Author Topic: What is YOUR perfect knife....if you could only have one?  (Read 1304 times)

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Offline kyelkhunter3006

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What is YOUR perfect knife....if you could only have one?
« on: July 21, 2010, 10:02:37 AM »
I looked back through all 21 pages on this sub-forum and didn't really see anything like this question, so I figured I'd ask it.

What would your perfect knife be?  I don't mean things like your favorite brand or maker, worrying about the cost, etc.

Perhaps a scenario is in order?  Ok, you're willingly going into an intense life/death survival situation (not anarchy or combat areas).  You can have ONE knife, with whatever steel, features, etc, that you desire.  YOUR perfect survival tool, based on your needs, wants, and experience.

Mine:

5" blade of 1095 carbon steel.  59-60RC. 
Somewhere around 1" wide, 1/8"-5/32" thick, full tang slab.
I'd go with a Scandi grind on it to maintain blade strength yet make it easy to sharpen.  No fancy angles to worry about. 
A drop point to the blade, just enough that it doesn't look like a straight spine. Some simple jimping on the spine for an inch.
Handle would be Micarta or G10, secured with epoxy and pins, with a lanyard hole in an extended tang.
Handle would contoured a bit, with a bit of a choil and finger grooves for the first and last fingers to keep the hand from slipping forward or backwards during hard use.
Kydex sheath that doesn't hold moisture with a belt loop, a belt clip on the back of the sheath, and multiple lashing points.

A simple knife made of simple materials that would hold an edge and still be easy to resharpen.

Offline Joel

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Re: What is YOUR perfect knife....if you could only have one?
« Reply #1 on: July 21, 2010, 01:05:05 PM »
I make, and carry, the yellow G-10 handled one when I'm doing some serious backpacking. Has a 4.5 inch spearpoint blade that's fully flat ground for easy cutting/slicing(which means easy on the edge).  Steel is 1/8 inch cryo'd 154CM to an Rc of 59-60.  Spine has a raised 20 lpi file back for scraping magnesium blocks and as a general purpose wood file.  Butt is also checkered. The flat in back is a scraper for Swedish Firesteels, or anything else.  Held together by loveless bolts and epoxy.
Does everything I need.



Offline BUGEYE

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Re: What is YOUR perfect knife....if you could only have one?
« Reply #2 on: July 21, 2010, 01:22:57 PM »
original shrade sharp finger. best knife I ever owned.
Give me liberty, or give me death
                                     Patrick Henry

Give me liberty, or give me death
                                     bugeye

Offline flintlock

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Re: What is YOUR perfect knife....if you could only have one?
« Reply #3 on: July 21, 2010, 04:52:13 PM »
original shrade sharp finger. best knife I ever owned.

Interesting, I had the same thought...The only difference, mine happens to be made by Bear in AL...
I refuse to buy the Chinese knives...

Offline mechanic

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Re: What is YOUR perfect knife....if you could only have one?
« Reply #4 on: July 21, 2010, 05:05:14 PM »
original shrade sharp finger. best knife I ever owned.

Interesting, I had the same thought...The only difference, mine happens to be made by Bear in AL...
I refuse to buy the Chinese knives...

I had my Sharpfinger long before they went China.  As a matter of fact, I wound up with three, two I have given to my two grandson's.  It's my all purpose do it all little knife.

Ben
Molon Labe, (King Leonidas of the Spartan Army)

Offline teamnelson

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Re: What is YOUR perfect knife....if you could only have one?
« Reply #5 on: July 21, 2010, 07:56:07 PM »
I'm admittedly not a knife gourmand so this may sound simple, but I like my standard USMC issue KBar.
held fast

Offline BUGEYE

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Re: What is YOUR perfect knife....if you could only have one?
« Reply #6 on: July 22, 2010, 02:38:40 AM »
I've heard that the chinese sharp finger is brittle.
Give me liberty, or give me death
                                     Patrick Henry

Give me liberty, or give me death
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Offline kyelkhunter3006

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Re: What is YOUR perfect knife....if you could only have one?
« Reply #7 on: July 22, 2010, 09:50:25 AM »
The Sharpfinger was a great little skinner, but I wouldn't want to depend on one in a life or death situation.  Blade is too thin in the front half to work really hard.  I had one of the U.S. ones, and that thing wouldn't take an edge at all.  It was the carbon steel too.  Maybe I got one with a bad heat treat.  I also had the larger version of the knife, I can't remember what it was called.  Deer Skinner, maybe?  That was a pretty decent blade, easy to sharpen and retained the edge pretty well.  Still too thin for me to be comfortable with in a heavy duty situation though.

All of the chinese Schrades SUCK.  I've tried 4 or 5 different ones, and was disappointed in all of them.

Nothing wrong with the old kabar.  This thread is about what YOU would desire to have.

Offline Swampman

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Re: What is YOUR perfect knife....if you could only have one?
« Reply #8 on: July 22, 2010, 09:51:32 AM »
My 10" Queen Cutlery Butcher Knife.
"Brother, you say there is but one way to worship and serve the Great Spirit. If there is but one religion, why do you white people differ so much about it? Why not all agreed, as you can all read the Book?" Sogoyewapha, "Red Jacket" - Senaca

1st Special Operations Wing 1975-1983
919th Special Operations Wing  1983-1985 1993-1994

"Manus haec inimica tyrannis / Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem" ~Algernon Sidney~

Offline mechanic

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Re: What is YOUR perfect knife....if you could only have one?
« Reply #9 on: July 22, 2010, 04:25:04 PM »
My 10" Queen Cutlery Butcher Knife.

Thats a rare old knife, and some of the best stainless steel I've ever seen....Wish I had bought a few 40 yrs. ago.
Molon Labe, (King Leonidas of the Spartan Army)

Offline Ak.Hiker

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Re: What is YOUR perfect knife....if you could only have one?
« Reply #10 on: July 22, 2010, 08:05:45 PM »
I have an old Buck Folder 110 that my father in law Slim gave me. It will do about anything you would need of a field knife.

Offline S.S.

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Re: What is YOUR perfect knife....if you could only have one?
« Reply #11 on: July 23, 2010, 08:01:23 PM »
My 10" Queen Cutlery Butcher Knife.

+1 on this.
I have several old butcher knives that are
Much higher quality than many modern knives.

Lets see some pics...
Vir prudens non contra ventum mingit
"A wise man does not pee against the wind".

Offline Swampman

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Re: What is YOUR perfect knife....if you could only have one?
« Reply #12 on: July 24, 2010, 02:34:39 AM »
I made the sheath.

.
"Brother, you say there is but one way to worship and serve the Great Spirit. If there is but one religion, why do you white people differ so much about it? Why not all agreed, as you can all read the Book?" Sogoyewapha, "Red Jacket" - Senaca

1st Special Operations Wing 1975-1983
919th Special Operations Wing  1983-1985 1993-1994

"Manus haec inimica tyrannis / Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem" ~Algernon Sidney~

Offline kyelkhunter3006

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Re: What is YOUR perfect knife....if you could only have one?
« Reply #13 on: July 24, 2010, 10:44:57 AM »
That's very nice....  Old school mountain man.   ;)

Offline zeke08

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Re: What is YOUR perfect knife....if you could only have one?
« Reply #14 on: July 30, 2010, 07:17:14 PM »
I would take my Gerber BMF its lil heavy but will do any chore just a excellant knife in my humble opinion
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Offline Cheesehead

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Re: What is YOUR perfect knife....if you could only have one?
« Reply #15 on: July 30, 2010, 07:28:08 PM »
Currently, my favorite knife is the Kershaw Baby Boa I just got yesterday. I needed a compact quality pocket knife and this is it. Pics later.

Cheese
Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance.

Offline kyelkhunter3006

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Re: What is YOUR perfect knife....if you could only have one?
« Reply #16 on: July 31, 2010, 09:32:23 AM »
http://www.ontarioknife.com/catalog/item/155

This is as close to my ideal as I've found in a factory knife.  It's close enough that I think I'm going to buy it when I have a little extra $$. Runs about $75.

Offline drdougrx

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Re: What is YOUR perfect knife....if you could only have one?
« Reply #17 on: July 31, 2010, 04:27:39 PM »
I like a trailing point....something like a Randall #3.  I have one and don't use it....too expensive.  So I guess a Buck 110...the older version.  I actually ise a Buck 504 Titanium Folder....it's a 110 blade with very thin titanium scales.  Only thing I don't like are the finger grooves.  Oh and I could get along (and do) pretty well with a buck pathfinder and a personal.
If you like, please enjoy some of my hunt pics at:

http://public.fotki.com/DrDougRx

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Offline Dee

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Re: What is YOUR perfect knife....if you could only have one?
« Reply #18 on: July 31, 2010, 05:20:30 PM »
Benchmade 710 McHenry & Williams. Someone stole mine, and someday I'll get another.
You may all go to hell, I will go to Texas. Davy Crockett

Offline pmeisel

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Re: What is YOUR perfect knife....if you could only have one?
« Reply #19 on: August 01, 2010, 03:49:39 AM »
For the price, a KaBar Warthog.  My son lost his yesterday, after carrying it for six years.  I ordered him a new one for CHRISTmas, plus one for me....

Offline kyelkhunter3006

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Re: What is YOUR perfect knife....if you could only have one?
« Reply #20 on: August 01, 2010, 06:27:15 AM »
I've got a Kabar FINS drop point.  Stout knife, I like the overall design.  If I had to tweak it, I'd make the blade just a hair thinner and put a handle on it that's not as thin and flat.  I'd like it better if it was a flat or Scandi grind instead of hollow ground too.


Offline Dee

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Re: What is YOUR perfect knife....if you could only have one?
« Reply #21 on: August 01, 2010, 09:02:17 AM »
I make, and carry, the yellow G-10 handled one when I'm doing some serious backpacking. Has a 4.5 inch spearpoint blade that's fully flat ground for easy cutting/slicing(which means easy on the edge).  Steel is 1/8 inch cryo'd 154CM to an Rc of 59-60.  Spine has a raised 20 lpi file back for scraping magnesium blocks and as a general purpose wood file.  Butt is also checkered. The flat in back is a scraper for Swedish Firesteels, or anything else.  Held together by loveless bolts and epoxy.
Does everything I need.




Man Joel, that yellow handled G-10 is an awesome lookin knife. I'd like to have one just like it.
You may all go to hell, I will go to Texas. Davy Crockett

Offline Joel

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Re: What is YOUR perfect knife....if you could only have one?
« Reply #22 on: August 03, 2010, 03:16:50 AM »
A lot of people like that design; I call it the Practical Applications knife. If interested in something then give me a PM.