Small, light, stainless fixed blade around $100?

Dadpool

Dadpool

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As camping season begins, I'm looking to replace my big, heavy fixed blade with something smaller and lighter. I'll be using it for light camp tasks and taking it on short hikes. I'd like a knife that has the same blend of romance and practicality that draws me to traditional slipjoints.

I've seen some gorgeous fixed blades in various threads here, but haven't been able to track down exactly what I'm after. When I find a knife that fits my budget, it's typically not stainless; when I find a stainless knife I like, it's typically not under $100. :p

  • Blade under 4"
  • Stainless steel
  • Handle ideally around 4", but no smaller than 3"
  • Handle not made of plastic or rubber
  • Ideally 4 oz. or less without the sheath
  • Vertical leather sheath, ideally pouch/friction style
  • Budget of $100

If you have any ideas, I'm all ears. Thanks in advance for your help!
 
I don't have too many traditional fixed blades but the 440C GEC H10 fits most of your criteria. I checked mine and tip to guard is just over 3.5" but the handle is smaller at just under 3.4". It weighs 2.6oz by itself and 4.1oz with the sheath. Mine is in white bone but they also made them with cocobolo handles that weigh 2.25oz. The sheath isn't as red as it looks in this pic. If you search some dealers, you'll get a better idea of the color. I also included my GEC fixed blade pic because the H73 just underneath the H10s so you get a better idea of the handle. The H73's handle is the same size as the #73 slip joint. Just note that the H73s aren't stainless and if you get the H10, make sure it has the Cyclops Steel Works stamp because they also made 1095 versions with the acorn shield.


 
2Dead said:
I don't have too many traditional fixed blades but the 440C GEC H10 fits most of your criteria. I checked mine and tip to guard is just over 3.5" but the handle is smaller at just under 3.4". It weighs 2.6oz by itself and 4.1oz with the sheath. Mine is in white bone but they also made them with cocobolo handles that weigh 2.25oz. The sheath isn't as red as it looks in this pic. If you search some dealers, you'll get a better idea of the color. I also included my GEC fixed blade pic because the H73 just underneath the H10s so you get a better idea of the handle. The H73's handle is the same size as the #73 slip joint. Just note that the H73s aren't stainless and if you get the H10, make sure it has the Cyclops Steel Works stamp because they also made 1095 versions with the acorn shield.
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That's a great recommendation, thank you! I've only ever found the H10 in non-stainless steel; I must have missed that they also made it in 440C. Yours looks lovely in bone, and the strap on the sheath (sometimes a sticking point for me) looks quite functional.
 
No problem and thanks :). They released the stainless versions last year but didn't make a whole lot of them. Here are the numbers from the production list, both carbon and stainless. Also, yes, the strap will stay out of your way if you push it back but also holds the knife securely against the guard.

#H1012 (in the production list it says H1012 but the blade actually shows H10114)
Red Linen Micarta – Carbon 4 pcs. Unserialized
Moss Green Jig Bone – Carbon 13 pcs. Unserialzied
Cocobolo Wood – Carbon 15 pcs. Unserialized
Burnt Orange Hunter Bone – Carbon 15 pcs. Unserialized
Cocobolo Wood – Stainless 18 pcs. Unserialized
White Frontier Bone – Stainless 15 pcs. Unserialized
Burnt Orange Hunter Bone – Stainless 15 pcs. Unserialized
 
Here's a pic of the back of the knife since it doesn't say Cyclops Steel Works, just CSS. For the most part, GEC doesn't make too many fixed blades anymore. The burnt orange on is an '09 model and they made 49 of them. The burnt stags are 2010 with the H23 being 1 of 9, the H73 1 of 18. The micarta are 2012s with 1 of 19 and 1 of 10 for the H23 and H73...


I'd be interested to see what others recommend. Like I said, I don't have too many traditional fixed blades.
 
When I hear pouch-style sheath, I think Scandinavian or custom. Lots of good stuff from Sweden, Norway, Finland.
 
pinnah said:
Buck 113
Queen Drop Point Hunter
A nice puuko?
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The 113 is a nice option, but a bit heavier than I'd like.

Do the Queens come in anything but D2? I've only seen them in D2.

I've poked at puukos a bit, but not found any that really grab me.

Thanks for the recommendations!
 
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scrteened porch said:
When I hear pouch-style sheath, I think Scandinavian or custom. Lots of good stuff from Sweden, Norway, Finland.
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I may be using the wrong term. The picture in my head is of a sheath that goes partway up the handle, enclosing the majority of the knife.
 
Dadpool said:
I may be using the wrong term. The picture in my head is of a sheath that goes partway up the handle, enclosing the majority of the knife.
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Yup, that was what I was thinking. Maybe a Helle, unless you don't like the Scandi grind at all.
 
Glad to know I had the term right. (I'm still learning!) I'll take a look at Helle knives -- thanks for the recommendation!

Edit: Off the cuff, the Helle Eggen and Speider both look like good options. They're nifty looking knives, too.

scrteened porch said:
Yup, that was what I was thinking. Maybe a Helle, unless you don't like the Scandi grind at all.
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I have seen more than one maker here on BF sell nice FB's around 7" overall for 100 usd or less. Jeff already suggested one, but it's not the only one (Wayne Childress comes to mind, just to name another). I have no experience with any of these makers, but they get good feedback so I would be confident going down that road.
Alternatively, if you prefer getting a production knife, you could go with Queen's D2 (which isn't technically stainless but quite corrosion resistent in my experience), GEC, Buck :)

Fausto
:cool:
 
quattromori said:
I have seen more than one maker here on BF sell nice FB's around 7" overall for 100 usd or less. Jeff already suggested one, but it's not the only one (Wayne Childress comes to mind, just to name another). I have no experience with any of these makers, but they get good feedback so I would be confident going down that road.
Alternatively, if you prefer getting a production knife, you could go with Queen's D2 (which isn't technically stainless but quite corrosion resistent in my experience), GEC, Buck :)

Fausto
:cool:
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I didn't think customs ever approached the $100 price point, but I'll definitely take a deeper look at the maker forums here. Thanks!
 
Dadpool said:
I didn't think customs ever approached the $100 price point, but I'll definitely take a deeper look at the maker forums here. Thanks!
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On smaller fixed blades, you can actually get something in that price point...so it's worth a look :)

Fausto
:cool:
 
Sounds like you're looking for a Buck 102 Woodsman. People have been carrying them for something like 50 or 60 years now. Awesome knife that will leave you with money left over. Very efficient cutter. Very stainless.. I prefer the black phenolic resin handled version, but they do make a version in cocobolo dymondwood.

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