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What's a good fixed blade EDC/Utility knife?
- Thread starter Homer49
- Start date
- Joined
- Dec 9, 2003
- Messages
- 4,817
Ok, i did just get the seki-cut knife from here.
http://www.agrussell.com/knives/seconds/sekicut_rainbow_gentlemans_hunterseconds.html
Its got 3 layers of vg-10. Its comfortable and gentlemenly looking. Not a wide or thick blade, but it is by no means thing. Should be able to handle most things short of brush clearing.
http://www.agrussell.com/knives/seconds/sekicut_rainbow_gentlemans_hunterseconds.html
Its got 3 layers of vg-10. Its comfortable and gentlemenly looking. Not a wide or thick blade, but it is by no means thing. Should be able to handle most things short of brush clearing.
- Joined
- Apr 7, 2003
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- 2,315
To the OP... what kind of work do you do? Is this an "around the office" knife, an "around the woodshop" knife, or an "around the construction site" knife?
What kind of price range are you looking for?
Do you want something that looks fancy, or plain?
Do you have any other preferences? A knife you can really beat vs a delicate cutting machine, etc?
These will help people narrow this down.
What kind of price range are you looking for?
Do you want something that looks fancy, or plain?
Do you have any other preferences? A knife you can really beat vs a delicate cutting machine, etc?
These will help people narrow this down.
- Joined
- Dec 15, 2003
- Messages
- 3,154
Lately I've been carrying a small fixed blade in place of a folder for my EDC. So far I've tried the Ontario RAT-3, the AG Russell Woodswalker, the Bark River Mini Northstar, and a Bark River Mini Canadian. So far, the Mini Canadian suits my needs the best, but I plan to have a sheath made for it along the lines of the Woodswalker pocket sheath (yes, I know the Mini Canadian fits in the Woodswalker sheath, but not well enough to suit me). They all have strengths and weaknesses, and it depends on what kind of cutting you plan to do.
I plan to try some of Ragnar's Norwegian and Finnish knives too. Here's an example of one with a 2" blade:
Good luck!
I plan to try some of Ragnar's Norwegian and Finnish knives too. Here's an example of one with a 2" blade:
Good luck!
I wet-molded the Woodswalker sheath to the shape of my Mini Canadian with hot water and now it fits like it was specifically made for it. At $10 for a Woodswalker sheath, it's worth experimenting before dropping the cash for something custom made.
cb4life_30
Basic Member
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- Sep 18, 2006
- Messages
- 663
RAT 3 all the way. The blackjack small is also one I've had my eye on.
Four that I think are worth considering are:
Orion Knives K2
RAT 3
Bark River Woodland
Blackjack Small
If I was looking for an office knife, I'd go with either the Orion or the Bark River. The Blackjack with the black handle is a good knife, but I think I'd go with the cocobolo handle if I got it for use in an office environment or someplace similar. The Rat 3 is an excellent knife, but the coarser looking handle and the black blade make it one I wouldn't wear in that kind of environment.
If I were working where I didn't need a "gentleman's knife", any of the four would work well. The RAT 3 is always a good choice. It has a wide, strong blade and a hand-filling handle with enough texture to give you a good grip. The blade on the Orion is about 1/4" narrower and shorter than the blade on the RAT, if that makes any difference to you, and folks say the handle tends to feel small at first, although it is pretty comfortable in my medium+ size hand. The Blackjack with the black handle is a stout little knife with a convex edge that you can get for next to nothing. It's available in a different blade steel and a cocobolo handle if you prefer that look. The Bark River is also a stout little knife with a convex edge, but the handle is a bit smaller than those on the other knives.
As far as the sheaths are concerned, the RAT 3 has a plastic sheath that clips over your belt. The Blackjack kraton handle comes with a black nylon sheath with a belt loop. The Blackjack in cocobolo has a leather sheath. The Bark River comes with a brown leather sheat with a belt loop. I think the Orion comes with a leather sheath with a belt loop - they've changed it since I bought mine.
FWIW
Orion Knives K2
RAT 3
Bark River Woodland
Blackjack Small
If I was looking for an office knife, I'd go with either the Orion or the Bark River. The Blackjack with the black handle is a good knife, but I think I'd go with the cocobolo handle if I got it for use in an office environment or someplace similar. The Rat 3 is an excellent knife, but the coarser looking handle and the black blade make it one I wouldn't wear in that kind of environment.
If I were working where I didn't need a "gentleman's knife", any of the four would work well. The RAT 3 is always a good choice. It has a wide, strong blade and a hand-filling handle with enough texture to give you a good grip. The blade on the Orion is about 1/4" narrower and shorter than the blade on the RAT, if that makes any difference to you, and folks say the handle tends to feel small at first, although it is pretty comfortable in my medium+ size hand. The Blackjack with the black handle is a stout little knife with a convex edge that you can get for next to nothing. It's available in a different blade steel and a cocobolo handle if you prefer that look. The Bark River is also a stout little knife with a convex edge, but the handle is a bit smaller than those on the other knives.
As far as the sheaths are concerned, the RAT 3 has a plastic sheath that clips over your belt. The Blackjack kraton handle comes with a black nylon sheath with a belt loop. The Blackjack in cocobolo has a leather sheath. The Bark River comes with a brown leather sheat with a belt loop. I think the Orion comes with a leather sheath with a belt loop - they've changed it since I bought mine.
FWIW
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- Dec 9, 2003
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- Joined
- Dec 15, 2003
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Good point. I'll try that. :thumbup: