The Perfect Knife !!!

Hi Pitdog, I carry a Chris Reeves Mountaineer II as of now. But for several years I have carried a shadow III in the pancake sheath as my edc. I just ordered and recieved a Mountaineer I just the other day. I have not really put it thourgh the paces that I have for the other two knives. I cut trees for my living and use my knife every day and as my every day carry too. Just the other day I was cutting a tree and got the saw pinched. The tip of the bar was stuck instead of going and getting another saw I just pulled out my Mountaineer II with the 5.5 inch blade and chopped into the tree and was able to free my saw. This knife has enough lenght to do some light chopping and I have battoned the heck out of wood ie mullberry,hedgeapple, ash, locust, just to name a few with this knife with what I feel is very great results. Not to long ago I butchered up a turkey with my Shadow III it worked just fine. On my shoulder pack sewed to the water bottle is a Project I with a 7.5 inch blade.
I normally do not carry my axe with me and for chopping I use the Project I or the Mountaineer II that is on my belt.
I have used many other knives and so far have chosen these knives as my main blades. There would have to be something preety special to come out on the market for me to switch knives. Also with each Chris Reeves knife that I have they have fire steel, cotton, needle and thread, hooks and line,
scalple Blade, and wrapped around the handle is cord. Other than the cord all the items are water tight. I have been using knives for over 30 years for hiking,camping, hunting, and fishing, four years in the Marines and now cutting trees and so far I have chosen to use these knives and feel for me these are the ones I will continue to keep as my edcs and any cutting chores.
Whether I am making fuzz sticks for my campfire or splitting rounds with it or cutting sausage and cheese to have with crackers, be it cutting up wild mush rooms or wild greens or even turkeys these knives are up and have been my choice for several years now. So to answer your ? yes as of now I have found the perfect knife or knives.


Great thread and take care Pitdog
Bryan
 
If we're talking fixed blades, I think my BRKT Northstar may fit the bill for size, shape, and quality. . . but if it does, then why do I want a Nessmuk so badly?:confused:
 
pitdog said:
Pics when you can Codger !!!:thumbup:
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Line art of the Uncle Henry version to show the grind:


A collage of some variants in my collection:


The Craftsman SFO made for Sears:


A SFO for Copenhagen/Skoal and an oak handled sample.. some few were finished as 100th anniversary knives before Schrade closed. These show the serpentine handle well:


A NIB example, a bit newer vintage than my user... late seventies to early eighties:
 
I must confess, I don't have a fixed blade:o But I have been on the hunt for one since recently handling a Mountaineer.
What are your thoughts on the RAT-3? It's on my radar as well.
 
My perfect hunting knives were made by Schrade but not just the ones Codger shows as many of my Schrades are my perfect hunting knives. my perfect folders would take a day or two to list and my perfect choppers would take anothe half day! As said before i don't think the perfect knife exists there are just way too many perfect knives in my collection.
 
Pit,I'll play...I have to say that my Aurora's from BRKT is the best all around knives I own. If I had to choose a chopper, my Fehrman would win, but only slightly over my Kelsey Creek camp knife and my Busse Hell Razor. I like the F-1 by the way, you should give in and get one, I think you'll love it..I think its a better knife than the Dumpster mutt, I've owned them both and sold the Dumpster mutt, if this helps. Gene
 
