Yet another 'Need some direction' thread

Zoomie517

Zoomie517

Joined
Sep 24, 2015
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70
Gentlemen, I come to you with both hat and first aid kit in hand (tough crowd here at times) looking for assistance. I'll try to give enough details, without writing a book. Sadly, I have no choice but to use the word BUSHCRAFT !

I currently run twin knives in the woods. One of my boat anchors (Esee) and one of my feeler gauges (Mora). While I understand that there is no single, one knife does it all, I am trying to identify makers of knives somewhere in between these two styles. At this time, I'd like to test something in the 150.00 price range, in spite of my 250-400.00 tastes.

Speaking with great ignorance, it appears that there is a huge gaping hole in price point breaks between say Condor vs Bark River, AA Forge, Fiddleback, etc. I have combed this site and am having a terrible time identifying options in this price range.

Back when I was a young a pup, I lived next store to Jeff Harkins when he just started out. (he's now a 3K+ automatic knife maker creating works of art). Point here is that I do at least understand that at my allotted budget, I'm not leaving a lot of meat on the bone in terms of quality. Or worse, I may end up overpaying for something that doesn't represent true value.

I am still trying to sort through true knife nomenclature versus marketing terms. That said I'll try and explain what I think Im looking for, along with a couple of knife styles that are appealing to me.

1075 min, 1095, 01, ie fire making.

Ergonomics are important. Squarish feel/flat grip sides of Esee's Laser Strike and 4 are barely tolerable.

Am I looking for something that doesn't exist in terms of my budget?

Thanks in advance. Sorry for troubling everyone.

Style/Examples- Please ignore fancy woods/etc.

Running to dump pics someplace. Right back.
 
Honestly I would just get an enzo Trapper 95 at that price point. Assuming you are looking for something of a Woodlore clone and don't mind a semi mass production blade.
 
Check out the Becker line made by KA-BAR, all of them are within your price range and IMO the best knives you can get for your money.
 
The question that comes to my mind when reading your post is that I'm not entirely sure what you'll be using the knife for.

Let me put it another way, can you be more specific about what tasks you're doing that makes you regard your ESEE as a boat anchor and your Mora as a feeler gauge?

In terms of value, function and comfort in hand in every possible grip, I have a hard time imagining significant improvements for bushcrafting than either the Mora Companion or (if you insist) the Companion HD. I own both and find the Companion to be the more versatile.

I'm not trying to be dismissive in any way. There are legitimate differences in tastes in grinds (scandi, convex, full flat), tang style (exposed or hidden) and length. And the bling factor of owning something "quality" (that which produces peace of mind) is a legitimate reason to spend more. Not sure you'll get hugely better performance though.

The more you can say about your use and what's bugging you about the (great) knives you already own, the better people will be able to guide you.
 
Get a Busse Kin Blade. Swamprat knives Ratmandu may suit you well. SR101 steel will take anything you can throw at it.
 
pinnah said:
The question that comes to my mind when reading your post is that I'm not entirely sure what you'll be using the knife for.

Let me put it another way, can you be more specific about what tasks you're doing that makes you regard your ESEE as a boat anchor and your Mora as a feeler gauge?

In terms of value, function and comfort in hand in every possible grip, I have a hard time imagining significant improvements for bushcrafting than either the Mora Companion or (if you insist) the Companion HD. I own both and find the Companion to be the more versatile.

I'm not trying to be dismissive in any way. There are legitimate differences in tastes in grinds (scandi, convex, full flat), tang style (exposed or hidden) and length. And the bling factor of owning something "quality" (that which produces peace of mind) is a legitimate reason to spend more. Not sure you'll get hugely better performance though.

The more you can say about your use and what's bugging you about the (great) knives you already own, the better people will be able to guide you.
Click to expand...

Excellent questions and my apologies for not being more specific.

General camp fare ie fire making, light wood processing, stakes, trap triggers, simple food processing (no heavy skinning), etc.

Because of my lack true knife handling experience, I find the Laser Strike and the Esee 4 a bit cumbersome. Grip comfort tends to be a major issue for me as well. I did order some g10 handles to try for the LS. they should eliminate the square-ish feel, but its unlikely that it make it feel less cumbersome, for lack of a better term.

I love the Mora for more detailed/controlled work, but am uncomfortable taking it alone. I don't need to Baton 5 inch logs (yes Im being dramatic) but the Mora blade thickness does not inspire confidence for me.

Again, I am not experienced enough to speak intelligently about grind types. I suspect my choice be Scandi or flat grind as I have a chance to maintain and service without destroying it and then being forced to send off to clean up my mess.

I did order an Esee Camp Lor JG3 to try which will be here tomorrow, in conjunction with whatever I grab based on this thread.

Does this help ?
 
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My personal opinion is that you would be comfortable with the BK-15 even though it is a tad longer than the ESEE 4. I have an ESEE 4, and just never liked it much. Bark River makes some that are similar in blade shape but a lot more money. I just find this blade shape to be extremely useful and Beckers are known for their toughness and ease of sharpening.

Some of the Fiddlebacks are nice, but they don't come with a sheath. As a result I don't consider them much anymore. Add a reasonable leather or kydex sheath Mr. Fiddleback and I will buy one or more of your knives. I just feel if you are going to make knives, you need to include a sheath period.

