Survival Fixed Blade

E

El_Cid

Joined
Jun 22, 2008
Messages
72
I am looking for a good fixed blade for carving wood and a chopper.

I am currently seriously considering the Bravo 1 - Bark River knife. What do you think about it?
I don't understand the quality of the steel used, so I don't know what I am looking for.

Requirements:
- I want something sturdy - FULL TANG KNIFE mandatory
- REALLY REALLY sharp that can hold an edge for a good while
- it would be nice if its easy to sharp
- smooth edge - not serrated , if it has an additional serrated part on top I don't mind
- I will use it for wood mostly: carving, batoning, chopping and maybe to cut the insides of a rabbit or squirrel
- between 5" and 7" blade length
- I would prefer no coating on the blade
Budget 150$

I think a knife that is good with wood is the best survival tool... At first I thought about a combat knife - with a pointy tip that you could use in making a spear. But then I thought, if I was really in a survival situation, I wouldn't risk breaking my only knife using it as a spear, I would be better off making a wooden spear.... What do you think?
So most importantly for me is that the knife can withstand some heavy wood duty, chopping is secondary.

Here are some of the knives I am considering:
- Bark River Bravo 1
- Fallkniven A1 Survival Knife w/ Zytel Sheath
- Spyderco Woodlander Knife - this one looks like it could work pretty good as a chopper
- Muela Storm Tactical Fixed Blade Knife
- Ka-bar USMC Fighting Knife w/Kydex Sheath - a cheap alternative

These are just some thoughts, feel free to suggest me something else.

Thanks in advance
 
Fallkniven A1, if you really need something that big. The F1 suits me just fine. (The S1 at 5.1" splits the difference.) I love my F1.
 
Why would this be your only knife? If I was going to be in situations where I could be plunged into a life or death survival situation at any moment I would definitely be carrying more than a fixed blade. There would be a SAK or equivalent tied to me with a lanyard as well. That or a custom sheath that would hold both knives securely. I have been in wilderness areas for extended time periods and my Camillus Demo knife did a lot more work then my Randall Model 14 did.

The Demo knife handled most of the camp chores including cleaning of small game and fish, cooking, etc. I would say I used the folder 30 times more often than the fixed blade. With the advent of kydex it would be easy to make a combo sheath to hold both although I had no problems using a dummy cord of paracord to keep the Demo knife tied to me at all times.

The fixed blades listed would all serve well but buy a good SAK or equivalent to go with it.
 
Thank you all for your fast and many replies :)
I bought a week ago a Leatherman Wave - so I will be using that aswell, and I will also buy a hatchet and maybe a folding knife. So its not just the knife :)

The thing with survival is that it has to be light enough (the survival kit) so you can carry it at all times with you, otherwise, its not really a survival kit. A survival kit is what you always have on you, at any given time. In the city - I always carry my multitool with me, in the wilderness I will always carry the multitool, this knife I'm considering buying right now and some other stuff (not blades). Depeding on where I'm going and how long I'm staying I will carry more equipment.

What are your thoughts on the http://www.knifesupply.com/eshop/10Expand.asp?ProductCode=SCFB18P ?
Its form makes it usable as a chopper I think, but more important for me is the build quality and materials used.

Hard to choose :(
 
Check out the Mora 740MG. It will handle many camp chores. But if you think you will be using a 7 inch blade on a rabbit or squirrel, you need to get outdoors more. . .
 
a 3-4 inches fixed blade is enough for survival.In a survival situation you better not try to chop a lot,it takes some energy. you can make youre shelter with dead log & branches the same for fire.
I recommand you a RAT RC-3 or RC-4 ;)
 
NStricker said:
Check out the Mora 740MG. It will handle many camp chores. But if you think you will be using a 7 inch blade on a rabbit or squirrel, you need to get outdoors more. . .
Click to expand...

Yes, well its illegal around here to kill any animal without a hunter permit - and there are really draconian requirements to get one. I don't know much about it, but I'm thinking that with a 5" blade and a leatherman wave, in a survival situation I'll find a way to eat that rabbit. Thanks for the suggestion - I'll check that knife out.

I didn't said I want a 7" blade :) That was the MAX in length :)
But not under 4" either.

I'm trying to decide between the Bravo 1 and the A1 right now - any reviews you know of?
 
the Bravo-1 handle will be better than a kraton (rubber) one! and it's an american product!

Some people dont like the kydex sheath of the bravo-1 so maybe you will want the leather one.

and maybe you will want the Bark River Sharpening Compound !

the Fallkniven A1 is nice too,so the two knives you trying to decide between
have a Blade hardness of 59 HRC.
probably not the easier to sharpen.

just my two cents
 
I used to carry "choppers". Land Surveyor here. Sometimes I need to cut some branches for a line of site. (Don't fell like going back to the truck for a brush hook.) Since I discovered BRK&T, I just bend limb and cut/slice! Big differance! No need to chop with my Barkies, I have been able to put them through heavy use and keep them razor sharp with basic maint. I now own four. I would own more if I didn't have a wife. :)
 
All the knives mentioned so far are really great knives. But Here's another that I think might really be the one you want. The BRKT Gameskeeper II.
It has a 5-5/8" A2 steel blade. The 3/16" blade thickness makes it very rugged, while the convex edge makes it suitable for moderate chopping.
The scales are available in a number of different woods and micartas.
The sheath is well crafted of high quality leather. It's a beautiful and highly
functional knife. GET IT!

check em out at KnifeSupply.com

"I believe in death after life" (Ted Nugent)
 
So hard to choose - the BRKT sharpening compound - do they have that on knifesupply? I'd like to order all things from the same place...

So between the two: bravo and A1 - its just a matter of which I like best? Are they both equally good?
 
El_Cid said:
So between the two: bravo and A1 - its just a matter of which I like best? Are they both equally good?
Click to expand...

Yes I own both and it just comes down to personal taste. Both Co.'s are among the very best when it comes to knives.
 
I think that for your purposes, the most relevant factor between the Bravo and the A1, is the considerable size difference. That's why I suggested the Gameskeeper II. Right there between the others. I also have the A1 and it's a great knife. And judging by the very many knowledgeable people around here that praise the Bravo, it's a great knife too.

Pick a knife, any knife . . . just do it!
 
Welcome to Bladeforums El_Cid. Where are you from? Spain maybe? Your english is as bad as mine... lol, and the draconian requirements to get a hunter license seem familiar as well.

Anyway, back to the topic. The Bravo1 is a great knife but I am afraid is not heavy enough for a chopper (besides the Canadian Camp Knive and the Roge, none of the BRKT knives are suited as choppers). Same goes with the KaBar. I have never handled a Woodlander but the specs seem ok to me. The Falkniven A1 is longer and heavier so it will make a better chopper. The zytel sheath is ugly, but works like a champ. If it was up to me, I will surely go with this one.

Don't worry about sharpening convex grinds (even the A1). I have an F1 and a friend of mine has an S1. I sharpen both of them with just a mousepad and some sandpaper. Works like a champ. If you want to get fancier, you can always make yourself a strop and buy some shaving razor polishing compound in a locla cutlery store. I can find plenty here in Bilbao. They don't have polishing compound in Knifesupply.

I noticed you mentioned the spanish brand Muela. They are great knives for the budget consciuous buyer but I guess that (even being from Spain myself) they don't stand a chance against the Fallknivens, BRKT's and Spydercos. I have a Muela Cazorla that I got as a birthday present. I loved it for a while. Then the handle become a bit loose, I had to reshape the stag handle and I kept sharpening it a lot.

Mikel

PD: Are you a member for ARMAS BLANCAS Spanish cutlery forum?
 
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