Small fixed blade hunter

[bratch]

I’ve decided I’d like a small fixed blade hunter. I’m thinking something in the 3-4” range but with a narrower blade.

I have a Spyderco Moran and a Benchmade Hidden Canyon, both have wider blade profiles so I’d like something smaller to compliment them.

I like the Benchmade Steep Country but am open to any other ideas. Would like to stay under $150 unless there is something amazing above that.

What else should I look at?

 

[ugaarguy]

Have you looked at the Spyderco Sprig? It's a Phil Wilson design with a 4&1/4 inch S90V blade that's narrower than the Moran, and the blade stock is thinner. At $200 it's a little over your budget, but they're supposed to be amazing slicers.

 

[bratch]

I haven’t looked at anything other than some light browsing and searching on here. Only reason I had the Steep Country listed was I went back and forth on it and the Hidden Canyon at the store.

 

[readyeddy]

Take a look at the Mora all purpose carbon blade at 4 inches. It’s light weight, very sharp and about $15.

 

[jmr40]

I like this one right well.

https://www.amazon.com/Knives-Alask...1&sr=8-1&keywords=knives+of+alaska+alpha+wolf

No personal experience, but some guys on other forums are fond of this. It looks good and is right at the top of your budget.

https://www.ridgelineknifeworks.com/product-page/trout-1

Bark River makes a bunch of knives with prices well within your budget, many well over. Here is a link

https://www.knivesshipfree.com/bark-river-knives/

This looks cool and is within your budget.

https://www.knivesshipfree.com/bark-river-knives-little-caper/

 

[entropy]

The Mora is a good choice, I've owned several over the years. I have a Cold Steel Finnbear I like, and the Pendleton Lite Hunter is a good little knife, too.

 

[Slamfire]

I have a Spyderco Moran and a Benchmade Hidden Canyon, both have wider blade profiles so I’d like something smaller to compliment them.

I just gotta say, at 3mm thick, your Spyderco Moran ought to slice well, it looks like an excellent design, and I can't imagine why it won't meet your needs.

As has been stated before, you can't beat what you get for in a Mora:

Either carbon steel:



Or 12C27 Stainless, which is an excellent steel:



If you lose them, you won't be out much.

I do like Grohmann knives. The original Canadian Belt knife makes an excellent kitchen knife, I think there is a carbon steel and I have the stainless. There is a flat grind version that should slice even better. I gave a Cold Steel version (cheaper metal, but it was $15.00) to a hunting buddy. And I gave him a larger knife. He preferred the smaller knife for dismantling deer. Apparently, just the right length and the handle was comfortable.

 

[bratch]

Thanks guys some good suggestions I hadn’t seen elsewhere on here.

Here is the list I had put together after finding some discussion on other boards:

Regular production:

Spyderco sprig
Crkt Bird and trout
Buck 102
Bark river bird and trout
Benchmade Steep Mountain
A.G. Russell woodswalker
Tops bird and trout
Cold steel Canadian
Esee camp lore jg3
Esee camp lore 2.5

These are no longer available or are waiting on another run:

Blind horse bird and trout
Lt Wright coyote
Battle horse stony brook
Russel bird and trout
Adventures sworn voyageur

The ones being no longer available actually helps since it removes a few options. A few of these are fairly inexpensive, I may order a couple of them to play with while I continue researching nicer blades.

 

[crcr29683]

One that I like is the White River Caper.

 

[adcoch1]

+1 on the Mora knives, I bought one for a knock around camp kitchen knife. It is awesome and very affordable, but be careful, they grow legs and wander off if you don't keep an eye on them...

 

[entropy]

A half dozen of them have done it to me over the years.....

 

[Speedo66]

It's funny, people who have never had a Mora think for the price it must be a piece of crap. People who have them are always amazed at the quality for such a small price.

While most of them have utilitarian looks, beauty is as beauty does. You can certainly get a prettier knife, but not much of a better working knife, regardless of price. I'm still using, and happy with, an almost 50 year old Mora fishing knife I bought back then in Sweden for a pittance. Used in a salt water environment, still bright and shiny. Love Moras.

 

[readyeddy]

It's funny, people who have never had a Mora think for the price it must be a piece of crap. People who have them are always amazed at the quality for such a small price.

While most of them have utilitarian looks, beauty is as beauty does. You can certainly get a prettier knife, but not much of a better working knife, regardless of price. I'm still using, and happy with, an almost 50 year old Mora fishing knife I bought back then in Sweden for a pittance. Used in a salt water environment, still bright and shiny. Love Moras.

I feel similar. I actually wanted to carry a prettier knife because I like knives, but I just couldn't do it. I need light equipment for hunting and the Mora is just about perfect and weighs almost nothing. The price doesn't really factor into it being my primary hunting/dressing knife.

 

[sean m]

I'm partial to the Schrade Sharpfinger. Not a huge loss if it get's left behind in the woods.....

 

[red rick]

Buck 102 , I used mine last Saturday on some rabbits . It is a nice size for small game , but I like my 105 better for skinning deer . The 105 fixed and the 110 folder are 2 of my favorite knives .

 

[Rollis R. Karvellis]

I have been playing with my new RAT 3 constantly. About $60.00 on Amazon. It may not be as narrow you want though.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

I'm a fan of both the Mora knives and the vintage version of the Sharpfinger.

 

[The Evangelist Cowboy]

Mora is good, knives of Alaska gets my nod with their alpha wolf. Honestly you have a plethora of choices.

 

[Litlman]

LT Wright are nice.

 

[hso]

Far too many knives these days start as sharpened pry bars so I understand your desire to find something of lighter stock.

 

[Pilot]

I have a Bark River Gunny that I've used for just about everything in the woods, including as a hunting knife for deer. Works great, and they are quality knives.

 

[bannockburn]

Used to carry this Gerber Armorhide knife when I was just hiking around in the backwoods. Nice and lightweight it was just the right size, took a decent edge, and was very comfortable to carry.

 

[eddielewis]

Case little finn

 

[If1HitU]

Nice little fixed blade Browning

 

[SharpDog]

I like this one right well.

https://www.amazon.com/Knives-Alask...1&sr=8-1&keywords=knives+of+alaska+alpha+wolf

No personal experience, but some guys on other forums are fond of this. It looks good and is right at the top of your budget.

https://www.ridgelineknifeworks.com/product-page/trout-1

Bark River makes a bunch of knives with prices well within your budget, many well over. Here is a link

https://www.knivesshipfree.com/bark-river-knives/

This looks cool and is within your budget.

https://www.knivesshipfree.com/bark-river-knives-little-caper/

I have Several KOA and Bark River as well, highly Recommended.

KoA makes a thinner blade as well:

https://www.knivesofalaska.com/store.asp?c=11

And DLT Trading has a Bark River Sale / Overstock page:

https://www.dlttrading.com/bark-river-overstocks-discounted-knives