Camp knife suggestions

[Marshwheeling]

Try a Kephart. The Kabar/Becker BK62 is one of the better examples currently made.
The Original Kephart Examined – Knife Magazine
The Kephart is a versatile design, biased toward in-camp uses like food prep, but sturdy enough for woodwork, and even some batoning if you really feel you have to.
I am partial to the Ka-Bar Becker knives, several of which might work well for you: BK16, BK10, BK7, maybe even the BK2 or BK9.
There a lot of knives that could work for you
I would feel well-equipped with just about any Mora (especially the Kansbøl), the Varusteleka Jäkkaripuukko, a six or seven-inch Old Hickory, or a Ka-Bar USMC utility knife.
There are plenty of others that would suit, but I don't know enough to comment.

 

[tnmandpshooter]

Ontario rat 5 with rk custom kydex holster and exotac fire rod is what I recommend. Or an essee 6 which is pictured with my ak.

Sent from my SM-A515U using Tapatalk

 

[Onomea]

Try a Kephart. The Kabar/Becker BK62 is one of the better examples currently made...

Nice video description here: KA-BAR: Becker Kephart

 

[Father Joe]

A Mora is plenty good. If you don't like plastic, Condor makes a version of the Nessmuk you may like.
Sometimes the Grohmann website has factory seconds half priced and their #1 & #3 have a large following.
My latest camp knife is a Terava pukko from Varuteleka---a beast of a knife sort of like a Mora on steroids and, like Moras, very reasonably priced (which makes it even better!)

 

[Capt. F.]

Buck 120

I second the Buck 120. Just a plain good all around knife.

 

[jtcarm]

The Kephart looks perfect.

Thanks!

 

[dasnake]

For me........

Randall 25, 5"or 6", and you don't have to wait 5 years like I did, they are for sale at different venues and the 'net.

 

[otis24]

Ditto on the Cattaraugus 225Q. I have one and purchased one for my son. I believe Bark River makes a repro of it.

 

[otis24]

The leather shop in town made me two new sheaths for my two Cattaraugus knives so that they hang on the right side instead of the left. I hope to pick them up this week.

 

[Shrek Of The Arctic]

Another fan of Mora knives here. I've used plenty of knives that cost several hundred dollars and found them wanting when compared to an old Mora Basic when used for general camp tasks and game cleaning.

One of my higher end favorites yet mentioned is my White River Ursus 45. It's fairly expensive at the cost of $245 or so. It's not very trendy or exotic blade steel, (S35 VN) but the craftsman ship of knife and sheath are absolutely spot on.

I almost forgot, Bark River makes very nice knives. Different steels, designs, etc. But they're all great. If overwhelmed by their selection, check out the Bravo line. Hard to fail with it, and they're well considered.

And, as others have said, the offerings from Varusteleka are exceptional, and tremendous bang for buck.

My personal knives do random camp tasks, process plants for food and medicinal purposes, and process wild game here in Alaska. Heavy duty thick spined, inefficient knives that can fillet a bulldozer have long been culled from my collection. That being said, if your your Mora breaks, youbprobly did something stupid. If a persons White River or Varusteleka knife breaks, I'm not entirely certain they should be trusted with sharp tings.

 

[Jessie]

For the money? A Buck 119 or some other model.
A K-Bar will last forever and you won't worry about dinging it up.
They'll both do about anything that needs a knife in camp or field.

 

[Father Joe]

We don't know if the OP will be car camping or back packing in. That would make a difference in what I'd be willing to take along, anyway.

 

[Father Joe]

The legendary Nessmuk---

 

[Exaviator]

On a hunting or camping trip I carry a combined general purpose and survival knife. The survival equipment is stored in the handle and includes a compass, fishing, hunting and medical components. The knife is Spanish made, good steel and keeps a good edge.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

For many years my hunting equipment has included two good carbon steel knives. One is Old Hickory brand, 6" boning blade. The other is Chicago Forge, 6" butcher knife. Both are very solidly made with all the strength needed for any reasonable chore that a knife should be applied to. Either one can probably be found in most department stores for under $10 or so.

The kit also includes a home-made bone saw, 6" bi-metal Sawzall blade with an aluminum handle with screw to secure the blade in place. Adequate for ripping through the sternum or pelvis of a bull elk. Blades are about $3 each, plus a little scrap aluminum and a machine screw & nut.

Wusthoff diamond steel sharpening rod to touch up the edges as needed in the field. All wrapped up neatly in a carpenter's nail apron and stowed in my day pack.

On my belt I usually keep an old Schrade Old Timer "Sharp Finger" skinning knife. About 3.5" deeply curved blade, easily handles most of the work for dressing out a deer or elk, and also handy for fish and smaller game. I think I paid about $10 for it nearly 50 years ago. These are still available, but now made overseas (quality looks quite good, and I have given several to my grandchildren as they matured into hunters, about $20 each now).

Always a good pocket knife for general uses (Buck lock-blade, Gerber liner-lock, Boker automatic more recently).

Lots of others have come and gone, some pretty expensive but none that did any better for camping or hunting chores.

