Recommendation? The best survival / daily chef's knife?

Sundsvall said:
Spyderco Forester (by Jerry Hossom) - Discontinued, so you'll have to track one down.

Has met all the requirements.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/132152570292347762/

Hossom Forester™ - Spyderco, Inc.

Jerry Hossom started making knives more than 25 years ago, doing so professionally since 1997. He avoids knifemaking boundaries, preferring to make models that don't fit any predisposed category but are task or role specific as to function. His specialty i...
www.spyderco.com www.spyderco.com

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Seems very nice, but a recurve is not the goal here. The Province is still their closest shot, but CPM 4V does not seem stainless.
 
MISSION PRIORITIES (if you haven't followed the thread):

BLADE
Stainless AND baton-able (impact-resistant).
Thick spine ready for abuse. At least 4mm.
Heel protruding beyond the handle.
Heel is a hand stopper, not a ramp to slide onto the edge when stabbing.
Edge belly is not beyond the heel (no recurve).
Central tip for good stabbing, prying and drilling.
Total length around 25-30 cm.
Convex grind or something as sturdy.
Naked pommel for crushing.

HANDLE
Full tang with sandwich scales.
Oval grip to feel blade direction.

TOP CONTENDERS (with known specs):
Extrema Ratio Shrapnel One, 6,3 mm, 28,7cm, Böhler N690.
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Jeo-Tec N 37, 5mm, 30,7cm, Molybdenum-Vanadium.
(The one in the middle.)
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White River Firecraft 7, 5mm, 30cm, S35VN, kydex.
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I don't think this was mentioned.

TFK-Buddy (currently listed in the KnifeMaker's Market :thumbsup:).

Seems like a good fit minus the full stainless and extended tang requirement. Though, 3V still should be less prone to pitting/rust, as long it's kept dry since it does have a decent Cr content (7.50%). Dang, this is another one I kinda want tryout. Would prefer a stonewashed or mirrorwashed finish instead of the acid-washed finish, though.
 
Spears said:
I don't think this was mentioned.

TFK-Buddy (currently listed in the KnifeMaker's Market :thumbsup:).

Seems like a good fit minus the full stainless and extended tang requirement. Though, 3V still should be less prone to pitting/rust, as long it's kept dry since it does have a decent Cr content (7.50%). Dang, this is another one I kinda want tryout. Would prefer a stonewashed or mirrorwashed finish instead of the acid-washed finish, though.
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So simple, so good. Agree on the finish. Just a big piece of quality. If there are more stainless alternatives, I would be looking in their direction for the moment. But you guys are awesome.
 
Sundsvall said:
Jerry Hossom Bronco
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The one you sent (39cm) and black FS version (below), 41cm, 154CM, are easily some of the most usable I've seen. Looks very comfortable! Thickness? The 40cm EDC might be a bit much though 😂 Will look around for shorter versions of it for sure.
The problem with all of these customs is that they are in the price range that makes you think about ordering your own custom instead.
I'm still learning what I like. I haven't tried all kinds of steel yet to design a custom. But the Bronco is beyond good! Adding it to the list! Thanks!
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DannyTheSwede said:
The one you sent (39cm) and black FS version (below), 41cm, 154CM, are easily some of the most usable I've seen. Looks very comfortable! Thickness? The 40cm EDC might be a bit much though 😂 Will look around for shorter versions of it for sure.
The problem with all of these customs is that they are in the price range that makes you think about ordering your own custom instead.
I'm still learning what I like. I haven't tried all kinds of steel yet to design a custom. But the Bronco is beyond good! Adding it to the list! Thanks!
dsc00360-jpg.99291
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3/16 inch or 4.76 mm thick. Deep hollow grind with a convex edge. So you can chop and baton (but I would stick to thinner rounds). Due to the thin stock and hollow grind, the knife is extremely light despite the large profile, so you won't mind carrying it around. ATS-34 is a good steel, and a custom ATS-34 heat treat will certainly be superior to a mass produced blade. He also has made them in S30V, which is superior to the ATS-34 in toughness and wear resistance, with a bit more corrosion. S30V is an all around better steel, but harder to make due to the higher wear resistance (more sanding belts + more time & effort) and costs more money.

In my experience, with the proper heat treat, 440C, ATS-34, AUS-8, S30V are all sharp & tough stainless steels, with good corrosion resistance. ATS-34 and 154CM are about the same (ATS is Japanese, and CM (Crucible) is American.