sicily02 said:
Hi Pitdog, I carry a Chris Reeves Mountaineer II as of now. But for several years I have carried a shadow III in the pancake sheath as my edc. I just ordered and recieved a Mountaineer I just the other day. I have not really put it thourgh the paces that I have for the other two knives. I cut trees for my living and use my knife every day and as my every day carry too. Just the other day I was cutting a tree and got the saw pinched. The tip of the bar was stuck instead of going and getting another saw I just pulled out my Mountaineer II with the 5.5 inch blade and chopped into the tree and was able to free my saw. This knife has enough lenght to do some light chopping and I have battoned the heck out of wood ie mullberry,hedgeapple, ash, locust, just to name a few with this knife with what I feel is very great results. Not to long ago I butchered up a turkey with my Shadow III it worked just fine. On my shoulder pack sewed to the water bottle is a Project I with a 7.5 inch blade.
I normally do not carry my axe with me and for chopping I use the Project I or the Mountaineer II that is on my belt.
I have used many other knives and so far have chosen these knives as my main blades. There would have to be something preety special to come out on the market for me to switch knives. Also with each Chris Reeves knife that I have they have fire steel, cotton, needle and thread, hooks and line,
scalple Blade, and wrapped around the handle is cord. Other than the cord all the items are water tight. I have been using knives for over 30 years for hiking,camping, hunting, and fishing, four years in the Marines and now cutting trees and so far I have chosen to use these knives and feel for me these are the ones I will continue to keep as my edcs and any cutting chores.
Whether I am making fuzz sticks for my campfire or splitting rounds with it or cutting sausage and cheese to have with crackers, be it cutting up wild mush rooms or wild greens or even turkeys these knives are up and have been my choice for several years now. So to answer your ? yes as of now I have found the perfect knife or knives.


Great thread and take care Pitdog
Bryan
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Thanks for the detailed answer Bryan, you sound like you have really used the Chris Reeves knives as they are meant to be used and they have come up smelling of roses, that's the kind of story I like to hear !!!:thumbup:
 
gunknifenut said:
Pit,I'll play...I have to say that my Aurora's from BRKT is the best all around knives I own. If I had to choose a chopper, my Fehrman would win, but only slightly over my Kelsey Creek camp knife and my Busse Hell Razor. I like the F-1 by the way, you should give in and get one, I think you'll love it..I think its a better knife than the Dumpster mutt, I've owned them both and sold the Dumpster mutt, if this helps. Gene
Click to expand...

Yeah I hear what ya sayin and I know the F1 would leave the DM eatin dust when it comes to cuttin stuff but then that little devil on my shoulder will say " what about splitting sections of wet wood for the fire, that slight extra length,thickness and toughness will give the DM the edge....etc ":(
 
Anybody know what this is?




1560T.jpg








CODGER BAIT!!! :D

BTW, Codger, I really liked the Delrin scales.

Doc
 
Pit I understand you concern but the f1 is one tough sob it'll split wet wood with a baton without a problem than i't peel an apple and make julliane fries...
 
tarmix101 said:
If there is ONE.... I haven't foundt it. I'll keep trying though.;):thumbup:
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WELL SAID.....:thumbup: my thoughts exactly.....:D the search continues....:o

here are my favorites so far....:)
gene ingram #30 drop point...
IMG_0636.jpg


ML knife drop point....
MikeTorralbaDroppointhandled.jpg
 
Almost all the knives, of all the knives which have passed through my hands, are perfect for what I have in mind for them.

I believe that redundancy is a good way to ensure that I'll have what I need, no matter what activity or what type of 'luggage' I'm using to do it.
For example, I have 7 backpacks; 3 for various different types of trail building work, one for mountain biking, one as my man purse, one for hiking, and one for overnight hiking, and then two lumbar packs- one for biking and one for light trail clearing and hiking.

Within each pack, there will probably be a small slipjoint knife, a multi tool specific to the use of the pack, a larger locking folder and a small, (3-4") fixed blade. Most packs will also have a larger fixed blade as well.

So to make a long story longer, I have about 40 'perfect' knives, because each knife has a home. The other ones I have I have because I like them or can't bring myself to get rid of them, but their home is a box, and their perfection is lost on me when they're in there.

Changing my version of perfection when it comes to blades has proven to be very expensive indeed. Maybe I'll get it right one day! Until then, I'll keep on shopping:D
 
flipe8 said:
I must confess, I don't have a fixed blade:o But I have been on the hunt for one since recently handling a Mountaineer.
What are your thoughts on the RAT-3? It's on my radar as well.
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My favorite is a Fallkniven F1, much handier IMO than a RAT-3. You should also check out Mora's if interested. I find myself carrying just a folding knife more often (even in backcountry) fixed blades are better for food prep and skinning/butchering (easier to clean, usually safer... etc.), but a lot of the time I find them superfluous to my activities (still really fun to bring along though :D )

Here's a good link for moras : http://ragweedforge.com/SwedishKnifeCatalog.html

Out of curiosity. What knives do you carry know?
 
