I love my Ritter folder (black blade no. 002) but I dont know if I want to wait for the fixed blade (though I am patient)....so any recommendations other than the Ritter fixed blade?
Thanks,
Robert

there is a page on this website with some recommendations: http://www.equipped.org/devices8.htm

i currently have Fallkniven F1 and a couple of mora's for my uses.

I would recommend a Becker BK7 or a BK10 (my current blade.) But get them while you can before Camillus folds. <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

SOG SealPup

I think the Ritter fixed blade is worth the wait. I have been waiting for ages and get by using my old fixed blades instead. Seal Pup -- ugh -- I got one, have had it for several years -- the serrations get in the way for finer work and the blade is just too thick to hold a GOOD razor-like edge. The SOG Seal Pup is also a clip point, which is not as desirable as a drop point for overall utility. I would leave the Seal Pup to what it was designed for -- combat. Just my opinion on the Seal Pup, but if it works for you, fine.

You could check out Fehrman Knives if you're looking for a pry bar (Final Judgment or First Strike). The Last Chance and Peace Maker make good utility blades.

Bark River Knife & Tool make a number of good blades, my favorite being the North Star

Dozier makes a number of great knives, but they've got quite a wait unless you can find one available from someplace like AG Russell or Blade Art.

Really, you can spend lots of money or you can wait for the RSK Mk III.

There's a new SOG Seal Pup Elite without the serrations avaible now. I currently carry an older one wtih the serrations when hiking and like its size and light weight. I wish I had the smooth edge version however.

We used a Becker Crewman and an Ontario TAK while making the survival video and both held up well. The Becker is just a little too heavy duty for me carry on short hikes and I do not own a TAK, yet.

Doug's reccomendations would be good starting point as mentioned earlier.

Have you looked at the Cold Steel knives? The hunting and rescue knives are good knives. Decent edge retention, reasonable weight and ergonomics.

My advice is to wait for the Ritter fixed grip, but in the mean time to to http://www.ragweedforge.com and order a mora blade (follow the Mora knives from Eriksson and Frost link) to get you through until Doug's knife is available.

Many really like the #760 (4" blade, $11), which comes in plenty of cool colors (I suggest orange or blue so its easy to find if dropped).

I have larger hands and prefer the #746 (4" blade, $14), though I like the #748 (5.75" blade, $16) better for food preparation.

For a bit more you can buy the #2000 (4.5" blade, $30) which is their version of a survival knife. But, if you're going to spend that kind of money though I might suggest you get Becker Knife & Tool BK10 Crewman for $40-$50. The BK10 is a great knife for the money!

Get a low cost Mora knife and save your pennies for Doug's coming fixed blade knife. You'll be surprised by how nice they are for the price.

benchmade CSK

http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_detail.html?s=BM156BT

this is my current fixed blade, great D2 steel, love the sheath, it is on my bug out bag right now [not a bad price either]

PC2K,

Tell us what you like and don't like about your F1. I am thinking of getting one. I have a Cold Steel Master Hunter in Carbon V. The F1 looks like a smaller version with the tang sticking out the back.

I was fixated on my Cold Steel True Flight Thrower but after some extended carving (sore hands) I realized the Master Hunter is a lot more comfortable.

Thanks!

The only problem you have, is picking WHICH Randall Made knife to carry.

Go with the best.

Here are some options:
Grohmann #3 Boat knife, light, sturdy and large enough for most needs. 4in blade.
Frost's Mora, light, sharp and cheap, like just over $10. The sheath is junky though. Blade is 4in.
My first choice is a Stewart Marsh handmade bushcraft knife. Super sharp, heavy duty and a piece of art. Sheath is excellent also. The blade is about 4.5 in.
I own 4 Randall knives and they are beautiful, I see them a great military knives when you may need to use it as a weapon. The 5in models I have are still what I consider too large for fieldcraft/bushcraft.
I love my Stewart Marsh knife. PM me and I can send you his email, it you are interested. Cheers

I've decided on the Cold Steel Master Hunter and for cost reasons. I'm setting up another BOB for the other vehicle and costwise this is the chosen knife. On the current BOB is a Cold Steel Trail Hawk, I intend to add of of them to the next BOB as well
http://www.coldsteel.com/trailhawk.html

Buy from a quality name, and you get quality products.

