Need a good knife

[sm]

KaBar D2 Impact fixed blade is a great knife, and yes I have used one.

[Thud! , will someone help hso back up off the floor again?]

Being honest, I do not like a blade longer than 3.5 inches - the greatest percentage of the time.
Just me, still with all the outdoor activities I have done, including some search and rescue, a blade longer than 3.5 inches is hindrance to me personally.

Then again I was mentored as I was, and weight, size and being "mobile" was stressed.

For instance I can find wood without having to chop down a tree, and a small saw works, even a hack-saw blade in the small, light hack-saw blade holder, for making shelter if need be.

A.G. Russel WoodsWalker for $20 for instance in the leather back pocket sheath, is a great user, couple it with a small folding saw, and one can be under the $60 price tag easy.
Add a Case Blackhorn Lockback for $14, or SAK Pocket Pal for $10 and one has 3 cutting tools, light weight, easy to maintain and will handle tasks.

 

[The Tourist]

Being honest, I do not like a blade longer than 3.5 inches

That has become my habit, as well. In fact, the older I get the shorter my knives become.

I bought two knives today from my supplier. One is a knife for charity--a 3-inch plain blade Benchmade Griptillian (the one with the hole in the blade) with the pink handle. My wife is interested in this charity drive.

The other was a CRKT rendition of the Graham Ringed Razel. The CRKT company calls their model the 2012, but we know it as the Razel SS3. I'm interested to test their alloy 9Cr18MoV.

Knowing how the Graham Brothers are for quality, I'm certain they viewed and tested the CRKT product before the knives were shipped.

Now, if I didn't have to build a log cabin out of old telephone poles, I'm sure the SS3/2012 could serve any purpose, field dress any deer, fillet any fish, and do duty as a campfire knife. In fact, until I quit the practice of camping, I don't think I owned a fixed blade over 4-inches (?). One of the best ones I ever had, and foolishly sold, was the old Buck 403B.

True story, I refuse to camp. Nope, I spent too many nights in cold wet rain, snapping awake in a fit of panic to see if the beer can I placed under my Harley kick-stand had sunk into the soft, muddy ground. Heck, even a dull Ringed Razel will cut most room service food...

 

[sm]

I had some interesting mentors, and elders, that shared some interesting lessons.

One trip to Canada , out for 14 days, portaging and canoing , the only knife I had was a Case Peanut, with CV blades.

Other lessons were being dumped, and with minimal supplies, such as a Case Peanut, compass, box of raisins, one bar of Baker's chocolate [this is not sweet btw!] and some cord, index card / pencil, some electrical tape...

Find my way to where I was supposed to be.
Out for 3 days, 3 nights, and "Improvise, Adapt, Overcome" .


Another time, I was "issued" a knife , a SAK Classic , on a beaded neckchain.
That is all the knife, we had for 2 days, 2 nights, and again very little of anything during this survival bit.


So last summer, I "camped" with some folks I know down on the property.
Passing forward some of what I remembered.
SAK Classics, Case Peanuts, one Sodbuster Jr, One Slimline Trapper, and "having to improvise, adapt overcome".

One 10 year old "found" the hacksaw.
One would have thought she had walked found a gold mine.

Using the inexpensive ponchos we made "pup" tents.
Then we made a bigger tent.
That orange tarp down that way for crop dusters to see where start to dropping "dust".

"Well, if we really were hurting to survive, it is not stealing, we need that!" on kid said.

Rope b/t trees, tarp over rope, ponchos for a floor and dig a trench with sticks so water would drain away from the tent.

It was going to rain, and hard!
[we had a barn near, still this was lessons ]

I had shared how to catch fish including catfish, and one cat was big sucker as big as from my pocket to ground, with me standing up,and I am 6'.

We had a fire, and kept it going, and using those cheesy $1 ponchos kept the wood dry in a "pup' tent.

Using ponchos make a cover to keep hard rain from putting out the fire.

Funny.
Big Catfish, and the gal that "found" the hacksaw ( I had tossed this hacksaw in small ditch, near where a lot of small limbs and sticks were), wanted to cut off the catfish's head with the hacksaw.
About 5 min later, and starting to rain again - "Okay - this sucks, show me another way".

So I did, using a nail, and rock to hammer that fish head to a tree, and using a Peanut to cut around the top, and pliers to skin it.
A nail is neat tool to have, I like "cut" , or "masonary nails".


I used the Peanut to cut a "fillet" and then the Sodbuster Jr and Slimline Trapper were used to show how they can do this.