For some reason none of my "perfect" tools were bought because they LOOKED perfect. They were purchased because they seemed like they would perform the way I needed them too. In fact, most of them are not very good looking. They do work very well though. My perfect fixed blade is a 3" Brusletto Profileringskniv. I bought it on a lark, tried it because I bought it, and kept using it because it continued to work so well. The knife does not carry as well as some folders, does not hold an edge as well as some, does not cut cardboard as well as some, but does everything I need my knife to do. I have built several other knives trying to make the "perfect" knife, but continue to carry my little Brusletto. I think it is a matter of the knife suiting the needs of the user. It would not neccesarily suit someone else.
It is interesting to see everyone's opinions though.
 
I don't have a "perfect knife" yet.But I do have 1 thats damn close.My Fallkniven S1 forest is my go-to piece of kit when I'm in the woods.Great blade,great edge,great weight it fits me to a T.
 
DOC-CANADA said:
Anybody know what this is?

CODGER BAIT!!! :D

BTW, Codger, I really liked the Delrin scales.

Doc
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Lol! Yep Doc, I have a 156OT Little Finger as well. Alright, I have two. A user and one new one for the collection! It is a handy size and I have used it to skin a deer. Only made for a few years, 1979-85, they aren't rare but are uncommon. And again like my favorite Schrade patterns, 1095 carbon steel and Delrin with nickle silver furniture. And before you ask, I also have examples of all of the other fixed blades in the Old Timer line, most of the fixed blades in the Uncle Henry line, most of the 1946-73 Schrade Walden fixed blades, a full set of George Schrade Stagbrand fixed blades, Imperials and some of the pre WWII Schrade Cut Co fixed blades. Oh, and also the more modern Schrade Safe-T-Grip series, the X-Timer series and a few more. I certainly don't lack for resources when I need a knife to work with!

Codger
 
I have to agree with the no one perfect knife cliche but for me I fancy folders. My go to knife for camping and hiking is my buck 110. I find that the length of the blade a good size to handle most cutting chores. I also find the clip point very useful when a sharp point and fine cut work is needed. I have not battoned with it, but have cut smaller branches and sharpened sticks for hot dogs, cleaned fish, cut up food with. I like it, it feels good and comfortable in hand, solid as folder cut be and I have trust in it. It has a good history and working record. This knife is not always on me but I guarantee it is always very close to me and where I go.

I like sharp metal so I like many others buy more knives than I can actually use at any one given time. As far as fixed blades I like using my fiddleback nessmuk. I like this knife because for a fixed blade it is not too long and obtrusive for me, sharp as heck and quality materials. Tough as nails as well. I do not like carrying around larger knives and that is just preference for me in my specifications. And in all honesty I like the schrade sharpfinger as well thin blade that slices like a razor.
 
I pop in to this forum to see what people are talking about without posting anything, cause my ideas on survival are different than most, but I will chime in on this post.
My overall favorite is the Camillus USMC 5685. If I want a chopper, I like the BK9, or smaller, I like the Schrade 160ot. They fit my needs, and have the look I like.
 
tarmix101 said:
If there is ONE.... I haven't foundt it. I'll keep trying though.;):thumbup:
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Yup. I buy them, then give them away usually. Current favorite folder is Endura 4 PE, although I would prefer that it had a bit more heft or weight. I currently only have two large FB's: Becker Brute and Ka-Bar Kukri. Don't care one way or the other about the Ka-Bar but I will keep the Becker. Reprofiled and sharpened both. I'll see what Ethan Becker comes up with when Ka-Bar brings his line out again. Maybe I'll find my perfect FB there. Although I'm a big blade junkie, reality is that a 3-5 inch blade is more useful for most of my needs. I really want a Becker Campanion.:thumbup:
 
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