Recommendations on Muti Task Woodcraft Knife

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waveone

Joined
Jan 12, 2014
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Just like the title states gents. Looking for a versatile woodcraft knife with rugged features, tough steel like D2 or S30-35v which holds it's edge.
It's use can range from cutting, chopping if necessary and gutting/skinning when needed.

I've looked at everything from the ZT 0121 to the ESEE 3mil/ or Esse4, Tops Black Eagle and even the Reeves Nyala.

Being a back country hunter who has been stuck out in the elements more than once I need the performance without being too cumbersome. Furthermore I would rather it have a bit more weight for heavier cutting tasks than being too light.

Any direction would be greatly appreciated.
 
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The ESEE 6 would fit your needs better than the ESEE 3 or 4 you listed. It's going to have more weight than the others and ESEE's 1095 is extremely tough for woods use. If not that, the Survive! GSO 5 is another good option. That one may be more difficult to find as they don't produce them in the numbers ESEE does.
 
I have the 4 and I think it's slightly small to do larger tasks like chopping or batoning. It's strong enough and holds the edge really well; it's just at the cusp of being too small for those tasks. Great camp knife, great all around. But if it's going to be your main knife for light to heavy work I'd suggest the Laser strike or Esee6.

Most will also suggest the Ka-Bar BK's. (they seem to match Esee's quality at a lower price) Esee has that warranty though.
 
Based on the knives you mentioned, it sounds like you are in the market for a 4" blade roughly. I really like the ESEE 4, but I agree with Silvanus, the ESEE 6 would do everything it sounds like you want to do. The Survive! GSO is a great knife, and you can order a GSO 5.1 from the Survive! website right now, and that too would satisfy your request and its CPM 3V steel. For D2 options, you should look at the Boker Vox Rold Camp Knife, they get pretty good recommendations around here. For S30V, look at the Benchmade Bushcrafter, for S35VN check the Kabar Snody Big Boss.

Then there are the standards, Becker BK2, BK7, BK10, BK12, BK 16, ESEE 5, PLSK1 from Blind Horse (If you can find one), TOPS BOB. So many options, i'm sure others will recommend more.
 
Great feedback Gents, thank you all.

To clarify I am not married to the D2 or even the S30-35v though they seem to be correct for the task. The ESEE line has always intrigued me but the 4 did seem a tad small and not certain about the 1095 carbon steel.
Definitely like the Ratmandu model or a couple different Busse models though they tend to get a bit too big for my intended use I think.

N7titan, What is the laser strike knife you refer to?
 
Esee laser strike, just a tad longer than the 4 and smaller than the 5 and 6.
RCLSPnw.jpg


People who find the handle on the 4 a little small usually like the ergos on the LS.
Esee's 1095 is really great, on a recent camping trip it really shined compared to the cheapos my friends had brought. I baton with my 4 and never had any chipping or rolling. Just some stropping here and there and it's rarin to go.(maybe 3 times since I bought it months ago)

Edit: Hell, I myself found the 4's handle to be a little uncomfortable. Not in length, but the scales are kind of flat and thin. I had no problem redoing the scales myself with wood. I gave myself a more comfy handle and it's hands down my favorite knife. Perfect for someone who loves the outdoors but isn't really out there enough to need a big chopper.
L0190389.jpg
 
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Bark River Bravo-1:



It's the best "all-around" woods/camp knife I have ever used. I prefer the A-2 steel and a wood handle.
 
n7titan said:
Esee laser strike, just a tad longer than the 4 and smaller than the 5 and 6.
RCLSPnw.jpg


People who find the handle on the 4 a little small usually like the ergos on the LS.
Esee's 1095 is really great, on a recent camping trip it really shined compared to the cheapos my friends had brought. I baton with my 4 and never had any chipping or rolling. Just some stropping here and there and it's rarin to go.(maybe 3 times since I bought it months ago)

Edit: Hell, I myself found the 4's handle to be a little uncomfortable. Not in length, but the scales are kind of flat and thin. I had no problem redoing the scales myself with wood. I gave myself a more comfy handle and it's hands down my favorite knife. Perfect for someone who loves the outdoors but isn't really out there enough to need a big chopper.
L0190389.jpg
Click to expand...


I have a fondness for woodworking and was once a .frame/finish carpenter/cabinet maker by trade . You did a fabulous job on the scales. Beautiful work


Edit: Link2... the knife looks very capable, but how does the handle work for you b/c it looks to be a bit on the slender side. Maybe not though it looks that way
 
waveone said:
I have a fondness for woodworking and was once a .frame/finish carpenter/cabinet maker by trade . You did a fabulous job on the scales. Beautiful work


Edit: Link2... the knife looks very capable, but how does the handle work for you b/c it looks to be a bit on the slender side. Maybe not though it looks that way
Click to expand...

Thanks a bunch :D
Well then you know how simple it would be to replace pretty much any set of scales with something more your style.

Bark River is one of those brands that people can't praise enough, do a bladeforums search. Nothing but good stuff.
 
In addition to the "standards" above, be sure to check out the Finnish leukus. You can start at J.Martinni Knives and a few other Nordic makers.
 
n7titan said:
Edit: Hell, I myself found the 4's handle to be a little uncomfortable. Not in length, but the scales are kind of flat and thin. I had no problem redoing the scales myself with wood. I gave myself a more comfy handle and it's hands down my favorite knife. Perfect for someone who loves the outdoors but isn't really out there enough to need a big chopper.
L0190389.jpg
Click to expand...

Beautiful job. I'd buy 'em.
 
