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Recommendation? Which fixed blade would you choose to take on rigorous day treks?
- Thread starter Stahlmann
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I like to think I'm a fairly serious day trekker too. Just climbed up and down San Gorgonio mountain during an almost 12-hr hike (to 11,500 ft). I'm very weight conscious and can't even imagine adding 12-18 oz to my kit for a knife!! I carry 3.5-4" bladed knives for under 3-4 oz. Recently I made a swap-out spear shaft with 3" broadhead for my trekking pole, so I can keep unpleasantries about 4ft away. But it does take 5 seconds to change over from pole to spear, so I have to think ahead. The spear pole+broadhead adds about 2 oz to my kit.
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- Jul 30, 2021
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Mora. Blows everything out of the water, super inexpensive for what it brings to the table. Best camping/hiking knife ever made.
AntDog
Gold Member
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- Apr 3, 2001
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I bought a Sharpfinger just after they started producing in China. Mine was complete trash. The original was a great knife. I hope you have better luck.
That's a great hike. A real grinder. Great prep for Whitney. I've pretty much perfected my kit over the years. It's what I need and nothing else. Effort and $$$ have went to making it light. That said, I would add weight for a Bowie as described (and/or a firearm and ammo.)
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I have a Morakniv Craftline Pro S which offers a great value in a knife, but I am seeking something larger. Larger Moras like the Morakniv Allround Multi-Purpose Knife also offers great value and they're light, but they also look like a kitchen knife which I do not care for.
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- Jul 23, 2021
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It comes down to the intended purpose of your knife. I'd want something like a Puuko design for fine work but for a bigger bushcraft beast I'd want something more like a Bark River Bravo 1, Benchmade Sibert Bushcrafter, Cudeman MT-5, or Joker Lynx (there are A LOT of great options out there, but these are just ones I own).
Depending on how light I wanted to go, a Puuko design, Morakniv Companion Heavy Duty, Grohmann #4 Survival Knife, or Condor Terrasaur starts to look better. When you get into ultra light backpacking, the Altitude Orange or Morakniv Eldris starts looking really good.
If I'm going to spend all day in the harness, I probably don't want a monster survival knife like a Ka-Bar BK2, unless I also feel the need to bring free weights. I love my big Becker knives (especially the new Harpoon), but not enough to carry them up and down hills all day, along with a pack.
If you like Buck blades, but are thinking about an upgrade, they also recently released a Pro series as a variation on their classic fixed blade models. They have S35VN super steel and micarta handles. I've been giving serious thought to getting an upgraded version of the Buck 119 that I used to use a lot.
Depending on how light I wanted to go, a Puuko design, Morakniv Companion Heavy Duty, Grohmann #4 Survival Knife, or Condor Terrasaur starts to look better. When you get into ultra light backpacking, the Altitude Orange or Morakniv Eldris starts looking really good.
If I'm going to spend all day in the harness, I probably don't want a monster survival knife like a Ka-Bar BK2, unless I also feel the need to bring free weights. I love my big Becker knives (especially the new Harpoon), but not enough to carry them up and down hills all day, along with a pack.
If you like Buck blades, but are thinking about an upgrade, they also recently released a Pro series as a variation on their classic fixed blade models. They have S35VN super steel and micarta handles. I've been giving serious thought to getting an upgraded version of the Buck 119 that I used to use a lot.
1. Why not a firearm? Are you a felon? Are you outside the US?
2. Are you really looking for a bigger knife? Those 2 you mention are pretty big.
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"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.!"
I hate to admit it; but they're not half-bad...
But I still prefer the old Schrade-Walden knives!
I hate to admit it; but they're not half-bad...
But I still prefer the old Schrade-Walden knives!
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Yo Mama
Gold Member
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- Sep 25, 2011
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- 6,209
While I love Mora, this is not true.
In a world wherein you never know the skills of the user or given a budget (I want the best), here are two answers:
1. if you stick to the trail, don't fight with people or bears, then it would be a $15 Mora. Light-weight, inexpensive, hardy, handle making lunch, digging out splinter, cutting rope, stripping a pole.
2. if you foolish enough to go off the trail, get lost, then if would be a a Fallkniven f1. Designed as a survival knife for jet pilots. If you are a truly experienced hiker, you will have a pair of lightweight gloves on your person and combined with the grip, it is a perfect fit.
