What's your favorite NON FOLDING smaller blade knife

M

mostel

Joined
Sep 1, 2011
Messages
43
Hey guys,
I think I'm ready to get a 'real' knife, a non-folding knife. What's the one you really use and know well, and LOVE. I tend to like smaller knives--3-4 inch blades.

I'd likely go bigger with a non-folder. But I don't have a need for a HUGE knife. I like to carry my knives, and use them in ordinary life.

I'll be in a more naturalistic setting on a daily basis, and could carry a sheath and blade.

Thanks.
 
I own an ESEE Izula. I regret my purchase. Not because it's a bad knife, but because I feel I should have gotten the ESEE 4. I recommend you try it. It is my favorite fixed blade in its size category. It does its job and does it well.

What I'm really looking at buying, however, is the Busse Mean Street.
 
I don't know your budget, but I've always loved the simplicity of the Randall Made model 10-3.
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Here are a few I like for different reasons.
For me, the Survive, Caldwell and CABS really stand out for general use.
Also the Fallkniven F1 not pictured is a great knife.
From left to right:
Busse Mean Street
Koster Bushcraft
Survive 4.1
Matt Caldwell 1-4
Busse CABS
Bark River Bravo 1
Busse MUK
Bark River Aurora
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You are referring to a fixed blade mostel! I would recommend the RAT 3, costs around 60-70, 1095 Steel, it has taken a beating and continues to do daily outdoors tasks with ease, takes a little longer to put an edge on it than some steels but it holds it well
51CYnEN2IiL.jpg
 
Rodent 3 and 4
Busse Magnum Bear Cub
Boker Plus Fitz Stag ( love this little knife ) Becker usually uses garbage steel on their knives but all the Fitz are 440c and I can live with that.
Boker Plus Fitz Neck Knife ( this one too )
Becker Necker Bk11 is a fine little knife as long as you have scales installed on it.
 
Fallkniven F1 with a 3.8" long blade of Laminated VG-10 (59 HRC) steel (full-tang) that's 0.18" thick with a thermorun handle weighing 5.2 ounces.

DPx Gear HEST II Assault with a 3.2" long blade of Sleipner (60 HRC) steel (full-tang) that's 0.19" thick with a G10 handle weighing 4.2 ounces.
 
Good suggestions so far. I want to add the Kabar Becker BK-16 or -17. Has a 4" blade more or less and quite a good everyday knife. Something that is less expensive is the Condor Kephart that comes with a nice leather sheath for around $30.

If you want to go a bit more upscale (but not extremely expensive), I really like the customs made by Bob Dozier. There are many to choose from, but I often carry the K42 Personal which Bob supplies with his horizontal kydex sheath which is quite good, essentially not visible with a loose shirt, and very fast to retrieve should you want to use it. Mine has a wharncliffe/sheepsfoot blade which I find very useful for everyday cutting tasks. Blade length is about 2 1/2" more or less. Quite a nice knife and very high quality and one you would use much like you would a folder.

The Fallkniven F1 (mentioned above) is also a very nice knife and very well made. Can be a bit expensive if you go with a non-rubber handle.
 
It depends.

If I want to conceal it, Rat-3, Trigonaut.

If I want a workhorse.......my Gravelle FK-SM.
 
AG Russell Woodswalker, under $30 with a neat sheath and slips right into a jeans back pocket.
 
I carry a Bark River - Woodland Special more then any other knife.


z9xo.jpg



It's either on my belt or in in my pocket (in the Steg Horsehide Slip shown above).

It's 3" blade and 4" handle combine ease of carry with the ability to handle full size cutting jobs.




Big Mike
 
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