[chorlton]

My wife wants a knife like my Seal Pup. So, I'm looking around for something similar (she doesnt want the same thing). This is for out in the mountains, so I'm looking for a fixed blade (4"), full tang, and probably a similar coating for the blade (not shiny stainless), with a half-decent sheath.
I liked the surefire echo until I saw the price tag. I've also looked at a few gerber blades which are more in our price range :)
If anyone has an idea I'd appreciate it!

[ACP230]

Bark River has nice fixed blade knives.

[CWL]

Since this is an outdoors knife and not a combat weapon, it is better to have the steel blade show in case you drop it and need to find it.

I also like the Bark River knives, perhaps something like a Fox River or Canadian Special.

If you are looking for something in the price range of Gerbers, why not a Gerber? They make good knives.

[mp510]

The Ontatrio RAT-3 is about $60 with a 1095 carbon steel blade, but it's coated- so that should quell some of your concerns. It has a 3.5" blade. If you spend more, you can get it with a D-2 blade.

[hopkin]

I'm also a big fan of Bark River. I have a Fox River with solid pins and it's a superb knife. It's quite shiny though.

http://www.barkriverknifetool.com/professional/foxriver/index.html

The Fallkniven F1 is another fantastic knife. I mean, virtually flawless. It's also kind of shiny. Edit: I'm sure it comes in a black coated model too.

The only coated knife I've used and like was the Ontario Tak 1. Mine is lying in a river somewhere in North Wales. :(

By the Way Chorlton, nice username. I live in a place called Chorlton (a suburb of Manchester) and freaked when I saw the name here.

[hso]

Bark River

Falkniven

Ragweed Forge

Spyderco

Benchmade

[Stainz]

I really like the Buck Vanguards (#192) - they have a great natural feel in the hand. You can get the rubber or wood handled version for ~$60 - or the blackish Ti-Al-N coated S30V steel 'Alaskan Guide' version from Cabela's for ~$90. That last one is nearly too pretty to use - as is it's beautiful and useful burgundy leather sheath. The wood handled ones, and I have both of them, come with leather sheaths. The rubber gripped one comes with nylon... it may be the better camping/hiking choice, although it, actually a model 692, only comes with the bright finished 420HC blade and brass finger guard and butt plate.

They also carry a USA made version of the Gerber Freeman in similar blackish S30V steel and checkered cocobolo grips for ~$90, although I am not sure how it 'feels' in the hand, as the regular Taiwaneese Freemans my local Academy Sports/Outdoors carries are blister packed (<$40) - and I haven't even 'handled' them.

Of course, a trip to Wally World will produce a $26 Buck 110 folding hunter - 3.8" 420HC blade - $62 list! Academy had them for $22 last week... unreal bargain - and, it comes with a nylon or leather sheath, but is equally at home in a large pocket. Go for a traditional 6" fixed blade Buck Special 119 there for $34 (List $77) and you'll have a great, if a bit bigger than your nominal 4" blade, camping knife. Those Bucks are made here, too. I have a 110 as an EDC.

Stainz

[chorlton]

Can anyone comment on the quality of CRKT knives - one way or the other?

[hso]

Reasonable to good quality. Excellent value. The Komers are very nice.

[Corndogg]

Chris Reeve! http://www.knifeart.com/chrisreeve.html (bottom of page)

the shadow, mountaineer and project lines are all great.

[hso]

Corndog,

How do you like those? They're pretty different so which works best in camp?

[Corndogg]

im speaking secondhand, my friend has a Project 1 that ive been drooling over, and i want either a Shadow IV, maybe a Mark VI for myself. the A2 steel holds up well, and as far as hollow-handle survival knives (which are typically avoided) this is definitely one of the better ones and a solid choice. just feels great, nice and solid to last a lifetime.

for camp, you need a larger blade, at least 5" if not 7" ideally. their rounded spear point is very strong. you would want the full/double guard, so probably skip the mountaineer...

i guess if i had one camp/survival recommendation, id go for the Project 1.
http://www.knifeart.com/shadowiv.html (right knife, bad URL name)
http://www.chrisreeve.com/project.htm

[hso]

I find the smaller of the two I own to be better for real use. I don't like the round handle on either though simply because it tends to shift a bit. Chris has made some that has a slightly oval handle, but they were very "wasteful" of material and a bit pricey.

[skeeter1]

I just ordered my first fixed-blade knife,

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/DBA800-2188-1942.html

A Ka-Bar. Did I just waste some money, or is ir worth it? I've got plenty of folders, and just wanted one big knife that wasn't meant for the kitchen.

[Stainz]

That is the best price I have seen on a KaBar in a while - you did quite well! They are great... whether I pick up my late Dad's old WWII example from the S. Pacific or the recent new one I bought, quite a tool. You will enjoy it - but the original poster wanted a shorter blade, thus the 'other' suggestions.

Stainz

[Nematocyst]

she doesnt want the same thingNo one has yet asked
an obvious question:

Why not?

Nem,
Seal Pup Elite
is EDC in wilderness
with Benchmade Osborne
(latter is EDC everyday)

[hso]

skeeter 1,

Good price and the USMC Fighting Knife style is often the choice most guys make for their first fixed blade. That said, it's not the best choice, but everyone should have one, if nothing else to compare other knives to.

The USMC Fighting Knife (commonly called the KaBar, but made by several manufacturers for the military) is a stretched Marbles Ideal. The need for an inexpensive issue knife that could be used for camp and combat lead to a mass produced knife with a longer blade with the profile of the Marbles knife. Look at the Ideal and you clearly see the KaBar's ancestor.

The problem with any knife over 4-5 inches is that it becomes unwieldy for most tasks you need a knife for. The cross guard interferes with small tasks because it prevents you from choking up on the blade. The knife can be batonned to cut wood, but a Forrester Ax or a light camp saw does a better job.

[J_Dillinger]

Here's mine, I just picked it up this weekend at a knife show for $45

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q104/verskel/PICT0088.jpg

It's WWII era stamped CAMILLUS, NY and USMC on the guard. :cool: