Newcomer needs advice

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colinmcgee

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Jan 6, 2014
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Hi all. Newcomer to the forum and also to the world of knives. Can anyone recommend what I should start out with? I'm interested in an all-purpose knife, something like a Nessmuk, and think I should complement this with a folding knife of some sort. I spend most of my time gardening or doing small handy-type jobs but also hike and fish. Any ideas? And thanks in advance!
 
You might be best served by deciding on a size you like. Most of the knives seen here will have their closed length listed.

Next, how many blades are you thinking because there are lots of choices. The sky is the limit and welcome. I hope you enjoy the forum as much as I do.
 
Thanks. I'm assuming if I have a single blade like a Nessmuk as my primary knife, the other one should be smaller, with perhaps three blades on it. I doubt I'd ever need more than that. I lug a leatherman around with me too, so have a "tool-box" on hand.

What are your thoughts on the Nessmuk?
 
Plenty of good Nessmuk style knives around. I prefer a drop point style blade more but thats a personal thing. Open the thread titled "what traditional knife are you toting today" its full of great ideas. If your looking to spend under 50 you can look at Case, buck, opinel. Over 50 will be Queen, Great Eastern Cutlery or Cannal street.
 
My favorite starting pattern is and has been a trapper pattern. I like the slimmer profile closed, but I tend to like a slightly larger traditional than many. The current thread on the Northwoods Madison #44 fits nicely in the pocket and the bone choices are pretty nice. I settled on a #42 Great Eastern Cutlery (GEC) Missouri Trapper which is 4.25" closed and fairly heavy with two blades. The next size up is the #23 at 4.5" and I believe the #74 is the next size down from the #42 at about 3.5" or 3 7/8" (there abouts) closed length. Most seem to prefer a smaller size for their pocket. My suggestion is that you go with a smaller closed length until you feel that you want to move up in size for whatever reason.

I think if you look at the knives listed in the Northwoods and Great Eastern Cutlery knives in the 3.5" size are, you will have a good fit if you like the design. KnivesShipFree is the vendor and a sponsor.

The Victorninox swiss army knives are very popular. They typically have a single cutting blade and other tools that many find useful. I carry one every day. Love them.

On fixed blades, I like the Bark River knives quite a lot and there is a broad selection of sizes. I just never get around to buying one. The Fallkniven F1 is very popular a good using size. It is not a nessmuck design. The Kabar Becker knives are very popular as are ESEE knives and are fairly traditional and reasonably priced. These are designed for hard use. The ESEE 3 or ESEE 4 and BK-16/BK-17 are very good places to start if you don't want to spend a lot of money but get a very good using knife for the woods. I prefer drop points for hunting and field chores but that was not one of your interests you listed. So you could easily get a larger knife for woods craft activities. Again, I still find the 3-4" fixed blades the best all around size. But I own larger.
 
Thanks all - very helpful!

One more question - is there a better sharpening method and device than a plain whetstone? Can you suggest a pocket sharpener, if such a thing exists?
 
There are sharpening systems available with the Lansky stuff probably being the least expensive. Different ones are available. It sort of depends on "how sharp" you want or need as to choices. I use a traditional diamond stone and I recommend the ones from DMT. The 8" ones are about as small as I recommend for home use and I use a larger one with coarse and fine grits (DuoSharp) ($100ish). They sell some very compact ones that are not expensive and a size you could carry in the woods/field to sharpen a knife. The DMT Mini-Sharp is one of these; I have the red one which is fine grit and what I would carry in the woods if I felt I needed to have a sharpening resource with me. I also like the Norton India Stone which is a traditiona oil stone in fine and coarse grits. Works well on softer steels.

The "V" sharpeners are very easy to use if you are not used to sharpening by hand. I mostly use them for touch ups.
 
I seem to remember folks posting their Nessmuk trios included a moose for the smaller knife.
 
colinmcgee said:
I've been reading about George Sears and I like the idea that he used them. So no real good reason! :)
Click to expand...

Isn't the Sears book great!!

I think much of what Sears wrote about in terms of the healing powers of the outdoors is true in any time.

But, I think several things have changed in the details since his time. Can't camp using the destructive harvest approach he used any more in most places. Most folks don't hunt regularly to source their food so less need for game cleaning. And, of course, harder to carry a fixed blade when doing chores around the property and then running down to the local hardware store. Tends to get people excited.

Still, both fixed blade and folders have their place. Which is best depends on what makes you the happiest and what works best for you.

My recommendation for somebody starting out is to start slow in terms of dollars spent. Buy inexpensive knives at first and don't be afraid to experiment. Sears like the shape of the Nessmuck but you might not. I think Condor makes a relatively inexpensive one. Might be a good place to start.

A consideration for folders when used for gardening and in the woods is the ability for joint and lock (if it has one) to deal with dirt and grit. I can recommend the Opinel knives in this regard out of experience. Another to consider in this regard is the Svord Peasant.

Lastly I don't like hollow ground blades for the sort of things you've described. I like flat or convexed. Hope this helps.
 
Some gardeners use a hawkbill. If you are fishing for smaller fish, I've found a modified Turkish clipblade to work well. A Canadian belt knife might work better as a single bladed camp/hunting knife. I believe form follows function. What do you believe the major uses of your knives will be?
 
There are lots of Nessmuk patterns out there, but if you will be carrying a fixed blade for hiking and fishing, as well as handyman tasks, I would look at a fixed blade with a length of 3-4". I had Scott Gossman make a customized Kephart pattern for me with an approx 3.5" blade, before he stopped taking orders. I would look at offerings from him, David Farmer, any used Blind Horse knives you can find (they made the MUK and Camp MUK, both Nessmuk designs). JK makes some good EDCs. I've had a couple Nessmuks, not my thing but good blades. Fiddleback forge, most makers on here will have a basic EDC blade that will double duty as an EDC and game preparer and bushcraft tool.

As for folders, I am partial to single blades, but you can't go wrong with a Great Eastern cutlery trapper or a Great Eastern boys knife. The 73 trapper comes with either a single or double blade model, the boys knife has either a single blade or double blade, and numerous blade shape options.

A good and cheap Nessmuk trio would be a Mora, a SAK and an Estwing hatchet. The trio that I have tried is my Gossman mini Kephart (with 4" blade), my two blade GEC 73 I got from him, and a GB woodsmans axe. Add a .22 or .410 plinker to that, and you are all set. Now I just need to chip away at my girth to get that set out there!
 
colinmcgee said:
Thanks all - very helpful!

One more question - is there a better sharpening method and device than a plain whetstone? Can you suggest a pocket sharpener, if such a thing exists?
Click to expand...

Spyderco double stuff. It is great.
 
dont know anything about a nessmuk so i cant help there.

as far as folding knives; if you arent sure what you are looking for then you should start with the old reliables; victorinox (classic swiss army knife), stockman or trapper pattern folding knife, opinel (seriously, they look flimsy and gimmicky but they are great knives) and maybe a mora sheath knife or some sort of locking folder. none of these are or need be very expensive. you will likely need to carry and use a knife for a good old while to really know if you like it or not.
 
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