Small edc fixed blade

J

jcoffey784

Joined
May 3, 2012
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7
Good morning all, first post and I’m in a pinch. I use my knives hard enough that I am going to move from a folder to a fixed blade for edc. I am having a hard time between a couple choices though. I had planned to get either an izula or a candiru but leaning heavily towards the candiru. I have small hands and when I grab a tape measure 3” is all I need for a full grip. So currently I am debating between two VERY different blades. First is a candiru, I would likely wrap the handle in paracord but will most likely settle on tkc scales. The second choice I just discovered yesterday...the Bradford g necker. I had considered a Bradford guardian 3 but wanted to stay under $100. The g necker is listed as the exact same handle length as the candiru at 3.125” so the big difference is 7/8” more blade on the Bradford. I have been wanting to try a super steel and it sounds like elmax would be a good intro to them. I currently have ZERO sharpening skills but will be getting a sharpmaker and strop shortly. I would love to freehand but I don’t have a ton of confidence in my ability, but that’s a discussion for another day. My biggest concern at this point with the Bradford is the thickness. The handle is .260” and the blade is .160”. That’s pretty thick I would say. As far as use, General edc stuff...opening boxes, packages, cutting rope sometimes, lots of boxes. I have carried a folder for decades so at this point I use my knife for almost anything you can do with a knife. For reference my current knives are a kershaw cryo, kershaw shuffle 1 and shuffle 2, and a spyderco endura partial serrated. I keep the endura in my coat or sling back for cutting rope or things like that, and typically carry my original shuffle in my pocket with no clip. The reason for moving to a fixed blade is I get a little flex in the lock of my shuffle on some of the heavier cardboard, and mostly I have wanted a fixed blade for years. So anyone have any suggestions, thoughts, flaws in my thinking? Thanks!
 
LT Wright Patriot in D2 or other steel, I think it also comes in 3V. There are also several me good threads on this very topic, great info to help you make a decision too. Good luck with your search and let us known what you find.

Lastly, I have always wanted to try a White River backpacker.

Edited.
 
My opinion is that if you are hard on knives, chances are you are exerting a lot of force on them, that's why you feel the need to move from a folder (which you think could break on you) to a fixed blade.

If this is the case, I would suggest you ditch any knife which doesn't have propper roundish, hand filling handle scales. The ESSE CANDIRU or the BRADFORD G-NECKER are not going to be comfortable to use that hard even wrapped in paracord.

A Benchmade full size Griptillian, with it's plastic, cheap looking, bulky handle would be much easier to hold onto than any of the aforementioned fixed blades.

Mikel
 
Thanks for the suggestions. I have looked at the patriot as well as the backpacker. I actually put a lot of thought into the backpacker and still may, but I am thinking smaller. I have looked at the benchmade but I think at this time I want to move away from folders. You are absolutely right though, I exert a good amount of force. I don’t feel the grip will be of huge importance to me though as I typically pull my knife out, cut something, and put it right away. If I am breaking down a lot of boxes I typically just deal with it. As I said in my first post, I have VERY small hands...I wear a medium mechanix glove and could in all likelihood wear a small. My full grip (on a yard stick) comes to 2-7/8” so I feel I could have a full grip on either I am looking at. I have a good amount of time using a friends kabar marine knife on fishing trips and I liked it but it was much larger than I would carry daily, and much more handle than I prefer. My thickest knife is my endura and I can get one and a half hands on that thing! Thanks for the suggestions so far, keep them coming!

ps, I have read every thread on the internet I could find about edc fixed blades...I’m a special use case for sure!
 
Check out Blade Forums' Knife Makers' Market. There are often neckers for sale there... and they are beyond nice. Most of the times, the prices are also extremely affordable. Take a walk there is all I can say !
 
You know I will have to check out the makers forum, you make an excellent point. I had not considered a custom with my budget (~$100) but I think a “neck knife” is what I am looking for even if I intend to carry it on my belt horizontally. I will check out the bark river but hearing cru wear makes me think it’s out of budget, although I assumed elmax was out of the budget too...
 
When I measure handle length I try to consider that sometimes your hand rotates and slightly moves up and down the length of the handle, therefore it's good to add a little bit of length on either end of your fist for comfort and practicality. For that reason the candiru seems way too small to me, but just my two cents.
 
This may seem like an odd recommendation, but I think the Condor Compact Kephart would be perfect for you (~$45). The mini bushlore is good but I think 1095 steel is a little better than 1075. I have been carrying my Compact Kephart since the beginning of November in the factory sheath and it works well for a small fixed blade as long as you can sharpen a knife. It is easy to sharpen.

I just got a Arno Bernard Bush Baby Series Squirrel (~$150) to switch now and then with the Compact Kephart. I have a couple other handmade ones that may work too.

The White River Backparker Pro is a good knife. I think the steel is a tad thick for the size but considering it's supposed to be for a backpacker, the steel thickness may be about right for toughness and durability.
 
