Survival/Camping/Bushcraft fixed blade

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LJTanzer

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Aug 4, 2013
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Need to take a solid reliable fixed blade knife into the mountains on a week long primitive camping trip.
I am looking at the Demko Freereign 3v and the White River Ursus 45 Magnacut.
Any recommendations?
Thanks.
 
Those are two great choices. My recommendation would to pick the one that’s more comfortable in your hands, and bring a DMT fine/extra fine diafold, or some similar easily transportable diamond sharpener. I’m sure you’ll get lots of other options, but it would be hard to beat either of those.
 
I recommend making a list of the likely tasks you want to use the knife for before making a final call for the knife that has the most suitable steel, grind, edge, blade length etc. Is it a backpacking trip? ....then every gram too much to carry can become a PIA very fast. How you want to carry it? ...a leather sheath looks nicer (at least for me), but it is heavier and harder to clean compared to a Kydex sheath, e.g., while processing meat / game or roadkill you may want to put it back into the sheath (for safety ... convenience...) ....and with a leather sheath you will rub all the blood and meat residuals into the leather thus contaminating it. Therefore, for these scenarios I prefer a Kydex sheath which is easy to clean and also lighter saving a few grams.
 
that's the gadget I use for backpack trips: small (F180) Silky saw, Victorinox Huntsman, REIFF F5 (note I changed the edge from a 20deg V edge to a convex grind) with minimalistic Kydex sheath - fits into the side pocket of my pants - and a small Titanium shovel:
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I’ve owned both of the mentioned knives in opening post.. Both are nice. If I had to choose between the two I’d go for the White River in 3v.. I find drop points and micarta to be preferable, as well as the Kydex sheath. The Demko is nice but the handle can start to feel a little sticky at times.. nothing bad, far better than the Kraton cold steel uses ( which is fine as well ). The white river may be a little more expensive.. if money isn’t a concern it shouldn’t be a problem. Both knives come with decent edge geometry for what it’s worth.. they cut well right out of the box.

* If you live in an area where snow is expected.. the Demko handle and sheath may be preferred. The Demko sheath won’t crack if it gets below zero and the handle would probably feel great as it’s basically encapsulating the tang.

Take a look at the makers section here though.. Blade Forums is home to some of the best knife makers around.. and often with very fair prices
 
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I like the advice given above, decide what tasks you will be doing and decide which best meets those needs as well.
 
LJTanzer said:
Need to take a solid reliable fixed blade knife into the mountains on a week long primitive camping trip.
I am looking at the Demko Freereign 3v and the White River Ursus 45 Magnacut.
Any recommendations?
Thanks.
Click to expand...

Good choices. Pick either depending if you need stainless or not. I'd probably prefer the Ursus, as it's a little thinner (easier in the camp kitchen).
 
ESEE 4. Unless you are backpacking, in which case, I'd get an ESEE 3, or even an Izula, to save weight.
 
If you are planning on using a ferro rod for fire starting get the Ursus. The Demko does not have a sharp 90 degree spine. I have both knives and I had to have the Demko modified to use with a ferro rod.
 
My sharpened do-it-all knife of choice is the ESEE 5. It's kind of good enough for everything if a bit heavy.

Non-sexy choice that would probably feel better to carry for a week: BPS Adventurer.

Non-sexy probably most useful if I am honest with myself: A mora and a Silky Pocketboy saw.
 
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