In the market for a knife!

I know this topic has been beaten to death, and probably rightfully so, but I'd like the peanut gallery's input (preferably if you've used it!). I'm in the market for an outdoors knife (general camping, mainly). I already carry a Benchmade folder that's going no where, and I'd like to compliment it with a sturdy fixed blade. For the sake of keeping the thread under control, I'm considering the following knives... please keep comments aimed at these. Thanks!

I already have:
-Full size Ka-bar
-5" Ka-bar
-Sog Seal Pup
-USN Pilot knife

The 5" is so far, my "preferred." But... I'd like something better. I'll probably sell the above to finance the next. I promise, it's coincidence that the prices and blade profile are all similar! In the running:

-Rat-5
http://www.buymilspec.com/8627.html
- SOG Northwest Ranger
http://www.absoluteknives.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=S24
- Benchmade 10502
http://benchmade.com/products/product_detail.aspx?model=10502

So folks... what guidance? Just to nip some comments in the bud, I can't afford the RSK-3 (and actually, don't really like the design), so that's already out - sorry Mr. Ritter!

I was going to say "go get something from Chris Reeve", but I looked at your price range, so no go

If you're looking at the Ontario rat knives, consider real RAT knives (RAT Cutlery Co.). I have an RC-4 on order I'm anxiously awaiting after much research. Randall was the designer of the Ontario knives, but split off from the company, and is now fighting with Ontario over the name. In any case, the RC's are better knives, and supported by an ironclad no questions asked warranty.

I remember reading that somewhere. Thanks for the reminder!

I like the Fallkniven F1.

Hey there.

The Fallkniven S1 Forest Knife seems to fit all of your criteria except for price, but if you can save up another ~$50 its worth it. I really enjoy mine in the kitchen and on the trail and I know I can "trust it with my life" as Doug always says. If price is indeed a deal breaker you may want to try out a few of the Mora knives. The craftsman tri-flex seems to have the thickest blade however the classic red handled utility knife is great too.

Good luck on the decision. Its a tough one!

Cheers,
Logan.

Similar to the Fallkniven Forest knife is the Cold Steel SRK.
Forget the various incarnations of steels with the same secrecy of Col Sander's seasoning recipe or stabbing Buicks.
It's a decent knife (if you don't mind epoxy finish gumming up your diamond plates) and comes with a decent sheath.
I passed mine on to a nephew when I upgraded to Fallkniven.
Depending on make and condition, your present knives should realise enough cash to upgrade beyond your price point.
You can make a onetoime posting in the Campfire Forum of what you have and are asking.

Ditto! You won't go wrong with a F-1!

Ranger RD6, now being made by Ontario. Just got one recently, great rugged blade.

http://www.chestnutridgeknifeshop.com/ca...3eaa556d84b35ad

I own a Rant, 10502. I think it's a great value.

It's sort of like the two Cold Steel knives often mentioned, the Master Hunter and the SRK. But it's made by Benchmade.

The only "fault" I might mention is that the swedge on the back results in a somewhat smaller area on which you can baton -- it that's even a consideration for you.

Bear

So isn't the F1 a bit small with a blade under 4"? Wouldn't the S1 be a better idea, with a 5" blade?

The F1 is Fallkniven's flagship knife, being designed and accepted for Sweden's aircrew survival knife. The first design came with a small sheath that slipped into an upper thigh pocket flying those SAABS.If you've DRIVEN a SAAB, they have hte same space issues.
Sweden's survival scenarios,with smaller diameter northern arboreal trees really doesn't require a big chopper.
If there is any complaint with the SF1, many find the handle a little small.
An S1 will cost you @ $20 more +- and buy the satin finish. The darkened blades look real purty and proceed to scratch and wear with use and wind up being buffed out anyway.

The Fallkniven F1 is probably a perfect all-around outdoors knife and the blade size is FAR more useful than a larger blade knife for almost any wilderness task.

I own two and they are far superior to knives like my Buck 119 and AF issue crew knife.

You already own some larger blades, get the Fallkniven F1 and you probably will sell them off when you realize how useful this size knife is.

any of the kabar line are great knives! i recently bought a model #5055 and i love it.the seal pup is also a great knife for the money.

Mk3 owner here.

I would recommend watching the blade thickness. My Becker BK10 blade with a 0.188" thick blade felt too heavy and too thick to be a good camp knife.

Due to work filters I'm limited in researching the thicknesses of the blades you listed. The best I can figure ... The Rant is 0.135", the SOG is 0.16", and the RAT-5 is 0.187".