It rained hard, and I look great in a yellow and a pink $1 plastic ponchos getting fish and stuff cooked in foil ,out of coals and bringing it to the tent.

We had made "lap tables" by lashing sticks with cord.
Table in lap, fish on lap table and eat .


One of the younger girls just had a Edelweisses SAK Classic, and feeling sorta frumpy.
"My knife is too small to do anything!".

Well ,even the Edelweiss shoestring I put it on did not help - much.

So, I used her knife with a magnesium fire starter to make the fire.
She felt pretty good about that.

"But, It won't work for peanut butter very well...". she said, with peanut butter in hand and that pout lip.

"Oh yes it will! " - I replied.

So I showed her how to make a peanut butter spreader from a stick, whittling one with her knife.
Oh that did it, she was catching on and seeing her small knife was just as an important tool as other other knives.

Sounds dumb, still I was raised like this, and still feel it is important to pass this on.
I want the kids, the moms, single gals to know, they can do with what they have in case a situation comes up.

 

[ArfinGreebly]

Light Hatchet

For the "please also buy a hatchet" crowd, there's a hatchet or two made by "Trail Blazer" (Canada) that's light but sharp and well-balanced.

Available in yellow, red, or black.

It's a lot lighter than my Estwing.

 

[JShirley]

IF any of y'all have time to keep an eye out for them, and are willing to wait, Spyderco has a plan.

They are making a knife with a 3 5/16" fixed blade. This knife, the Mule will be offered in limited quantities, and made of various styles for knife nuts to experiment with. Since grinds and thicknesses will be identical, folks will be able to make an apples to apples type comparison, instead of comparing different offerings from various makers.

Spyderco will probably take a loss from these knives. They are essentially being sold at cost. For the tinkers, costs are further kept low by only the full-tang knife being made. Users can then wrap with cord or rawhide, or add nice scales, as they see fit. Sheaths are not supplied, further lowering the cost.

The first offering is in 52100, a ball-bearing steel that high carbon folks like sm should love. Unfortunately, they sold out pretty quickly (I had been really busy, and missed it ), but the next offering should be along in another month or so. A good, strong, sharp, simple little knife like this, coupled with a hatchet, small ax, or large tough knife like a kukri, machete, or bowie, is a great combo.

The Glock knife makes a good thrower.

John

 

[sm]

Re: Mule.

Yes, this "Mule Team" was brought to my attention.
Spyderco has a super idea in doing this!
They are to be commended!

Joe Talmadge, and others have shared for years how important it is for one to consider so many aspects of a knife for tasks.
Not just the steel, as heat treat, for instance can make a lesser steel a better knife for a task, than a more involved steel with a poor heat treat.

The whole is equal to the sum of its parts - anon

John provided a link to 52100, here is another steel chart, one will have to scroll down a bit.

http://www.agrussell.com/knife_information/steel_guide/index.html

Spyderco is doing a great job in educating folks, which I again commend them on.
No, I do not own a Spyderco product, I don't know why, still I have seen, used and recommended them to folks.

Just my take, I feel too many folks have been caught up in Marketing and Sensationalism therefore getting cases of "gotta haves" and "gotta be lastest and greatest".

Not an age thing, if anything a "maturity" thing.

Joe Talmadge, and others, have said the same thing Spyderco is sharing with regard to Saltwater for instance.
Spyderco makes a knife offering (forget the name) that is designed to resist the problems of saltwater and inform and educate the steel used is having to give up some properties (edge retention, ease of sharpening, etc) in order to focus on the negative effects of saltwater.

Short version - There is no one best, no holy grail, no ultimate, or magic talisman.


My contention is, a 1095 with a good heat treat is pretty darn hard to beat.
Yes, it will require some upkeep, just like blued firearms do.

Case Chrome Vanadium is a steel I really really like, I like vanadium in a steel.
The old Western knife line used this steel as well, as did some other companies.
I suspect this is a 1095 plus Vanadium "blend" , I forget maybe a 56100?
Dunno, I am no metallurgist.

01 is another steel I like as well as W2 .


Re: Mule.
Yes I would like to get my paws on one, and yes a non- stainless, or "tool steel" or "carbon steel" if you will.

Spyderco, by having the Mule Team, I hope educates more folks to investigate and verify what they need for them, for tasks.

If one is around saltwater, they need a different steel than someone that is not.
If one needs a steel to ear mark cattle, to stay sharp for a long time, while still being easy to sharpen up free hand while on the ranch, they need a different steel as well.