This year, I gave three Moras to non outdoor young married male relatives. With newborns, they will be hiking!
I have an F1 sitting in a horizontal carry sheath in the living room. The rest of the Moras are stored in the attic because I don't expect any more newborns!
1. if you stick to the trail, don't fight with people or bears, then it would be a $15 Mora. Light-weight, inexpensive, hardy, handle making lunch, digging out splinter, cutting rope, stripping a pole.
2. if you foolish enough to go off the trail, get lost, then if would be a a Fallkniven f1. Designed as a survival knife for jet pilots. If you are a truly experienced hiker, you will have a pair of lightweight gloves on your person and combined with the grip, it is a perfect fit.
This year, I gave three Moras to non outdoor young married male relatives. With newborns, they will be hiking!
I have an F1 sitting in a horizontal carry sheath in the living room. The rest of the Moras are stored in the attic because I don't expect any more newborns!
Shorttime
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- Oct 16, 2011
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- 4,025
Nobody's suggested the Smatchet? Wow. People are actually trying to be helpful, for a change.
Somehow, I get the impression that the OP's intention is to discourage other creatures who might have harmful intentions. If that's the case, there is something called a "langes messer", in various sizes and shapes, which might do the job.
Somehow, I get the impression that the OP's intention is to discourage other creatures who might have harmful intentions. If that's the case, there is something called a "langes messer", in various sizes and shapes, which might do the job.
The Zieg
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- Jan 31, 2002
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I like your question, essentially, "This is what I'M doing, how 'bout y'all?"
I used to heft a Dawson Sheffield Bowie in the bush pretty regularly, but it wasn't versatile enough for me. I went to carrying a Gerber Bowie, but the steel wasn't hard enough for me. Then I gave up on large knives, even going so far as selling my stag handled CS Trailmaster in Carbon V (dammit!!), and went with puukot and Moras and hatchets/small axes/tomahawks. I still tend to that, but I discovered a nice mid range size in the form of the CS SRK in Carbon V (love that old 1095 cousin!), the Ka-Bar USN Mk1, and the Becker BK-15 (great design!).
I have another larger knife I love to carry and that is the Heimo Roselli leuku. The blade is about 7" and it is not much for stabbing, but if I needed to defend myself with it, I could do so. It is light, chops wonderfully, and is pretty non threatening to other folks on the trail. It just looks very traditional. It is a great fishing companion and has helped me get into some tight places, clearing willows handily. It also breaks down roasted turkeys well.
But the big honking Skrama from Varusteleka in Finland is my do it all brushbuster and defender. If I need one large chopper to set up an unexpected overnight bushcraft camp and fight off the living dead or lop off the arm of a meth head reaching into my lean-to, it's going to be the carbon steel 240mm bladed Skrama! It is much thicker than the leuku but the versatility of the long handle is a huge benefit. It is also super secure in the sheath for trail rides on a horse, which where I spend most of my time now (and where I will always have a 3" Ruger SP-101 in .357 Mag or an M1917 in .45 ACP in a flap holster 'cuz I can).
I'll try to get some pics up.
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I don't think you're going to get much better in practical terms than your drop forged Bowie since the weight doesn't bother you. It's certainly not going to break unless you try to break it.
If you're not getting sufficient comfort from the 9.5" inch, nigh indestructible Bowie and you're not considering a firearm, I doubt if a different knife will help in that regard. Given your situation, I submit that a stout walking staff is in order. To make it even better, I think it's a good idea to learn how to fight if you have not yet done so, including with your knife and with a big stick. The basics are not as intuitive to most people as some would prefer to believe. In addition to that and perhaps even more useful, I recommend getting some training in managing unknown contacts which includes behavioral and psychological aspects of criminal actors, how to avoid them, how to deselect yourself, and how to de-escalate situations when you can do those things and avoid violent conclusions when possible.
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For confronting the unknown (unknown task, unseen eventualities) I would not hesitate to suggest either a Cold Steel SRK or SOG SEAL Pup (get the older, cheaper but still made in Taiwan Pup).
They are not heavy, not too long to stick into a daysack if not on you belt, will comfortably do most things to a good standard and do not cost the earth. No funny stuff with either one, just built to function and can be worked hard.
They are not heavy, not too long to stick into a daysack if not on you belt, will comfortably do most things to a good standard and do not cost the earth. No funny stuff with either one, just built to function and can be worked hard.
