Timberline Specwar Alternative

D

DanishDude

Joined
Nov 13, 2016
Messages
15
Hi all! I´m looking for an alternative to the great Timberline Specwar by Emerson and Neely. I really love that knife! It´s simple, durable, and just the right size. Unfortunatly, it's really hard to get hold of one, and especially a brand new one. In other words: I'm looking for a medium-big, preferably tanto, quality, fixed blade. By quality, i mean Made in the US or Japan, and by a brand with a good reputation. If it comes with a sheath like Specwar, it wouldn't be a minus either. Hope you guys can help. :)
 
DanishDude said:
Hi all! I´m looking for an alternative to the great Timberline Specwar by Emerson and Neely. I really love that knife! It´s simple, durable, and just the right size. Unfortunatly, it's really hard to get hold of one, and especially a brand new one. In other words: I'm looking for a medium-big, preferably tanto, quality, fixed blade. By quality, i mean Made in the US or Japan, and by a brand with a good reputation. If it comes with a sheath like Specwar, it wouldn't be a minus either. Hope you guys can help. :)
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First of all, you need to tell us what you ned the alternative knife for - what is your intended use? (kitchen duties, zombie killing, bushcraft or other ... ?)

As for the Timberline, they are sold by Böker in Germany just across the border from you, so maybe check there ...
 
Hi! I have checked Böker, and they do not sell Specwar (Or anything like that).I'll primarily use it for "chopping" minor pieces of wood, cooking in the wild.. etc. Minor duties like that. :) BTW, Solingen is not just across the border from me. It's like deeeep southern Germany, and i live in Copenhagen. :)
 
DanishDude said:
Hi! I have checked Böker, and they do not sell Specwar (Or anything like that).I'll primarily use it for "chopping" minor pieces of wood, cooking in the wild.. etc. Minor duties like that. :) BTW, Solingen is not just across the border from me. It's like deeeep southern Germany, and i live in Copenhagen. :)
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Böker sells Timberline - so I meant to say that you could ask them. If you need help, just say the word, I speak fluent German and would gladly contact them on your behalf.

For chopping, Id never recommend a knife like the Specwar.

There are a multitude of knives for chopping, if thats your bag. Check out a SURVIVE Knives, which are pretty much indestructible. Maybe buy them second hand on the sales forum here, as the company has a somewhat special sales tactic.

Also there are LT Wright, Battle Horse Knives, Woodlore knives, White, Condor, ENZO and many many more. All good knives in different price segments.

LOL, Germany is the neighbor of Denmark, doesnt matter where in the country you live, its still called a neighboring country. I didnt suggest you walk there - call them and have them send you one via DHL, if they have it in stock somewhere. I just checked; Böker sells Timberline (though didnt see the Specwar - though thats a moot point, as that might not be the best for chopping).

Due to forum rules, I cant link to vendors not being paid members, but as you are in Denmark, check out the Danish store; its called 'BUSHCRAFT' and is of course a DOT DK web site. You should be able to find it through that. They have Condor choppers and Enzo knives amongst others.

Also check out Lamnia and Varusteleka. All good companies to deal with.
 
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As your stated need was chopping, Id recommend the following knives from the above mentioned companies in no particular order and of varying prices. These companies are in Denmark and Finland. Shop with confidence from these:

The Danish store mentioned above:
Condor Bushlore.
Condor Kephart.
ENZO Trapper.
MORA Bushcraft.
Condor Primitive Bush Knife.

One Finnish store starting with an L :):
Bark River Bushcrafter.(not my preferred company but many likes their knives and you wanted a US company).
Benchmade Bushcrafter.
Böker Bushcraft.
Casström Forrest Knife in various configurations (too many to list).
ENZO Trapper.
Esee model 5 (and other Esee knives)
Fällkniven H1
The outlined below are offered by US companies, which you reqested
LT Wright Bushcrafter in different versions - very popular and well made knives - check them out. Heartedly recommend these!.
Fiddleback - likewise heartedly recommended
Fiddleback Forge Camp Knife.
Fiddleback Forge Bush Finger.
TOPS B.O.B.
TOPS Tex Creek.
And several others.

The other company in Finland starting with a 'V.':)
The awesome SKRAMA - a great blade for the woods.
Several other Leuku and Puukkos.
 
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The TOPS Knives looks very interresting! Do you by any means know if they are associated with SOG? Their website look pretty similar. :)
 
Not really. Actually a chisel grind would make it less likely to stay sharp IMO..... That was actually the one thing i didn't like about specwar.
 
DanishDude said:
The TOPS Knives looks very interresting! Do you by any means know if they are associated with SOG? Their website look pretty similar. :)
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TOPS makes many different knives - some are thick as a brick, others not. I checked out a multitude of TOPS knives at SHOT SHOW some years back and nearly fell on my butt laughing - some of their knives are very thick. BUT again; TOPS knife owners mostly seem to like the knives and they certainly churn out a lot of knives and seem succesful.

The B.O.B seems to belong amongst the latter not overly thick knives, when compared to other TOPS offerings. Im interested in the TOPS CUB - I just wish they would sell it without the extras and for a cheaper price. I like to put together my own kit.

I dont own a BOB but hear good things about them. Maybe someone with a BOB will chime in.

