Which Knife?

[HonestJohn]

I’d pack a good puma folder. Sharp as a razor and stays that way if stropped on your belt. Also light and compact.

 

[Steve29]

@Stuart Mitchell portland 90/120

Second this. The P90UL is just brilliant. "Basic and good quality" defined.

 

[Gruffterbear]

Trappers are indeed ace. Worth mentioning that the same chap who designed the Trapper 95 for Enzo (originally) has set up NKD and sells this : NKD Forester Elmax
...yes, its £40 more than the Trapper but you get Elmax, which in 'the best steel ever'. I'm no metallurgy geek but it holds and edge like no other knife I have. Its overtaken my Casstrom #10, Eka swing & Case FINN as my favorite stalking/field dressing knife now

 

[Tazz]

How about an Eka Swede 10, nice orange handle and easy to find when you drop it in the heather/bracken/grass!
Nice folding knife in a nylon sheath, not dead expensive. Now on my second one as donated the first one to a stalker a few years back.
Me....I'm saving up for a Stewart Mitchell 90 as a "backup" !

EKA great quality “mid price” knives I have a Swingblade and a Swede 8 both well made and keep a great edge and both in orange which increases the likelihood of them returning home with me!!

 

[Bowland blades]

SM P120UL my go to and a victorinox 4" rabbit knife for cavity work on culls before lardering . Looked at JN knives but alarm bells were ringing after a crappy greenman forge knife !

Don't judge all makers from one extreme rouge! The Majority of established UK makers are nothing like Greenman Forge was.

 

[Overlay]

A Svord Trout and Rabbit - I don't know how easily this might snap:

View attachment 402442

I like the svord blades, do they send their blades to the uk, ?? they do a tidy 5 1/2 inch skinning blade and a nice filleting blade for work

To be honest unless you want to get one made, if you are just cutting flesh a flat grind 100mm blade from casstrom would suit, reasonably priced and certainly fit for purpose and easy to keep sharp and have a decent bit steel behind them

 

[Stuart Mitchell]

Don't judge all makers from one extreme rouge! The Majority of established UK makers are nothing like Greenman Forge was.

I suspect his suspicions fully founded regarding JN though

 

[Bowland blades]

I am not about to knock a fellow maker , without very good first hand evidence

 

[Bavarianbrit]

Does anyone have a supplier for these stone holders or can someone make up 3D printed plastic bits, not rocket science after all.
Just found one on ebay for 28€ all done.

 

[Bowland blades]

Does anyone have a supplier for these stone holders or can someone make up 3D printed plastic bits, not rocket science after all.
Just found one on ebay for 28€ all done.
View attachment 404861

If it helps , put your stone in a vice ( with soft jaws ) if you have one. . You could purchase threaded stud and maybe make similat to that shown ? wood could be used to the same end as printed blocks perhaps ?
A simple wet towel is often used with water but such might combust with the normal sharpening oils that carry a lot of kerosene and such .

 

[Bavarianbrit]

All done as stated thanks, arriving next week.
I did a patternmaking (styling modelmaker) apprenticeship so I am very comfortable sharpening chisels and plane blades but these skandi grinds on knives gives me hassle.

 

[Docoak21]

I bought an F1 blade and using diamond files shaped the full tang and built it up with stabilised curly birch blanks. I since sprayed a little transparent plastic based grip paint over the handle for wet grip, this did darken the handle a little. A totally solid knife that just needs a strop to retain the edge for years.

I need this in my life

 

[TringSaint]

I am thinking of getting a new knife in the next few months. Big birthday coming up, but I still don't want to be silly, just something basic and good quality.

I currently have one of these:

View attachment 402436

A Svord Drop point hunter. It was my only knife for many years. I like it, but I have found that the drop point blunts very quickly gralloching deer (cutting through hair) and the lack of a point at the end means it isn't ideal for gutting fish. I suppose I have a sentimental attachment to it.

