The best fixed blade camping knife for ME

Since it sounds as though you are carrying a good hatchet or axe, and are rather regularly around saltwater. My reccomendation goes to the F1. Great little knife that does most tasks really well and which will hold up exceptionaly well around saltwater.

The Bravo 1 stainless would also be a good choice but the handle does not have as much traction when wet as the F1.
 
raiz said:
Thanks for all the replies guys. The info you've provided has helped a lot.

So far we have:

0 votes - Gerber LMF II
3 votes - Bark River Bravo-1
2 votes - ESEE (RAT) RC-4 or RC-5
0 votes - Ka-Bar Becker BK2
6 votes - Fallkniven F-1

So, I'm going to narrow it down to the three knives you guys have voted on so far. The Fallkniven knife would save me $50 or so over the Bark River, however this is hopefully going to be a once in a lifetime purchase, so the $50 isn't a big factor.

What is the slip factor of the handles on the F-1, Bravo-1, and RC-4/5?

Can anyone compare the laminate VG10 steel (F-1), to A-2 steel (Bravo-1), to 1095 steel (RC-4) as far as sharpening, edge retention, and rusting? I guess the F-1 shouldn't rust since it's stainless?

Can anyone compare the sheaths of these 3 knives? This will probably be the final selling point for me. It needs to snap in, stay put, and give me a sense of security that it won't fall out when I'm runnin around in the mountains. I don't want to worry about losing my knife.
Click to expand...

I had both the RC4 and the Bravo 1. To get to the point I still have the Bravo 1. I really did like the RC4 but the Bravo 1 is a TANK!! Thicker Blade, better grip, and a far better Grind (Convex compared to flat) !!! But the RC4 had a way better Sheath! As for Steel the 1095 is a great steel but will rust if not maintained, it is the cheapest steel of the bunch. Same goes for A-2 but I believe it is more resistant compared to an uncoated 1095. The VG10 is probably my favorite of the bunch for steel. It is stainless as well as layered for strength and flexibility. I have an A1 and it is my knife of choice! My absolute favorite (I want an S1 next!!) The handle is a little rough in its texture. I did get some hotspots but it never slipped. But the A1 handle like the F1 is a love/hate. It is grippy fairly comfortable but lacks durability. My A1 is BEAT! The size is good for me. Not too small not to big. The RC4 is a BOX handle! I like micarta but it needs some shape to contour your hand. Plus it is small. The Bravo 1 is also micarta but it is extremely smooth compared to the RC4. I like a rough unfinished micarta. The smoothness on the Bravo makes it a slippery risk if you hand gets wet...it will slip around. So if you sweat it will move around in your hand...mine does.

As for Sheath there is the RC4 and than everyone else. The Fallkniven is a distant 2nd. And the Bark River is dead last in this category! My RC4 had Molle ability but it was a big sheath. The Fallkniven is simple, light, and it really locks the blade in well. All in all you are looking at great knives!! Any of these are really good. ESEE offers the best warranty followed by Bark and then Fallkniven.

I really like the F1 but the finger guard and short blade length turned me away. As a big Fallkniven guy and an A1 owner the F1 needed to me to be longer and offer a slightly bigger finger guard. The grip also needs to be more durable at least for my use. I am hard on knives the Fallkniven's only weakness to me is the grip durability.

So in the end I would do the Bravo 1 it is a nice knife a close second would be the F1 if length isnt as important.
 
Keep in mind that ultimately, the best knife for YOU is the knife that you find most comfortable to use - who cares if it has the best features in the world but is a pain to use.

If you are able, try and handle all three. You can always buy them used on the exchange and sell them again in the future once you decide.
 
I would vote in order:

1. Bark River
2. Rc-4
3. F1/H1
4. Becker
5. Kabar
6. Gerber

I have owned all but the H1/F1, handled a few they are nice blades.

I wouldent rule out some of the other bark rivers, Aurora, Northstar, Liton Brior !
 
F1 will serve you best in the bush. It's all function.
I'd get the leather sheath if you get the knife, but that's just me.
 
cziv said:
I would like to go on record as saying - at the risk of sounding like an a** - I can't stand Fallkniven's. They're not a USA company, they're overpriced for what you get IMHO and they have a ton of selections that look pretty much the same as the rest. ESEE - Cold Steel - KA-BAR :thumbup:

Goes, hides under his rock to avoid the flames. :(
Click to expand...

Totally agree.
 
I think I'm going to eliminate the F-1 from the running. I really like the simplicity of the sheath, so it's that much harder. If only there were a way to combine the best of all the knives into one!!! I do like that the other two are American companies.

I'm leaning toward the Bark River due to the handle... but still undecided.
 
NorCalMtn2 said:
Fallkniven F-1



4689593534_4afd85b886_b.jpg
Click to expand...

Which maxpedition pack is that?


