What is your favorite large fixed blade? Why?

D

dr0

Joined
Apr 3, 2007
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I assume many others on this forum own multiple military / combat / survival type knives by many different makers. Which is your favorite and why?

What steel do you like for this type of knife? What handle configuration?
 
Honestly, I'd have to cast my vote for the DF. It is a pretty amazing knife which takes a major beating and keeps asking for more. I have used the thing for all manner of chores around the farm and it just keeps asking for more severe punishment. Edge holding ability is on the magic side. A guy who collects knives down the road asked to borrow the blade for a few days. It has been two weeks since he's touched base. That should tell you something.
 
Hmmm for a "combat/military/surivival" type knife I have a few I like My Randall 1 is a personal fav, classic design, feel and just a great all around knife imo. I really like the CRK Project II its hefty enough to do some chopping but handles alot of other chores well too, its one piece designe makes it very sturdy and CRK is a great company(S30v steel). I really like the Busse satin jack tack in INFI steel of course, its a great all around knife that will take a heck of a beating. I think it takes a great edge and isnt heavy at all. Now if were talking about choppers I have a whole diff list.
 
My favourite is a custom Wally Hayes in 52100. years ago KI did a camp knife test and this came out on top. Superb work by a Master smith, but too nice to really use hard.
For actual hard use, Busse is really hard to beat. Infi is a great material and these knives are s-o-l-i-d. I have an old straight handle BM but my real favourite is my SH II which is a better size for carrying in the field for me. It is a bit on the heavy side for light use, and a bit much for kitchen work and cooking
... which brings me to my Fehrman custom Hood. It is also black coated Infi, [correction: CPM 3V ] but the good Doctor designed in with a thinner, longer blade and a handle with removable scales with a hollowed out section that you can put a variety of things in, but designed for small ballbearings or similar for shock absorbing. Interesting, and it works, but I don't fill it with that. The blade also has a notch that is really useful for holding pot handles etc. A very light, very fast knife.
Unfortunately, all these knives are way too expensive: but they weren't too bad when I bought them ( when dinosaurs roamed the earth).
Shorter knives are a whole different story, but this post is long enough.
 
Of the ones I own, my favorite "big" knife would have to be this Cattaraugus 225Q that I recently restored.

6" long and 3/16th" thick forged 1095 with a convex edge.

Cattaraugus-225Q-Mark-FINAL.jpg
 
Well, for a general use larger blade I would say my favorite is my Camillus Becker Extreme in S30V. 7" clip point blade with micarta scales. The downside is that the scales come slick and not very ergonomic, so I put it in a vice and used a large semi-circular file to shape the grip to my liking. Now it fits my hand like a glove and is very comfortable and secure. That's the great thing about micarta.....don't like the feel, just alter it.

My Camillus makes a light chopper, scraper, and cutter. It also has a good clip point for thrusting. I'm happy with it. I haven't noticed any problems with chipping on the S30V blade even when doing two handed scrapes on wood.

For larger jobs I am very fond of my new Fallkniven Thor which gives me more chopping ability.
 
My favorite large knife, is Chris Reeves sable 1. With 9" saber grind blade, it can handle camp choirs, cleaning and skinning duties, and pressed as a weapon. A2 steel one of my favorite steels. Hollow handle on mine holds water/wind proof matches as a back up to my lighter. The knife allows easy choking for delicate cuts. It is part of my trio. Sable 1, Stockman and gerber paxe.
 
My favorite large fixed blade is easily my Busse Fusion Battle Mistress.

PICT3991.jpg

PICT3993.jpg

PICT3994.jpg


I wish I had a more recent picture, as I've really beaten the crap out of it, and it shows. This knife is the real deal.

It's available in a couple of configurations here:
www.bussecompanystore.com
 
My Scrapyard Dogfather is my favorite BIG knife as it is almost everthing a Busse
FBM is but is cheap enough to actually use. I can't wait for my Mutts to show up and I have a hunch it will be my fave little big knife.
 
This is a hard choice for me as I have many that I really like a lot. Among them are a Marble's Trailmaker, a CS Trailmaster, a Chris Reeve NKONKA and a Himalayan Imports Sirupati Khukuri.

It really depends on my mood, I guess. That and what exactly am I going to be doing that particular day?

As far as fit, finish, best utility user and way-cool factor, the NKONKA wins the race for me.

As far as pure brute toughness and superior chopping ability, the HI Sirupati Khuk takes that cake.

The sharpest of them all is the Marble's Trailmaker. That convex edge is nasty, wicked mean sharp.

Decisions, decisions...
 
I have a custom 101st Airborne
made by Newt Livesay that I'm pretty fond of
 
My favorite is a Himalayan Imports Khukuri. It does what a big knife needs to do and more. Small jobs are left to my Spyderco.
 
For a really large knife, I would have to go with the new Imperial Weapons replica of the James D. Searles Bowie made for Rezin Bowie and now residing in the Alamo Museum. As far as smaller big knives go, my very clear favorite would be the same one listed in my information, a 6" Randall Sportsman's Bowie that I have had for 66 years. I paid $25 for it back in 1961 when I was living at home and my parents were horrified at the cost! I have a 7' Model 1 that I ordered in 1978 and received in 1979 for which I paid $180. :)
 
I just can't come up with 1 favorite but the ones I like the most are:
Chris Reeve Neil Roberts Warrior with the S30V steel blade.
Crusader Forge(Trident) Oberland 03 with S30V blade. This one just seems to have all the traits of a "real knife"....i.e. blade shape and a handle that seems to fit no matter how I am holding it.
I also have to say that I favor my Fehrman First Strike made from 3V steel.
However, the knife I find myself EDC'ing is my Bob Dozier Elk Hunter with the wilderness style sheath. Bob REALLY knows how to do D2 steel and all of my Doziers are scary sharp.

Like I said, I just can't pick just one. I like all of my knives (maybe 100+)

Ciao
Ron
:jerkit:
 
My Fallkniven NL1, it is a very solid piece. The laminated VG-10 is wicked sharp, stainless, and holds an edge like a mother.

I also like my USMC Kabar. For $50 I can absolutely beat the crap out of it (batoning ect.), sharpen it up, and it is just as good as it was before.
 
No one mentionned Ranger knives yet?

I will: I love my Ranger RD-6. Of course it's not a Busse, but it's a good alternative if you can't afford a Busse.

I really love my Himalayan Imports khukuris too :)
 
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