Which Knife-----PART 2

WILLIAM.M

WILLIAM.M

Joined
Apr 14, 2006
Messages
12,196
I started the below post ---Please READ it before you answer this post
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=750918

This is Part 2

Applying the same conditions to Post 1 question above---

If you were to choose one knife from the ones below---for the same conditions as post 1---what knife would you choose--and why.

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Picture013.jpg

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What knife comes closest to the perfect knife for you---(remember--you have a smaller fixed blade or folder---Please read Post 1 before you answer)
 
wow thats tough can i have all of them?

Ok number 3 from the top. Looks sweet and like it would melt in the hand.
Then number 4, the one below it. I liked the one on top of it more because its a drop point.
 
ukknifer said:
wow thats tough can i have all of them?

Ok number 3 from the top. Looks sweet and like it would melt in the hand.
Then number 4, the one below it. I liked the one on top of it more because its a drop point.
Click to expand...

I do not have all of them anylonger

The ones you listed (3 and 4 have been sold)

I started this post to get people to think about what feathures they like and do not like on a LARGE fixed blade

Thanks for taking the time to reply
 
Second from bottom could do well for me. I don't hate choils, and believe I could use it for batonning if needed, and shelter building with baton. I break big pieces into smaller pieces as much as possible, but this knife would be sufficient for me. Plus, it appeals to my eyes!
 
For a chopper I'd probably go with the first or third. The weight forward would lend for easy chopping, the swept tip could be easily used for dressing animals if needed. The shorter one would be better as a camp knife but less of a chopper.
If I got to pick just one, it'd be the second from the bottom as in my eyes it's the most useful over all.
 
Rockywolf said:
Second from bottom could do well for me. I don't hate choils, and believe I could use it for batonning if needed, and shelter building with baton. I break big pieces into smaller pieces as much as possible, but this knife would be sufficient for me. Plus, it appeals to my eyes!
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Here is a Better photo of it

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Picture021.jpg
 
Second from the bottom... especially if I could get a version without the choil. Grip friendly handle, nice continuous sweep of the blade, relatively straight spine, lanyard holes, scales that look easy to field repair if necessary, a little birds beak for the wrist snap, and a nice working finish. Plus, that one looks like it already went out without me.

I'm sure they would all do, but that the one for me from this bunch.
 
Top one. It has all the features of the knife I liked in the last post but has more of a spear point. Looks like a worker to me.
 
I'd take the first one as well. My favorite activities are chopping and the *b* word, and that one looks like it would do great at them. A second would be the third one down, as it looks like it would have a very nice grip on it.
 
WILLIAM.M said:
Here is a Better photo of it

Picture006.jpg

Picture021.jpg
Click to expand...

For survival, I'd choose the bottom knife - though i don't know it's length. Hopefully it's got sufficient length to chop/baton well not to mention adequate thickness - minimum .25".

I'd choose it b/c:

1) has good "belly" to slice/skin with
2) looks like it has a better penetrating point - hugely important for me
3) looks like it has good length
4) looks like a nice, easy to maintain grind (aka full-flat for me)
5) looks like it has a very solid handle and sorta ergonomic grip - though maybe the grip is a little presuming in handling

For me, it should have a guard. I don't wanna be cutting myself if i gotta use it in wet/slippery conditions - a guard helps make it idiot-proof - something necessary for me... :rolleyes: Otherwise, the nice choil thingy looks like it separates the fingers from the edge nicely so maybe a guard would be superfluous...

Also, maybe some jimping on the spine in front of the handle - not a lot and nothing so sharp as to cut me, but a little something for traction and memory.

hth,

fm
 
I like a handle with good retention capability and a lanyard hole on my large knives. It shouldn't have a top guard, and since you note that we can already have a smaller fixed blade, I'd want a good chopper that can make short work of delimbing, battoning, etc. Removeable scales are a plus as is a finger choil.

Assuming they are all the same thickness and steel, I narrow it down to #1, #4, #5, or #6; leaning toward #1 because of it's size. #6 gets the nod for having a choil, which i like, but the handle looks uncomfortable and the blade is not very big. But overall, these 4 look to have decent handle retention, a stong ramp in front your index finger to keep your hand off the blade if the going gets slippery, as well as a ramp behind your hand for retention when chopping. Plus they all have lanyard holes and removable scales.

  • #1 looks like a good chopper. The handle should retain well but I would like to see a choil.

  • I didn't pick #2 because there is no belly and the handle shape does not look like it would retain well when wet and chopping. The blade would make a great chopper, but if you can't keep it in your hand, what's the point. Plus it would suck for battoning given the shape of the spine.

  • #3 has a decent blade shape but the handle looks slick with nothing to keep it in your hand when swinging.

