We are currently enjoying a folding knife marketplace replete with models both well made and affordably priced. I almost always have one on me wherever I go. That being said, fixed-blade knives still offer certain advantages to outdoor adventurers that folders have yet to duplicate.
This fixed blade round-up includes a variety of blade sizes and styles from different manufacturers. I'm a fan of easy-to-sharpen plain edges for wilderness work, so you won't see much in the way of serrated knives here. And as a long time knife nerd, I'll admit that at times I've succumbed to what could be called 'showroom syndrome' (What do you mean that I should take this gorgeous piece of finely crafted steel out into the wilderness? It might get scratched!). Although premier-grade models were not excluded here, a sincere effort was made to include mid-price and budget-friendly options that can be put to work without concerns of using them up and wearing them out.
Bear & Son Cutlery
Bear & Son Cutlery, out of Jacksonville, Alabama, was founded in 1991 when Ken Griffey and his partners purchased the Parker Edwards knife plant which was a sister facility to W. R. Case & Sons. In the years since, the company has remained dedicated to offering its customers products which are wholly produced here in the United States by skilled craftsman within their fully self-contained facility. The blank cutting, heat treating, grinding, assembly and hand finishing of their diverse catalog of knives using a variety of knife steels is all conducted in house. This ensures customers receive quality products at fair prices.
Several different blade styles can be put to work for camp kitchen duties but a light weight, dedicated, full-tang cutting board knife can make food preparation much more efficient and enjoyable. The 4-ounce Bear & Son Professional Chopping Knife's 5-inch long stone-washed 14C28N Sandvik blade features a gently curved edge which rolls through raw vegetables and slices through meat with ease. Customers can choose from either a smooth white bone handle or the tan Micarta and black G10 handle shown here. Each knife arrives with a polymer blade guard (#G35; $159.99).
This company also offers two handy options for hunters. The 4.4-ounce Black Guthook knife (Left) features a 4-inch hollow-ground high carbon 440 stainless steel blade for edge retention, ease of sharpening and rust resistance. The textured and finger-grooved soft Black Kraton grip provides plenty of purchase and control. This knife ships with a black leather snap retention belt sheath. (#444; $52.99)
The traditionally styled Rosewood Small Hunter (Right) is a svelt, full-tang knife designed specifically for fine work and those hard-to-reach places when cleaning game. The slender 3-inch clip point 440 stainless steel blade retains an edge and is easy to sharpen. The smooth rosewood scales are secured with brass pins and the nickel silver finger guard lends added control. A hand-made leather belt sheath is included. (263R: $69.99)
Camillus Cutlery Company
Among the oldest knife makers in the U.S., Camillus Cutlery Company has a history which stretches all the way back to its founding in 1876. Today this company's catalog includes folding and fixed-blade knives developed by an in-house Pro Staff team consisting of representatives from several branches of the United States armed forces, first responders, world-class hunters and survival experts. Camillus blades are constructed of through-hardened, Titanium CarboNitride coated steels for enhanced edge retention and abrasive wear resistance.
The Carnivore series of multi-purpose machetes are designed to dig, saw and gut, as well a chop away at brush and branches. The 12-inch full-tang Carnivore X model shown here weighs 15.8-ounces and has a 420 stainless steel blade which is made three times harder by the Titanium coating. Along with the gut hook, the blade's spine features a sharp cross-cut saw blade. The molded-on hard polymer grip is nicely textured with a lanyard hole. This model ships with a small trimming knife and a pair of black ballistic nylon sheaths. (#CAM-19236-003; $39.99)
Camillus's tough little cleaver-style Swedge utility knife is one of the models that inspired this round up. It's simply too useful and affordable not to have one tucked away in a toolbox, bug-out bag, camping box or roadside emergency kit. The full tang 4.3-inch long 420 stainless steel blade is a quarter of an inch thick with a flat grind for the blade and the squared-off chisel tip. The spine features a sharp diamond pattern rasp which is ideal for woodworking jobs like cutting notches, filing and preparing tinder. Weighing in at 9.4-ounces, the Swedge is light enough to ride comfortably on your belt in the provided polymer sheath while being tough enough to use for batoning and chopping tasks. Listed at $24.99, this knife is available from various distributors for around $20. (#CAM-19624; $24.99)
Civivi Knives
WE Knife Co., Ltd. (WE) was founded in 2000 to provide OEM manufacturing services to various knife and tool companies. Since then, it has grown into one of the largest quality knife makers in China. In 2018, the company launched the Civivi Knives brand with the goal of providing customers with well made utilitarian and every-day-carry products at more affordable prices. Today, the Civivi catalog includes an expansive selection of fixed and folding knives incorporating popular knife steels, durable handle materials and unique configurations from top knife designers.
