What is the Right Knife for Me?

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Harukichi

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I've had pocket knives for several years but always the little cheap ones. (five dollar blade, little buck, swiss army knife.) but I am interested in purchasing a good quality blade that I can carry with me and trust not to rust at the sight of water.

I am an avid fisherman(woman) so will be using this knife for such things as cutting line and just about everything related to fishing. I also want it to be good for use around the house. I would ideally carry this knife in a neck sheath as I do not like how belt sheathes bounce around on the hip.

I am interested in fixed blade knives I think mostly. I am open to suggestions as well as any custom ones. my price range is probably max of 100.

I am looking for under 3" for a blade length I think but there is fudge room for the right knife. also, I have small hands so a grip that is not too big. and the blade would need to be easily maneuverable. Thank you for any ideas you may have, It will help a lot as I do not know a whole lot about knives.
 
HSO- I followed your link to the highroad knife, it is a very nice knife and I would consider it but I went to the site (delta outdoorsman) and see that it is sold out and only meant to be sold for a short time. Is the period it is for sale ended? or just out of stock?

I will be keeping this one in mind. I am open to other suggestions too as I'd like to compare a few before deciding if possible. Thank you all again.
 
it's been a long time since I filleted fish. I use to do a lot of it when I was a scuba diver ... coming back on the diving boats we would fillet all the fish we caught that day and throw the remains to the gulls. good times - those were :)

for filleting i always found that a knife with a long blade and and a thin blade was the best. Maybe a blade legnth of about 5-6 inches and pretty narrow. Filleting fish means that you have to make some tight moves to cut around parts of the fish. so a narrow blade is better. I did not use cheap stainless blades because they were too dull. We normally used good sharp blades (just 1095 steel) and then cleaned them up immediately after the process to prevent corrosion.

Try looking up fillet knives ... you should be able to find what you want.

CA R
 
I have seen some fillet knives and probably will have one with me when I go fishing. this knife I am looking for is more of an all-rounder, every day kind of knife that will be going on fishing trips and camping trips.
 
The Spyderco salt knives are awesome. They have fixed blade and folder. The folders are very easy to open with one hand. A year or so ago I went to the beach on vacation and stuck my Pacific Salt in the pocket of my trunks. It spent almost a week in there going in and out of the water, pool and ocean, many times a day and it didn't rust.
 
I have a couple CRKT neck knives that I could live without. I don't have a picture right now and couldn't find it on their web site, but if you are interested, pm me your address and it is yours.

It has a black plastic? sheath and hangs from a chain.
 
Buy a Kershaw Leek Assisted Opener pocket clip folder at wal-mart for $50 bucks, and clip it in your pants pocket.

Then come back next year if you find anything that fits your needs better.

There are better knives.
There are more expensive knives.

But there aren't many knives that will fit your needs better for the price.

Especially when holding a fishing rod in one hand, and a knife in the other, and the sheath in another, and wait a minute?

You only have two hands I bet! ????
And one is holding the fishing rod???

Another old fixed blade fishing knife that works real well is a Rapala® Fish 'n Fillet® Knive Classic pattern 6" with the swinging belt sheath.

http://www.basspro.com/Rapala-Fish-...c=shopping_googleproductextensions&kpid=15922

It's one-hand too.


rc
 
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The knife that used to be in every fisherman's tackle box was the two-bladed toothpick. It has a slim Turkish clip blade capable of filleting a fish, a second blade for scaling and disgorging hooks, and a little stone embedded in the handle for sharpening hooks. This Case-made example is within your price range and is made of stainless steel. Case knives are quality knives.
 
Grandpa- that is a nice offer but I am iffy about sharing my information on principle. Thank you though.

rcmodel- the leek looks really nice. My only question is how easy is it to open. is it the kind of folder that will as soon take your finger nail with it (even after it's been worked in a bit) or does it open smoothly/easily?
 
Piraticalbob- that is a lot like one of the knives I have been looking at. I'm not sure how posting links works but it's the Browning Featherweight composite lockback folder. I don't know about its blade quality though. A phrase I've heard before comes to mind: (if it's made for multiple purposes it'll be okay at them all but if it's made for one purpose it'll be great).

but if anyone can vouch for the blade quality and edge holding and whether it is an easy rust collector I'll gladly be considering it. I have held this one and it is a comfortable fit in my hand.
 
My only question is how easy is it to open
Click to expand...
You sweep straight back on it with your finger pad on the Carson Flipper Assisted Opener thing that sticks out of the back of the folded knife.

