Quality camping/woodcraft fixed blade

Deinos

Deinos

Joined
Feb 7, 2016
Messages
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Looking to pick up my first high quality fixed blade for camping duties, some light bushcraft duties (more mucking about and fun than heavy duty work, tbh). Looking for recommendations in the $150 - $250 range. As far as makers, I really like what I have seen from LT Wright and BRKT.

My sharpening skills are so so, as I have just really gotten into the knife hobby (always had and used knives growing up, but just getting the enthusiast bug now). So, that might influence blade steel and grind recommendations.

Thanks in advance!
 
If you like Bark River and in the 150-250 range, I recommend the Bravo 2 for camp duties and light bushcraft. Great all around knife in A2 steel, a bit on the pricey side but you get what you pay for. You'll never regret getting it. Although it's way too nice looking to pound tent stakes with its end. That would be a definite no-no! Use a rock instead for that.
 
If you like BRK, and want a knife designed for outdoor recreation, why not consider one of their knives designed for that purpose?

(As opposed to something like a Bravo, which is part of their Search & Rescue series...."The Search & Rescue Series of Bark River Knives makes the crossover from pure sporting use to tactical and para-military applications. The knives of this series are overbuilt for most sporting use and made to stand up to the rigors of hard use in extreme environments that could be encountered by military personnel or law enforcement officers in both normal and tactical use."

http://www.barkriverknives.com/index/series/search-rescue-2/

Something in their Bushcraft series seems like the obvious choice, like their Aurora.

Never got the "Bravo" obsession in this context...it wasn't designed for outdoor recreation. The Aurora was. Its like people love BRK and their designs, and then ignore what their knives were specifically designed to do.

Odd.
 
Take a look at various brands of puukko; Wood Jewel, Woodsknife or my favorite Ahti knives. Various styles to choose from and are tried and true outdoors/bushcraft knives for many Nordic peoples for years and years.
Rich
 
Keep maintenance in mind as well.

I am a huge fan of Beckers. The BK16 is one of the best all around field knives I've found in crovan 1095 steel. The only downside is you need to make sure you keep up with your maintenance or it will get some rust on you (keeping some oiled up patches in a ziplock folded up is an easy way to do this). Sometimes you don't have the option to maintain your equipment or may be in a very wet or humid environment. In those cases I use my fallkniven F1 (most recently came with me to 11B school). On multi day field exercises with sweat and everything else drenching me, it remained completely rust free. Sometimes stainless is a very nice option. Keep in mind some of the super steels like vg10, s30v, etc keep edges well but can be hard to sharpen for some people.
 
I'll second the Finnish puukko recommendation and also recommend the Swede Mora or Hultafors or Norwegian Helle knives. Check lamnia . com
 
In that range, would you be interested in buying one from a Maker here on bladeforums? http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php/754-For-Sale-Fixed-Blades

For example, I really want this one but am hesitant at this time due to my current inventory of knives:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1427223-Black-Micarta-G10-ss-steel

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Or what about something like this (CPM-3v @61Rc)
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1429791-3v-bushcrafters-blue-honeycomb-and-Burl

ea7f3a91cbcf63cb769bb3367f1c5469.jpg


Both of the above are well within your price range.

From production companies, there is a plethora to choose from. My main recommendation right now would be one of these: http://surviveknives.com/gso-4-7-factory-2nds/

2015_11_06_15.54.57__54369.1460338324.1280.1280.jpg


Or are you looking for something that is more "traditional"?
 
good solid knife from a maker here on the forums. 4.5" of 3V steel, beautiful scales, and designed with use in mind. not to mention just gorgeous!

bbb43b84f20ef27c88eab26fee20e1ad.jpg
 
marcinek said:
No! That knife is damn near perfection. What is that scale!? Some type of burl?
Click to expand...

agreed! it's just been so hard to let go of. I just enjoy looking at it! you got it right, my friend. buckeye burl for the scales [emoji4]
 
Agree with the folk who say to hang out over in the knifemaker's exchange section. Lots of talent there, and right in your price range.

Case in point... bloody_pawprint's offering (above) is just simply sweet as hell.
 
I would look at Bushcrafter and Aurora in 3V. I have the Bushcrafter in natural canvas micarta and I really LOVE that knife. It's my most used outdoorsknife besides my Fällkniven A1 wich I also can recommend.
 
If you are just starting in Bushcrafting and want something for dicking about in the woods then I suggest these:
https://www.varusteleka.com/en/prod...alsoref=terava-skrama-bush-knife-carbon-steel
https://www.varusteleka.com/en/prod...ava-skrama-bush-knife-carbon-w-leather-sheath

With the exchange rate and postage being very low they are a bargain. These are proper tools made by Fins who know a thing or two about bushcraft. If sold out there will be more along soon (they sell out because they are that good, steel is excellent).

When you have have gained a bit more experience you can from these decide what you want to suit your style better. I like Survive Knives as suggested above. Frankly, there is so much choice. The above are fantastic and won't break the bank, and in the future if you unpgrade to something flashier they can be spares.

40 years later I'm still dicking about in the woods doing bushcrafty stuff. Its fun.
 
marcinek said:
If you like BRK, and want a knife designed for outdoor recreation, why not consider one of their knives designed for that purpose?

(As opposed to something like a Bravo, which is part of their Search & Rescue series...."The Search & Rescue Series of Bark River Knives makes the crossover from pure sporting use to tactical and para-military applications. The knives of this series are overbuilt for most sporting use and made to stand up to the rigors of hard use in extreme environments that could be encountered by military personnel or law enforcement officers in both normal and tactical use."

http://www.barkriverknives.com/index/series/search-rescue-2/

Something in their Bushcraft series seems like the obvious choice, like their Aurora.

Never got the "Bravo" obsession in this context...it wasn't designed for outdoor recreation. The Aurora was. Its like people love BRK and their designs, and then ignore what their knives were specifically designed to do.

Odd.
Click to expand...

I don't see what the fuss would be between "designed for outdoor recreation" or tactical use. The Bravo 2 (or 1) would be good for any use. It is really good for camping duties, which vague requirement was specified by the OP. The Aurora would be on the small side for such use, in my view. I recommended a mid-size knife because all the OP said is basic camp duties. It wouldn't appear that he is doing the small knife/large knife option, which would be more ideal. So as far as I can see, a mid size knife that does everything well would be the better fit. It all depends what the OP wants, obviously. Bark River makes all kinds of knives. Check out on dlttrading (post #14). They have all the Bark River knives, with good photos and specifications.
 
GrReaper said:
I don't see what the fuss would be between "designed for outdoor recreation" or tactical use. The Bravo 2 (or 1) would be good for any use. It is really good for camping duties, which vague requirement was specified by the OP. The Aurora would be on the small side for such use, in my view. I recommended a mid-size knife because all the OP said is basic camp duties. It wouldn't appear that he is doing the small knife/large knife option, which would be more ideal. So as far as I can see, a mid size knife that does everything well would be the better fit. It all depends what the OP wants, obviously. Bark River makes all kinds of knives. Check out on dlttrading (post #14). They have all the Bark River knives, with good photos and specifications.
Click to expand...

Yes. They make an several entire series of knives designed specifically for outdoor recreation. The Bravo isn't among them.

Say what you will about Mike Stewart, but he is a careful and adept designer of knives for specific purposes.

You would think one who trusts the BRK product enough to buy one would also trust the design intent of the of the company's founder and driving force.

If not....why buy one?
 
I would recommend anything from:

LT. Wright
Battle horse knives.

Or, if you don't mind buying on the secondary market, from both;

Blind horse knives.

Simple, well built, hard working knives....
 
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