Small, light, stainless fixed blade around $100?

[Dadpool]

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.

That does hit quite a few high notes. I've owned a Buck in a similar style before, and the one thing I didn't like about it was the sheath strap setup. But it looks like a good blade for the price, and it's nice and light. Thanks for the recommendation!

 

[iSaur]

Several Grohmann models would meet your criteria. http://www.grohmannknives.com/pages/outdoor.html The #2 (Trout and Bird) would be the lightest, but the handle is slim if you have big hands.

 

[Dadpool]

Several Grohmann models would meet your criteria. http://www.grohmannknives.com/pages/outdoor.html The #2 (Trout and Bird) would be the lightest, but the handle is slim if you have big hands.

I've never heard of Grohmann, but their knives look solid. Interesting blade designs, too. Thanks for the recommendation!

 

[leghog]

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!

I paid $125 for this Tom Mayo custom and $80 for this Herb Martin handmade. Buy from makers before their names become big (if they ever do become big names in knife making). Remember you are buting a knife, not the name. Customs and and noncustom handmade fixed blades can be found within your budget. I know you can get what you are after from Herb Martin in your budget. He has a few posts on BF as a maker. IIRC all of his knives are hollow ground ATS34. Mine is.

 

[Dadpool]

I paid $125 for this Tom Mayo custom and $80 for this Herb Martin handmade. Buy from makers before their names become big (if they ever do become big names in knife making). Remember you are buting a knife, not the name. Customs and and noncustom handmade fixed blades can be found within your budget. I know you can get what you are after from Herb Martin in your budget. He has a few posts on BF as a maker. IIRC all of his knives are hollow ground ATS34.

Those both look quite nice. Thanks for the recommendations!

 

[pinnah]

That does hit quite a few high notes. I've owned a Buck in a similar style before, and the one thing I didn't like about it was the sheath strap setup. But it looks like a good blade for the price, and it's nice and light. Thanks for the recommendation!

If you like something like the Buck 102, but don't care for the stock sheath, spend some money on a custom sheath for it. Combined, that might come in on budget for you.

 

[Dadpool]

After much enjoyable research into Scandinavian knives, I decided to start with a Kellam Falcon -- a traditional puukko.

Many, many other excellent knives wait in the wings, should my foray into smaller fixed blades not end with just one knife. I don't consider this the end of the road, and I still welcome recommendations. (Others may find this thread and benefit from them as well.)

Many thanks to everyone who weighed in with suggestions!

 

[btmccutcheon]

You really can't go wrong with a Mora. Crazy sharp and very affordable.

 

[screened porch]

After much enjoyable research into Scandinavian knives, I decided to start with a Kellam Falcon -- a traditional puukko.

Many, many other excellent knives wait in the wings, should my foray into smaller fixed blades not end with just one knife. I don't consider this the end of the road, and I still welcome recommendations. (Others may find this thread and benefit from them as well.)

Many thanks to everyone who weighed in with suggestions!

Excellent choice. Not one I knew of, but I like the handle,and it looks like its got everything else on the list.

 

[Dadpool]

My Kellam Falcon puukko arrived today. My research into Kellam suggests that their Wild Finn line, of which the Falcon is a part, is handmade by the manufacturer Ahti in Finland and then etched with the Kellam logo and sold under their brand.

It has a 3" stainless blade, a 4.5" curly birch handle (with a small spacer and a brass guard), and weighs 2.9 oz. on its own and 4.3 oz. in its leather dangler sheath.

It ticks every one of my criteria, and it's a nicely made knife (as my pictures hopefully show). The handle ergonomics are especially satisfying: The bulge in the center, which is more pronounced along the bottom edge, combines with the flared (which I believe is treated, but which isn't shiny or slick) handle to provide a fantastic grip.

I'll get a chance to try it out camping this weekend, and my sense is that it'll prove to be a great knife for light camp chores.

Many thanks again to everyone who contributed suggestions!

 

[Catherine_Montana]

I paid $125 for this Tom Mayo custom and $80 for this Herb Martin handmade. Buy from makers before their names become big (if they ever do become big names in knife making). Remember you are buting a knife, not the name. Customs and and noncustom handmade fixed blades can be found within your budget. I know you can get what you are after from Herb Martin in your budget. He has a few posts on BF as a maker. IIRC all of his knives are hollow ground ATS34. Mine is.

