Small footprint fixed blade for day hikes

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mec003

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Jan 1, 2015
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Hello everyone. I'm thinking of purchasing a new knife after Christmas. I'm looking for suggestions. My main purpose is for relatively short day hikes (5-12 miles round trip). I really don't need a new knife for any practical reason, but I love knives and want to try something new.

First off, I hate carrying large knives, so anything with more than a 4.5 inch blade is out. Second, I'm looking for something that doesn't take up much space when wearing on a belt.

I usually have a larger folder and a multi tool with me. But I prefer to always have a fixed blade when in the woods. I usually take my izula (a bit small), a bk14 (hate the sheath), a mora companion, or a bk 16 (a little big for hiking).

I will be using it mostly for small food prep when making lunch and for general cutting tasks. I'm not going to baton with it or attempt to fell a sequioa.

I'm currently considering an LT Wright bushcrafter, fallkniven F1, or an esee 3. Spending limit is around $125. Any suggestions would be great.
 
I would add to your list the Bark River UL Bushcrafter (it's about $25 above your limit though??)- it's a small knife that acts like a big knife, really nice 3V steel, a "scandi-vex" grind, 7.4" overall, blade length 3.25", .090" thick and only 2.7 oz :eek:

it's my go to hiking knife and while light, it's a lot of knife- mine has taken a beating and it keeps on ticking :D

it's the knife that I brought on the 100+ Bob Marshall Open last spring and will bring again this spring

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Love the BR ultra lite! I haven't seen them for less than about $190 though. I think it's a little out of my price range.
 
The Esee 3 that you've mentioned is a great choice! (although you can't go wrong with any of the knives you've mentioned :) )
Much more knife than the Izula imho, yet very light and small to carry.
And I prefer the Esee handle material and sheath over the other knives on your list.
I love mine.
It's thin which is a plus for foor prep imho, still very tough so can take a decent batonning if you need to get to some dry wood.
Takes a great edge without much trouble.

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Swamp Rat Rodent 3?

Can't post pictures right now for some reason, but if you're interested I will try to post some tomorrow.
 
mec003 said:
Small footprint fixed blade for day hikes.
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Small puukko. Mine is an Ahti Tikka. Just a great Finnish outdoorsman's knife. About $35. No reason to spend your budget to get an excellent tool to meet your needs. You can do very well spending less.

Farmer%2520and%2520Tikka.JPG


Takes little space on the belt and hangs no lower than a pants pocket opening/slit.

Ahti%2520Tikka%2520on%2520Belt.JPG
 
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Another vote for the ESEE. Another option would be the JG3, but I like my ESEE-3. Its a knife you would not be afraid to beat on if you needed to, and Rowen 1095 is great stuff as you know.

I have the mini-bushcrafter and love it as well. its my over-nighter knife when I know I won't want the extra beef of the 3 or even Izula. But its a bit small for what you are wanting.

I've handled a mock F1, so only have an idea of the size, but that is another good choice. But it is a bit thick and heavy, so maybe a WM-1?
 
I never could find a smaller factory knife that I really liked for bumming around in the woods. I designed this one, 3 inch blade, S30V steel, and had it made back in 2013. It is just perfect.
 
Mannlicher said:
I never could find a smaller factory knife that I really liked for bumming around in the woods. I designed this one, 3 inch blade, S30V steel, and had it made back in 2013. It is just perfect.
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That thing is awesome. :thumbup: What's the handle material?
 
mec003 said:
First off, I hate carrying large knives...


I will be using it mostly for small food prep when making lunch and for general cutting tasks...

I'm currently considering an LT Wright bushcrafter...
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You are definitely on the right track. Flat ground or fully convex ground with a thin edge is going to be your very best performer for food prep, much better than scandi ground blades in my experience and they will still carve wood like crazy if you find the need for a fire. I use a knife made by LT Wright and his old business partner when they made Blind Horse Knives. It is their amazing Bushbaby. I carry it with an Opinel #6 (and the SAK Classic). It has a blade of 2 7/8", the same as the Opinel #6 and that duo will do anything I need as far as food prep of any kind and wood carving for fire prep. It is good for precision paring or heavy wood cutting and it can be palmed, feels very comfortable in the hand with the thicker oval scales and is not clumsy in any way as larger knives can be. They are compact with a small footprint and very lightweight for what they are. Like you I hike into wilderness a couple of times a week at the least and use them for both long or short dayhikes and backpacking trips.

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Another vote for Bark River's UL Bushcrafter. It's worth stretching your budget a little, esp if you can find it for $155 shipped! (Not sure where that's sold but I found one easily in black canvas micarta for $152.95 +$8 Priority.) Even at ~$190 in other micartas, and ~$205 for some woods, it's a great deal––IMHO it is 3V steel in its most optimal package available in a non-custom knife.

Another option is one of Bark River's original models, the Woodland Special in A2 (without the hideous bolster!), which you can find in the $150 range. ULB and Woodland are probably my two favorite Bark Rivers.

Well within your price range, you could also go with an Enzo Necker in 12C27, D2, or even Damascus; in full flat or Scandi grind; and in micarta, curly birch, or skeletonized (no handle). Could add it to any list of underrated knives.
 
mec003 said:
Hello everyone. I'm thinking of purchasing a new knife after Christmas. I'm looking for suggestions. My main purpose is for relatively short day hikes (5-12 miles round trip). I really don't need a new knife for any practical reason, but I love knives and want to try something new.

First off, I hate carrying large knives, so anything with more than a 4.5 inch blade is out. Second, I'm looking for something that doesn't take up much space when wearing on a belt.

I usually have a larger folder and a multi tool with me. But I prefer to always have a fixed blade when in the woods. I usually take my izula (a bit small), a bk14 (hate the sheath), a mora companion, or a bk 16 (a little big for hiking).

I will be using it mostly for small food prep when making lunch and for general cutting tasks. I'm not going to baton with it or attempt to fell a sequioa.

I'm currently considering an LT Wright bushcrafter, fallkniven F1, or an esee 3. Spending limit is around $125. Any suggestions would be great.
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The only knife you currently own that didn't get a negative paranthetical was the Companion.

Perhaps you could amplify what you're trying to improve on over the Companion? IMO, despite the price, it's nearly ideal.

I'd consider the Buck Selkirk but would like to get one in hand before I recommend it
 
Mannlicher that is one great looking knife. Looks classy but more importantly functional.


I'll second the recommendation on the ESEE JG3 as it is my favorite fixed blade. Trimmer and lighter than the ESEE 3 and for me a better all around blade shape.
 
Too of the line, Fallkniven TK-2,

Somewhere in the middle, Helle Harding, Kellam Wolverine, Grohman 1, 2, or 3.

Cheap but still good. Mora Bushcraft.

Or another option might be the small Bucks,

The 102 or 105,

Before I got "Into" knives. I carried a Buck 102. It was my only knife.,it remains one of my,favorites. It fits your small footprint to a T.


Here is the 105 Pathfinder,
 
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I just picked this Liten Bror up used for $160, it's a little larger than the UL Bushcrafter, but still pretty svelte- 8.2" overall w/ a 3.7" blade, 4.9 oz- it's in 3V as well and also sports the "scandi-vex" grind

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Pictures are finally working for me again.

Rodent 3 would be a good choice. It's small, tough, holds a great edge a very long time. I'm very happy with mine:

 
Lots of good choices here. All around the esee 3 is a solid pick.
Smaller but still a great knife is the Evan companion bloody preprint pictured. I plain to take mine on a boundary waters trip in the spring.
 
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