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I had also looked at the cs pendalton but something about it is just meh to me, although 3v sounds awesome. I think I have settled on the Bradford. I made a scale size model of it using 1/4” thick heavy duty cardboard to just give me an idea of what I would be working with. I actually am slightly ashamed to say that the cardboard mockup was reasonably comfortable! But the overall size and how it fit my hand seemed to be spot on for what I am looking for. Granted cardboard is the closest I can get without paying off the water jet operator to cut me one out of mild steel, but I think this is gonna work. I should be purchasing it next week, I will update with my thoughts when I get it, maybe pictures too ;)
 
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With neck knives, you really need to consider just how you are going to carry it. I don't like something dangling around my neck. Most neck knives do not have a belt carry option/design. So, pay attention to the sheath.
 
jcoffey784 said:
Good morning all, first post and I’m in a pinch. I use my knives hard enough that I am going to move from a folder to a fixed blade for edc. I am having a hard time between a couple choices though. I had planned to get either an izula or a candiru but leaning heavily towards the candiru. I have small hands and when I grab a tape measure 3” is all I need for a full grip. So currently I am debating between two VERY different blades. First is a candiru, I would likely wrap the handle in paracord but will most likely settle on tkc scales. The second choice I just discovered yesterday...the Bradford g necker. I had considered a Bradford guardian 3 but wanted to stay under $100. The g necker is listed as the exact same handle length as the candiru at 3.125” so the big difference is 7/8” more blade on the Bradford. I have been wanting to try a super steel and it sounds like elmax would be a good intro to them. I currently have ZERO sharpening skills but will be getting a sharpmaker and strop shortly. I would love to freehand but I don’t have a ton of confidence in my ability, but that’s a discussion for another day. My biggest concern at this point with the Bradford is the thickness. The handle is .260” and the blade is .160”. That’s pretty thick I would say. As far as use, General edc stuff...opening boxes, packages, cutting rope sometimes, lots of boxes. I have carried a folder for decades so at this point I use my knife for almost anything you can do with a knife. For reference my current knives are a kershaw cryo, kershaw shuffle 1 and shuffle 2, and a spyderco endura partial serrated. I keep the endura in my coat or sling back for cutting rope or things like that, and typically carry my original shuffle in my pocket with no clip. The reason for moving to a fixed blade is I get a little flex in the lock of my shuffle on some of the heavier cardboard, and mostly I have wanted a fixed blade for years. So anyone have any suggestions, thoughts, flaws in my thinking? Thanks!
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If you're still on the fence and wanting the most bang for your buck, you might consider going CHEAP and starting with a Mora. The one I would recommend as a starter would be the Mora 510. The carbon steel is easy to sharpen (and a good practice steel for you), takes a wicked edge, is thin enough to go through all sorts of materials while thick enough to hold up to resistance, and takes on a nice patina after a while. The sheath leaves a lot to be desired but the whole package comes in at around $10 depending on your source and weighs only 3 oz. They really hold up well to abuse. If the 3.75" blade is too long, you can easily grind it down.

The other choices you mention are terrific, of course, but for less than the price of shipping of one of them, you can get a do it all 510 and then start to narrow down what your future "good knife" will need to look and feel like by putting in some actual field time.

Good luck!

Zieg

PS, my usual fixed carry, a Dawson Mercury:

d0ig2pc.jpg
 
The Izula and Candiru are both great options, I find the candiru too small, but the Izula with paracord is really light, plus Esee warranty is one of the best
 
I daily carry a BK14 (same handle as the Izula, but more useful blade shape and size) daily in a pocket sheath with the OE Zytel scales and it's an amazingly capable knife! I am never without it, while on land or fresh water.

Turn on the closed captions and watch this in its entirety.... DAMN impressive and not many other small knives would survive 1/2 of this: :eek::eek::eek:


Having said that, it's thick. I consider it a pocket survival knife. :D

I've used a worksharp belt sharpener to out a convex bevel on it and it is truly impressive and a great value.

The CRKT Mossback bird and trout is an amazing, slicey little fixed blade. Incredible EDC. Very nimble. I've also carried this in a pocket sheath.

But with bladestock thinness and a pointy tip, compared to the BK14 and it looks diminutive by comparison.

I like the looks of the Esee CR2.5 which is also a bird and trout knife and very stout.

If you want a tip and the great utility of a Wharncliffe, then the Benchmade Azeria is a pretty cool option. VERY stainless N680.

Thin blade stock and super economic handle angle / can't. You may be able to get a full 4-finger grip on the handle, too! :thumbsup:
 
Rounder and more hand-flling scales is a good recommendation. You want good control and reasonable comfort for extended hard use. The thing that could matter most is how well it fits your particular hand. What are the brick and mortar options for checking out some of the recommendations so far? I'm afraid that I've been living online too long... :oops:
 
Cold Steel bird and trout, or its bigger brother, the bird and game. True neck knives, totally unobtrusive, cuts all day.
 
Couple of small fixed blades I like. A new knife from Spyderco that is very affordable is the Bow River. The knife I carry when hunting, camping, etc. is the Spyderco Bill Moran VG10 steel drop point. It is about the perfect size for field dressing and most other tasks. If corrosion is an issue the Spyderco Salt fixed blade works when fishing, etc.


 
Thanks again for all replies! Currently I’m pretty set on the Bradford but I am currently checking out the bk-14 as well as a tops ute. I do agree that a fuller grip could be more comfortable to use for a long time, but for the most part I just take out my knife, cut something quick, and put it away. Hell I used to spend hours at a time in my old shipping job using one of those flat sliders that held a razor blade and never had an issue with fatigue or discomfort. So I’m thinking the Bradford and honestly I may get the bk-14/izula/candiru as strictly a neck knife but time will tell. Thanks to all!
 
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