Beautiful knives! Thank you.

Cate

 

[Catherine_Montana]

My Kellam Falcon puukko arrived today. My research into Kellam suggests that their Wild Finn line, of which the Falcon is a part, is handmade by the manufacturer Ahti in Finland and then etched with the Kellam logo and sold under their brand.

It has a 3" stainless blade, a 4.5" curly birch handle (with a small spacer and a brass guard), and weighs 2.9 oz. on its own and 4.3 oz. in its leather dangler sheath.

It ticks every one of my criteria, and it's a nicely made knife (as my pictures hopefully show). The handle ergonomics are especially satisfying: The bulge in the center, which is more pronounced along the bottom edge, combines with the flared (which I believe is treated, but which isn't shiny or slick) handle to provide a fantastic grip.

I'll get a chance to try it out camping this weekend, and my sense is that it'll prove to be a great knife for light camp chores.

Many thanks again to everyone who contributed suggestions!

Very, very nice! Congrats.

Cate

 

[screened porch]

I'm going to try for a handle like that on my Lauri puukko blade.

 

[2Dead]

Nice knife!! Let us know how it works out for you.

 

[Dadpool]

I got to try out my new puukko on a rather bumpy camping trip, using it to open packages, fuzz up some kindling, and improvise a water bowl for the dog on a hike. It performed well, and it's so light I never even noticed it on my hip. The dangler sheath is great, too.

 

[5K Qs]

Congrats on your Falcon, Dadpool! :thumbup::thumbup:
I have no experience with, and know nothing about, fixed blade knives, but your knife and sheath certainly look awesome (and that type of blade grind looks scary sharp to me, however sharp an edge it actually has ). Thanks for starting this thread!

- GT

 

[Cory Hess]

Congrats on finding one that works for you. I've never tried a puukko. The closest I've come is a Mora Classic #2. I had to shave the handles down, as they were a bit too fat to be comfortable to me. I'm thinking that the puukko would be the same for me. That being said, I can still appreciate a beautiful knife, and yours certainly qualifies for that category. Great pick. :thumbup:

It's always fun to read through these threads where somebody has a notion of what they want, but can't seem to find something that works for them and by the end of the thread they're walking around with a great new knife.

 

[Dadpool]

I've never tried a puukko. The closest I've come is a Mora Classic #2. I had to shave the handles down, as they were a bit too fat to be comfortable to me. I'm thinking that the puukko would be the same for me.

This was one of the concerns that initially steered me away from puukkos, but I realize now that the blade/handle proportions sometimes trick my eye when I'm looking at puukkos. The blade is relatively small, so the handle looks almost comically large in some cases because my mind is expecting a big handle to be matched with a big blade.

In my average-to-largish hands, the Falcon's handle is comfortably hand-filling without feeling too fat. On the contrary, it gives me a great grip a number of different ways, and feels good.

There might be a puukko out there for you, too!

 

[Dadpool]

I have no experience with, and know nothing about, fixed blade knives, but your knife and sheath certainly look awesome (and that type of blade grind looks scary sharp to me, however sharp an edge it actually has ).

So far, no complaints on the sharpness front!

 

[Cory Hess]

This was one of the concerns that initially steered me away from puukkos, but I realize now that the blade/handle proportions sometimes trick my eye when I'm looking at puukkos. The blade is relatively small, so the handle looks almost comically large in some cases because my mind is expecting a big handle to be matched with a big blade.

In my average-to-largish hands, the Falcon's handle is comfortably hand-filling without feeling too fat. On the contrary, it gives me a great grip a number of different ways, and feels good.

There might be a puukko out there for you, too!

I really should give one a try. You've made an interesting point in that it might just be and optical illusion that's keeping me away. After I made that post I grabbed up my LT Wright Camp MUK, which I love, and went out to chop down some saplings that have sprouted along the treeline of my yard. I realized that the handle on it is probably just as big around as the one on your Falcon. I put a caliper on my Camp MUK and the handle is 0.90" across. What would you say the Falcon's handle is? The thickness of my MUK is what makes it so comfortable to me. I don't know why I have this mental block when it comes to puukkos.