Spyderco, I know has their market share, and has to make money to stay in business, I understand and respect this.

I would like to see some other offerings by them, that do not lock, such as they do the UK Pen Knife.

Simply because we have folks restricted in what they can carry.
Not just in the UK, also in other countries, and even here in the USA.

Some workplaces, campuses and other settings restrict one to a knife less than 3" closed, no lock, no assisted opening.
Other restrictions apply as well, these are the basic ones I see and have been exposed and restricted to personally.

Spyderco can do a knife, that falls into these restrictions, and make of steels to fit tasks for folks, within price points.

Do one with glow in the dark handles, a very useful safety tool.
Offer some handle options, even allowing one to change handles themselves, to personalize.

In a nice setting, and needing to cut a lime for ladies drink, or slice a chocolate for a lady as to not mess up lipstick, a "classy" handle, such as a "gentlemans" knife, fits the setting more appropriately.

The setting might also be one restricted.

I can see a Spyderco "Tuxedo" knife with a bone handle and even one with Mother of Pearl...ladies and gents both carry these handle materials.


It is not cool to whip out a large knife , fast, to cut a lime, chocolate, or cut a thread on a kids outfit at times.

It does not require the latest great steel either.

 

[JShirley]

Here is one of the most affordable of the Kopas, one of Spyderco's line of gentleman knives. Jordy bought a nice Santa Fe-customized Kiwi at the '07 Blade show- something like this (I didn't try to influence her, either! ).

H-1 is rustproof, and is being used in an increasing number of Spyderco knives. I believe Benchmade had a couple out, as well, but they have now gone to X15 T.N. steel (probably a cost issue?).

J

 

[sm]

Re: Kiwi Gold Lip Mother of Pearl

I did not know that knife existed!
(granted I am as dumb as a brick).

That is neat!

Oh sure, John did not influence his wife...uh-huh, sure.
Not anymore than how Jordy suggests John fold clothes.

*grin*


Excuse me, I have a PM from a THR Admin with the initials JS.

Something about wanting me to run around downrange with a target and him wanting to practice shooting moving targets....

*incoming*

 

[Valkman]

Mr. Valkman, doesn't Paul Bos actually have an office on site at Buck?

Yes - Buck made a deal with Paul and built him a heat treating shop several years ago. He still takes all customs from makers plus does Buck's stuff - no wonder he's not on any forums!

 

[Browning]

ArfinGreebly : For the "please also buy a hatchet" crowd, there's a hatchet or two made by "Trail Blazer" (Canada) that's light but sharp and well-balanced.

Available in yellow, red, or black.

Is that the brand name of it (Trail Blazer)?

 

[rswartsell]

Tourist, not to nitpick but isn't the Buck 110 a folder?

 

[mike6161]

I just got the sog today its a great knife i will get pic up soon. on the site it says to put oil on the knife do you have to do this. if so what kind of oil should i use? i have norton sharpening stone oil, hoppes 9 and wd40 can i use this or do i have to get some thing eles?
thanks

 

[ArfinGreebly]

Trail Blazer

Is that the brand name of it (Trail Blazer)?

Yes.

You can find Trail Blazer's site here.

The small hatchets are here . . .

. . . and the large hatchets are here.

 

[JeepGeeek]

I use CLP wherever oil is called for on steel. Never had a problem.

 

[Browning]

Cool, thank you AG.

 

[Goblin]

Kabar Hunter $60.00

 

[mike6161]

heres some pics of the sog. its a vary nice knife VARY sharp.

 

[JeepGeeek]

received my Kukri today- going to take some doing to sharpen it (they're sold unsharpened so that they can be sold as replicas, not weapons), but should be quite potent once it's done.

 

[Browning]

They aren't THAT much more over budget.

22-rimfire : The RAT blades are nice, but are more than you budget. If you like them, the RC-5 should be about right. I believe the cost is about $100.

More like $70 or $80 for the Ontario Tak-1 in 1095 steel.

http://www.bestknives.com/ontariotak1.html

http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_detail.html?s=ONTAK1

http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?from=R40&_trksid=m37&satitle=ontario+tak+1+knife&category0=

If you look around some gun shows I've seen then for as little as $60.

The Rat-5 in 1095 and D2 and the Tak-1 in D2 cost a little more ($100 to $110), but for a TAK-1 in 1095 it's really only a couple of bucks over the $60 budget.