what size fixed blade

RescueRiley

RescueRiley

Joined
Mar 22, 2006
Messages
5,944
I vasilate alot about what size fixed blade to carry I seem to switch back and forth from a mora clipper to an AG russell woodwaslker. Lately I mostly day hike, huunt, fish and camp. but never for too long as I need to get home for my son..So my overnights are usually not longet than 1 night. no matter where Iam traveling in the bush I usually bring a multitool of somesort and a chopper either a small machete or an axe. (this is mostly for emergency use in shelter construction) but is also used for firewood The mora is a little bigger (almost a little too big) but feels like a solid knife in my hand...The woods walker is smaller and thinner it is full tang and takes a razor edge...I feel like it'd be better for fish and game prep...they both rate about equal in regards to whittling...just wanted to collect opinions as to what you'd go with given those options..thanks...as a side note I really like them both...and think they are great knives.
 
Blade length is a personal issue. I prefer a knife with a 6 inch blade give or take and inch. In addition it should have some heft inorder to do light chopping chores. I carry the fixed blade on my belt, and include a lock back folder for lighter chores. This arrangement will take care of most needs that arise.
 
Bufford said:
Blade length is a personal issue. I prefer a knife with a 6 inch blade give or take and inch. In addition it should have some heft inorder to do light chopping chores. I carry the fixed blade on my belt, and include a lock back folder for lighter chores. This arrangement will take care of most needs that arise.
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I agree 110%
 
Yeah...I think we're of a similar mindset except that I don't need the knife for chopping...as I mentioned above whenever I'm outdoors I either carry a small machete or a hatchet in my pack for chopping...and a multiool in my psk my belt knife would be primarily for slicing (cord cutting/ whittling/ food prep/small game and fish cleaning) I consider a belt knife part of a trio...this way all the bases are covered.
 
I like a 4" blade on a knife. Thats roughly the size I make the Nessmuks.
 
A small hatchet complements a 4" fixed blade or even a quality folder. I'm returning to my roots and going back to a small hatchet, locking folder and 4" fixed blade. The big knives are just losing their appeal.
 
ras said:
A small hatchet complements a 4" fixed blade or even a quality folder. I'm returning to my roots and going back to a small hatchet, locking folder and 4" fixed blade. The big knives are just losing their appeal.
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Me too, in fact I'm thinking of going with a 3" fixed as a boot knife, maybe a skeleton and relying on my LM Wave and Opinel or Buck folder / SAK. A Fiskars or Gerber combo II w/saw axe. Backed up with a pocket chain saw.


I'm just not very dexterous with a large blade, and I've sold them off. Got a decent USMC Ka-bar on ebay right now, it's my last fixed blade (not that I ever had any real quality blades, I'm sort of a cheapskate). Grossman Knives makes a neat little PSK blade that I'm thinking about.
 
The first "big" knife I bought was a Swamp Rat M6. Although I don't feel that the blade length is too long it IS too awkward to use on any fine cutting IMO. The problem lies with the thickness. 1/4" is great for rough tasks but I can't seem to get it to work for me. Now I DO think this knife would be great if it was 3/16" stock. So that's something to consider too.

My preferance is 3/16" stock in about 4-5 inch length. I have a Howler LM and love it but I do wish it was a 5 incher.
 
Shotgun said:
The problem lies with the thickness. 1/4" is great for rough tasks but I can't seem to get it to work for me.
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Yep. I used to get all googley eyed when I hefted a thick bladed knife. Nowadays it seems silly to me.
 
ras said:
A small hatchet complements a 4" fixed blade or even a quality folder. I'm returning to my roots and going back to a small hatchet, locking folder and 4" fixed blade. The big knives are just losing their appeal.
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That is a very true stament. An axe, 4" knife and a folder, in reality is all you need, of course depending on terrian, a machete may by in order but you get the point.

I have to say though, When I get somewhat Tired of swinning an axe, I trade it in for a bk7 and a folding saw. Same, or less weight but, in the right hands can be very usful. I've only started doing this latly, as I've used an axe for many years, But these Damn guys on here got me into large knives :D :rolleyes:
 
Fonly said:
That is a very true stament. An axe, 4" knife and a folder, in reality is all you need, of course depending on terrian, a machete may by in order but you get the point.

I have to say though, When I get somewhat Tired of swinning an axe, I trade it in for a bk7 and a folding saw. Same, or less weight but, in the right hands can be very usful. I've only started doing this latly, as I've used an axe for many years, But these Damn guys on here got me into large knives :D :rolleyes:
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Agreed, but I like having excuses for blowing cash on big fixed blades everyone once and a while.:D . In fact some of the nice ones (SYK"s DF and others of that size) are more comfortable and easier to use in my opinion.
 
Shotgun said:
The first "big" knife I bought was a Swamp Rat M6. Although I don't feel that the blade length is too long it IS too awkward to use on any fine cutting IMO. The problem lies with the thickness. 1/4" is great for rough tasks but I can't seem to get it to work for me. Now I DO think this knife would be great if it was 3/16" stock. So that's something to consider too.

My preferance is 3/16" stock in about 4-5 inch length. I have a Howler LM and love it but I do wish it was a 5 incher.
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I, too, have an M6 and feel the same way about knife size, in general. Built like a tank, but a little large (between blade thickness and width) to be handy to use. I thinned out the edge a little. It does cut very well, though.

As a recommendation and to keep it in the same family, take a look at the Busse Badger Attack Tac. It's blade is 5" long and 3/16" thick. Should be a very useful knife. Well, I hope so. Have one on order. :D
 
My problem with choppers is that a decent say, 8 inch knife will run you a hell of a lot more than a good hatchet. Also, in the end, the hatchet usually weighs less.
 
GroovyMr1337 said:
My problem with choppers is that a decent say, 8 inch knife will run you a hell of a lot more than a good hatchet. Also, in the end, the hatchet usually weighs less.
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That's true. My gerber weighs in the neiborhood of a pound while large knives go from a pound(7") up to 2.5 pounds(big khukri.) So my hatchet and knife combo are in the 1.5 pound area and I have two efficient tools.
 
Shotgun said:
That's true. My gerber weighs in the neiborhood of a pound while large knives go from a pound(7") up to 2.5 pounds(big khukri.) So my hatchet and knife combo are in the 1.5 pound area and I have two efficient tools.
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My sentiments exactly!
 
Shotgun said:
The first "big" knife I bought was a Swamp Rat M6. Although I don't feel that the blade length is too long it IS too awkward to use on any fine cutting IMO. The problem lies with the thickness. 1/4" is great for rough tasks but I can't seem to get it to work for me. Now I DO think this knife would be great if it was 3/16" stock. So that's something to consider too.

My preferance is 3/16" stock in about 4-5 inch length. I have a Howler LM and love it but I do wish it was a 5 incher.
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A Swamp Rat Bog Dog is a tad over 4, and the Busse Satin Jack is about 6. Both are 3/16, and just about right, straddling both sides of your line. Check out Dozier's line, he's got something along your requirements.
 
Locking leatherman and small hatchet. In some places, a machete subs for or compliments the hatchet. I also carry a 4" Spyderco, mostly because it's a bit sharper, because I like a little redundancy, and because I've always carried it. A locking SAK would work well vice the leatherman but also. An entrenching tool is more useful to me than any magnum monster fixed blade knife.

That being said, I don't hunt or fish much any more. I know some of you do and I can see the rational for a small, very sharp fixed blade knife to filet or skin. I've had no problems with a folder, but like I said, I don't hunt or fish much anymore. If I were fishing for 30 days in Alaska, I assume I'd get tired of cleaning the folder.
 
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