Small EDC fixed blade

S

sirrazzal

Joined
Nov 6, 2013
Messages
15
Hey all,
This is my first time posting here, but you guys have inspired numerous purchases in the past. At the moment I'm looking for a fixed blade to carry in lieu of my larger folders. I work as a butcher and deal with a lot of pretty messy stuff, and it tends to muck up my knives. I live in Berkeley, CA, and we've got some pretty ridiculous knife laws here. I'm not looking to stuck to them, as I can't Gabe any sort of fixed blade, but I'd like something in the 3-3.5 in range, preferably stainless steel. I really love some of the tool steels and I'm interested in A2 and D2, bit I'm not sure if that'd be right for me. Other parameters would be I'd like something with a nice fit and finish, if I'm gonna be caring it, I'd like it to look nice. I'm looking for something in the $100-150 range.

Right now the options I'm looking at heave been the bark river gunny, the fallkniven f1, and the spyderco street beat. Most recently I've been leaning towards the spyderco. I'm looking for any input anyone has on my conundrum, or if anyone had any other options. Anything ifs appreciated.

Thank you all.
Lazarus
 
all my knives a carbon steel so here is what i would recommend
the rodent solution: SR101 it rust but can hold an edge for a long time
ferhrman thru hiker: 3v will hold its edge a long time and has better rust resistance
esee 3: 1095 will rust but is a awesome all around knife
swamp rat rodent 3: sr101 again in a bit of a more EDCable package
esee candiru: 1095 i convexed mine and it is a laser beam
any 3v knife would be optimal because it is the closest thing to stainless in a tool steel
i hear vg10 is a excellent steel as well
i would compare bark river a2 closely to sr101 but sr101 in my experience has a good bit more edge retention
 
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You can't beat the Street Beat (no pun intended). I liked mine so much I bought a second for backup. Fit and finish is excellent and VG 10 sharpens nicely. It seems to fit your criteria perfectly. If I had to own only one small stainless fixed blade it would undoubtedly be the Street Beat.
 
Little bit above your range, but instead of the Gunny, check out the Rising Wolf in S35VN. I've got one of the first production run models, and I keep having to restrain myself from buying another.

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One of my biggest problems with all the bark river knives is the sheaths. I dont really like the design, and if I were to get one, I'd end up spending another 40 on a new sheath. The same hours for the fallkniven. And while I've heard a lot of good about ESEE and Rat, they almost look a little more tactical/threatening than a lot of knives, at least in my opinion. What I like about the gunny and the street beat is while they are intended as more tactical knives, they're high polish and a bit more elegant. I really wish I could afford a gunny or any bark river in 3v or s35vn, but that brings the price well over 200. I guess it sort of looks like the street beat would be my best option?

A little off topic, Does anyone know of any good fixed blades in cpm m4?

Thank you all for your input.
 
The Becker BK24 is D2 steel and the perfect size for an EDC fixed blade, and significantly below your budget.
 
You might also look at the Bark River Woodland Special. Makes a great EDC.
 
Perhaps the Bob Dozier Personal or Modified Personal with horizontal kydex sheath. My favorite fixed blade EDC.
 
Does anyone have any experience with the BRKT highland special? I found a version in D2, which appeals to me. D2 seems to be a good middle ground between A2 and a more stainless steel.
 
Two things, check out Blindhorse knives, the custom shop can make something in D2 I believe. I think the brumby lite or the maverick cub could do it. Also, check out the specials that Bradshaw blades has here on the exchange, fixed blades.
 
The woodland special in s35vn seems top be right up my alley, I found it here on knife supply for 150, but they claim its got an overall length of 5.5 And a blade length just over 2.5, does anyone know if it's actually that small our if they have it wrong? All other sources say it's about 7 inches overall. (here's the link http://www.knifesupply.com/eshop/10Expand.asp?ProductCode=BA1134MGC )

Also, my concern about the sheath might seem a little excessive, I'm sure it's a perfectly functional sheath, but I bike more than 20 miles a day for my commute, and I'm worried that their bushcrafter sheath isn't going to have enough retention.
 
Yah, they have the length wrong. OAL is more like 7-7.25. Also, before you place an order with them call and ask them if they actually have any in stock. I don't recognize them from the Bark River "stocking dealers" list, and that price is consierdably lower than I see anywhere else. I've not heard anything good or bad about KnifeSupply, but it sets off my spider-sense.
 
7 inches seems about right. I'm not near my Woodland at the moment. Knivesshipfree is a paying dealer here for everything Bark River.
 
Survive! GSO-3.5 fits in that range, albeit a bit higher than $150 if you're willing. They offer CPM 3V and CPM 20-CV(M390 equivalent, that stuffs got some ridicules edge holding).
BK24 as mentioned above is also a very solid performer.
 
Doc8404 said:
The Becker BK24 is D2 steel and the perfect size for an EDC fixed blade, and significantly below your budget.
Click to expand...

Yup, the BK24 is the one you need. D2 steel, very affordable, easily upgradable (for little $) with zytel handle scales.
If you like it a bit cheaper and don't mind carbon steel: the BK14. It's the same as the 24, but with 1095CV steel.
 
I've got a Survive! GSO-3.5 on order and have owned all of the knives we've discussed thus far. I'd say the Highland Special is an amazing EDC. I wish I still had mine. It's the only Bark River I really miss (and the Aurora in 3V). A2 is a great steel and you'd have to be pretty stupid to let it rust. I'm sure the knife you got will work great too. Enjoy!
 
I picked up a Tango Foxtrot Knives (Tom Ferry) Rubicon last week and have been putting it through lots of testing. The knife is damn near perfect. Dovetailed, hidden tang epoxied and pinned between G10 slabs ground down making an outstanding handle. 4" blade, 3 1/2" sharpened edge of 1/8" D2 tool steel. Almost full, flat grind. It was a PITA to re profile to my preferred 40degs inclusive but edge holding is fantastic. The kydex sheath is very well done but a little "simple" for my taste. The knife weighs a blazingly carriable 3 oz.! This is a Midtech fixed blade knife made my a Master Smith. The only knife of its kind other than a Boye Basic (now made by Francine Etched Knives). But the Boye designs are (really) full on customs ranging from $275 - $700. The Rubicon is $175 and I'm thus far convinced that money can't be better spent on a knife.
 
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