To my knowledge, TOPS is not affiliated with SOG, but so many of these knife companies are owned by an umbrella company...
 
Danishdude, seems to me like you like the design of the specwar. Which is fine. IT is not ideal for camp chores but if you like it, that is all that matters. You did not ask for suggestions on what is a good camp knife etc. You asked what is a good knife similar to the specwar. No need for me to know why. I have owned several specwars and have only seen one knife that is probably tougher and a lot cheaper. Also this GI tanto actually makes a better camp knife, being a standard v-grind instead of a very blunt chisel grind. The specwar was designed for not much more than penetration in mind. Oh and the GI tanto is barely $30 and is tougher than many of the options mentioned above as it uses 1055 steel.

Specwar
IMG_3691.jpg


GI Tanto
80PGTK.1.jpg
 
Thanks! But i actually think i found one i like. The TOPS Sky Marshall Tanto, I know it isn't good for camping, but it looks SOOO nice! :)
 
Cobalt said:
Danishdude, seems to me like you like the design of the specwar. Which is fine. IT is not ideal for camp chores but if you like it, that is all that matters. You did not ask for suggestions on what is a good camp knife etc. You asked what is a good knife similar to the specwar. No need for me to know why. I have owned several specwars and have only seen one knife that is probably tougher and a lot cheaper. Also this GI tanto actually makes a better camp knife, being a standard v-grind instead of a very blunt chisel grind. The specwar was designed for not much more than penetration in mind. Oh and the GI tanto is barely $30 and is tougher than many of the options mentioned above as it uses 1055 steel.
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I asked, what he needed the knife for (why go any length to write the above? LOL. It takes all kinds...Ho hum).

Quite frankly its usually a good thing to ask in order to offer better advice, because some dont have a clear picture of which knife is better for the task they intend to use it for. So yes, its of course a valid question.

If I hadnt asked, the DD would have gone the route of a tactical knife - maybe even a tanto point.

I realize you like the tantos you post, but please PLEASE dont get him stuck with a tactical Timeberline Specwar tanto or the like for chopping, cooking and other 'bushcrafty' things!!!
 
DanishDude said:
Thanks! But i actually think i found one i like. The TOPS Sky Marshall Tanto, I know it isn't good for camping, but it looks SOOO nice! :)
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Well, if you like it, buy it - its your money.

But as you yourself mention - it isnt the optimal knife for the tasks you line up. See my post above.

But I suspect, you like the notion of a certain type of knife more than than finding the optimal tool for cooking and the other 'bushcrafty' jobs¨...

...and in that case, go ahead.
 
Well, what can i say?... I do indeed like tanto knives with sharp edges and all that, and i know it isn't optimal for camping. The good thing though, is that it will be multifunctional. If i some day get into a fight with someone, or need to break a hole in something, then it will become handy. But i think i like it mostly for the looks... Thanks for all your recommendations. It sure gave me a lot more knowlegde of smaller brands, and the big selection of bushcraft knives. :)
 
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DanishDude said:
Heck.... Don't know what happened with size right there!:confused:
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LOL, that was very loud. No problem. There are plenty of good tantos out there and I wanted to give you choices as to tantos you can use.

another I would recommend is the Warcraft series tanto's from cold steel. They use CPM3V which is better than the steel in the timberline and better than the steel in most bushcraft knives. Very ergo design that comes razor sharp out of the box. Here it is:

This knife would fill all roles including tactical if that is what you were looking for. Comes in 3 sizes. Small med and huge
DSC01515.1.JPG
 
DanishDude said:
Well, what can i say?... I do indeed like tanto knives with sharp edges and all that, and i know it isn't optimal for camping. The good thing though, is that it will be multifunctional. If i some day get into a fight with someone, or need to break a hole in something, then it will become handy. But i think i like it mostly for the looks... Thanks for all your recommendations. It sure gave me a lot more knowlegde of smaller brands, and the big selection of bushcraft knives. :)
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DanishDude said:
Heck.... Don't know what happened with size right there!:confused:
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LOL, no problem:D

Good luck with the knife. We should all just buy, what brings a smile to our faces. Shoot, I bought a K2 and thats like a folding sword:D

I understand your sentiments, but dont stab anybody in Denmark or you most likely WILL go to jail even if its self defense.

You know you cant EDC any knife what so ever in Denmark since the most recent knife law of June first, 2016, right (just checking)? If you do, you go to jail.
 
Cobalt said:
LOL, that was very loud. No problem. There are plenty of good tantos out there and I wanted to give you choices as to tantos you can use.

another I would recommend is the Warcraft series tanto's from cold steel. They use CPM3V which is better than the steel in the timberline and better than the steel in most bushcraft knives. Very ergo design that comes razor sharp out of the box. Here it is:

This knife would fill all roles including tactical if that is what you were looking for. Comes in 3 sizes. Small med and huge
DSC01515.1.JPG
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Theoretically mere possesion of the knife pictured will land the Danish Dude in hot water in Denmark - unless he has a permit or unless he can show just cause for owning a blade such as that. If he says he uses it for kitchen duties or forrest felling for example, when questioned by a police and IF the officer believes him.
According to the most recent knife law in Denmark, its up to the discretion of the individual officer whether he believes him or not. If the officer are having a bad day, trust me, Danish Dude WILL have a bad day/permanent record.
 
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