Assuming the thickness and geometry being similar, the difference in the steels is edge holding, 440C losing sharpness the fastest and S30V holding it the longest by a wide margin, with ATS-34 (154CM) and AUS-8 in the middle.

Jerry Hossom knives are stylistically unique, lightweight, and highly optimized cutting tools.

I've seen the Bronco blade length range from 7.5 to 9.5 inches (19 - 23cm) and the handle is about 6 inches (15 cm) = OAL 34-38 cm
 
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Sundsvall said:
3/16 inch or 4.76 mm thick. Deep hollow grind with a convex edge. So you can chop and baton (but I would stick to thinner rounds). Due to the thin stock and hollow grind, the knife is extremely light despite the large profile, so you won't mind carrying it around. ATS-34 is a good steel, and a custom ATS-34 heat treat will certainly be superior to a mass produced blade. He also has made them in S30V, which is superior to the ATS-34 in toughness and wear resistance, with a bit more corrosion. S30V is an all around better steel, but harder to make due to the higher wear resistance (more sanding belts + more time & effort) and costs more money.

In my experience, with the proper heat treat, 440C, ATS-34, AUS-8, S30V are all sharp & tough stainless steels, with good corrosion resistance. ATS-34 and 154CM are about the same (ATS is Japanese, and CM (Crucible) is American.

Assuming the thickness and geometry being similar, the difference in the steels is edge holding, 440C losing sharpness the fastest and S30V holding it the longest by a wide margin, with ATS-34 (154CM) and AUS-8 in the middle.

Jerry Hossom knives are stylistically unique, lightweight, and highly optimized cutting tools.

I've seen the Bronco blade length range from 7.5 to 9.5 inches (19 - 23cm) and the handle is about 6 inches (15 cm) = OAL 34-38 cm
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That is very helpful, Sir. Really appreciate it. When reading up on steels, the information is often quite skewed due to all the proprietary steels.
I've tried quite a few steels when collecting high-carbon swords and knives, and abused them without hesitation.
But I'm learning more about this stainless new trend which seems to FINALLY bring some toughness.
Which would be the top tough steel that would never need to be oiled, and could be cleaned with dish soap on the daily?
 
A knife that's closer to your requirements would be the Ontario Woodsman in 420hc. The pommel is not protruding though.

I bought a Kabar Big Brother sheath for mine, and it fits snug.
 
MolokaiRider said:
A knife that's closer to your requirements would be the Ontario Woodsman in 420hc. The pommel is not protruding though.

I bought a Kabar Big Brother sheath for mine, and it fits snug.
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Wow. Just wow. What more could you ask for? Just saw it chop and baton in a video.
For 55 bucks, he said? Good when canoeing and in humid weathers? What's the catch?
Awesome tip! Probably top 3 right now.
 
DannyTheSwede said:
But 43cm! Might be too sword-ish for my constant in-and-out EDC.
I normally use a chest-rig or lumbar scout carry with the rifle. Can't be too long.
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DannyTheSwede said:
Wow. Just wow. What more could you ask for? Just saw it chop and baton in a video.
For 55 bucks, he said? Good when canoeing and in humid weathers? What's the catch?
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Its huge, 15" overall, well above your latest requirement for 30cm overall. Chest rig or scout carry? Not with that knife...
Good for canoeing? Yup, weight is a pound and a half. Tie a rope on it and theres your anchor.
Weight should be of primary consideration, yet you have made no mention of it at all. You don't want two smaller knives that would probably be easier to carry and lighter over all though......
 
Arathol said:
Its huge, 15" overall, well above your latest requirement for 30cm overall. Chest rig or scout carry? Not with that knife...
Good for canoeing? Yup, weight is a pound and a half. Tie a rope on it and theres your anchor.
Weight should be of primary consideration, yet you have made no mention of it at all. You don't want two smaller knives that would probably be easier to carry and lighter over all though......
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I’ve been following this thread long enough to see that this Danny guy really has no idea what he wants. I bet he’s just trolling us. He may not even be Swedish!
 
DannyTheSwede said:
Wow. Just wow. What more could you ask for? Just saw
it chop and baton in a video.
For 55 bucks, he said? Good when canoeing and in humid weathers? What's the catch?
Awesome tip! Probably top 3 right now.
Click to expand...
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It is getting harder to find, and the steel is treated to be fairly soft. This one is in 5150, but I have the 420hc version as well.

Good luck on your search.
 
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