Asking this question is akin to insulting a man's knife. I'd rather insult his wife, it's safer in this modern era.

I'm curious (and new around these parts)... Whenever I see discussions of fixed-blade knifes for survival or to throw into the BOB bag, I seldom see the ol' traditonal KaBar mentioned.
I know the design is some 60+ years old and there are much better knives out there, but if one is going to mention Cold Steel (which seem somewhat "rough" to me), isn't the KaBar also noteworthy? Forgive my igorance, not a knife-a-holic, "insert any other disclaimer here". Just wondering what the negatives are.

i like the F1 handle, it gives loads of grip, but is sstill very comfortable. I have handled the CS master hunter and the handle just doesn't feels as good.

What i like and at the same time dislike is the thickness. The thickness insures you can not brake the blade with normal use. But makes the blade a bit thick for some jobs.

I'm really not picky with knifes, as long as it feels good and i trust it.

Re Kabar. Short version is blade shape and ergonomics. Survival/bushcraft knives really need to have a spearpoint. Versitility is very much a consideration. Clip pointed blades are far less versatile. Modern shaped low slip handles are far safer to grip and are markedly less tiring to use over an extended period of time. Having said that if I needed a knife to use as a spear, against large animals such as lion, a Kabar ain't a bad choice. One other point:- in many jurisdiction's it is not legal to carry and in some cases possess a mil-spec knife. A Kabar is very definatly mil-spec.

I think that a knife is a very personal choice. One that might be a choice between life and death. Having utter faith in your choice is vital, for the confidence value if nothing else. What suits one may not suit another. If it feels right, it is right. I happen to prefer a CS Master Hunter. I have very large hands so a big grip is important to me. I require a knife that is semi-indestructable in use because I might (God forbid!) have to use it as a prybar. A thick spine is, in my opinion, an advantage if a spot of batoning is needed. It's carbon steel. Makes it a doddle to sharpen. Ok, so it ain't rust proofed. I can live with that. I just have to be carefull about applying silicon grease to it and making sure that it's put away dry. I am not suggesting of course that my choice is in anyway better than, or inferior to anyone else's choice. Your choices might be limited by Law, availablility or price. The ultimate thing to remember is that any knife beats having no knife.

What do you use your Trail Hawk for? I have one that I cut the handle down to the length of a hammer. We have used it for throwing. We found we had better luck by taking the screw out and letting the head fall of once in a while. The screw was ripping a grove in the wood handle.

I tried splitting wood with it. The shape of the head makes splitting difficult. The Master Hunter split wood easier.

The Trail Hawk has been used for quick notching of small timbers (framing a hut), splitting wood, pounding nails and tent stakes....I drilled a hole in the end of the handle and added a nylon strap fitted to keep it in the hand if swinging rapidly. You're right about its splitting ability but could be worse.
In yet another BOB, my primary, I have the Ontario Spec 10" Machete...now this is a splitting machine and one of my favorite pieces of all time...living so close to Smoky Mountain Knifeworks in the Pigeon Forge area I recently had it sharpened there, but it is quite heavy, almost twice as heave as the Trail Hawk.
As an ultralightweight backpacker I've often broken the rules and carried the Trail Hawk, in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park they have shelters with fireplaces and the hawk was used several times to shorten the limbs for the fireplace...granted a bow saw would have done the trick, but a tomahawk on the backpack has a distinct symbolism.
Also picked up the Cold Steel Hunter yesterday, not a bad knife for $57. I carry a backpack everywhere I go so my EDC is quite large, this is distinct from the BOBs in the trunks of the vehicles. On this backpack currently is attached a Gerber LMF but I'm thinking the CS Hunter may replace it and the Gerger go into a BOB, at least the LMF has a pommel for pounding.