My suggestion would be to go with the Benchmade Rant.

While the RAT may be a tough knife, I'd say that the Rant, with the thinner blade, will be a much better overall camp knife.

I don't care for the SOG blade or handle - not a fan of combo edges.

If you don't mind, I'm curious what it is about the Mk3 that you don't like ... price aside. I really like mine.

Ken

I agree with KenK, and thickness can be an issue for weight and ability to slice food. The Fallkniven S1 forest knife is even thicker than the BK10 at 0.2'' which takes a bit of getting used to. I was used to thinner blades with a higher grind. The Forest knife is certainly not a sharpened pry bar by any means, but if weight (6.7 oz) and blade thickness are an issue I would recommend the F1.

~L

Thanks for the reminder to watch thickness. I'll have to pull out my knives and determine why I don't like them.

As for the Mk3, I never liked the way the full Griptilian handle filled my hand. In fact, I carry a mini grip and it's perfect for me. I assume that the Mk3 is built off the full handle.

Also, for some reason, I don't like the "hump" of the blade. I've heard nothing but good things about it, I just think it wouldn't fit my hand nicely. The look of the blade is a secondary excuse to justify to myself not buying it!

I have the RAT 3. Skinned & boned out three deer with is so far as well as countless fish cleaned. Plus all the little camp chores such as cutting cord, fuzz sticks, making kindling for fire, striker for mag bar......

My go to knife for hunting and fishing, combined with a SAK Camper.

DELETED POST

Here's a picture of, top to bottom, CS Master Hunter, Fallkniven F1, H1, and a Dozier K2. The F1 was much smaller than I expected, both in blade and handle length. I would be more comfortable with the Master Hunter, especially if you could find one in Carbon V. The F1 for me is more of a briefcase knife.

Just to ask...
Why do you think that those knives are better than what you already have? I will admit that the Rat-5 probably IS better, but still... I would try to get a real Rat though...

Where are you going to use these knife at, and for what?

I know you wanted us to keep the discussion on those knives, but I have already stated my preferences there(The Rat-5), so I would like to mention a few other choices.

The Mora2000 is very nice and does not cost much.

Also, if you could spend a LITTLE more(about $120.00 total) have you considered something like this?

This would give you the best of both worlds, a Puukko for all around use, and a Leuku for chopping, batoning, etc. All in one sheath designed to keep the knives from slipping out.

This is comming from someone that has a LOT of knives, and could carry almost anthing I wanted. But with price a consideration, these would be HIGH on my list.
Something from Bark River or Ranger knives would also be good, but about one step higher in price. It is too bad that Becker knives are temporarily not available, as they are(were?) VERY good for the price.
Here is my Becker BK7, a Puukko, a Bark River Northstar, and a SAK.

A Nessmuk style would be good, but I doubt you would find one in your price range. Upper left in this picture.


BTW, I really like my Mk-3 and find the grip quite nice, but it is quite optimized for a normal grip. That is NOT the case for the two I suggested.
The blade on the Mk-3 is VERY nice. Wider blades make batoning much easier, which may help explain the shape of Nessmuk knives.

I see several of my favorite tools in your photo, the Bark River Northstar, the Bark River Mini-Axe, and the fallkniven U2 folder. All Three of those are in my personal kit!

Wow, those are some NICE pics!

Not sure that any of these knives are necessarily "better" at any one thing. Lots of the reason I'm ready to change though is how I fit the knife. The Kabar Mini handle is too narrow for me (though I think the blade is decent), whereas the Seal Pup blisters my hand. Plus it just feels too thick for some finer work, but that could be the grind of the blade. The USN pilot knife gets dull way to quick and the saw is near useless (IMO).

I really like that Pukko combo up there. You have a link or something where I can read more? Are those handles more comfortable than they look?

Normally I carry a BM Mini Grip camping, or more often a SAK Hiker. The SAK has done great over the years, but I always just felt a fixed blade should be carried more. As such, it's ideally going to be used to be better around the campsite: splitting wood, pounding in ground stakes, cutting rope, maybe whittling if I get bored, etc. Probably won't be used for food prep. I move a lot, but it'll probably be used in Michigan, and later, Virginia (so, what, deciduous forests?).

Thanks for the thoughts so far. If I can sell off my current knives, I think you're swaying me towards the F1 (with the S1 and now the Pukko in the running).

As far as I know Becker Knife and Tool has joined Ka-Bar not long time ago. Ka-Bar now sells Becker knives. For example here is Becker BK7 in stock.