A knife round up like this isn't complete without at least one of the more exotic options. The Civivi Maxwell, designed by Maciej Torbé, certainly fits that bill. The highly stylized 4.74-inch long full-tang spear-point tanto blade is constructed of stonewashed D2 tool steel, hardened to 58-60 HRC and given a flat ground edge. Weighing 9.8-ounces with its green G10 scales and braided lanyard, this knife—which is nearly 2-inches wide at widest point—could look a bit unwieldy. But the blade's fuller and the swedge, along with a deeply cut finger choil, give the Maxwell a nicely balanced and handy feel. A molded Kydex sheath with a removable, multi-position belt clip is provided. This knife is also available in an all-black finish. (#C21040-2; $159.40)
Designed by Bob Terzuola, the CIVIVI Tamashii (Left) garnered the Best In Show Factory Knife and Best Factory Tactical Knife at the Blade Show West in 2021. Despite its tactical leanings, this knife is eminently useful for a variety of outdoor tasks including cutting meat and cleaning game. Weighing 4.7-ounces, the 4.07-inch straight-back, satin finished full tang blade is made of 59-61 HRC hardness D2 tool steel with a flat grind. The smooth G10 handle is secured with stainless steel pins and a Kydex sheath with a removable belt clip comes in the box. Additional blade and grip color combinations are available. (#C19046-2; $78.20)
Sometimes a small knife is just what you need. For fine work or as a back-up to your back-up, the fixed blade version of the Mini Elementum arrives with a thin Kydex sheath and steel ball neck chain. Weighing just 0.8-ounces, the full tang, hollow-ground 2.24-inch drop-point blade is formed from Nitro-V stainless steel hardended to 59-61 HRC. The 2.72-inch handle is fitted with two Guibourtia wood inserts, for a more comfortable grip and a lanyard hole. This version of the Elementum may be little, but it's up to the task. This knife is also available with either a green canvas Micarta or black G10 inserts. (#C23010-4; $62.70)
Cold Steel
Founded by Lynn Thompson in 1980, Cold Steel has one of the most expansive knife and tool catalogs in the industry. From every-day-carry pocket knives to medieval-style pole-arms, this company draws on skilled craftsman, designers and materials from around the world in order to offer their customers an impressive selection of quality, price and often unique models not found anywhere else.
Despite their aggrandizement in movies, video games and the annals of American history, a well made Bowie can be an invaluable traveling companion. This is especially true of survival situations in which just one blade may be called upon to fill a variety of roles. The Cold Steel Recon Scout (Top) is just such a knife. Based on Lynn C. Thompson's Trail Master Bowie design, the 14.8-ounce Recon Scout sports a 7.5-inch long, full-tang clip-point blade made of CPM-3V tool steel. The slight curve which spans the cutting edge, with the added curve at the tip, makes this a useful option for draw cuts, chopping tasks, field dressing and skinning in a pinch. The 5-inch long checkered Kray-Ex handle is topped with a polished steel cross guard and ends with a brass lined lanyard hole. A rugged Secure-Ex belt sheath is provided. (#CS-37RS; $474.99)
The largest member of the Razor Tek (Bottom), which sports a 6.5-inch blade, is configured primarily for the more challenging tasks found around a campsite. It's made from 4116 stainless steel with a hardness of 55-56 HRC which nicely balances easy sharpening, edge retention and rust resistance. Placing the 11.4-ounce recurve blade's belly forward makes it an ideal chopper for removing small branches or cutting kindling with jimping and a finger choil for a secure hold. The removable handle scales are made from deeply textured black GFN for durability and comfort. This knife also ships with Cold Steel's Secure-Ex belt sheath. (#CS-FX-65RZR; $99.99)
If you like the features of the Recon Scout Bowie, but you're looking for a more compact size knife, then the 6.4-ounce 3V Master Hunter (Left) deserves a closer look. The broad, full-tang, drop-point blade is crafted from American CPM-3V high carbon steel, which is favored for its toughness and edge retention. The edge is honed by hand for a superior sharpness. The deeply checkered, shock-absorbing Kray-Ex handle is designed to provide a non-slip gripping surface intended to reduce fatigue. The Kray-Ex does not shrink, crack, split or rot when exposed to harsh working conditions. This is another model which arrives with a Secure-Ex belt sheath. (#CS-36CB; $199.99)
The hybrid Spirit Spear Head (Right), is among the more unique fixed blades currently available. Weighing 10.1- ounces, the 4.25-inch long, double-edged spear point blade is made from 420 stainless steel with a matte-black finish. The blade's base is threaded onto a round, weighted, glass-filled nylon handle which is well suited to cutting tasks or for throwing. The threaded joint is sized specifically for commonly available twist-on broom handles. Release the small set screw, twist out the knife's short handle and twist in a broom handle to turn it into a spear. The blade can also be twisted onto a branch or stick in a pinch. This knife includes a ballistic nylon belt sheath. (#CS-TH-FS01NZ; $37.99)
SOG Specialty Knives & Tools
Spencer Frazer founded SOG Specialty Knives & Tools in 1986. His primary goal was to reproduce the bowie knife used by the Vietnam War Era's 5th Special Forces Group, which is also known as the Studies and Observation Group (SOG). What began as a project to make just one commemorative model has since grown into an impressive catalog of battle-tested fixed-blade and folding knives including configurations favored by the U.S. Special Forces and Navy SEALs.
The flexible, 10.2-ounce, SOG Bowie 2.0 survival knife is a tribute to the traditional SOG Bowie. Based on the company's founding model, it blends time-tested features with modern manufacturing processes and materials. The 6.4-inch long, full-tang faceted-tip clip point blade is 0.24-inches thick at the spine. Formed from AUS-8 stainless steel, it is hardened to 57-58 HRC and treated with a durable matte-black titanium nitride coating. The classically styled handle is fitted with a generously sized cross guard at the top, stacked epoxy treated leather washers to form the comfortable finger-grooved gripping surface and a heavy-duty endcap with a lanyard hole. The Bowie 2.0 ships with a well made snap-retention black leather sheath sporting an additional pocket for the provided sharpening stone. (#SOGS1TL-BRK; $199.95)
The lightest model in this round up is the SOG Ether FX (Top), with the example I received weighing in at 2.0-ounces without the sheath. Designed with hunters in mind, the one-piece blade and handle are formed from high-quality CPM S35VN stainless steel, which is prized for its strength, corrosion resistance and edge retention. The 3.1-inch drop-point blade is unmistakably shaped for skinning tasks with dimpled texturing along both sides, and jimping that runs the entire length of the spine for added control. The blaze orange GRN handle scales are textured for improved purchase, and matches the Kydex sheath with its removable and adjustable steel belt clip. (#17-33-01-57; $159.95)
A compact cousin to the Ether FX is the full-tang Altair FX (Bottom), with a more general purpose 3.4-inch clip-point blade and a molded-on textured GRN handle design. This 2.6-ounce knife is made of gun-metal gray titanium nitride coated CRYO 154CM steel. This premium-grade stainless steel is given a computer-controlled cryogenic temperature reduction treatment to -300 degrees Fahrenheit. This freezing makes the blade more resistant to chipping and fracturing during hard use. A variety of color options are available, including the Squid Ink blue handle and Universal Mounting System compatible sheath finish shown here. (#17-79-01-57; $149.95)
