What to Get as My First Fixed Blade?

R

RDSharpe

Joined
Jul 7, 2012
Messages
12
Recently, I joined BF to ask about belt sanders and techniques using them to sharpen machetes, and for general advice in all related aspects. After my first thread, I purchased an 18-inch Condor El Salvador. Can't wait for it to arrive. When I get back from a trip, I'll be purchasing a Harbor Freight belt sander and some recommended belts to go with it.

Got me thinking. I really don't have a good knife I can call my own. A real personal item. Something I can be proud to own. Of course, this is going to be a matter of taste, but I can still be open to suggestions especially since I have no experience with "good" knives at all, just junk I'm either given or find or pick up for cheap somewhere.

I'm 31 years old and live in the southern tip of the communist state of Illinois right beside the border of Indiana. We have several horses and about 30 miles of river-side trails with heavy undergrowth that I maintain during our sweltering summers. We often go to the beautiful Shawnee National Forest and ride through the mountains. I travel a lot and spend considerable time in several other states including Colorado and Florida.

For backpacking, I like the looks of the Cold Steel Trail Master (SK-5 High Carbon). Don't know why, but I always thought Cold Steel just made el cheap-o knives, but I guess some of them are well liked by people on the Internet.

However, I'm looking for something that I can wear on my belt in the saddle. The Trail Master is too big unless I figure out how in the heck to get a sheath attached to the saddle, such as on the off billet (the strap that connects the girth to the saddle on the opposite side of the horse from the cinch).

When I was a kid, all the cool old guys had Buck 119's, but I've seen them at Wal-Mart and that can't be too good of a thing. Plus, they are stainless, and I think I'd rather have some type of high-carbon steel. Still, I love the looks of them, both in black and with the wood cocobola handle or even better, stacked leather if I could ever find one. I just don't think I want such a common knife from Wal-Mart.

So, I'm kinda-sorta looking for something that looks good in the saddle on a Western belt with Wranglers. Not a fashion statement by any means; it needs to be sharp and tough. Something that will take a real scary sharp edge and that will hold it. Something that won't really get abused. For that, I'll have some cheap folder in my saddle bags.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!
 
Go on the exchange here and browse fixed blades for sale, but it sounds like a Backwoods would be perfect for you. J-siah makes some cool stuff too.
 
RDSharpe said:
... it needs to be sharp and tough. Something that will take a real scary sharp edge and that will hold it. Something that won't really get abused. For that, I'll have some cheap folder in my saddle bags.
Click to expand...

Spyderco/Phil Wilson collaboration South Fork.

[video=youtube;Gm3Qs7oL3Ok]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gm3Qs7oL3Ok[/video]
 
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Good suggestions, guys. Thanks!

I've been searching through the every day carry thread starting from the end and working my way back. Unfortunately, almost everyone EDC's folders. I'll take a look in the Exchange forum.

If anyone has a link to a good fixed blade megathread, I'd appreciate it.

Also, it looks like Syderco and Benchmade are very popular EDC brands. Yes/no?

Thanks again! :)


EDIT: Just realized I never mentioned any kind of budget. Since this is my first "good" fixed blade and I'm not really a "knife guy," let's try to keep it as close to $100 as possible.

Speaking of Benchmade, I seem to like the looks of the Benchmade 158BK CSK II Knife Combat Survival Fixed Blade (6" Black Plain). Only $85. Opinions?

I think I might be leaning a little less toward something "tactical" or "combat survival" and more toward something a bit more traditional, like that wooden-handled Buck 119 I mentioned... I think I would like a wooden handle and guard. Not saying for certain. XD
 
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That $20 Winchester knife they sell at Wally World looks pretty sweet. I hear it's made of a secret blend of aluminum foil and lead. :P

Benchmade and Spyderco are certainly up among the list of EDC brands. Both are excellent, Benchmade is going to cost a little more, but I haven't had a Spyderco or Benchmade that hasn't felt like it was worth the money. Same to KA-BAR and Ontario, and to an extent, SOG.
 
Cold Steel does occasionally make some good stuff. If you like that brand (and it sounds like you do), the Cold Steel SRK is by all accounts a fine knife, and I think would be great for your purposes. If you do get an SRK, get the San Mai VG-1 version. It has a non-coated blade that is superior to the regular AUS-8 version, and it is right in your price range. I just checked, and online retailers are selling it for around $100.

http://www.coldsteel.com/srk-san-mai-iii.html

Although if I could have any Cold Steel Knife I wanted, I would choose the Pendleton Custom Classic. Way out of my price range for a factory knife, though. :D
 
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There are a lot of knives in the $100 range that are great. I would check out Blind Horse Knives. If you don't want something too big their Patch knives are nice. I have the Bushcrafter, but it's closer to $150. Also check out Becker. They make some fine affordable knives as well. Others worth looking at are Ontario, Esee, Scrapyard, etc.
 
