work fixed blade

B

baldegale

Joined
Mar 1, 2017
Messages
168
hey! so completed first day of the job today, started with landscaping. i carried my PM2 and it worked well but i quickly realized the convenience of a fixed would be really really nice. ive already been recommended the CPK EDC line, Izula ii, and the bradford guardian. heres what i want: 3.5” or under
preferably under $250
can be put on a belt comfortably with a sheath
and ease of use with gloves
 
True Saber knives (Todd Wielinski) makes some great EDC fixed blade knives. The Ottawa might be near your alley (~$160+ depending on handle materials), or the Shawnee (comes in at a bit over 3.5" cutting edge, but features a much larger handle more apt for gloved hands). Usually found in CPM-154 steel. The standard sheath is a bit nicer on the Ottawa than the Shawnee, but both work well. If you're interested in either model, send me a PM
 
weeping minora said:
True Saber knives (Todd Wielinski) makes some great EDC fixed blade knives. The Ottawa might be near your alley (~$160+ depending on handle materials), or the Shawnee (comes in at a bit over 3.5" cutting edge, but features a much larger handle more apt for gloved hands). Usually found in CPM-154 steel. The standard sheath is a bit nicer on the Ottawa than the Shawnee, but both work well. If you're interested in either model, send me a PM
Click to expand...
i might be interested but unfortunately wont have the money til the end of the month i dont think, i wish the shawnee came with burl scales though
 
Henry Beige said:
Mora 511, Mora Companion, Hultafors GK, Schrade SCH55. No use in spending a lot of money on a knife that may be used for prying, digging, or pounding in addition to mere cutting. A lot of bang there for very few bucks.
Click to expand...
wont be using it for prying, maybe cutting sod sparingly, but mainly cutting
 
You will want something with a full size handle an Izula while a great knife is a bit lacking in the handle. Perhaps an Izula 2 or a Mora or 5 (same price as an Izula 2). If it were me I would look at the customs section and pick out a nice knife with a "guard hold" type kydex so it doesn't scrape the blade too much if you have to insert a dirty blade.
 
Mora, work knives are to be beaten, used and abused, loaned out, etc. And having one that isn't made of a high wear resistant steel makes it quick and easy to do repair work on the edge and keep it sharp.

A worksharp field or pocket sharpener would work good to keep handy in my experience. Or some other small sharpener your proficient with.

No matter what steel you use it won't stand up to abuse like cutting against unforgiving materials, scraping, etc. And having a sharpener handy negates the high wear resistant steel advantage.

This is from my experience as a rigger moving heavy machinery and now working in a yard selling rocks and soil so I deal with landscapers on a daily basis. Most landscapers I see carry shears in a leather sheath instead of a knife. It will cut most material your looking at too.

Actually come to think of it a serrated Spyderco is the best type of knife I found to use in my current job. I could argue a Byrd Hawkbill and Lansky dog bone for the Spyderco serrations would make a very useful combo. It makes short work of plastic straps, filter fabric, cardboard, and if you end up cutting open a bulk bag full of rocks it won't be completely useless afterwards but will still need a sharpening. And it will probably be decent as an improvised tool to saw through light vegetation if needed if you don't want to get the propper tool for a quick job.
 
baldegale said:
hey! so completed first day of the job today, started with landscaping.
Click to expand...

baldegale said:
wont be using it for prying, maybe cutting sod sparingly, but mainly cutting
Click to expand...

You want a hori hori for cutting sod. A Mora for everything else. You can buy both for under $40 shipped to your door.
https://www.bladehq.com/item--Bonsai-Hori-Hori-Garden-Fixed-Blade--32617
https://www.bladehq.com/cat--Mora-of-Sweden-Morakniv--1460

(Note: Blade HQ has a BF dealer membership, else I'd not have linked to them.)
 
Non knife related tips:

Good shears is what I've seen every landscaper have, get those and learn to maintain it.

Straw hat, their good to keep the sun off you. It's popular in this field where I live for a reason.

Cover up, radiant heat will get to you faster than you think and you can stay cooler with a long sleeve than a short sleeve shirt because of it.

On long sleeve shirts 32 degree heat thermal shirts are the best I found. Their a legitimate thermal shirt when you first get them but will thin down with age and work exceptionally well even in 100+degree weather with a worn in shirt. They are extremely difficult to rip too.


Moisture wicking socks, make sure you get them the difference between a good pair of socks and bad pair is the difference between hating life and being fine. I've had 12-19hour days teach me that. Costco cotton socks are good and good quality Merino wool works well too even in warm weather due to the superior moisture wicking nature.

Hearing damage can be cummilative, wear some ear protection when their dropping rocks into your vehicle, running mowers, etc. Simple set of push to fit ear plugs and case to store them will cost a few bucks and can save you a lifetime of tinnitus where you hear a high pitched sound. Or deaf at certain frequencies.

A pair of indoor/outdoor lens safety glasses would serve you well. Rocks will be sent flying occasionally when their ran over. And dirt and debree is an annoyance. But other materials with stabilizer can sting badly if you don't wash it out thoughly soon after exposure especially if your allergic to it.

If you don't know how to look up how to do things with proper body mechanics, lifting especially from weird angles. Push brooms, other equipment etc. It's going to be something stupid and repeptive that gets you if you let it.

And be friendly and if you want chat it up with the people are rock and soil yards or wherever you go. They can do the bare minimum or less and screw you over that way. Or go out of their way to help you and make life a lot easier sometimes. It's very common for us to correct customers on which material will work best for what their using it for.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top