Which One for a Good Camp/Emergency Knife

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winchester73

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Jan 6, 2008
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A Buck Mesa( local store has 2 of them), a Compadre or a Schrade schf42d 1095 steel flat grind(it gets rave reviews on utube). The schrade like the mesa and compadre is a 5" knife.
 
I haven't seen the Buck Mesa. Is it something like the Endeavor? I really like the Compadre. The Compadre has a 4 1/2" blade, which is enough. DM
 
I have both the Mesa and Camp Compadre and I prefer the latter. I've used it pretty heavily backpacking.
I've used it for cleaning fish to chopping branches, digging up shelter stakes, etc. It did its job well and I was pretty happy with it. I've traded up for a Punk though for the flat grind.
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winchester73 said:
A Buck Mesa( local store has 2 of them), a Compadre or a Schrade schf42d 1095 steel flat grind(it gets rave reviews on utube). The schrade like the mesa and compadre is a 5" knife.
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Given the choice between the 2, I would point the search engine of your favorite auction site for a real Schrade H-15. Leather stacked handle, flat/convex sabre grind. Thin stock. Stacked leather. Made in teh US like Schrade's were supposed to be made.

In terms of performance, I would get the fake Taylor-made Schrade. I prefer the drop point for a woods knife and strongly prefer a flat grind over a hollow grind if splitting wood is in the mix. I also find the finger guard on the Bucks (my Reaper is similar) to be a major pain when doing food prep and would prefer the handle/guard style of the Schrade.

But really between those 2, I would still get the Buck. The original Schrade-Walden and later Schrade had a proud history made in upstate New York and when Taylor bought out the IP, they shipped all of the designs and construction over seas. Just heart breaking. The Buck Mesa has design elements that would drive me nuts for the uses you describe. I find clip points too frail and they damage a batton more than a drop point. I find that hollow grinds tend to bind when splitting wood - a task I consider a reality for emergency use. I also prefer flat grinds for food prep. And the hump and guard would get ground off within weeks if I got the Mesa. But still, it's made in the US by a real US based company so I'd pick it over the Schrade.

Actually, I'd pick the Reaper combined with a Bantam folder.
 
Of the choices listed, the Compadre is what I would grab first. I like what Buck is doing with 5160 steel, the wood handles look great and feel great and although the Mesa is similar, the Compadre feels better in the hand especially where the thumb rests on the spine. Oh ya, it's also made in the USA. I've always gravitated to Buck over Schrade, but it's not even a question for me now. Good Luck, let us know what you decide.
 
I've been using this Herter's "improved Bowie" for at least 40 years as a camp knife. Great knife for your intended usage. I carved the turkey with it on Thanksgivings. Last summer I retired it in favor of the Buck Mesa. The Mesa seems to work very well.

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1095 is far better than 5160 for a knife like this and I prefer full flat grinds, so my vote is Schrade schf42d.
 
Now that is a well-loved knife! Thanks for sharing that.........

DDDWho said:
I've been using this Herter's "improved Bowie" for at least 40 years as a camp knife. Great knife for your intended usage. I carved the turkey with it on Thanksgivings. Last summer I retired it in favor of the Buck Mesa. The Mesa seems to work very well.

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AF1928 said:
Here is a link to an old thread regarding 1095 vs. 5160. I would echo DocT's comments.....I prefer the simpler lines of the Schrade and I'm not a big fan of knives with any recurve to the blade.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/472182-5160-vs-1095
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Yeah, the difference in edge retention is significant in my experience and this makes sense when you look at the "ingredients". 1095 is plenty tough. Esee uses it in all of their designs and no one complains. It is a very, very good steel.

I would like to see Buck use the modified version of this steel that is called by its proper AISI name 50100B, but has been marketed as 1095 Cro-Van, Chrome Vanadium, and Carbon V, among others. It is equivalent to 0-1 tools steel and some like it better. Properly heat treated it is amazing stuff. I have chopped down hardwood trees with a large knife made of it and the knife just laughed it off (so to speak).
 
I actually like my smaller fixed blades in 1095 and my larger in 5160......just my own preference when it comes to edge-retention. I find the smaller blades....less than about 6".....tend to be easier to sharpen with 1095. I like my large blades.....8" plus....to be harder with more edge-retention.....of course, that means it is harder to sharpen in the field.

DocT said:
Yeah, the difference in edge retention is significant in my experience and this makes sense when you look at the "ingredients". 1095 is plenty tough. Esee uses it in all of their designs and no one complains. It is a very, very good steel.

I would like to see Buck use the modified version of this steel that is called by its proper AISI name 50100B, but has been marketed as 1095 Cro-Van, Chrome Vanadium, and Carbon V, among others. It is equivalent to 0-1 tools steel and some like it better. Properly heat treated it is amazing stuff. I have chopped down hardwood trees with a large knife made of it and the knife just laughed it off (so to speak).
Click to expand...
 
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