What's your favorite knife?

[Kiamichi Kid]

AS a knife maker..and lifelong knife user..I am always interested in what kinds of knives others prefer and why.. So what is "your" ideal knife for survival or even just everyday usage..?
1. fixed blade or folding knife?
2.Carbon Steel or Stainless Steel?
3.Thick/heavy blade or Thin/Lightweight blade?
4.Long or short..?
5.Serrated edge or not?

I have made primarily fixed blades ..although I have made a few folders.. For everyday carry..I tend to like smaller fixed blades in carbon steel..as they get scary sharp and I can sharpen them on the fly quite easily. They take a bit more maintenance but if used daily that's no big deal . I do make stainless knives as well from High end stainless such as S30V or CPM154 and ATS34.

So...do you have a favorite? Post some pics of it..
I'll start by posting a pic of the latest knife I donated to a soldier in my sons unit..it is very similar to my EDC blades. I really like this style of knife....this knife I donated is 1095 Carbon steel with Handle scales made from Redheart wood..

[Old John]

In our BOB's behind the seat in our pickups, DSW & I each have a Kabar and a Cold Steel Bushman knives. Both very purposeful for survival. There's also a good multi-tool.
In my pocket everyday I carry a Case-xx Sodbuster Jr. and a cheap S&W serrated claw-blade, with a little stud, for one-handed opening.
DSW carries mini boxknife and a little pen knife.
ETA........It's been the same for both of us for probably 15+ years.

[Fast Eddie]

Thats a great looking knife KK.

[poorboy]

SAK Tinker,carried regularly...Lots of old hickory.., also use some old Schrades..have lotsa others that are JIC..

[7thswan]

Fixed blade
No serration
thin enough to bend a little
thick enough to cut red meat
about 7 inch blade
no idea on metal types

[rabbitsbus]

I know very little about knives, I just want to say how nice you donated to one of our soldiers.

[Kiamichi Kid]

Originally Posted by rabbitsbus

I know very little about knives, I just want to say how nice you donated to one of our soldiers.

I'm an old Paratrooper myself...and still would be had I not incurred some career ending /disabling injuries from a parachute failure..so I still feel as if those men and women are my "family"...And some of them are...as my sons are/were both soldiers..with my youngest being recommended for a Bronze Star for his actions as a Combat medic in iraq...And he will soon be deploying to Afghanistan.My eldest son was a 1st LT on his way to iraq when he incurred a disabling injury that forced him from military service..
Uncle Sam says I'm to old and broken to be of any help..But I figured out a way that I can be in the middle of the fight...and maybe make the lives of our service members a little bit easier..even if it's just to open a package from home . This last knife I sent put me at about the 250 mark..for donated knives with the bulk of them donated during my sons first deployment...my health and finances will not allow me to send as many this time..but I am gonna do what I can do until I can't do it anymore. JD

[Kiamichi Kid]

Originally Posted by poorboy

SAK Tinker,carried regularly...Lots of old hickory.., also use some old Schrades..have lotsa others that are JIC..

Can't ever have to many! Gotta love the "old" Shrades..made in the USA they were my all time favorite pocket knife.. and Old Hickory butcher knives too! They both have great carbon steel blades..and actually influenced my choice of carbon steel for my custom knives...yes.. it will rust/patina...but it is easy to sharpen and I can get it hair poppin sharp in short order..
Yeah I do make and carry some knives of the newer "super steels" But Always have a carbon knife on me too. JIC

[Kiamichi Kid]

Originally Posted by Fast Eddie

Thats a great looking knife KK.

Thank you..

[Kiamichi Kid]

Originally Posted by Old John

In our BOB's behind the seat in our pickups, DSW & I each have a Kabar and a Cold Steel Bushman knives. Both very purposeful for survival. There's also a good multi-tool.
In my pocket everyday I carry a Case-xx Sodbuster Jr. and a cheap S&W serrated claw-blade, with a little stud, for one-handed opening.
DSW carries mini boxknife and a little pen knife.
ETA........It's been the same for both of us for probably 15+ years.

Looks as if we share some of the same philosophy..in that no single knife style or type "does everything"..

