 (all from CS) would work for you. They all come with blackened blades, aggressive G10 scales, and Triad locks.

I'll also second the suggestion of a Spyderco Endura. I'm sure it's not the strongest folder out there, but it's comfortable in hand and quick to deploy. The scales and jimping are also excellent, and I think grippiness is a key factor for SD purposes.
 
Legoman0721 said:
Well, I can't help you much with the fixed blade, but I'm perfectly willing to recommend any of Cold Steel's more recent folders with the Triad lock.

Depending on how big is too big, the CS Rajah 1 or 2 could work. Waved deployment, 6 inch kukri blade, Triad lock.

If those are too big, maybe a Recon 1, American Lawman, or AK-47 (all from CS) would work for you. They all come with blackened blades, aggressive G10 scales, and Triad locks.

I'll also second the suggestion of a Spyderco Endura. I'm sure it's not the strongest folder out there, but it's comfortable in hand and quick to deploy. The scales and jimping are also excellent, and I think grippiness is a key factor for SD purposes.
Click to expand...

I like my American lawman a ton but I have some reservation about it. First it is big and the texture makes it difficult to get out of your pocket fast. Also for SD use, I like something assisted, simply because of speed, for example the ZT is quick out of pocket and open without having to snap my wrist. It is ready faster than any other blade I have. I typically dont like assisted opener but for SD I believe it to be necessary. My only other issues I have with the lawman is accidental opening. I have pulled it from my pocket and have caught the blade while pulling out only to have it partially opened...I carried it for 2 weeks and had this happen 3 times. Once got bite on the knuckle. But the lawman I really do like considering the above. The lock is (all cold Steel with Tri-Ad locks for that matter) simply the strongest I have seen yet! lock up tight no play or wiggle. The Texture is very course, this knife will not move around in your hand...period! The choil is well done. And the grip shape is one of the best and most comfortable ones yet only second to my ZT. I love the drop point geometry. Finally the cost..it is a tremendous value. But in the end I find myself wanting an assisted for SD. Sorry lego not trying to knock it because it is one of my favorite folders I just have had better luck with my ZT 0350 for SD. For bigger EDC I like the lawman better for the drop point is much nicer than the overly organic Ken Onion recurve on the ZT, I wish ZT would do a drop point in there speed safe design with a hand like the 0350
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top