Recommendation? Which fixed blade would you choose to take on rigorous day treks?

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Stahlmann

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Jan 21, 2021
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I'm a fairly serious day trekker. During the summer I get into some fairly long and rigorous hikes/climbs (most outings are a mix.) In the past year or so I've faced a few situations where it would have been comforting to have a larger, fixed blade knife with me (in addition to my Victorinox Trekker pocketknife and canister of bear spray.)

It would be difficult for me to (legally) take along a firearm along so I'm not interested in that route in terms of self-defense. I'm also not that overly concerned with a bit more additional weight to my kit. I've been carrying my Buck 120 (12.10 oz.) and more recently my new CS Drop-Forged 9.5" Bowie (18.55 oz.) without issue.

For the serious day trekkers out there, which larger fixed blade would you choose? Thank you.
 
I have read most thru hikers don't carry any fixed blade on them, some really famous thru hiker(for example, Andrew Skurka) would carry nothing but a Victorinox Classics. Weight is of great importance, and every oz counts. For an average hiker like myself, if I must carry a fixed blade, I probably would prefer something really lightweight, like a Mora.
 
What is the primary purpose? If it is purely for general camp like chores there is the BM Puuko or Steep Country that are well made. I day hike with an ESSE 3 with no problems really. Spyderco has a few that are nice looking. I like the looks of the Bradley bowie.
 
BM Puukko 200 makes an ideal backpacking knife IMHO. All you really need. In a confrontation with wildlife, a knife of whatever size would be next to useless compared to a firearm. If that's a real concern, I'd pack a .357 magnum (inconspicuously) or something similar.
 
Try the white river knives backpacker, without the scales.

If you really want a larger fixed blade, I'd get a benchmade 202 leuku in 3V. Lots of options out there, but I find the leuku to be very general purpose, tough, stainless (mostly), and has a very comfortable handle especially in cold weather and/or wet conditions.

Or, anything from bark river, but most of their larger thicker fixed blades have convex grind and not be the best slicer. I really want a cub 3V though, one of these days...:)

Have fun!
 
Becker bk7 for a large knife, bk16 for small. Maybe a buck 119 (worked for led stroud). Have a Benchmade saddle mountain skinner I want to have some fun with, wonder how it would do playing around with sticks and such.
 
Here is a great trecker outfit:

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For me, the DS8 has an unbeatable size/weight ratio, and is a great tough cutter.

Might pick a lighter camera though :)
 
My fixed blade choice for the woods/boonies/sticks?

When I was young and stupid(er) an Ontario 499 Jet Pilot Survival Knife. After I got a little smarter, a Western L66.
Around the time I was in 9th or 10th grade, I realized a Buck 110 and a stockman or a two blade Barlow and a 4 blade Scout/Camp/Demo knife handled 99.9998% of what I needed a knife for while hiking, hunting, camping, or fishing, and left the fixed blade home.
Now that I'm old and decrepit, I still have a L66, 110/7OT, and the stockman (and Barlow), but these days when/if I carry a fixed blade, it is either a Mora Number One, or Cold Steel FINN BEAR, that I pair up with the stockman (or a moose, large Sunfish, or Barlow and a 4 blade Scout/Camp knife).

Truth to tell, I've never had much use for a blade over 4 to 5 inches. If I thought I might need one, I put a machette on my pack. (usually a CS Heavy Machette or Royal Kukri Machette)
I always had a belt axe/hatchet and saw, with me, and could whittle a wedge if I needed to split wood.
Only time I can think of when I needed a 10 inch plus blade was the knife throwing portion at a Buck Skinner Rendevouse Shooting match.
(Throwing the knife and tomahawk is where I lost that shooting match. I'd never thrown either before. No one bested or tied with me using a rifle.)

I think I have a Mossy Oak Buck 119 size knife with leather handle, and a Buck 640 (same size as the 119) somewhere in my camper, but I've never carried or used them outside of the kitchen, and then rarely.
 
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mmyron1 said:
What is the primary purpose? If it is purely for general camp like chores there is the BM Puuko or Steep Country that are well made. I day hike with an ESSE 3 with no problems really. Spyderco has a few that are nice looking. I like the looks of the Bradley bowie.
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No, not camp chores for the most part. I typically day hike/trek/climb.
 
Stahlmann said:
That really triggers a memory! How I wanted one when I was young. There are two sizes if I recall correctly? Didn't CS knock-off the design?
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They were being produced just 15 miles from my house. I'm pretty sure that the design had been copied (and resized); but I'mfamiliar with the copies.
 
Bob Denman said:
They were being produced just 15 miles from my house. I'm pretty sure that the design had been copied (and resized); but I'mfamiliar with the copies.
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I recently bought a couple of Chinese-made Schrade sod busters and they are of remarkably high quality, particularly when considering their price. I think I might just give a Sharpfinger a go. Thanks again.
 
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