Hard choices... fixed blade reccomendation

E

EatingSarma

Joined
Jun 22, 2020
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I went to forest with my friends today.

One guy's Jakaripuukko 140 got... IDK how to even say it. The guy was swinging it and it just yeeted out of the handle. The whole thing, blade and tang, it all ended up somewhere in the grass/bush... he's just left with the handle (hollow piece of rubber).

He was indeed swinging it like a madman, but I think we all agree that this should not have happened.

He needs another knife.
I have shown him my CS AK47 fixed blade - he hates the "dog shit handle".

He likes my other friend's desert tan ESEE4, but he wants more edge retention... he's also scared to get S35VN version because as good as ESEE's warranty is - he'd rather not go through that, and would be scared to really use the knife.

He also likes Fallkniven S1, but doesn't want to get cucked by Fallkniven's warranty... or better said - lack of warranty. As they won't cover a thing except just cutting as only that is a "knife job". How can someone sell "survival knives" and call them "strongest stainless steel knives in the world" while not warranting shit is beyond me... but here we are.

I suggested him Cold Steel 3V Master hunter, as it's similar to ESEE4, just bit beefier and with CPM-3V, but he won't get a Cold Steel.
Mainly because sheath sucks, and he can't make his own, and doesn't want to even consider sending a knife and paying for sheath, or just ordering premade kydex sheaths (that he still needs to wait and pay import taxes for).

So, requirements are:
Bit tougher steel
Decent edge retention
Full tang
Good sheath
Prefferably not too expensive
Prefferably with actually good warranty...

If nothing else, he'll just get a 1095 ESEE4 and carry some kind of pocket sharpening stone with him and call it a day.
 
If he wants a big knife for chopping, look at the Becker BK-9. They have released some of the others, in the line in Magnacut, so he'll need to check.

The ESEE Junglas is another big knife for multitasking.

There's also Work Tuff Knives, Knives of Alaska, White River...

Don't forget that we also have guys here that make knives. Might end up being a better option.
 
For what it's worth since I don't have any experience with S35VN, if Esee's S35 is anywhere as tough as CRK's S45- which it should be since S35 is generally a tougher steel, then S35 should be plenty up to the task. I've done things with my Sebenza that should never be done with a folder including but not limited to stabbing and then prying open coconuts. Also S35 is a marginally tougher steel than 1095 assuming similar hardness, the high toughness of 1095 is a bit of a myth that comes from the fact that almost every popular knife made in 1095 is very thick and heat treated quite soft when in reality, it's only about as tough if not a little less so than many powder metallurgy stainless steels. According to Larrin Larrin , S35 heat treated to just above 61 HRC has about 9 ft/lbs of toughness compared to 1095 which only has around 11 ft/lbs of toughness at just over 57 HRC.

If your buddy is deadset against S35 and wants to consider something other than a 1095 Esee-4, maybe look up the Gerber strongarm? I hear they're running that in Magnacut now if he wants a better steel than Gerber's 420HC though the base model can be found for $100 or less.
 
Maybe a Mora Kansbol or, if he's dead set on a full tang, a Garberg. Certainly cheap and accessible.

Apparently Peltonnen Knives makes good, robust, and cheap field knives. I believe they're primarily made from 80CrV2, which is pretty good for a tough knife. Might be worth a look.
 
This:

Daado

Thread 'Chopper - 9" blade, 5160 and vintage micarta'

Chopper, forged closest to the shape from 1/3" thick 5160 steel bar.
Not too heavy, but still powerful tool with great balance and nice taper, and i'm sure it will be great tool for any outdoors activity.
Flats are left raw, soaked in vinegar and wire brushed after forging.
After heat treatment, flats are brushed with scotch brite.
Bevels are brushed with scotch brite.

Handmade 4mm thick (10 oz) vegetable tanned leather sheath, vertical right hand carry.

Details:

Overall length - 14,25"
Blade length - 9"
Blade width - 1,7"
Thickness at the touchmark - 15/64"
Tang is tapered to 5/64" at...
  • Like
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There's no nicer maker and I like his work so much that I already have five sharps made by him.
 
