Your Favorite (non-SAK) Outdoor Folder

Opinel #8
Mini-Grip
Mini-Rukus. The Rukus has been getting the most carry time. It's a really great knife, minus the pocket clip. I've been carrying it on the belt or attached to the pack with a Maxped single sheath.
 
I've been carrying my military as my primary knife for a while now, and for most things, haven't missed using the fixed blade. I still take a fixed blade with me, but it spends most of the time in my pack now, rather than on my belt.
 
It's a fantastic knife and very often underestimated. A little bit heavy, but stable, not too expensive, very ergonomic.

I never had a sharper folder out of the box and I have a few others, e.g. BUCK 110A, Spydies and Benchmades in CPM, SOG Tomcat,...:cool:
 
The reason I specified a non-SAK is because in the wilds I always have a SAK with me (Farmer or OHT). As much as I like them (I will always have a SAK or Multi-tool in the wild because of their versatility) I still prefer a separate folder for small tasks because I don't find SAKs or multi-tools very comfortable and I prefer one hand opening blades (I know, my OHT and my LM Wave are one hand opening but the feel isn't the same, and it never hurts to have an extra knife).

I'm thinking of having my Military converted to tip up carry, and I might have it Waved too for even quicker opening, but it feels big to me now.

I thought about buying a Para-military, but I don't care for the difficulty of sharpening S30V, regardless of how wonderful a steel it is. Ease of sharpening to me is a high priority in a survival situation and I usually carry a ceramic rod in the field, which isn't ideal for S30V. I do wish they made the Para-military in 154CM or VG-10.

I'm also considering getting another Spyderco Endura (or maybe even a Delica, which I've never owned) and having it either flat ground or Scandi ground, but I don't like the handle shape as much as it's hard to choke up on the blade. I do wish the handle was more like the Spyderco Native, Caly3, or Sage, which all allow choking up on the blade for finer work (these knives only come in very high end and difficult to field sharpen steels like S30V and ZDP-189).

I have a Case Sodbuster Jr. in stainless and it's the sharpest knife I own. I am constantly amazed by how easy it is to sharpen and how incredibly sharp it gets, although I have chipped it a few times. It's an EDC knife for all the little tasks. I just prefer a locking folder when I'm far from help (too many bad experiences closing SAKs on my hand as a child I guess). I know people do it all the time but I don't like the idea of being forearm deep and blind in a chest cavity with a non-locking folder. I see serious damage that way. Before anyone says anything, I prefer fixed blades for this task as they're much easier to clean and there's nothing to fail, but I like my folders to be able to do it all too.

I do like the Blade-Tech Magnum PH alot, but again it's S30V and it's about the same size as my Military.

I need to pick up one of the Griptilians to give a try as everyone raves about them, and the new Bone Collector Grip with the opening hole looks really good.

So many knives and so little money! I'm also wanting to save up for my first Busse, so even less money!
 
I guess it would have to be my Schrade LB7 Bearpaw. I've owned it since the mid-1980s.

Schrade_Bearpaw.jpg
 
Hey Dave,I gave my Dad one of those Bearpaws back in the late 70s,or was it 80.Anyway,he still packs it to this day.
 
It surprises me to say this, but my Spyderco Sage 1. It's only a 3" blade in s30v, but man that thing is so well built and just works. I've been just beating on my Sage lately, almost trying to see if I could break it and it just keeps on taking it. I do plan to pick up a bone collector soon though, so we'll see how it stacks up. Emerson A-100 is another on my buy list in this category.
 
+1 on the uncle henry Bear Paw. I use it a lot outside, but lately my Emerson CQC 15 has seen a lot of outdoor fun. Fuzz sticks to food, it works quite well.
 
also, i do dig my RAT Model 1 Folder... cuts wood, food, etc and isnt hard to keep the edge nice and sharp... great deal really imo.
 
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