Your fingernails never touch it.
Just your index finger pad.

It's as easy as feeling a tick on a dogs back with our finger once you find out how to do it.

Nothing else except that movement will open it in your pocket by accident either.

It has a sliding Safety to prevent accidental opening if you choose to use it.
But in months without using the safety on mine?
I tightened the screw so the safety couldn't be used by accident.

I don't think it is possible for it to open by itself in your pocket as long as it is cliped in your right front pocket.

rc
 
Take a look at http://www.agrussell.com/ag-russell-hunter-scalpel/p/RUhhhT914hhh10A/. If you want a little bigger knife look at the Bird & Trout - http://www.agrussell.com/ag-russell-bird-and-trout/p/AGBThhh8A/

The blade steel in the Scalpel is AUS-10, a stainless but with a bit less chromium than 440C - it should do well for your purpose (see http://zknives.com/knives/articles/knifesteelfaq.shtml). Don't be put off by the price, these are genuinely neat little knives. I wear one every time I set foot on a fishing boat going offshore.
 
One thought for folks buying their first quality knife... As you check out the various brands and knife models. Make a point of noting the exact make and model of any that you really like - but are out of your price range.... When you get a chance enter make and model on E-Bay and check to see what they're going for on the secondary market. You might actually be able to afford that item after all....
 
A light weight knife for light duty while fishing and rust resistant, my pick would be one of the Moras.
 
Fred- those are both really nice knives. I like the first one best of the two myself. I have to admit I am not sure about the price point ($19?). I know knives can be much better than their price suggests but it does throw the quality into doubt. does it hold an edge well?

JimStC- I followed your links. The second knife (chris reeve) you suggest is very nice. However I am avoiding open handle or skeleton knives because they cut badly into my hand when I use them for seemingly anything even when wrapped in paracord.
 
VG-10 isn't a "snob steel" by any means, but it works well for a utility knife IMHO. It does OK in the edge department, a steel should be enough to keep it going if it isn't abused. I like the full flat grind design of these blades, or any working cutter for that matter. If you don't use it for a pry bar or screwdriver it will do fine. And the handle molded directly to the blade is durable and a cheaper way to produce the finished product as well.

There are still some good values out there in the knife world - the Frosts/Moras/etc are a perfect example. This is a small knife, with a molded handle and a utilitarian stainless steel blade, in a molded sheath - no need for it to cost an arm and a leg. Plus you get multiple ways to carry it as well as part of the package.

Another small useful knife in a handy package is the Woodswalker with a Kydex sheath - http://www.agrussell.com/ag-russell-woodswalker-in-leather-hip-pocket-sheath/p/AGPRS/. It's a more conventional design, and the package costs a stunning total of $27.95 plus S&H. I have a couple of these too, one of them lives in the kitchen.

Tell you what - if you buy one from A.G. and DON'T like it, I'll buy it from you at the price you paid :D. I can always use another one - people keep losing them overboard.
 
My first suggestion would have been a Spyderco Dragonfly Salt. The cheapest price is probably from Amazon, because shipping is included. The H1 used on the Salt series will not rust under any condition, as Readyrod noted. I've owned a couple H1 knives, and in fact, keep a large H1 knife in my trunk, along with a shovel and a come-along.

I then noticed that you said you preferred a small fixed blade. I can offer you a small stainless task knife* that fits well within your price range. If you're interested, drop me a PM.

I've had several VG-10 knives, and have almost never had any rust problems. As Fred said, it's good steel (it's what Spyderco uses on their Japanese-made folders).


*These are coated versions. The knives available are identical in form, but premium stainless.

Regards,

John
 
aside from the neck knife carry and the 3" limit I think the best answer for your needs is a Mora. for $90 you could buy 5 stainless Companions (a 4" blade) and stash one all over the place. they are the best bang for the buck imo and I would have no problem paying twice the asking price for most of their models. they really can be used for darn near anything you would need a knife for.
 
I'd say Mora also. Here's one with a smaller handle and in stainless.. about $11.. #546.

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

546.jpg
 
I have become a BIG fan of the Opinel knives as they are of good quality and very reasonably priced.
I own several in the Carbon Steel offerings.
I guess that I'm taken in by the fact that these blades are easily sharpened, maintain an edge and look good to boot.
Filet knives ARE available too!
Most times I can shave arm hair with my carry of the day!
 
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