Small edc fixed blade

22-rimfire said:
I just got a Arno Bernard Bush Baby Series Squirrel (~$150) to switch now and then with the Compact Kephart. I have a couple other handmade ones that may work too.
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How is the squirrel in hand any chance of a picture or two? Thank you!
 
Jonny D said:
How is the squirrel in hand any chance of a picture or two? Thank you!
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It is barely a 4 finger knife with the choil. I would not call this a heavy use woods knife. A larger blade would work better for that, but as an edc, I think it's going to work very well for me. I don't have huge hands. Pictures; I haven't had a chance to take any yet. You can see them on both KSF and DLT web sites. Mine is sort of a light brown with dark brown highlighted giraffe bone and I think it's very nice looking. I got it at KSF.

I think it would work well as a bird & trout type knife.
 
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Jonny D said:
Awesome thank you they are really nice looking I might have to grab one!
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I used my "points" and got the knife at a much reduced price (less than half price actually). I never really think about my points and they suggested I use them for this knife. So, it cost me about as much as the small Condor Compact Kephart.

The vertical belt sheath fits tight to your body (leather, slip in and holds the knife nicely). I think if you want a small fixed blade that looks a bit cooler in my opinion than micarta or G10, it is a good choice. N690 is supposed to be about like 440C but I have no experience with it yet.

It is not a knife you grip real firmly due to the handle size.

To be really honest about my use, I seldom need any more than a knife like this even in the woods. But I tend to carry something a bit larger but not beastly in the outdoors.
 
I have a ton of small fixed blades I much prefer them over folders, still love folders though. Personally I really don’t like the Esee or Becker eskabar, their blade to handle ratios are poor and they are way too thick in the wrong ways for small knives, and mine have had terrible edge retention. I would very highly suggest checking out angler knives on Instagram, he has a tiny surfer model and a more full size dorado ( about the size of a wm1 ) comes with pocket clip kydex sheaths and they are amazing. Otherwise with more popular brands I would go with a 3v mini Pendleton if you can make a new sheath, or a wm1, or if trying to stay low cost the mora eldris is great ( just too chubby to conceal under a shirt ).
 
You might also consider the Enzo Necker 70. You can have it with Micarta handles or wood (birch), with flat grind or scandal grind, and either a plastic neck sheath or leather belt sheath. I carry mine in a leather pocket slip. Blade is 70 mm long, and the handles are short but kinda chubby. Most versions cost less than $50
 
Well I consider buying Boker Plus GoBag for myself. It's a D2 blade. It's light and good for EDC. But one thing that is worrying to me is it's rather short handle. If you have small hands it'll be awesome for you tho. It comes in D2 which isn't super steel but it's decent.

You can buy Bravo Necker II in CPM-3V if you feel like spending more. It's a great knife for sure.

I personally use CS Forged Hunter in 52100 steel, an amazing knife and steel is really a joy to sharpen on whetstone. What I like about it is handle, not too thick, but wide enough and long enough to do various types of grip.

Now, handle of your knife is more important than many people think. And if you're moving to fixed blade from folders because of hard use - there will be some problems if you buy a knife like Izula.

My hands aren't specially big, but aren't small either. Honestly, my Recon Tanto has perfect handle for my hand, it's like custom made for me.

As someone said, Cold Steel Pendleton Hunter or it's mini version could be good for you. Comfy grip and CPM-3V steel.

But you might want to give plain old carbon a shot if you're just learning how to sharpen.
 
If you haven’t picked anything up yet, I’ll echo an earlier recommendation for the Bark River psk edc in Cruwear. I recently picked one up myself and it’s a great little knife. And Cruwear is an amazing steel. You said you have no sharpening skills yet, Cruwear has great wear resistance, it’s tough so it won’t chip or roll easily and at the same time is super easy to touch up and eventually sharpen. It’s my favourite steel. Sure the knife is double your budget but it’ll serve you well for a very long time.
 