  • #4 looks decent, I like the blade shape and would want to add a choil. The handle looks comfortable and should retain fairly well, but not as well as 1, 5, and 6.

  • #5 has a cool blade shape and would make a great spear, but that's not what I use my large fixed blades for. Handle retention should be very good and it looks like you could use the pommel as a fairly effective hammer.

  • #6 has a useful blade shape and a finger choil, which is nice. The handle should retain very well but looks uncomfortable.

  • #7 and #8 look like they would not be good choppers at all. Handle retention looks mediocre, but for a smaller fixed blades they look like they would be good for most smaller tasks.
Overall though, I suppose I would lean towards #1. When you say large fixed blade, I'm thinking something with a lot of capability such as an RTAKII or Junglas. The caveat of already having a smaller fixed blade makes the choice easier for me. I don't need a "Jack of all trades", just something with capability that exceeds the smaller knife in my kit.
 
Well,if I've already have a folder and short fixed blade then I've got a lot of chores covered with them. Which indicates that for the large knife I want something to chop with,use as a draw knife ,or baton through wood. In that case the longest one shown has better mechanical advantage for those tasks. You have to balance that size and weight however against what you are willing to lug around.
I've a bit indifferent to these types of blades,they are neither fish nor fowl. Too big for a number of tasks,too small to chop efficiently. But that's just me,and what do I know?
 
-Ranger- said:
I like a handle with good retention capability and a lanyard hole on my large knives. It shouldn't have a top guard, and since you note that we can already have a smaller fixed blade, I'd want a good chopper that can make short work of delimbing, battoning, etc. Removeable scales are a plus as is a finger choil.

Assuming they are all the same thickness and steel, I narrow it down to #1, #4, #5, or #6; leaning toward #1 because of it's size. #6 gets the nod for having a choil, which i like, but the handle looks uncomfortable and the blade is not very big. But overall, these 4 look to have decent handle retention, a stong ramp in front your index finger to keep your hand off the blade if the going gets slippery, as well as a ramp behind your hand for retention when chopping. Plus they all have lanyard holes and removable scales.

  • #1 looks like a good chopper. The handle should retain well but I would like to see a choil.

  • I didn't pick #2 because there is no belly and the handle shape does not look like it would retain well when wet and chopping. The blade would make a great chopper, but if you can't keep it in your hand, what's the point. Plus it would suck for battoning given the shape of the spine.

  • #3 has a decent blade shape but the handle looks slick with nothing to keep it in your hand when swinging.

  • #4 looks decent, I like the blade shape and would want to add a choil. The handle looks comfortable and should retain fairly well, but not as well as 1, 5, and 6.

  • #5 has a cool blade shape and would make a great spear, but that's not what I use my large fixed blades for. Handle retention should be very good and it looks like you could use the pommel as a fairly effective hammer.

  • #6 has a useful blade shape and a finger choil, which is nice. The handle should retain very well but looks uncomfortable.

  • #7 and #8 look like they would not be good choppers at all. Handle retention looks mediocre, but for a smaller fixed blades they look like they would be good for most smaller tasks.
Overall though, I suppose I would lean towards #1. When you say large fixed blade, I'm thinking something with a lot of capability such as an RTAKII or Junglas. The caveat of already having a smaller fixed blade makes the choice easier for me. I don't need a "Jack of all trades", just something with capability that exceeds the smaller knife in my kit.
Click to expand...

Here is a Photo of #1--larger than the Busse FFBM and Dogfather Below it(ALSO OUTCHOPS THEM)

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DSC08821.jpg

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It's the best chopper I have--but I would not want to carry it long.(Best left at camp)

I thank all of you that have expressed your view points on the above knives

All of them are .25" thick--except for #1--it's 5/16" thick.

Here is a Photo of the one in the Middle that most of you like(second from the bottom in the first photo)

3SIEGLES.jpg
 
TWBryan said:
Well,if I've already have a folder and short fixed blade then I've got a lot of chores covered with them. Which indicates that for the large knife I want something to chop with,use as a draw knife ,or baton through wood. In that case the longest one shown has better mechanical advantage for those tasks. You have to balance that size and weight however against what you are willing to lug around.
I've a bit indifferent to these types of blades,they are neither fish nor fowl. Too big for a number of tasks,too small to chop efficiently. But that's just me,and what do I know?
Click to expand...

Too small to chop efficiently??

Compared to what???

Siegle knives can outchop just about any equal sized blades made-factory or custom..

I assure you--I do more chopping than you do--and all of them chop very well.(save for the bottom one in the first photo--that one belongs to my wife)

(I normally chop and cut 2000 times/month--every month)..for both Martial arts training and Knife testing I do just about every weekend.