Yep, very recently picked up the new BK-9.

Financially, these "Mora" knives I keep hearing of seem to make the most sense.

Here is what Sportsman's Guide has to offer.

Chris has recently shown mr the gospel of The Ragweed Forge and I may yet decide to send Ragnar some of my money (as soon as I have come extra again).

C173 and C223 seem to fit the blade profiles (if not dimensions) you have mentioned.

Chris, enlighten this young swabbie doctor before he should miss the opportunity.

After Desperado's earlier query about Moras, I finally ordered a couple from Ragnar (I believe #911 and #740) and I've been very impressed by what showed up. His personal service is nice also. (standard disclaimer.)

In spite of what others have said about Mora sheaths, I actually like the swiveling version that came with the #911. It's nice for carrying a fixed blade while getting in and out of vehicles. Now I want one of his larger knives like C-173 so that I can have something for the kitchen that I don't have to worry about messing up.

Wow! I had seen the Mora for $11 in the catalog, but hadn't seen the 2-fer. It looks like the "discount" version of the Puuko set of knives a few posts up. And for $20, it's hard to resist.

So, I'm ordering a set. I'll have some fun in the upcoming weeks and see how the set stacks up. Hopefully I can sell off at least 1 of the items I'm selling to recoup the cost.

Thanks for the link!

If they don't work, well, there's lots of suggestions. And if they do work, well, I finally get on active duty in a few months, and the financial crunch will ease considerably shortly thereafter (time for more toys!)

Thanks everyone for your thoughts and insights!

I've owned both the Mora 2000 'survival knife' and the lueko-puukko combination.
The combo set is suprisingly heavy if you're used to packing a light mora. The small puukko is a suberb little blade, and the buttcap is especiallly nice for a controlled reverse grip with your thumb resting on it if making groove cuts etc.
The lueko is promblematical. It is a camp knife developed by the Saami ( Lpalanders ) for chopping the relatively small diameter birch trees and butchering reindeer.It is a very thin knife, with readilly visible cold rolling marks in the steel. It's physical size may give people confidence to baton wood beyond it's real capabilities with a resultant broken blade.
The handles are superbly comfortable. just remember these are for cold climbs, with push cuts ( again, the flat buttcap assisting in control) and not draw cuts with heavilly mittened hands. It is also just short of being usefull as a snow knife or as a machette.
The 2000 has been subject to a few online reviews. I will simply add it does need some sharpening to reach full potential and is a nice carry knife that pushes the Mora qualities up a notch for serious survival work.

Now for active duty in a field environment, I suggest something closer to a sharpened pry-bar. Reason being, you will eventually use it as a pry-bar. Doc or not, you will still wind up wanting a nice big blade. Then drop your cash on something from RC, Ranger Knives, or even Gerber (LMF II ASEK). One could also talk a supply NCO out of an Issue Ontario OKC3S .

Edit: The Gerber is an absolute pain to sharpen the first time, but seems to hold its edge.

Good Luck

I am also in the market for a knife and am seriously considering the Benchmade Fixed Griptilian (model 151). I have read all the recommendations of the F1, but I have been looking around it seems to cost at least $150 depending on the version you get. I saw the F1 with the micarta handle was ~$280. The Fixed Grip can be found online for ~$65. Price is definitely a consideration for me. This is an all-around knife to use for hunting, fishing, hiking, etc. and is also my first fixed blade, I have always used a folder up until now. Does anyone own/use a Fixed Grip and could you give some feedback if possible?

Mike,

There is a recent thread on bladeforums:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=622455

Now that I'm at home and have access to knife-related sites the blade widths are:

Fixed Griptilian - 0.119"
Fixed Rittergrip - 0.140"
Rand Drop-point - 0.175"
Becker BK7, BK9, BK10 - 0.188"
RAT knives - 0.188"

I lean toward the thinner blades for camp knives. I'm surprised how thick the Rant blade is. I don't think you'd go wrong with the fixed Griptilian.

Reviews for it on REI are good too.

Considering the dimensions listed above, the price comparisons, and the fact that a portion of your purchase will go to help ETS.....

I would go with the DR RSK MK3. But YMMV

I just got in 2 Mora 2000 knives today, and all I can say is ....wow. For the price they appear a bargain.

Check Cold Steel knives.

www.coldsteel.com

Blades are excellent, very good edge holding, products are strong and thoroughly tested. If you are looking for basic knife designs, costs are also very affordable. I have used several of their knives and machetes, with absolutely no problems.

Pete