 

[bdGreen]

Mora knives.

Buy more than one.

Buy one with serrations.

Will take care of most tasks at hand.

And, buy the 'bright orange'.

Easy to spot in a pile of gear or across the table. Ha.

Cheap enough to buy three.

enjoy,
bdGreen

 

[waffles]

If I was giving you my favorite, ESEE PR4

ESEE Camp-Lore PR4 Fixed Blade Knife Brown Micarta (4.1" Black SW) - Blade HQ

If I'm giving you the right answer, 6 Mora knives at the same price.

 

[mike christensen]

trusty old military K-bar, holds an edge, you can beat on it, pry, pick your teeth and toe jamb, slice and dice and yep split wood. buy at any army surplus store. get one [usmc] if you can with sheath and sharpening stone

 

[THE PILGRIM]

I guess I'll post my Moras.
The little guy is the Eldris.
A little too small to be a true Camp Knife, IMO.
But a little guy who don't how small he really is.
Great gift for $25.
I have given several Moras as gifts.
Great car, garage, tacklebox knives.

 

[Flattop5]

For many years my hunting equipment has included two good carbon steel knives. One is Old Hickory brand, 6" boning blade. The other is Chicago Forge, 6" butcher knife. Both are very solidly made with all the strength needed for any reasonable chore that a knife should be applied to. Either one can probably be found in most department stores for under $10 or so.

The kit also includes a home-made bone saw, 6" bi-metal Sawzall blade with an aluminum handle with screw to secure the blade in place. Adequate for ripping through the sternum or pelvis of a bull elk. Blades are about $3 each, plus a little scrap aluminum and a machine screw & nut.

Wusthoff diamond steel sharpening rod to touch up the edges as needed in the field. All wrapped up neatly in a carpenter's nail apron and stowed in my day pack.

On my belt I usually keep an old Schrade Old Timer "Sharp Finger" skinning knife. About 3.5" deeply curved blade, easily handles most of the work for dressing out a deer or elk, and also handy for fish and smaller game. I think I paid about $10 for it nearly 50 years ago. These are still available, but now made overseas (quality looks quite good, and I have given several to my grandchildren as they matured into hunters, about $20 each now).

Always a good pocket knife for general uses (Buck lock-blade, Gerber liner-lock, Boker automatic more recently).

Lots of others have come and gone, some pretty expensive but none that did any better for camping or hunting chores.

On my belt I usually keep an old Schrade Old Timer "Sharp Finger" skinning knife.

There is no better knife than an old, 1095 carbon-steel Sharpfinger, made circa 1980. You can put an edge on it and shave with it for 3 years and it will still be sharp after that. Amazing steel for the money. I never sharpened mine. I didn't need to. It held an edge forever. Sadly, today they are made in China.

--------------

 

[Exaviator]

My camp knife doubles as a survivor knife. Made in Spain, holds a good edge and a good shape for skinning etc.


Flickr

 

[Exaviator]

 

[Grayfox]

Ka-Bar makes a 5" version of their classic G.I. knife. Quality knife, tough as nails and reasonably priced. The shorter blade makes it much handier than the military version.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Ka-Bar makes a 5" version of their classic G.I. knife. Quality knife, tough as nails and reasonably priced. The shorter blade makes it much handier than the military version.

They also have a reproduction of the 5'' WWII Navy Mk I Deck knife..... nice and less Tacticooool

Like to recommend Savage Sheaths out of Va. ...... factory leather is IMHO junk....

 

[Marshwheeling]

They also have a reproduction of the 5'' WWII Navy Mk I Deck knife..... nice and less Tacticooool

Like to recommend Savage Sheaths out of Va. ...... factory leather is IMHO junk....

If you replace the sheath on that 5" Ka-Bar, then take the Kabar sheath and put a Dexter-Russell Green River fish knife in it for a very nice camping rig for about $25.

It's the one on the left.

 

[Exaviator]

On a hunting or camping trip I carry a combined general purpose and survival knife. The survival equipment is stored in the handle and rear of the sheath. It includes a compass, fishing, hunting and medical components. The knife is Spanish made, good high carbon steel and keeps a good edge. It also contains a second blade for skinning smaller game. And, finally managed to get posting photos sorted out...

 

[Father Joe]

If you replace the sheath on that 5" Ka-Bar, then take the Kabar sheath and put a Dexter-Russell Green River fish knife in it for a very nice camping rig for about $25.

It's the one on the left.

Two Green Rivers have been in my chuck box for over 20 years now. I had originally planned to make a belt sheath for one of them but never got around to it Excellent knives and easily my most used for camp cooking.

 

[Nevada Ed]

I have an OLD combo leather sheath set that has a "Custom Handle"
that accepts a 6" heavy blade and a 2x5 Axe head unit, for camp use.

I don't use my good camp/skinning knifes for "Log work".

 

[eveled]

Skinning is literally the most delicate knife task, and batoning the most abusive heavy knife task. No knife can be food at both.

The Becker BK-62 Kephart would be a good choice for your needs.