I owned all of them except for the one with the Black blade-and even that one chopped well for it's size.

Most of them might be "too long" for many tasks--but they all chop very well.

I still have #1,#2, 5,7,8(3-4 have been sold),#6 was on loan by a knife maker on this forum(that Marian).

of the ones listed above #2 and #7 are the most comfortable

Grips look slick--but even with sweat on your hands they are both secure.
 
In a lot of ways I don’t want to choose it, but I’ve got to go with the sheepsfoot #2 especially because I would pick another knife to partner it with.

I kind of see a big long term wilderness survival knife as a do it all buscrafty tool, carpenters tool, cooking tool, and earth moving tool if needed. Stuff like cutting sapling size poles, trimming branches, as a draw knife to remove bark and flatten surfaces, chopping and battoning to rough out wood to size for building other tools and implements. Butchering large game (be so lucky), slicing and dicing, or even flipping or stirring. The ability to scrape away earth or dig a pit, crack something open. Prepare some firewood if really necessary like cutting out a bit of fatwood.

Why the sheepsfoot? There’s lot’s of steel all the way without sacrificing some to form a tip so there’s more solid usable steel and no tip to break (not likely with these) off. The full heavy blade and smaller handle makes me guess it would be balanced well forward making a reasonably good chopper. It has an easy to sharpen long straight edge good for plaining or as a draw knife. Using a sheepsfoot in leather working I found you can apply a tremendous amount of cutting pressure on the tip of the edge to cut when drawn toward yourself. It’s like having an axe, a cleaver, a spatula, a trowel, a knife, and hammer all in one.

Why not? Well it doesn’t have a point for stabbing, or a belly for skinning. Don’t really need them since I don’t do much stabbing or pounding of a point into something and I can choose another knife that would be suited better for tasks needing a pointed tip and field dressing game or (be so lucky) skinning and tanning hide.
 
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Ramm9 said:
In a lot of ways I don’t want to choose it, but I’ve got to go with the sheepsfoot #2 especially because I would pick another knife to partner it with.

I kind of see a big long term wilderness survival knife as a do it all buscrafty tool, carpenters tool, cooking tool, and earth moving tool if needed. Stuff like cutting sapling size poles, trimming branches, as a draw knife to remove bark and flatten surfaces, chopping and battoning to rough out wood to size for building other tools and implements. Butchering large game (be so lucky), slicing and dicing, or even flipping or stirring. The ability to scrape away earth or dig a pit, crack something open. Prepare some firewood if really necessary like cutting out a bit of fatwood.

Why the sheepsfoot? There’s lot’s of steel all the way without sacrificing some to form a tip so there’s more solid usable steel and no tip to break (not likely with these) off. The full heavy blade and smaller handle makes me guess it would be balanced well forward making a reasonably good chopper. It has an easy to sharpen long straight edge good for plaining or as a draw knife. Using a sheepsfoot in leather working I found you can apply a tremendous amount of cutting pressure on the tip of the edge to cut when drawn toward yourself. It’s like having an axe, a cleaver, a spatula, a trowel, a knife, and hammer all in one.

Why not? Well it doesn’t have a point for stabbing, or a belly for skinning. Don’t really need them since I don’t do much stabbing or pounding a point into something and I can choose another knife that would be suited better for tasks needing a pointed tip and field dressing game or (be so lucky) skinning and tanning hide.
Click to expand...

Good points all:thumbup:

I got #2 used and after the 5th chop or so realized I would never sell it.

Chops FAR better than it should and feels GREAT.

One of those knives that just seems to melt into your hand
 
The 1st one on top , the bolo type Seigle, I love that one ,looks to have good ergonomics and to be a excellent chopper to couple up a small fb or folder with
 
also---There are no Right or Wrong answers

We all have to find out what works for us...

I was just interested in finding out what people like and do not like in a LARGE fixed blade.

The only universal thing I think we can all agree on is that it has to be comfortable and secure in hand....

Just about every other feature can be open to debate...(length,thickness,blade steel,grip material,etc-etc)

Please keep the comments coming.........

Sincerely

Dr.Bill
 
WILLIAM.M said:
Picture023.jpg


What knife comes closest to the perfect knife for you---(remember--you have a smaller fixed blade or folder---Please read Post 1 before you answer)
Click to expand...

Either the 4th from top or the 7th from top.

I'm picking either of these for same reasons as before, that I believe they are very good generalized blades. I would have gone with the 7th from top but the choil doesn't look needed to me. I'd much prefer the blade edge coming further along to the handle.

The bigger one looks good for the tasks I do most often, gather and process firewood and making shelters. I carry a folder for smaller tasks. I think the smaller of my choices would probably allow me to stop carrying the folder but it would be at the sacrifice of chopping power.
 
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