-Freq
 
cziv said:
I would like to go on record as saying - at the risk of sounding like an a** - I can't stand Fallkniven's. They're not a USA company, they're overpriced for what you get IMHO and they have a ton of selections that look pretty much the same as the rest. ESEE - Cold Steel - KA-BAR :thumbup:

Goes, hides under his rock to avoid the flames. :(
Click to expand...

Hate to disagree with you here.

While the fallkniven isn't a USA company, I don't it to be. They respond very quick to customer service, and the knife is so well built, it will never need to go back to them.

I have a bravo 1 and 2, and a Fallkniven F1. The F1 has a higher fit and finish, and is a more adaptable knife IMO. The handle alone (which can be used for hours hard without gloves, and receive minimal blisters) is worth it alone.

If I had to have 1 knife, all the time, for all scenarios. It would be the F1.

That said, if you plan on batoning a lot of wood, and want something hard use, I'd get the bravo 1 or 2.

To me, the ESEE's while nice are just not what I want for batoning wood. The grind gets stuck easy, doesn't push wood away like butter like the bark river and fallkniven does, and the handle for my hands is a blister machine.

-Freq
 
I must admit I've never owned one. :o Other than that they have a lot of them that look the same to me - I defer to your first hand experience.

I use a Busse BWM or an Esee Junglas for batoning or chopping down small trees. They're unreal!
 
What size hands do you have?

The F1 is a great knife that I have used for going on 9yrs now for everything from hiking/backpacking to hunting/cleaning game.

The ESEE 4 is a top notch knife but the handle size and shape didn't work for my hands. The slightly longer handle on the F1 makes it work for me better. I will say that to attach to a pack the supplied ESEE sheath is excellent and if you're not in saltwater and are using your knife I wouldn't worry about rust on the ESEE4

That's my opinions on those. As a short addition I just got a Ratmandu and an HRLM and they have beat out my F1. Amazing handle ergonomics, great blades and the sheaths that I got from steelnut make them simply amazing. More cash outlay then your other choices but well worth looking into. I believe the order thread is still open in the swamprat subforum.

Truthfully I would be perfectly comfortable stuck in the woods with any that I mentioned. We're getting nitpicky at this level.
 
You ask in one of your post how the Bravo1, F1, and RC-4 compare in terms of their respective steels (A2, VG-10, 1095).

I own all three and have used them extensively (and done video usage of two, soon to be all three).

A2 is the king (by far) in terms of edge retention and toughness. By toughness I mean it is far less likely to chip, dent, roll-over or break. Down side: it rusts easily (if not stored dry), it is not as easy to sharpen as 1095, but about the same as VG-10.

VG-10 is extremely rust resistant (15% Chromium helps with that), has better edge retention than 1095, but not as good as A2. Down side: if you are too rough with it (cross-cut batoning dry hardwood, for example) it is brittle enough to pick-up small chips in the edge that can be sharpened out - with some patience, also it is not as easy to sharpen as 1095.

1095 (heat-treated by Rowen) has decent edge retention - it's no slouch, just not as good as the other two. It is extremely tough (much tougher than VG-10, almost as tough as A2). It is extremely easy to sharpen compared to the other two. Down side: it rusts just as easy as A2

Hope this helped. I like all three knives and still use all from time to time. If someone gave me that infamous "you can only have one" question, it would take me 1 second to say my Bravo1.

Blunt
 
For how you want to use it- and only ever have to buy one I'd say the stainless Bravo1
 
Fallkniven F-1 (a little small for me) or my fav the S-1. My S-1 holds full convex edge, wicked sharp, and I have used it for literally everything. It's just right in size, not too big to be unwieldy, but big enought to baton properly and well suited for most tasks. BBQ, batoning, whittling, food prep, etc. It's one of the best knives I have ever owned. I would recommend the zytel sheath, it indestructable and simple. PS I love the victorinox tools as a compliment. Workchamp or swisstool. Take those three with a hatchet and you have all the bases covered as far as I'm concerned.
 
Your only real choices are fallkniven or esee, fallkniven has BETTER STEEL. it is more exspensive i believe. Esee comes with a warrenty that cant be beat, lifetime no questions asked theyl replace it no matter what. 1095 is eassy to sharpen, and in gneral i like esees better. But thats just my opinion fallkniven is a great company

PS. anything made by Gerber SUCKs
 
raiz said:
I think I'm going to eliminate the F-1 from the running. I really like the simplicity of the sheath, so it's that much harder. If only there were a way to combine the best of all the knives into one!!! I do like that the other two are American companies.

I'm leaning toward the Bark River due to the handle... but still undecided.
Click to expand...

i think you're putting too much process in what is a simple task...all your initial choices are fine...you know what you want to afford to spend...source the knives, handle them...buy the one that feels best in your hand...and then use it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top