Looking for a nice 'old school' knife

[LkWinnipesaukee]

Hey guys, I'm looking for a nice wooden handled fixed blade knife to carry hiking, etc. Should be around a 4-6" blade, good steel (something like AUS-8?)
I'd like to get a leather sheath with it.

Looking to spend around $50-100


Any suggestions?
Thanks

 

[1911JMB]

Your options are quite vast. I reccomend you go here and learn more: www.bladeforums.net

 

[Geronimo45]

One of the short Ka-Bars?

 

[hso]

One of the short Ka-Bars?

They don't give anyone wood.

You'll have to do some digging for a knife in that price range with wood. I'd also advise going with a good tool steel.

Scandanavian companies are still making quality knives with wood that are in your price range. Check Kellam and Ragweed Forge out.

 

[ambulldog]

That thing is beautiful

 

[Cosmoline]

I also really like the Scandinavian blades. The Finnish Puukkos are some of the strongest, most practical fixed blade knives around. The top one is a Swedish Mora, the second is a Roselli UHC "Hunter" The Swedish blades tend to be somewhat thinner than the Finnish, but also have excellent steel. The short blade of the puukko allows for maximum control. I don't know why they're not more popular stateside.



I've had good luck ordering from Ragweed Forge:

http://www.ragweedforge.com/RoselliCatalog.html


The Helle knives from Norway area also good, but stay away from the stainless ones--they don't hold an edge worth a darn.

 

[Rupestris]

http://www.rapidriverknifeworks.com

I have one of their Skinner models and its one stout knife. Their cocobolo handles are above your price cap but you can get a laminated wood handle for $99.

The blade is almost 1/4" thick A2 tool steel.

Comes with a leather sheath and a lifetime guarantee.

 

[hso]

A few from Jesse Davis. The "twins" are 4 in Chutes with lace wood. The larger is also lace wood. The dagger is my wife's desert ironwood.

 

[Devonai]

I'm with Geronimo even if you have to deal with a leather handle instead of wood. You can't go wrong with one of the many Ka-Bar variants that are out there.

Don't let anybody tell you that single-edged fixed blade knives are illegal in Massachusetts. A careful reading of MGL Chapter 269 Section 10 will reveal this. However, it may not be a good idea to do so considering the level of grief your local LEOs may give you. Rest assured you will not be hassled in the woods of New Hampshire.

IANAL, YMMV, et cetera.

There is a 5" Ka-Bar variant out there that has been tempting me for some time. It may be more practical than the 7". Check it out:

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/20695-16493-1942.html

 

[hso]

Devonai,

You and many others will be shocked to hear that most of the scandanavian knives are better than the typical KaBar.

The KaBar is a compromise knife at it's heart. It's too big for hunting and most camp choirs which are better done with a 2-4 in. blade. It's too small for camp building. What it excells at is being a weapon that you can open crates with.

 

[22-rimfire]

Other than the Scandanavian blades, I can't think of any in the $50-$100 price range with wood handles. Most customs cost more. Most factory knives have plastic handles of some sort. Handles get cheapened at the expense of better steel until you get to the custom blades. Stag costs a fair amount these days. Ironwood is the wood I would be looking for. A lot of the blades are somewhat tactical these days and may not be the best choice for a hunting-skinning blade. I like the SOG line (perhaps the NW Hunter or Seal Pup Elite), but they have all plastic handles except for their top of the line stuff. Another favorite of mine is the Spyderco Moran model, again a plastic handle. Many or most good quality pocket knives cost over $50 these days. How about a Dozier blade for $200-$250?

Then there is the problem of a leather sheath as kydex is very popular.

 

[Third_Rail]

I'm a HUGE fan of puukkos from Finland. Martinii and Roselli are both outstanding brands.

Cosmoline - you're the one who got me started with the puukkos.

 

[Cosmoline]

Happy to hear I'm converting people! I try to spread the word as much as possible.

 

[Devonai]

Hso, shock would imply the dissolution of a preconception.

 

[mr.trooper]

www.ragweedforge.com

 

[Eleven Mike]

The KaBar is a compromise knife at it's heart. It's too big for hunting and most camp choirs which are better done with a 2-4 in. blade. It's too small for camp building. What it excells at is being a weapon that you can open crates with.

I thought it was just a big, dumb knife for tyros.

 

[hso]

I thought it was just a big, dumb knife for tyros.

EM,

I wouldn't go quite that far, but because there's a lot of mistique about the KaBar it's difficult to get guys to see the greater merits of other knives out there.

 

[Eleven Mike]

I know I'm being mean, hso. I have this on-going grudge against the "tacticool" knives, because the more people want that, the more manufacturers will produce it. Makes it hard to find real knives, along the lines of Loveless, at least at reasonable prices.

 

[Fosbery]

You definitely want a Scandi.

Brusletto

Kellam

Custom

 

[.45Guy]

Those puukkos look pretty interesting. I may just have to retire my old Schrade little finger .

 

[hso]

.45Guy,

Don't toss out you SharpFinger just yet. With Schrade gone and it being one of the finest deer knives going you wouldn't want to trade in an old friend for a pretty face. 'course, nothing says you can't get a puuko for camp use and keep the Schrade for dressing deer.

 

[LkWinnipesaukee]

That thing is beautiful

Agreed. And the Brusletto at the bottom. I think I might go with that one.

 

[Nicolai]

Helle from Norway makes a bunch of really nice knives--some with wood handles (birch and what I think is curly maple).
Depending on the exchange rate, they should be in budget range suggested. Most of the knives are laminated stainless steel. Helle makes a fish fillet knife with a cork handle that is so light it floats--I once used mine to fillet four halibut (yes, limit was two, and I was filleting two for me and two for a friend) and didn't detect any loss of sharpness.
Think there is a dealer in Wasilla, Alaska--a Google should find him.

 

[Kingcreek]

I keep a vintage K-bar in my desk as a letter-opener.
You can do alot better than AUS-8 for under $100.
Look at Bark River or Northwoods, tool steels like D2, 1050, A2, etc. I have 2 or 3 customs with D2 and wood handles that were under $100.
My favorite, most carried, most useful knife is my Roselli Carpenter's knife. The scandis are very practicle and durable. I can also recommend Ragnar at ragweedforge.com

 

[hso]

You can find some of the Bark Rivers in wood near your upper price limit. http://www.agrussell.com/knives/pro...rk_river_mountaineer_with_amboyna_handle.html

If you would accept micarta, another traditional material, you'd be able to find several BRK knivs in your pracket. I much admit that they're great knives.