Ranch Knife

B

bigtex91

Joined
Aug 16, 2006
Messages
7
I know everyone will tell me to use the search function (and I have), but not all the information I need can be found. I would like your opinions on what would be a good knife to carry for my job on a Colorado Ranch. I will need a folder for finer work and a fixed blade for the heavy stuff.

Requirements for folder
-Under $250
-Made of D2 or SV3 (Something that will hold an edge and that doesnt need to be sharpened after hard use)
-Blade under 4 inches
-no combo edges just plain
-Mainly used for opening boxes, cutting leather tack, skinning a cleaning fish and small game

Requirements for fixed blade
-Under $250
-Dont really know what steel is best for fixed blades so please school me
-5 to 6 inch blade
-Must be able to stand up to prying, stabbing, chopping(fine cutting will be saved for the folder)
-Plain edge
-Must be able to cut through lead ropes quickly and must be able to chop smaller pieces of wood to make tent stakes and tinder for fire without losing to much of an edge.

Hope these are the right questions to ask for my first post. Most of the other posts seem to set no perameters on what they want. Thanks for all your help.

Jon
 
My grandfather was a farmer his whole life. He always had a small traditional pocketknife, and never a fixed blade unless he was hunting. Ditto for other farmers and ranchers that I've worked with.

Myself, I'd want something locking and one-hand-opening. But yet something traditional with natural handles, to blend into the atmosphere.

A "stockman" or "cattleman" style pocketknife would be particularly well suited for ranchwork, since that's what they were originally designed to do.

There's no right or wrong answer to your questions. There are literally thousands of knives for sale that would work just fine. I'd browse the selection at AG Russell, Cumberland Knife Works, and New Graham Knives for items that catch your eye. Then search the forums here for reviews and comments on those specific knives.

By the way, Welcome to Blade Forums!

Where in Colorado are you going? Just curious...

Good Luck,
-Bob
 
I think a good multi-tool would be more useful than any single blade folder.

But, since you did ask about a folder, I can recommend the Benchmade 710 without reservation.
It's an excellent knife! :thumbup:

I don't see much need for a fixed-blade knife.
 
Queen has some really nice slipjoints in D2. I personally like the cocobolo stockman. The manufacturer's page is here . I also like the Rat 7 in D2.
 
What sort of folder are you looking for? Do you like modern, one hand opening knives, or do you prefer something more traditional?

If you like traditional pocket knives, I would recommend a Case Trapper or Stockman in CV, they look nice, and the steel is great it holds an edge well and is easy to sharpen. Queen also makes some great pocket knives, but some folks find their D2 blades hard to sharpen (truth be told the factory edge is usually too thick).


If you're looking for something more modern, a Spyderco Delica 4 might just be it. It's compact, yet quite comfortable in the hand, has a strong lock and excellent steel (VG-10).

A Case Stockman or Trapper with CV blades and bone handle (lots of coulours and jigging patterns to choose from!) will cost around $40-$45, the Spyderco Delica 4 is around $45.

For a fixed blade, since it's going to be used hard, I would suggest carbon steel (which is generally tougher than stainless) and a convex grind (easy to touch up and quite resilient). Take a look at the Bark River Boone:
http://www.knifeworks.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=9336

You can get it with different handle materials, I ordered one just like the one in the picture. 52-100 is a great steel and the design seems pretty useful.

Besides the folder and the fixed blade, you might want to consider a multitool or Swiss Army Knife. I find them really useful for farm work (I train horses in Argentina), since they save a lot of trips to the toolbox.
 
for under $250 in the folders, there are way too many options to list in that range. Benchmade 710, Spyderco Manix, Military (the latter being S30v though)

for the fixed blades, depending on when you need it, you could get a Badger Attack TAC from Busse for under that, or a Swamp Rat M6 on the secondary market in your range

or if you moved the ranges around you could get a Sebenza, and a Dumpster Mutt

i'd second a SAK and/or a Leatherman though, i have yet to find a place where one isn't useful. i'd carry one in addition to about anything else
 
I second the sebenza and the dumpster mutt. Youll have a SERIOUSLY nice folder, and a fixed you wont be afraid to abuse. If the sebenza costs too much though, look at the benchmade skirmish.
 
for the multi tool i prefer gerbers over the leathermans, they were always easier to open and keep open for me (maybe im doign something wrong but meh maybe just personal preferances).

but im going to go with the common thread and say that a muti tool added into your tools would be good (weather you use the blade on the multi tool as the small blade or get a seperate small knife).
-matt
 
I already have a multi-tool, and i was thinking of a more modern folder. I went to Busses website and i really like the badger. About how long does it take to get the knife from when you order it? It seems like it would fit the bill perfectly. Thanks for all the info its very helpful.

Jon
 
it seems like the Badgers were supposed to start shipping in April...

what do you mean by "modern"?
 
For the folder I would suggest something along the lines of an SAK ( I love my farmer). For fixed I would suggest you take a look at the Ontario RAT line of knives, they are great knives and made in the USA. I think cold steel was making a line of slip joints in a more classic pattern. Cold Steel has them on there website under the close out section pretty for around $30.
 
for a fixed blade, absolutely check out: www.fehrmanknives.com maybe the best real user fixed blade, CMP-3V steel, and reasonably priced. i have a peacemaker, but it's even tougher big brother, Last Chance would easily do everything you said and more.
for a folder, that's impossible to say, there are many good ones. i use a Moore Maker serpentine stock. it's a pretty good knife and they have a variety of good working knives.
well, that's my $.02. roland
 
I agree with the Sebenza suggestion, but that's over your price limit. My recommendation within your price range would be a Custom Shoppe Buck 110 with your choice of handle material and a BG-42 blade. I've been very impressed with Buck's BG-42 in terms of edge holding. Also, the Buck 110 is a proven design that has worked for the tasks you describe for several decades.

Since you want to be able to both chop and pry with your fixed blade, you should look at RD series Ranger Knives by Justin Gingrich. Ranger RD knives come in three standard lengths: 6", 7" and 9". Justin will also make one to your specs for a nominal fee. Justin uses triple tempered 5160 spring steel. I've chopped and pryed extensively with my Ranger RDs and they work great.

For a bit more money, consider Swamp Rat knives. The M-6 might fit the bill, but you'd have to get it second hand. They show up on the For Sale forum. I think there's a 6 and 1/2" model -- the Mojo -- available in the online shop right now. I've never done a side-by-side comparison myself, but the steel Swamp Rat uses (52100 with super heat treating) should hold an edge longer than the Ranger 5160.
 
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