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Backcountry/camping knife recommendations

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JAHpow
Posts: 7282 - Karma: 17,153
I'm looking to get a fixed-blade knife for when I'm up in the BWCA and camping in general. I hate the term "bushcraft", I feel like that's so hipster now. But I'm more or less looking for one for use in that sort of stuff.

Right now I'm leaning towards an ESEE 4 and getting extended G10 scales put on from TKC. But I'm also considering a TOPS BOB.

What do you guys use?
May 12 2021 12:57PM
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BrandoComando
Posts: 1468 - Karma: 18,463
I'm a pretty casual knife guy. I don't have experience with the knives you mentioned and I can only speak to what I know. I carry a folding knife with me pretty much everywhere. It gets used daily, opening boxes at work, gutting fish on the weekend, and all kinds of stuff in-between. My personal favorite (and the one I'd recommend) is my Buck Knife. The steel holds an edge well and is sharp enough for my use cases. I sharpen it every few weeks to keep it spicy. I've used a few Kershaws in the past, an Opinel, a Gerber, a Leatherman, and a few others I'm forgetting, and the one that stays in my pocket is Buck. If I were to go with a fixed blade knife, I'd get another Buck. They've been in the game a long time and I've been a happy customer.

No matter what you choose, keep a sharpener/stone around. Even the best knives eventually lose their edges
May 12 2021 1:43PM
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snowfinder
Posts: 2578 - Karma: 30,758
Went deep into looking for a good knife, decided to make my own about halfway finished with the first one.
May 12 2021 2:10PM
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JAHpow
Posts: 7282 - Karma: 17,153
snowfinderWent deep into looking for a good knife, decided to make my own about halfway finished with the first one.


That's cool, you should post some pics
May 12 2021 2:50PM
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mrk127
Posts: 1521 - Karma: 13,872
Those both look like nice knives, especially the serrated ESEE. I'm not a knife guy at all but I defiantly like my fixed blade knife that's when I'm out in the backcountry in the summer. Bigger fixed knifes are nice and sturdy for cutting wood and shit and if I ever have some fucked up animal encounter it would be slightly better than a little pocket knife
May 12 2021 4:39PM
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snowfinder
Posts: 2578 - Karma: 30,758


Few more steps left to do shape it, give it an edge, forge it and give it a handle.
JAHpowThat's cool, you should post some pics
May 12 2021 5:21PM
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JAHpow
Posts: 7282 - Karma: 17,153
snowfinder


Few more steps left to do shape it, give it an edge, forge it and give it a handle.


Dude that's awesome. Would love to see it through the process and the finished piece. I suppose you're custom making your own scales for it, right?
May 12 2021 6:43PM
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Turd__Authority
Posts: 8974 - Karma: 60,659
Whatever you do, make sure it's full tang.

I have a sog seal pup elite and it's pretty nice but I don't carry it that often.

Usually I just carry a little folder. Finally broke down and bought a 3" blade Benchmade folder a few years back. Fantastic quality.


If I was bushwacking though I'd definitely want a big fucking blade and maybe machete depending how dense it is.
May 12 2021 6:58PM
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dolanslebensraum
Posts: 5959 - Karma: -13,092
snowfinder


Few more steps left to do shape it, give it an edge, forge it and give it a handle.


Based.
May 12 2021 7:20PM
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JAHpow
Posts: 7282 - Karma: 17,153
HypeBeastWhatever you do, make sure it's full tang.

I have a sog seal pup elite and it's pretty nice but I don't carry it that often.

Usually I just carry a little folder. Finally broke down and bought a 3" blade Benchmade folder a few years back. Fantastic quality.


If I was bushwacking though I'd definitely want a big fucking blade and maybe machete depending how dense it is.

Both of my considerations are full tang, 1095 carbon steel

And I want to be clear, this is for when I'm out in the sticks. Not an edc knife. I have a Gerber Statesman that I carry regularly.
May 12 2021 9:53PM
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SuspiciousFish
Posts: 2764 - Karma: 16,532
JAHpowBoth of my considerations are full tang, 1095 carbon steel

And I want to be clear, this is for when I'm out in the sticks. Not an edc knife. I have a Gerber Statesman that I carry regularly.


I have a few Kukri House knives and I carry one similar to this when hiking. Its a good balance of strength and weight. I have a Panawal Special on as well an its an absolute tank that can chop, baton and make shavings all with one blade.

Smaller one:
https://www.thekhukurihouse.com/6inch-jungle-plus-heavy-duty

Big One:

https://www.thekhukurihouse.com/panawal-special-mccoy


Buck Knives makes some excellent blades as well:

https://www.buckknives.com/product/119-special-knife/0119FAM01/

May 12 2021 10:00PM
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snowfinder
Posts: 2578 - Karma: 30,758
JAHpowDude that's awesome. Would love to see it through the process and the finished piece. I suppose you're custom making your own scales for it, right?

