Outstanding in the Field

[scdub]

Do you like field knives?

What is a field knife?

Surprisingly there was no definition on Wikipedia, so here’s something to start with:

I’d consider a field knife to be a “medium” length and weight fixed blade that can function well and ergonomically in a variety of roles, including wood carving, light chopping, light wood splitting, food preparation and self defense.

A field knife should be durable enough to function as a survival knife, although I wouldn’t consider all survival knives to be field knives.

These are my favorite outdoor knives:

The five pictured horizontally on the bottom right are all of my “field knives”.

From top to bottom - H.I. Mini Bowie; maxipescie Hunter; SYKCO AD6 with David Mary regrind; Busse Dirt Dart Steel Heart; and Swamp Rat Taliwhacker.

The two big ones on the left ( Bill Siegle Chopper/Fighter, Swamp Rat SawManDu) are too large/heavy for me to think of them as field knives, and I consider them large survival knives.

As for the smaller knives on top, (John Greco Fighter, Swamp Rat Custom Shop Desert Storm Fighter, SYKCO WS 10/20, Shosui Takeda Utility) they don’t have the chopping ability to rank as field knives for me, although I still consider them to be small survival knives.

I just received the Busse today. It fills out my collection as my heaviest (15oz.) and most “survival-like” field knife, and inspired this post. I haven’t used it yet, but I expect it to work well based on how it feels.

As you can see I prefer straight, clip or trailing points on outdoor fixed blades - the only one with a drop point in the picture is the AD6…

Please post pics of your favorite field knives, and let me know if you have a different definition.

 

[Bob Denman]

ANY knife will work out in the field just fine...

But a lot depends on the field you're working in with it!

 

[Bob Denman]

There's a difference whittling, or carving up a steak; and building a shelter, or field-dressing a deer.

 

[coolbreezy37]

I prefer either SYKCO/SRKW or Tops for my heavy duty field/woods useView attachment 2413849View attachment 2413850View attachment 2413854View attachment 2413856

 

[Danke42]

Winkler II Belt Knife

 

[Cobalt]

I think a field knife is anything you carry with you in the field. It probably depends on the field you are in. I would think a jack of all trades knife. Can do everything moderately well and maybe excellent in a few categories. Just a guess though.

 

[Alone]

For me, a "Field Knife" is a proven/robust 5" to 7.5" "Jack-of-all-Trades" fixie.

You can "camp" with it. You can "hike" with it. You can "hunt" with it. You can "defend" yourself with it... (*and even stab a Grizzly bear with it)

 

[Hammer67]

What is a field knife?

Depends on what I'm doing in the field. Am I hunting? Am I lightweight backpacking on a multi-day trip? Basecamping and processing firewood? Some knife designs will reasonably fill all those roles, but if I have my druthers, my choice for each of those field scenarios is probably going to be a bit different.

...but if you're going to make me pick one that does most of my field tasks quite well, it's gonna be (CPK FK2):

Combined with a folding saw and there isn't much I need to do that I wouldn't be able to.

 

[luethge]

I think of a “field” knife as something I’ll probably have on my belt. Requirement: reasonable size, durable build, capable of cutting ( crazy that actually needs to be said ), capable of bridging the gap between folder and chopper.

 

[Cobalt]

I'm enjoying all this knife porn.

 

[Keyopp]

Already mentioned, but hard to go wrong when “Field Knife” is right in the model name. Carothers FK2

 

[Crag the Brewer]

Do you like field knives?

What is a field knife?

Surprisingly there was no definition on Wikipedia, so here’s something to start with:

I’d consider a field knife to be a “medium” length and weight fixed blade that can function well and ergonomically in a variety of roles, including wood carving, light chopping, light wood splitting, food preparation and self defense.

A field knife should be durable enough to function as a survival knife, although I wouldn’t consider all survival knives to be field knives.

These are my favorite outdoor knives:
View attachment 2413820
The five pictured horizontally on the bottom right are all of my “field knives”.