I have a GSO 7/7 in 3V. Excellent for all tasks and the edge retention is amazing. What I especially like about the knife is its balance, very light in the hand. Bits into wood when chopping like a my BK2, just a lot lighter. The handles are comfortable as well. I prefer the drop point design of this knife over the Esee 6 for plunging and hammering through material, better physics. Great knife!
 
I love the Nyala. In the $100-150 range, the Laser Strike is a pretty good deal. A slightly better deal might be the Enzo Trapper which comes in O1 (around the size of the ESEE 3 or 4). The trapper looks much better and, from what I understand, O1 is a slightly better steel than 1095. It also comes in D2 ad S30v. I gave one to my girlfriend one in O1 and was cringing as I watched her use it to cut a fish on a rock yesterday.

Also, I don't have experience with these, but the Entrek knives (the "Badger" in particular) look pretty good... they're all in 440C.
 
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waveone said:
Looking for a versatile woodcraft knife with rugged features, tough steel like D2 or S30-35v which holds it's edge.
It's use can range from cutting, chopping if necessary and gutting/skinning when needed.
Click to expand...

I am surprised that no one has pointed out already that the steels mentioned, D2 and S30V and S35Vn are among the LESS tough steels you could select, though each would be an excellent choice for skinning/gutting game.

A great meny knives could suit your needs. My personal recommendations for production companies are Swamp Rat Knife Works for a heavy-duty tool or Survive! Knives for something with more corrosion resistance. You can try the exchanges here on BF for some models which aren't available direct from factory:
Bussekin - http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php/804-Busse-Swamprat-Scrapyard-Knives-For-Sale
Others - http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php/891-For-Sale-Production-Fixed-Blades-(Individual)

But a far better notion is to look at the knife-makers market here: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php/754-For-Sale-Fixed-Blades
The prices are better than you might expect, and the geometry on many of these knives can be FAR better than you'd get from a production company. If you don't see something you like, you can contact a maker directly and design one of your own!

For example, a knife by MLL Knives: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...ON-knife-O1-steel-very-nice-and-unique-(SOLD)

120920132148.jpg



n7titan said:
Bark River is one of those brands that people can't praise enough, do a bladeforums search. Nothing but good stuff.
Click to expand...

This is ... wow, completely NOT the case. If the comments from well-known individuals in the knife-industry as well as investors and a number of former customers are anything to go by, BRKT is one of those to be VERY wary of. Take the advice, do a BF search of "mike stewart" (BRKT owner). For the money you spend on a Bark River, you could get a handmade knife from a maker of good repute who won't flame you if the knife suffers major damage when put to use as intended.
 
I'm curious about the steel selections.

Primarily because the Bark River, which seem to be a great knife is made of A2? What is that steel because that steel does not appear to be at the upper echelons of steel performance evals. Then again neither does the Busse SR 101 , yet they are highly sought after .

Does anyone have any thoughts on these metals or perhaps others which perform well for the tasks at hand?.
 
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chiral.grolim said:
I am surprised that no one has pointed out already that the steels mentioned, D2 and S30V and S35Vn are among the LESS tough steels you could select, though each would be an excellent choice for skinning/gutting game.

A great meny knives could suit your needs. My personal recommendations for production companies are Swamp Rat Knife Works for a heavy-duty tool or Survive! Knives for something with more corrosion resistance. You can try the exchanges here on BF for some models which aren't available direct from factory:
Bussekin - http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php/804-Busse-Swamprat-Scrapyard-Knives-For-Sale
Others - http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php/891-For-Sale-Production-Fixed-Blades-(Individual)

But a far better notion is to look at the knife-makers market here: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php/754-For-Sale-Fixed-Blades
The prices are better than you might expect, and the geometry on many of these knives can be FAR better than you'd get from a production company. If you don't see something you like, you can contact a maker directly and design one of your own!

For example, a knife by MLL Knives: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...ON-knife-O1-steel-very-nice-and-unique-(SOLD)

120920132148.jpg





This is ... wow, completely NOT the case. If the comments from well-known individuals in the knife-industry as well as investors and a number of former customers are anything to go by, BRKT is one of those to be VERY wary of. Take the advice, do a BF search of "mike stewart" (BRKT owner). For the money you spend on a Bark River, you could get a handmade knife from a maker of good repute who won't flame you if the knife suffers major damage when put to use as intended.
Click to expand...


This - is some of the information I was looking for. It would be interesting to see you expand on those thoughts. In terms of BRKT, the product looks like a great knife though the owner may be just a douche....
 
All good recommendations above. The GSO Survive Knives are OUTSTANDING! Get the Bark River in CPM 3V. Its a "super steel" and tough as nails (used in the GSO knives as well). The A2 is good and they make it in S35VN as well, but the 3V is the way to go for that blade. Here are 2 more options. Becker BK2 and TOPS Brother of Bushcraft.

 
Someone has to say it, Swamp Rat Ratmandu. It will cost a little more than some of the knives your looking at but will cost less than others. Imo its the perfect 5 inch knife and worlds better than any Bark River product.
 
Quick Follow up.. I do however prefer knives with a forward finger choil incorporated into the blade. It allows for a solid "choke up" and fine detailed work. ie: The Esee shown above. Or its less expensive red-headed step child, The Ontario Rat 5

If you are in a high moisture area and dont want to have to baby the blade, Stay away from SR101. The IMO the only Busse steel worth a darn is the INFI

 
Check out the Kizlyar Supreme Savage. It would do everything you want it to do, D2 blade, G10 scales, comes with nice kydex. Won't break the bank. Very tough and screaming sharp out of the box. I like mine a lot!





The only thing some might complain about is it's made in Russia.... I say so what?! I have lots of quality made Russian guns! The guys at Kizlyar Supreme certainly know how to build a good knife.
 
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