I am looking at getting a Chris Reeve "Backpacker."

Around 4" of Magnicut, full tang with natural canvass Micarta scaled screwed together. In addition, the scales are dovetailed into the tang cutout (you have to see it to get it). comes with a Kydex sheath, but I'd have a leather sheath made for it.

In a heftier knife, CRK has their Pacific and Green Beret, both now also in Magnicut. Both are in the 6' to 7" range. The GB had a now discontinued 5" version that comes up on e-Bay from time to time. Canvas Micarta scaled are held on to their full tangs with screws.
 
Last edited:
hugofeynman said:
This:

Daado

Thread 'Chopper - 9" blade, 5160 and vintage micarta'

Chopper, forged closest to the shape from 1/3" thick 5160 steel bar.
Not too heavy, but still powerful tool with great balance and nice taper, and i'm sure it will be great tool for any outdoors activity.
Flats are left raw, soaked in vinegar and wire brushed after forging.
After heat treatment, flats are brushed with scotch brite.
Bevels are brushed with scotch brite.

Handmade 4mm thick (10 oz) vegetable tanned leather sheath, vertical right hand carry.

Details:

Overall length - 14,25"
Blade length - 9"
Blade width - 1,7"
Thickness at the touchmark - 15/64"
Tang is tapered to 5/64" at...
  • Like
  • Love

There's no nicer maker and I like his work so much that I already have five sharps made by him.
Click to expand...
Another vote for Daado. I have one of his smaller knives with a 4” blade, and it is brilliant. Quite a few BF members
(or maybe just a few) have this knife. I would not hesitate to look to him for something bigger.
 
Lucas carroll was making scales for the CS AK47 field knife that pretty much transformed the knife in a good way if you didn't care for the stock scales, he is sold out of them at the moment but with luck he will be making more.
The fixed blade AK is a decent buy for a big chunk of 3V and easy to live with with aftermarket scales IMO.
 
I've said this here a few times, but Architect Knives 4.5 and 5.5 in 3v and MC are probably the best for the price, in my opinion. The company, the buying experience, the warranty, the price, the options. You really can't go wrong. Have to wait for 3V and MC to get back in stock. That's the only negative.
 
Ebbtide said:
Morakniv Companion.
For the summer.
While he decides.
Good, grippy handle for waving wildly.
Anti-yeet technology.

Don’t forget to stand back.

PS “Yeeted” is now my new favorite word.
;)
Click to expand...
He'll pick up Mora Robust for start (around 14€).

And I'm glad you like it 😆
oldmanwilly said:
Peltonnen Knives
Click to expand...
Henry Beige said:
Peltonen Sissipuukko.
Click to expand...
He had one years ago and sold it as he hated the handle for some reason.
wulfns said:
Out of the ~4.5" knives in that list, the m5 in 3v. Especially if he swings his tools around like a madman, he'll appreciate the handle. Lionsteel has some of the most comfortable handles I've held.
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LionSteel is what he's most likely gonna pick up from what he said last night.
Culprit99 said:
I think a Buck 104 Compadre will check all those boxes for him. Best heat treat and best warranty in the business. Made in the USA by a family-run company that’s older than airplanes and Harley Davidsons.

https://flic.kr/p/2r7iHxc
Click to expand...
Gonna give him that idea too.
 
VorpelSword said:
I am looking at getting a Chris Reeve "Backpacker.

Around 4" of Magnicut, full tang with natural canvass Micarta scaled screwed together. In addition, the scales are dovetailed into the tang cutout (you have to see it to get it). comes with a Kydex sheath, but I'd have a leather sheath made for it.

In a heftier knife, CRK has their Pacific and Green Beret, both now also in Magnicut. Both are in the 6' to 7" range. The GB had a now discontinued 5" version that comes up on e-Bay from time to time. Canvas Micarta scaled are held on to their full tangs with screws.
Click to expand...
While CRK does make awesome knives, they are far out of his budget.
 
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