RDSharpe said:
So, I'm kinda-sorta looking for something that looks good in the saddle on a Western belt with Wranglers. Not a fashion statement by any means; it needs to be sharp and tough. Something that will take a real scary sharp edge and that will hold it. Something that won't really get abused. For that, I'll have some cheap folder in my saddle bags.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Just something worth considering....I would be much more prone to abuse a good fixed blade than a cheap folder.

Abuse a cheap folder...it's gonna fail. A good fixed blade wont.
 
BK2 is one heck of a knife for the money, and you can get real nice leather from Skystorm if you dont like the factory sheath



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I was going to suggest the F1 or even his bigger cousin, the S1. The biggests of the family (A1, A2) don't make that much sense for your intended use. Some people complain about the size of the handle in the F1 being too small and thin. If you have big paws, the S1 will suit you better.

They both are stainless but with a nice touch.... Laminated steel. A slab of VG10 sandwitched between two layers of softer stainless. You get a great edge retention so it qualifies as "takes a scary sharp edge and maintains it" and is also tough as nails. You even have a exposed tang in the event you wanted to use it for those things a knife should not be used. The Zytel sheaths are very nice but they rattle a little. You can wash them since they won't root.

If you don't want to go with a Swedish knife made in Japan... There are plenty of makers in the US that make carbon steel blades with a much more traditional look... Bark River included.

Good luck!

Mikel

PD: If I were you I would check the ESSE 6 that mikethemayt wants to part with! I would surely do it but... I live in Spain (well, to be fair, right now I am in Egypt until the 22nd)
 
woody d said:
BK2 is one heck of a knife for the money
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Woody,
I bought two BK2 Companion knife blanks from a guy in Bladeforums long time ago. All the handle slabs I have seen so far for this knives are black molded plastic (factory) or wood. I just noticed that your BK2 has some kind of micarta handle slabs. Could you give a bit more information about that? Did you make them yourself? If so, how did you make the hex shaped holes? Do you have access to a mill? Can't think of any other way. I make my own pseudo-micarta and I wanted to make slabs for them in some kind of yellow. Something that really standed up!

Thanks in advance,
Mikel
 
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Tomars sells the micarta that all my Beckers are sporting. good quality and at a decent price.

*add...and that pic is swiped off Skystorms site....for some reason i dont have a pic of my BK2 uploaded
 
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You might also look into one of the classic Ka-bar knives, since you like stacked leather handles and all. Becker, ESEE, Fallkniven all are very popular. Bark River has made some pretty darn good knives. Or you could go custom and have one made for you. Or even grind out your own and have it heat treated professionally, if you want to go down the road I did.
 
How about a stacked leather Kabar MK1?

This photo isn't mine, but the only mod to this one is that the black coating on the blade was stripped/sanded away.

IMG_39262.jpg


They run well under $100 and look pretty classic. They're actually an old (as in late 1800's old) Navy knife design that was redone by kabar this last year. I've used the kraton handled one and it makes a great woods knife.

Also, I'm not how expensive they are (in other words, I don't know if they make any models less than $100) but check out Blackjack knives. They make some very cool traditional style fixed blades. Stag, leather, wood, etc.

Good luck :).
 
Condor Hudson Bay knife. The swiveling belt loop will be a lifesaver in the saddle--trust me. And it's a great camp knife for well below your price cap that'll go well with your new El Salvador. :D It'll match the aesthetic you're looking for as well.

I also agree that the KA-BAR USN Mark 1 would be a good choice to consider.
 
Great idea, the Hudson bay looks and acts like what you're looking for in a knife, and its quite affordable. To be honest though, I don't know if I've ever seen the sheath for one... for some reason all I ever see is the knife. But hey, it has swivels apparently :).

While on the topic of Condor, you might look at the Bushlore as well, depending on what size you are looking for.

Here is a review that I did between some popular belt knife sized knives, including the Condor Bushlore, and the Kraton Kabar MK1 (which is functionally identical to the leather one).

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/943878-Monster-Passaround-BK17-review-(photo-heavy)

Also, many knives would fit the bill for what you're looking for, but it seems like the sheath might be more of an issue. Just remember that you can get custom sheaths for any knife you choose, so that may or may not help open up the knives you are considering.

Good luck :).
 
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