I've a CS mini Pendleton hunter and don't like it at all. Sheath sucks, seems hard to sharpen though it shouldn't be and no grip really for me and 2xl hands. However BladeHQ did a run of the Kershaw Skyline in S30v with a black wash blade that I think is way better than the pendleton by CS. But if I am going to carry a smaller f.b. which I often do, I'd go with one of my Livesay bowhunting buddies or a Little Hen, both excellent blades and both forged. Also look at the Paragon fixed blade hunter, it is superbly made but uses AUS8a steel. For bang for the buck you can't beat John Landi either, I have I think 3 of his smaller f.b.'s and love them. A2 and 1095 steels, very decent handles and sheaths and for what you get not a lot of dough. I also have a Derrick Sanders pocket f.b. that is excellent, shows a great hamon to it and the sheath set up is above par as well as is the knife. keepem sharp
 
spyderg said:
If you haven’t picked anything up yet, I’ll echo an earlier recommendation for the Bark River psk edc in Cruwear. I recently picked one up myself and it’s a great little knife. And Cruwear is an amazing steel. You said you have no sharpening skills yet, Cruwear has great wear resistance, it’s tough so it won’t chip or roll easily and at the same time is super easy to touch up and eventually sharpen. It’s my favourite steel. Sure the knife is double your budget but it’ll serve you well for a very long time.
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I didn't really pick, but my friends bought me Boker GoBag in D2 as a gift, not long ofter I told them about frustration of not knowing what to choose :D
They probably went for that one since it was cheaper than other 2 I had in consideration.

So far I really like it. Tommorrow I'll get diamond sharpener so I'm prepared to sharpen it once it's needed. D2 is decent, holds edge well, and is pretty stainless, Cruwear is tougher tho, and definitley better quality steel than D2, but also actually over triple of my planned price range.

I would ideally buy Bravo necker in CPM-3V, but the price is just too much... and I also kinda wonder if there is even the need for super steels in so small knives?
 
I have one of these. Condor Primitive Mountain Knife. They're about $75. It's as basic, hand filling, and indestructible as can be imagined. It also won't break the bank. Just under 4-inch blade, 1/8-inch thick 1095 steel. Micarta handle. Scandi grind and micro bevel. Comes with a leather sheath. Keeping an edge is a breeze with any pocket sharpener.

http://www.condortk.com/productos-detalle.php?producto=144&cat=837
 
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Smiling said:
I didn't really pick, but my friends bought me Boker GoBag in D2 as a gift, not long ofter I told them about frustration of not knowing what to choose :D
They probably went for that one since it was cheaper than other 2 I had in consideration.

So far I really like it. Tommorrow I'll get diamond sharpener so I'm prepared to sharpen it once it's needed. D2 is decent, holds edge well, and is pretty stainless, Cruwear is tougher tho, and definitley better quality steel than D2, but also actually over triple of my planned price range.

I would ideally buy Bravo necker in CPM-3V, but the price is just too much... and I also kinda wonder if there is even the need for super steels in so small knives?
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I really like D2 steel. Cruwear is my fav ever since I got my Spyderco Manix2 in it. 3v is also fantastic. Personally I think I’d prefer to have my small knife in a “super” steel and a larger knife in a “regular” steel as I definitely use my small knives more often and for random tasks that might be dulling or damaging to the edge. I don’t have any use for a large fixed blade other than some yard work where a cheap easy to sharpen blade works best as it gets used against the driveway or patio bricks. I don’t hunt but if I did, I’d have knives dedicated to necessary tasks and wouldn’t likely use them for much anything else.
 
Revolverrodger said:
I have used my bk14 really hard and I have to say that it’s an awesome knife
Diffiult to beat

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It is my favorite of the Becker neck knives with handles. But, when comparing to other knives that occupy the same niche, I think it's a bit heavy and over built. It also does not come with (or one offered) a belt sheath which is a big negative for me. So, mine just occupies a place in my knife pile.
 
spyderg said:
I really like D2 steel. Cruwear is my fav ever since I got my Spyderco Manix2 in it. 3v is also fantastic. Personally I think I’d prefer to have my small knife in a “super” steel and a larger knife in a “regular” steel as I definitely use my small knives more often and for random tasks that might be dulling or damaging to the edge. I don’t have any use for a large fixed blade other than some yard work where a cheap easy to sharpen blade works best as it gets used against the driveway or patio bricks. I don’t hunt but if I did, I’d have knives dedicated to necessary tasks and wouldn’t likely use them for much anything else.
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Well, my EDC is often used to open packages, it also cuts food, loose strings, tape, sometimes trims plastic or cuts zip ties. At some occasions I used it to cut nylon straps... I mean, my job is now more similar to office work, and my job does include fair ammount of administration, so there is really no need for "super" steel.
My large knife regularly goes through abuse, I use it to chop bush, cut pipes, pry things with it, cut tough dry cured meat, sometimes cut through pork ribs or chicken and turkey bones, punch holes through plastic and cut tough materials... I used the hell out of my SK-5 Recon Tanto and it's still going strong, SK-5 is either really tough steel or Cold Steel did amazing job heat treating it.
 
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