Ok...Need your expertise on which small fixed blade?

G

Garrett Lucas

Joined
May 14, 2001
Messages
34
Here it is...

Large Survival/Choppers--Got it covered with 3 Busse's and a couple of Camillus/Becker models.

Machetes--Covered again with GI models, and the Becker Patrol model.

Axes/Hatches--Gransfors, Gerber, and Firestone Belt Axe.

Folders--Not much but a few Spyderco's, Cold Steels, and a Cuda

Now...I am lost as to which knife to get for smaller chores every day and around the camp. I am looking for something in 3-4" blade length, and would like for it to double as a hideout piece (where practical) when I'm not in the woods. I'm a little lost with all the models out there by all of the makers. To be honest, if Busse made what I was looking for (like the Mean Street), I would probably get one of those in the INFI steel. I like the INFI, but when it comes to the other different types for a small fixed blade like Talonite, BG42, ATS-34, D2, 1050 and so on, I'm a little lost.

To give you an idea, I've been looking at the Shadow III by Chris Reeves. It's about what I'm looking for, but I'm reading different things about whether it's a custom piece or not, and I'm a little confused by the prices that are out there. On his site, one is listed for 315.00, but then I see them elsewhere for about half that. What am I missing?

Any information on steel types, or models that you might recommend would be greatly appreciated. I'm looking for something under $200.00, but which is hell for stout, and holds a great edge. I'm just not sure which models or types of steel is going to be the best answer for me. Can anyone point me in the right direction as to which model I might look at?

Thanks ahead for any assistance you can give.

Garrett
 
I could be wrong- but a shadow III is 185.00 on the REEVES http://www.chrisreeve.com/ site. Several Of the online guys have them, I had just moved the last I had.... It is a production piece and a great little knife. You can also find the Busse meanstreets if you look and they will be more of the 300.00 and up prices you were seeing. I would also check out the camilus talon and the rekat pikuni, and even the benchmade 180 outbounder.... there are plenty of price ranges to choose from. Oh and BTW I just picked up a few of the Greco Companions (5 inch blades) from bladeart for 50.00 each and all I can say is for the money WOW....
 
Garrett,
If your looking for a small fixed blade knife, take a
look at Bob Dozier Knives. Several small models to choose
from. Sharp isn't the word for them. They come in D2.
Great knives. I'm sure you'll get more recommendations for Dozier's
knives.
Almost forgot, http://www.dozierknives.com/
 
Have you looked into a Busse Basic model 3. It seems to fit your requirements, and its a Busse, which you seem to like. Even though its a 3-4 inch blade, its still ground from their 1/4" modified INFI stock.
 
Check out the many offerings by Bob Dozier. Customs at a very reasonable price. The prior poster gave you the site address.
 
Noticed this over on BladeArt -- it's a David Dempsey "Tactical Utility Knife". Sounds kinda like what you were talking about. I know it looks perfect for ME! :-)

david_4.jpg
 
I could be wrong- but a shadow III is 185.00 on the REEVES http://www.chrisreeve.com/ site.
Click to expand...
You're right on this. I think I may have just looked at the wrong model for the price.

Have you looked into a Busse Basic model 3. It seems to fit your requirements, and its a Busse, which you seem to like. Even though its a 3-4 inch blade, its still ground from their 1/4" modified INFI stock.
Click to expand...

I have, but they are a little unweildy for what I am looking for. I'm looking for something that is not as wide as a Busse...Let's see, something a little more supple.

I've been reading all I can this afternoon on the steels. It seems like it's a toss-up between BG42 and Talonite...I guess I'll just wait on everybody's comments...

Thanks so far!
 
Check out this thread that shows my WD Pease fixed blade, you can find some around but not many, as Mr. Pease is mainly a folder person now and his fixed blades are not plentiful but very sought after, the price on one like that is around $350 if you can find one, there are several with stag scales, mine have very nice sheep horn and love it a lot!

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=167588

Also check out at

http://www.bladeart.com/artists/mike_snody/mike_snody.htm

Mike Snody has some very well thought out small blades too!

Enjoy the search!
G2
 
For some cheaper production models, try these:

Benchmade Nimravus: Does double duty as a chore/save yer butt blade.
Gerber Yari: conceals easy (get a custom sheath from Normark), 154-cm steel. Doziers look great too, and also check out Newt Livesay's offerings. The Air Assault or Company Knife should fit the bill nicely. All blades mentioned are less than $200
 
I doubt you'll get a Talonite blade for under $200.
Take a look at the Camillus Talon Talonite. You can get
it on the net for around $230. Nice production knife.
 
Garrett, I've been wearing a Buck 102 in a kydex IWB sheath lashed to my boot for more than 5 years now. No rust, holds a decent edge, is tough as a nail, available nearly everywhere at $50 or so and I won't have a breakdown if it falls in the river!
 
Garrett,

I spent the day drying out from a ten day camping, fishing, canoeing trip. I took three knives, all in BG-42, none of which suffered in the least. Ilove this steel!

The knife that saw the most use is the one that might interest you...a special order from Michael at Running Dog. Mine is a Wharncliffe but Michael has a number of other styles.

7.5", BG-42, cordwrapped handle, some file work, fob and a great little kydex sheath. $140

Light enough to wear as a neck knife, big enough for most chores. I used it for food prep, cutting rope, whittling...I even gutted a lake trout. I brought a sharpener but never used it, the knife will still shave arm hair.

Check out Running Dog at:

http://www.runningdogknife.bigstep.com/

You can't go wrong with Bob Dozier and Newt makes some good stuff too, but it's difficult to impossible to get their stuff in BG-42.

Hope this helps. :)


Steve-O
 
Dozier makes sense, but I think you'd be very happy with a Fallkniven. You could get two different ones for that price.
 
I think you might give some consideration to the fact that Chris Reeve doesn't use BG-42 for his one piece knives. I read somewhere where he talked about it's tendency towards brittleness.

D2 is a pretty tricky steel to get right. Everybody is in agreement that Bob Dozier gets it right. I think you could find a substantial # of handmade knives in your price range, but I doubt many would outperform Dozier's. Sooner or later, I expect I'll read something really negative about him, but am still waiting for my first such experience.

I think the Fallkniven S-1 might be a very good knife for your goals. Heavy blade stock in VG-10, which many are rating as good as BG-42 anyhow. Even the A-1, though it has a 6" blade. You can break the A-1 if you can muster 675 pounds at the guard.

Your price limit is a bit low for forged blades. That's where you're likely to find the real high performance blades, but all that work and expertise costs.

Heck, you could probably do worse than the CRKT Companion, for $30.
 
Originally posted by Chip
I doubt you'll get a Talonite blade for under $200.
Take a look at the Camillus Talon Talonite. You can get
it on the net for around $230. Nice production knife.
Click to expand...

You can get one for around 205.00 USD new or slightly used (I saw one for 160.00) or its steel version for around 60-80.00 USD

David
 
hell i'd get a CRKT or a polkawski custom companion, would fit the criteria.....


sifu
 
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