From top to bottom - H.I. Mini Bowie; maxipescie Hunter; SYKCO AD6 with David Mary regrind; Busse Dirt Dart Steel Heart; and Swamp Rat Taliwhacker.

The two big ones on the left ( Bill Siegle Chopper/Fighter, Swamp Rat SawManDu) are too large/heavy for me to think of them as field knives, and I consider them large survival knives.

As for the smaller knives on top, (John Greco Fighter, Swamp Rat Custom Shop Desert Storm Fighter, SYKCO WS 10/20, Shosui Takeda Utility) they don’t have the chopping ability to rank as field knives for me, although I still consider them to be small survival knives.

I just received the Busse today. It fills out my collection as my heaviest (15oz.) and most “survival-like” field knife, and inspired this post. I haven’t used it yet, but I expect it to work well based on how it feels.

As you can see I prefer straight, clip or trailing points on outdoor fixed blades - the only one with a drop point in the picture is the AD6…

Please post pics of your favorite field knives, and let me know if you have a different definition.

Great looking knives.....I can't argue there, but..... Idk if I require chopping in my ideal "field knife" ?
Don't get me wrong, I Love chopping

Fields don't have trees....what's to chop?

Woods knives..... Now we're talking....haha!

I agree with all the knife porn, keep em coming

 

[luethge]

 

[carnifex knifeworks]

Do you like field knives?

What is a field knife?

Surprisingly there was no definition on Wikipedia, so here’s something to start with:

I’d consider a field knife to be a “medium” length and weight fixed blade that can function well and ergonomically in a variety of roles, including wood carving, light chopping, light wood splitting, food preparation and self defense.

A field knife should be durable enough to function as a survival knife, although I wouldn’t consider all survival knives to be field knives.

These are my favorite outdoor knives:
View attachment 2413820
The five pictured horizontally on the bottom right are all of my “field knives”.

From top to bottom - H.I. Mini Bowie; maxipescie Hunter; SYKCO AD6 with David Mary regrind; Busse Dirt Dart Steel Heart; and Swamp Rat Taliwhacker.

The two big ones on the left ( Bill Siegle Chopper/Fighter, Swamp Rat SawManDu) are too large/heavy for me to think of them as field knives, and I consider them large survival knives.

As for the smaller knives on top, (John Greco Fighter, Swamp Rat Custom Shop Desert Storm Fighter, SYKCO WS 10/20, Shosui Takeda Utility) they don’t have the chopping ability to rank as field knives for me, although I still consider them to be small survival knives.

I just received the Busse today. It fills out my collection as my heaviest (15oz.) and most “survival-like” field knife, and inspired this post. I haven’t used it yet, but I expect it to work well based on how it feels.

As you can see I prefer straight, clip or trailing points on outdoor fixed blades - the only one with a drop point in the picture is the AD6…

Please post pics of your favorite field knives, and let me know if you have a different definition.

That seigle looks sweet. Have you used it much?

 

[knoefz]

Sturdy, about 4"-7" so its not too much to carry but can take a good 'beating'
Suited for various tasks (like processing wood and food), so probably ffg or saber grind. A steel that can be sharpened (touched up) when away . Chopping is not very important to me, usually have a folding saw with mee as well.

 

[scdub]

That seigle looks sweet. Have you used it much?

Thanks - it’s been great.

I have used it quite a bit - here’s a link to an ongoing review if you’re interested:

https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/updated-july-29-bill-siegle-%E2%80%9Cchopper-fighter%E2%80%9D-warning-pic-heavy.1859269/

 

[ferider]

I prefer either SYKCO/SRKW or Tops for my heavy duty field/woods use

View attachment 2413849

Those chatter marks on the SYKCO on the left just rock !

 

[Guilherme Mantovani]

 

[Crag the Brewer]

Those chatter marks on the SYKCO on the left just rock !

Haha.... witness marks on the 1311?
the Iron Beaver was angry that week.

 

[TC]

These work well (LionSteel M7):



And then there's (borrowed pic of CRK Impofu)...