Recommend a knife for camping

Shotgun

Shotgun

Joined
Feb 3, 2006
Messages
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Okay so I must admit I'm pretty set on knives for camping. I don't really need another one but there is one niche I would like to get squared away and that is a light fixed blade for hiking/camping in the summer. For winter I'm set with an Izula 2 and a chopper but in summer I want to go lighter. Now the Izula 2 really does take care of my needs but I want a knife for self defense, food prep and for backup if I were to lose the izzy. So, what I want is:

Blade about 5-7 inches long
Lightweigt so something like 1/8" thick or less
Stainless steel. I'm thinking something relatively easy to sharpen, maybe 440C or 154cm. Maybe 12c27.
Has to have fighter characteristics. Meaning not too much belly and an adequate guard.
Full tang.

The Benchmade Nimravus is very close to what I want but a little on the short side bladewise and also I hate finger grooves. And although it's a little thick at 3/16" the Ratmandu would be perfect if it weren't for the choil. So, what's out there?
 
I second the ka-bar. Full size fighting knife. Fills all of your requirements. I have the partially serrated version and its awesome
 
I'm not sure what your price range is, but take a look at the buck 650 (nighthawk) and the zero tolerance ZT 0170.
 
Nighthawks are another good option. From top to bottom, Ka-bar USMC, Buck 650 Nighthawk, Buck 655 Short Nighthawk.

USMC_Nighthawks.jpg


These are the older style Nighthawks before Buck collaborated with TOPS who started drilling holes into a perfectly serviceable knife. They can both be had fairly readily sub-$50 on a certain auction site.
 
One light fixed blade that is kinda off most folks radar is by Boker.It's very easy to sharpen and takes a razor edge.The steel is 440C,comes with a decent leather sheath and light enough to forget it's on you're belt.Sorry for the poor photo.
 
You could probably go with a fallkniven, ive never personally owned one but it seems to fit what youre looking for. either the F1 or S1. I do have the Cold steel Srk in AUS-8, I like the size of that knife. moderately lightweight. but im not a fan of that steel. I have heard that the carbon srk's are incredible knives.

What about a tough folding knife? like a ZT or something?
 
sisk61 said:
You could probably go with a fallkniven, ive never personally owned one but it seems to fit what youre looking for. either the F1 or S1.
Click to expand...

The S1 is the only one of those two that fits the size requirement and doesn't really have that much of a guard to it. Both great knives though.

FalkS1.jpg


One thing that might help is if the OP gave us an idea of his budget for this knife.
 
I picked up a cold steel outdoorsman for similar reasons to you Shotgun.
It gets no love around here but is well balanced and comfortable to hold, has a really functional blade shape and gets screaming sharp.

The "bone breaker" as tested in my kitchen has cracked a few lamb/beef bones but it shines as an awesome firesteel scraper. Enough spine width at the tip for batoning past the breaker edge.

Going to try to use it more this year instead of always strapping on the esee-4 or trailmaster, a nice inbetweener at 6in.

I wish to hell they never choiled the mini-magnum camp......who the hell needs a choil on a 5 in blade, just hold it and use the edge at the hilt. It makes me sad as both magnums really appeal to me but can't jump on the choil wagon.
 
Brad "the butcher";10674247 said:
I wish to hell they never choiled the mini-magnum camp......who the hell needs a choil on a 5 in blade, just hold it and use the edge at the hilt. It makes me sad as both magnums really appeal to me but can't jump on the choil wagon.
Click to expand...

I know what you mean. I'll never understand it. They're popular though. Some guys even cut choils into blades that don't have them. I've never needed a choil on a knife, even the big ones, so I'm not sure what they're doing with their knives that it's such a necessity.

Great suggestions so far.
 
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