I also have one of these:

View attachment 402437
A Mora Companion Carbon. I find the point on the end easier to work with. It is about 2 cm shorter an a lot lighter. I really like it, however, i have a couple of concerns - I have an acquaintance who runs bushcraft course and they use these knives and he tells me they are prone to snapping at the tang. He has seen it happen several times (mainly in extreme temperatures, but once in the UK) and his advice was that the tang on the Svord knives is so much better and more reliable. Also, I am concerned that some insect repellants will dissolve the plastic handle.

A friend is trying to pursue me to go on a trip with him to a remote area of the Erongo mountains in Namibia inaccessible with vehicles, that involves trekking in, camping and wearing a lot of Deet. Does anyone have any suggestions for a simple, lightweight and tough knife that can cope with fishing, gralloching and other camping type uses that can be relied upon in a remote area where equipment needs to be kept to a minimum?

I had wondered about a Lion Steel Ago - looks like a very thin blade and I don't know how micara copes with Deet:
View attachment 402439
A Puma Hunter's Pal - might not be ideal for fish though:

View attachment 402441

Fallkniven PHK. Cracking bit of kit.

 

[Howzat]

Mora 6 inch general purpose, had it for years, does everything I need, not expensive.

 

[Bavarianbrit]

My holder arrived today it cost me €27,77 including shipping, now it is on offer from them at €26.32.
I was looking just for the holder to hold all my stones, for that I would have been happy at that price but it came also with a diamond stone of 400 grit one side and 1,000 grit on the other measuring 75mm x 205mm x 5mm.
An Eze-lap stone of 400 grit just on one side costs £78.60 for comparison.
Those diamond mines in Africa are paying off for the Chinese.

Pardon our interruption...

 

[Dickie]

I’ve got one similar to that knocking about somewhere had it for years Wonder where it is.

Found it lurking in the garage in a bowl with several other knives of various vintage.
you can just make out the Martini Finland on the blade.

 

[Ben_4321]

Have a look at Snake's knives on this site, as he does a range of blade types and shapes and the quality is great at a sensible price (generally sub £150). Casstrom Safari mini hunter at about £90 is also superb, but very small. Bushcraft knives - Casstrom Number 10 (bomb proof), or if you want something indestructible then have a look at the Gerber Strongarm for about £100. All three shown in the photo. Both the number 10 and the Strongarm can be used for gralloching as will as camp and bushcraft stuff.

A little late to the party, but would second the above.

I have one of Snake's knives and they are great value, very well made and I can get it very, very sharp!

Lovely guy to deal with as well.

 

[The Singing Stalker]

I have 2 of these. I like them because of the gut hook. Problem is I have so many knives, I have no idea how good the steel is or how long it lasts. I just give it to a nice man who sharpens it and doesn’t charge much.

Bucklite Max II Guthook - Large

The large BuckLite Max II is a knife for every hunter. The full tang, ergonomic handle is constructed for superior grip and performance.

www.buck-store.co.uk

 

[dersbum]

If you are handy and don't mind a bit of handle sanding and polishing Brisa do some very good kits at considerable value compared to their already assembled knives.
A decent choice of steel is also available.
I have found the elmax outstanding at holding an edge but obviously a little more expensive.

BRISA Knife Supplies Knife Making - Knife Supplies - Knives | Brisa

Your one stop shop for knife making, crafting, knife supplies and a wide range of knives. See our collection of high-quality knives and materials!

www.brisa.fi

Prices in euros so it gets cheaper at the checkout once converted to £

Last one I did was an elmax trapper 115, red liners, ziricote grips, leather sheath, brass Corby bolts and lanyard pin.
About £135 delivered.

No affiliations. Just a happy customer.

 

[Fez]

Hey
I ve had my fair share of knifes from mora to emberleaf.
While the emberleaf was mega sharp and unbelievable craftsmanship I couldn’t get on with it. To tricky to strop properly on the leather, which is all down to me not having the knack for it. The mora are good cheap and do the job. But I’ve now settled on the outdoor edge 3.5 knife, it is cheap easy to sharpen and you can change the blade to a new razor sharp one when you made a mess of the edge. Easy to clean and I don’t worry about losing it as it’s so cheap, perfect for gutting deer and rabbits etc. worth a look before you spend hundreds on a hand made knife