The Fallkniven F1 would work for you. It is very nimble in the hand. The BK-15 would be a tad more flexible if you baton or split wood with a knife. But hard to beat the F1 as a general woods blade.

I tend to like knives with choils and I like the old traditional Randall look. Hence the Blackjack 125 and recently purchase 124 are two of my favorites for general woods duty. I just am very careful if I need to beat on it. Might be above you price range however or right at your limit. If you simply don't care for the look, sorry for suggesting it.
 
Becker BK-16 with Micarta (or G10) scales (with or without liners, depending upon hand size) and a nice custom sheath!
 
Woohoo ! Thanks for all the help. I feel like Im getting some place !

Ezo Trapper 95 warrants more investigation.

The BK 16's trailing point fails to blow my dress up.

Fallkniven F1 - is something else for me to check out.

The Busses I looked at took my breath away in terms of price.

Randall's are the bomb although the thought of tearing up one in the field makes me shudder.

Please keep them coming ! Ive learned more in this single thread than I did from hours of reading.

Still need to add some pics, if my phone would stop ringing.
 
personally, it SOUNDS to me like you are describing the Spyderco Bushcraft UK knife....the 01 steel G10 handled version.... can be had quite readily for just a touch over 150.00 and it has IMHO, the best designed handle of any knife I've ever used, the perfect thickness blade for bushcraft style tasks, good blade shape, quality materials... just all around, it seems to be the knife you are asking for.....

of all my Busfcraft blades, and I own MANY from Condor's, Becker's to customs like Fiddleback Forge's and etc......its honestly my favorite and see's the most use.

just my 0.02

 
I think you mean the BK15 (its the trailing point model). But, check out the BK16, and 17, which are FFG drop point, and saber ground clip point (respectively). They are in my mind in the "sweet spot" between boat anchors and feeler gauges.. The BK16 in particular is a great choice IMO.

Another option is to choose blades that are more different insize. The ESEE 4 and mora are both similarly sized (generally speaking, not talking about blade thickness), so they kind of fill similar roles. Most people tend to carry different sized knives outdoors, which is in the same concept as the classic "nessmuk trio". I carry a BK9, a Mora, and a folding saw. The larger blade could be pretty much anything. Check out the Becker BK12/7/9, the Becker handle ergos are great. You could also use any other number of camp sized knives like a condor Hudson bay, or even things like small machetes like the svord kiwi machete.

And yet another option is maybe to take a Mora robust. Its simply a much thicker Mora.

Sorry to add more things into the list of options, but enjoy the search :).
 
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I can't speak for the companion as I understand it is weaker in some aspects than the Classic. (HD and Robust are a different story) but for 5 years this is the only fixed blade I take to the woods. If you need to gain confidence in a Mora beat the ever living snot out of it at home before taking it to the woods. The one above has been through tourture that most of the hard use knives will never see. Attempting to break the tip in wood, bending the blade, pounding the blade into a log by the handle picking up the log by the handle and then proceeding to beat the knife out of the log, cross batoning with both wood baton and hammer, batoning through knotty Osage wood, throwing repeatedly. Memory fails me as to what else I did to the poor thing years back. Either way at the end of it I was satisfied with its capabilities. I did everything but outright destroy the blade and pushed it well beyond its typical use. The only real damage was some very small chipping and rolling on the edge. In my case I keep a zero grind on it and so it was no surprise, nor was is a problem to repair.

Just don't do this.

[video]https://youtu.be/EOBot1-lTtw[/video]
 
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My three preffered knives for out in the woods (as far as production knives go) are pictured below. The Fallkniven A1, Esse 6, and Swamprat RMD (prototype version) with the Fallkniven being my favorite and seeing the most use. Notice the aftermarket G-10 handle scales on the Esse purchased from The Knife Connection. Those scales are a HUGE improvement over the stock ones and if you end up keeping your Esse I highly recommend you look in to them. The difference is night and day as many on this forum can attest to.

ESEE6-5_zpsabb3ecc4.jpg
 
There's a maker on these forums, goes by Malanika, that makes the best looking knife I've ever seen for under $200.

IMAG2937_zps95iu9lhi.jpg
 
AdamFuzzyballs said:
Scrapyard trash1... get a spec ops sheath with it and you're good to go for less than 200.
Click to expand...

Just googled it and that looks amazing! :thumbup:

My suggestion would be to look at now defunct Blind Horse Knives (spin off company is Battle Horse Knives I believe) The sixth knife down in this pic is Lumberjack toothpick LE; a sweet little woods knife. :thumbup: Battle Horse has some sweet bushcraft styled blades so it might be worth a look. :thumbup:

Or, just get a Ratmandu or scrapyard 511; they're great knives for the money although a bit stouter than many need LOL. ;):thumbup::rolleyes::D (fifth & seventh knives in the pic)

15308868159_0450f07385_b.jpg
 
I don't like the standard ESEE handles either.

Hopefully the new G10 scales for your Laserstrike will make it acceptable.

If not then the ...

Kabar BK16
ka-bar-becker-short-bk16-thumb.jpg


The Mora Companion HD and Bushcraft SRT have thicker blades than the standard Moras
morakniv-heavy-duty-f-c-orange-satin-thumb.jpg
morakniv-bushcraft-black-srt-thumb.jpg
 
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