I will post some pics in this thread of the progress. Still not sure what I'm going to use for a handle yet but it's going to be wood.
HypeBeastWhatever you do, make sure it's full tang.

I have a sog seal pup elite and it's pretty nice but I don't carry it that often.

Usually I just carry a little folder. Finally broke down and bought a 3" blade Benchmade folder a few years back. Fantastic quality.


If I was bushwacking though I'd definitely want a big fucking blade and maybe machete depending how dense it is.

Tapered full tang is the plan, 1095 is some heavy stuff trying to knock some of the weight down.
DolansLebensraumBased.

What?
May 13 2021 1:31PM
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Prophet30
Posts: 124 - Karma: 50
https://www.forgedinkol.com/

Plug for a guy I know that hand makes sick knives. I have two myself from him. High quality.
May 14 2021 10:35AM
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JAHpow
Posts: 7282 - Karma: 17,153
Prophet30https://www.forgedinkol.com/

Plug for a guy I know that hand makes sick knives. I have two myself from him. High quality.


Dang those look sweet. I'm actually surprised at the prices for a lot of them. They're quite reasonable.
May 14 2021 10:47AM
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50Kal
Posts: 2817 - Karma: 5,340
A old college friend is putting out bomb ass Scandinavian style knives. Blades are Forged in US and he hand makes handle and leather holder. He’s getting really good. Also he lives south of Ely so pick it up on the way to BWCA.
http://www.wildernesseffects.com/

May 15 2021 9:11PM
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dolanslebensraum
Posts: 5959 - Karma: -13,092
50KalA old college friend is putting out bomb ass Scandinavian style knives. Blades are Forged in US and he hand makes handle and leather holder. He’s getting really good. Also he lives south of Ely so pick it up on the way to BWCA.
http://www.wildernesseffects.com/



Do you know what kind of epoxy he uses to seat these things securely?
May 15 2021 9:39PM
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50Kal
Posts: 2817 - Karma: 5,340
DolansLebensraumDo you know what kind of epoxy he uses to seat these things securely?

Not sure. Last time I chatted to him about it he said the key was keeping the pressure consistent over a long period of time to dry .He went through a couple prototypes of hand made vices but I think his got down to a science on the industrial size now. He’s churning out a lot of high end custom made knifes. Lots diy out there.
May 15 2021 10:10PM
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dolanslebensraum
Posts: 5959 - Karma: -13,092
50KalNot sure. Last time I chatted to him about it he said the key was keeping the pressure consistent over a long period of time to dry .He went through a couple prototypes of hand made vices but I think his got down to a science on the industrial size now. He’s churning out a lot of high end custom made knifes. Lots diy out there.

Cool. Yeah i feel like thats the most important thing unless your gonna have some sort of metal dowling into the wood handle like some knives do. But then again high quality knives probably use some insanely good glue or epoxy that is so good its carcinogenic like all good things tend to be.

ive seen so many chincy knife handles dislocate from the blade and its a fucking disgrace
May 15 2021 10:18PM
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JAHpow
Posts: 7282 - Karma: 17,153
50KalA old college friend is putting out bomb ass Scandinavian style knives. Blades are Forged in US and he hand makes handle and leather holder. He’s getting really good. Also he lives south of Ely so pick it up on the way to BWCA.
http://www.wildernesseffects.com/



Those are beautiful. If he had a full tang one I'd be all over it.
May 16 2021 2:02PM
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Granby_killdozer
Posts: 2164 - Karma: -8,307
the condor terrasaur is pretty excellent for the money from what I've heard
May 17 2021 12:10AM
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gorbdawggybrent
Posts: 970 - Karma: 8,746
My dad has traded doe tags for some handmade knives from a blacksmith here in utah and they are amazing
May 17 2021 1:46AM
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elcheapo
Posts: 3449 - Karma: 13,948
May 17 2021 7:57PM
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snowfinder
Posts: 2578 - Karma: 30,758
Finished knife

Jun 11 2021 2:30PM
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SavageBiff
Posts: 3483 - Karma: 14,733
Medford usmc raider /thread
Jun 11 2021 2:45PM
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JAHpow
Posts: 7282 - Karma: 17,153
snowfinderFinished knife



That turned out beautiful. Nice work! I like the black accent on the handle. Now use it!
Jun 11 2021 2:59PM
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Casey
Posts: 7700 - Karma: 22,477
snowfinder


Few more steps left to do shape it, give it an edge, forge it and give it a handle.


It Will Kill… 😂👍
Jun 13 2021 1:08AM
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TRVP_ANGEL
Posts: 12270 - Karma: 111,277
Butter
Jun 13 2021 4:44AM
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cndr
Posts: 112 - Karma: 535
ESEE makes good stuff. I'm testing out a Benchmade right now, seems to be holding up decent for the price. Also check out Grayman.
Jun 13 2021 9:22AM
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