Well, I ended up getting a case trapper with yellow handles. Good ol work horse.
Older, USA made Schrade LB-5.
These are the three that I carry regularly.
Top is a Bemchmade Griptilian 551H2O. Blade is N680. It gets carried when hunting and that's pretty much it. It would not be the one I choose. But the larger blade has some advantages.
Middle is a Benchmade 535 Bugout. This would be the one that I choose. I bought it on a whim to see if it's light weight had any advantages. It disappears in your pocket due to the deep carry clip. The titanium parts do make a difference in weight. And I've found the S30V blade to be the best all around steel. It holds an edge well, is fairly easy to sharpen and I haven't managed to chip it. I don't fly w/ it unfortunately. I don't want to lose it if the TSA goes through my checked bags. I've lost other items already due to this.
Bottom is a custom Benchmade 556 Mini-Griptilian. Blade is N680 which I don't like. It chips easily and doesn't hold an edge well. That knife rides in my checked baggage. Even though it was custom I wont care if I lose it. Outside of corrosion resistance, which I don't really need since I'm never near salt water, I haven't found anything I like about N680 steel.
I plan on having another custom one built w/ a plain edge dropoint D2 blade. I have one w/ a serrated blade. I was using it as a pry bar and broke the tip off. It's actually a handy screwdriver for opening up electrical panels. D2 is easier to sharpen than S30V and holds and edge better IMO. I've never had an issue w/ corrosion. It's the one steel that I can get scary sharp w/ little work. It holds up very well as long as you use it like you're supposed to.
Picking one knife is like picking one gun. It's an exercise in futility and I'm glad it's something I don't have to do.
I like the 535. Nice look. I had a Barrage 580 for a while. The locking mechanism gave me some trouble and I sent it back several times.
Kabar
QUIS CUSTODIET IPSOS CUSTODES?
Do you mean the kabar fighting/utility knife? I had a case xx brand kabar style for a good while, it was nice.
My father got me a really beautiful knife for Christmas
He bought it in Athens, and since this trip he actually only speaks of this place, he is very interested to buy property in Greece for business. He is a smart man, I trust he is doing the right thing .
That is an interesting knife for sure Gael12. Never seen a handle like that.
I been carrying a buck 192 constantly since i got one, and Its balance and size is just about perfect for my tastes. Course I aint got to disarm myself or conceal for my work so I can carry a belt knife.
A. G. Russell FeatherLite K-93 One Hand Knife. Cost @ $45. I have had one for 24 years. Finally this year the pin kind of busted out; I was quite depressed for a spell. Then a buddy suggested I call them. They had me mail it back to them, and in a couple of weeks they sent me a brand new one. I have used mine for everything from gutting out a deer to opening coffee cans, to you name it. They take a razor edge, and are as they say "feather light". I carry mine all the time.
I have an old USAF survival knife and that thing is a tank. I guess if I did not have this one, I would probably go with a Tekna Wilderness Survival....but I just have a hard time shelling out the money they want for one.
What are we going to do? hunt? Fish? daily carry?
1 folder for daily carry would be my spyderco Manix 2
1 fixded blade for hunting would be my spyderco Bradley Bowie
but... if I can have only one knife for everything it could be my Chicago cutlery boning knife in the custom sheath. An inexpensive knife that will fillet fish, field dress deer sized game and will serve well at the cutting board for food prep. Mora also has several knives that could make the short list for best all around inexpensive knife. The spyderco south fork would also be an excellent do it all knife. Up from there custom builders can make you what ever your hearts desire. prices could run from a couple hundred to the price of a used Cadillac
Interesting choices everyone. The buck 110 would be a good choice, and I carry one of them most of the time whenever im not carrying my 192. I am never without my leatherman tool, but I dont consider it a knife. I rarely use the blade.
There are 2 reasons I dont like a folding knife; they are hard to clean and wont take any abuse. I dont abuse my knife... but things happen, and when they do, I want my knife to survive. If you use your knife for any cooking or game processing, you'll have to wash it... and that is a pain for a folding knife in comparison to a fixed.
Other knives that I really like and would not be unhappy with if it was my only knife would be
buck 679
gerber fixed gator
gerber folding gator
Helle Temagami
The one that is stuck in my back.........from life-long liberal friends that have now turned 100% against me since Trump took office.
bangerjim
I cant live with only one. I need two. I a small 1 to 1.5 inch rounded blade that i mostly use for skinning. I have the Crikt. Then a medium length fillet knife. I have the Calcuta set. Works great for filleting and deboning. I sharpen them both once a year.
"Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far."
~Theodore Roosevelt~
My one knife would be ZT 0566. It's great for all-round use.
BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
GC | Gas Check |