[Kiamichi Kid]

Originally Posted by 7thswan

Fixed blade
No serration
thin enough to bend a little
thick enough to cut red meat
about 7 inch blade
no idea on metal types

Are you a fisherman by chance?Sounds like a filet knife to me

[megafatcat]

Like my old Herter knife best. Thin carbon steel, smooth full tang. I do like the 'hump' on the top as a thumb rest. Perhaps 5"?

[Chuck R.]

Here’s two of my favorites; a Barkriver “Highland Special” in Ivory Micarta and a Northwoods “Gunstock” slipjoint folder in Sambar Stag.




Both are carbon steel, here’s the stats on the Barkriver:
Overall Length: 7.75 Inches
Blade Length: 4 Inches
Blade Steel: A-2
Blade Hardness: 58rc
Blade Thickness: .145 Inch
Weight:4.5 Ounces
It’s a convex grind and probably the sharpest knife “out of the box” I’ve ever owned.

In an around town, it's the Northwoods, hunting/camping it's the Barkriver, the Northwoods, and a Gransfors Bruks Wildlife hatchet.

Chuck

[Danaus29]

Favorite? Depends on what I'm doing with it. I have a fillet knife that works wonderfully for cleaning fish and skinning squirrels. I have a paring knife I use for veggie chopping. I use a box cutter at work, retractable safety blade, took a little getting used to but I now prefer it for opening boxes. I have a butchers cleaver (is that considered a knife?) I prefer when butchering. But if I needed to do any grafting or whittling I wouldn't use any of the above. Oh, I prefer to use a steak knife for slicing brick cheese, the serrations keep the cheese from sticking to the blade.

Lovely knife, BTW. I love the look of that wood. Does it stay that color after years of use?

[Kiamichi Kid]

Originally Posted by Danaus29

Favorite? Depends on what I'm doing with it. I have a fillet knife that works wonderfully for cleaning fish and skinning squirrels. I have a paring knife I use for veggie chopping. I use a box cutter at work, retractable safety blade, took a little getting used to but I now prefer it for opening boxes. I have a butchers cleaver (is that considered a knife?) I prefer when butchering. But if I needed to do any grafting or whittling I wouldn't use any of the above. Oh, I prefer to use a steak knife for slicing brick cheese, the serrations keep the cheese from sticking to the blade.

Lovely knife, BTW. I love the look of that wood. Does it stay that color after years of use?

Im not sure as it was the first time I'd used it..

[Kiamichi Kid]

Originally Posted by Chuck R.

Here’s two of my favorites; a Barkriver “Highland Special” in Ivory Micarta and a Northwoods “Gunstock” slipjoint folder in Sambar Stag.




Both are carbon steel, here’s the stats on the Barkriver:
Overall Length: 7.75 Inches
Blade Length: 4 Inches
Blade Steel: A-2
Blade Hardness: 58rc
Blade Thickness: .145 Inch
Weight:4.5 Ounces
It’s a convex grind and probably the sharpest knife “out of the box” I’ve ever owned.

In an around town, it's the Northwoods, hunting/camping it's the Barkriver, the Northwoods, and a Gransfors Bruks Wildlife hatchet.

Chuck

Love the Gransfors Bruks..and the Bark River...If I didn't make my own I'd buy one of each..

[rags57078]

I just bought 150 frost knives a while back in a package deal LOL the wife was not impressed as I already had 100 or so . think I should sell a few

[Danaus29]

kiamichi kid, I've seen old purpleheart wood (unfinished) that had lost all it's color and was just an ugly brown/black. If it won't hold the color at least 10 years it doesn't justify the price of the wood IMO. I thought about buying a block of it and finishing it just to see if the color holds. I should have back when I thought of it.

[crtreedude]

Does a 28 inch machete count? lol That is the "knife" I use the most. I guess after that is the Swiss camping outdoors knife.

[Kiamichi Kid]

Originally Posted by Danaus29

kiamichi kid, I've seen old purpleheart wood (unfinished) that had lost all it's color and was just an ugly brown/black. If it won't hold the color at least 10 years it doesn't justify the price of the wood IMO. I thought about buying a block of it and finishing it just to see if the color holds. I should have back when I thought of it.

I literally have a truck bed full of purpleheart It will fade if exposed UV rays..but I know how to get the color back..plus there are finishes that will prevent the color change..