Recommendation? Purchase advice for a fixed blade (for outdoors/camping) and a folding knife (camping/EDC)

[TheArab]

I know, that's why I am fortunate to have the chance to buy from an US-website, have them ship it to a friend in the US and pick it up, when I visit my friend this summer So I will definitely compare prices between buying in Europe and from a website in the US.

Hello, Welcome!


Like you a new member, & impressed by the wealth of information here. Not new to knives though..

So i'm just curious, your first proper knife right? If so, why not pick it up in person when you're there? It won't ruin your schedule..

 

[TheAustrian]

So i'm just curious, your first proper knife right? If so, why not pick it up in person when you're there? It won't ruin your schedule..

I would love to do so, but as I won't be in any major cities in the US or Canada during my travels, I am afraid that I won't be able to find a shop that has a good selection and offers good prices. I will fly directly into Lewiston, Idaho, then head to a wedding in Sun Valley, Idaho and after that drive directly north to the Canadian national parks in Alberta and BC (Banff, Jasper etc).

 

[Just Tom.]

I vote to keep it simple and inexpensive.
Honestly, an Opinel #8 or bigger would do everything you need. The Buck 110 LT (plastic handle) would be another good choice. If you want a fixed blade, go with a Mora or the equivalent.

Consider the tasks you will actually encounter in the outdoors:
-Food preparation.
-Food preparation.
-Food preparation.
(Opening cans can be done with a tiny folding military-style can opener)
-Cutting twine and whatnot for putting up a tarp.
-Maybe fishing and hopefully cleaning fish (also food prep, I guess).
-Making a fire: If the woods in Canada and Austria are anything like most places I have been, there will be plenty of dead branches laying around for firewood. You won’t use your knife for this.

If the branches are too big to break with your knee or foot, and you don’t feel like feeding them into the fire a little at a time from one end, a cheap folding pruning saw is an ideal option and a lot less work and weight than a hatchet or big chopper.

A blade over 4” is too cumbersome for most things.

 

[Sid Post]

Tough to beat a Cold Steel SRK or MH for general camp use - just pick the steel you like. I’m probably in the minority, but after the former I really can cover most of the rest with a Swiss Army knife. An ax is nice to have too, depending on what you’re up for building.

The Terävä Jääkäripuukko is going to be very similar and will be in a really good blade steel. The Victorinox SAK is legendary for many people!

The Stubai (sp?) Valley area likely has similar options local to the OP though. The Cold Steel SRK is a great knife for a lot of people though and I really like mine @ ~$60 in Carbon V steel.

 

[Sid Post]

I would love to do so, but as I won't be in any major cities in the US or Canada during my travels, I am afraid that I won't be able to find a shop that has a good selection and offers good prices. I will fly directly into Lewiston, Idaho, then head to a wedding in Sun Valley, Idaho and after that drive directly north to the Canadian national parks in Alberta and BC (Banff, Jasper etc).

In-store purchases of knives like this tend to be cost-prohibitive compared to online sales. I'm all for 'brick and mortar' stores but, the prices differences are simply too much. Finding a store with much selection will be your next problem even in larger cities. One may have a good selection of Spyderco, another Benchmade, etc. but, in my experience, very few have a good selection of multiple brands in folders and almost none have larger fixed blades.

The Banff and Jasper areas are awesome! They remind me a lot of Southern Germany and Austria with a general European feel. Have you considered going a bit South to the Yellowstone area, or perhaps with your friend in the area that has been covered already?

If the COVID craziness dies down, I'm going back to the Banff area myself.

 

[Sid Post]

Regarding Mora being "cheap", that isn't true of the Garberg in my opinion. In fact, I think that general impression is a big reason the Garberg isn't more popular than it is outside of the "Mora Tribe"!

Mora does tend to bring out a different type of Camper, Hiker, Outdoorsman. Heck, I get excited by something like a Kansbol too! The thin tip cuts food really well and the thicker section towards the handle is good for notching sticks and similar things all in one knife. While not a good choice for the types of tasks this user has, it also serves to show why I DON"T view Mora as just a cheap knife!

 

[TheAustrian]

The Banff and Jasper areas are awesome! They remind me a lot of Southern Germany and Austria with a general European feel. Have you considered going a bit South to the Yellowstone area, or perhaps with your friend in the area that has been covered already?

I am very excited about the trip, can't wait to go! I have been to Yellowstone twice, it's beautiful there, but this time, Canada is our no 1 priority

 

[VallesRobertsonII]

I would suggest a Boker Arbolito Bushcraft for a fixed blade but it’s closer to 4in than 5 and about $135-170. For a folder, I would recommend the TOPS m.s.f. 4 it’s 3.25in and $100-150 or so

I would also suggest, if a 4in fixed is something you’d consider, the Condor Bushlore, as a less expensive option than the Boker Arbolito... and if I could give a recommendation that isn’t within your parameters but I think work especially well with each other, and are much less expensive; the Cold Steel Bushman as a fixed blade (7in), and a Victorinox from their Rangergip 130mm series (the saw is a nice option to have)

 

[Sid Post]

So i'm just curious, your first proper knife right? If so, why not pick it up in person when you're there? It won't ruin your schedule..

There aren't many shops that carry a selection of good knives in the USA. I can buy a lot of cheap Chinese sourced (generally) knives and some random selection of USA made slip joints of fixed blades pretty easily but, I don't recall ever seeing something like an ESSE in a retail shop. If you see a premium knife in the retail shop, it will be much more expensive than the same knife at a reputable webshop.

You really have to go to a blade show like I did this past Friday and Saturday to see a selection of good knives at reasonable prices.

I scored some White River Knives at the Texas Bladeshow in Dallas, Texas. This one in CPM 3V (not my actual knife) was only $250!

The little White River FIRECRAFT® FC 3.5 Pro is another winner!