looking for a starter knife?

[sandsnakes]

Hi all,

just a general heads up, if you are new to bushcraft, looking for a starter knife or want to move up scale a little and have something hand made, this one IMHO is a good place to start.

http://www.khukrimuseum.com/catalog/product.php?id=323130fc5113

I have a few bits from them and they are of good standard, even Dave Budd thinks they are ok say thats a compliment from a knife smith! The knife may not be your idea of perfection but its a useful place to start and is not expensive.

Sandsnakes

 

[Hoodoo]

Hi all,

just a general heads up, if you are new to bushcraft, looking for a starter knife or want to move up scale a little and have something hand made, this one IMHO is a good place to start.

http://www.khukrimuseum.com/catalog/product.php?id=323130fc5113

I have a few bits from them and they are of good standard, even Dave Budd thinks they are ok say thats a compliment from a knife smith! The knife may not be your idea of perfection but its a useful place to start and is not expensive.

Sandsnakes

That is a very nice looking knife! I'd get one but to the states, shipping is $22.50. :togo:

 

[Lore]

Check out the 4" MUK (Mini Utility Knife)
from the link above or try this link http://www.gurkhas-kukris.com/search/index.php?mode=size&mi=1&ma=4 .

 

[Jazzman]

Frost's Mora is all you need to get started. It sharpens to a razor fine edge, and it is nigh on indestructable too!

 

[OurJud]

That is a very nice looking knife! I'd get one but to the states, shipping is $22.50. :togo:

To the states? But the prices are in US Dollars? I was thinking the same thing and wishing it was a UK site??

 

[sandsnakes]

Frost's Mora is all you need to get started. It sharpens to a razor fine edge, and it is nigh on indestructable too!

Not everyone wants a Frosts, so if you fancy something up market and does not cost the earth, is hand made and hand forged, then its a good price.

S

 

[jasons]

I bet the frost knife holds a better edge and sharpens a lot better for a beginner

 

[Hoodoo]

To the states? But the prices are in US Dollars? I was thinking the same thing and wishing it was a UK site??

My guess is that the shipping charges cover point of origin of the knife.

 

[OurJud]

Not everyone wants a Frosts, so if you fancy something up market and does not cost the earth, is hand made and hand forged, then its a good price.

S

Indeed. I'm forever being told when asking for advice that I should start with a Frosts'. I've looked at them and just don't like the style. Horrible plastic handle and sheath. Okay, so they might have a good sharp blade, but there's nicer looking ones out there for a fair price that are just as good.

 

[jasons]

Sorry hand made at that price come on. Sorry but I find that a bit hard to swallow. so what sort deal will the maker be getting?

 

[Dougster]

Sorry hand made at that price come on. Sorry but I find that a bit hard to swallow. so what sort deal will the maker be getting?

I asked this years ago about a Nike factory in Indonesia being on some silly money, it turned out the pay was better than teachers in the area and one girl, working for Nike paid for her three siblings to go to school and fed the rest.

Pay is relative, a full time Nepalese knife maker may well be well off on making those. May not either, but it's worth not discounting them before we know more.

 

[jasons]

I asked this years ago about a Nike factory in Indonesia being on some silly money, it turned out the pay was better than teachers in the area and one girl, working for Nike paid for her three siblings to go to school and fed the rest.

Pay is relative, a full time Nepalese knife maker may well be well off on making those. May not either, but it's worth not discounting them before we know more.

good point thanks

 

[rapidboy]

Watch the Mors Kohanski DVD's and then decide what knife you need

 

[michiel]

Besides the mora's here are a few nice knives you may want to consider:

Scandi:

Helle
brusletto
Roselli
Lisakki
Karesuando
Kellam (have a look at the wolverine)

Non scandinavian brand:

SWC (O1 woodlore clone)
Bark River Knife and Tool (convex. Both stainless as carbon)
Fallkniven (Handle one before you buy would be my advice)

best regards,

Michiel

 

[Rod]

I think Sandsnakes point was about a starter knife. To me, at least that's something that doesn't cost a lot, yet is fit for purpose. Would agreed with Jason, Frosts are about the best value. Being from Scandinavia they probably aren't made in a sweat shop. The fact that MK only seems to use them, makes me think he's onto something, perhaps, maybe...

The knife shown looks pretty decent. There may be a slight secondary edge to the blade, which you could get off with a bit of careful work. But for $35US it could be a good punt

 

[sandsnakes]

Jason, Rod, hi guys,

Yes I am on about a starter knife.

If you talk to Kukri house you will discover that in Nepal knife makers are not consider to be very high on the social scale. The Kukri house gives them a very good price and work all through the year. If I have a choice, I will support a traditional craft every time, I do so in the UK as well as in my other choices. I also feel it gives the makers a level of pride to know that their products are appreciated in other cultures.

To give you an idea of relative costs. When I used to get my suits made by hand in London they cost about £400 plus the cloth cost. I went to Shri Lanka to work for a while and got the same cloth and a better made to measure suit for about £70 total cost!

If you do it on a 4 to 1 ratio its a knife in our terms of about £140. You can get a decent curry and a pint of beer in Nepal for under £2. Its relative living costs and supports a traditional craft.

As someone else said some people want different, others dont like Frosts. A hand forged knife for under £50 quid.. well that is a bargin.

Sandsnaks

 

[Rod]

That is a very nice looking knife! I'd get one but to the states, shipping is $22.50. :togo:

It's the same to the good old U of K Hoodoo

 

[Rod]

I decided to take a punt on one of these knives, in spite of the delivery costs.

http://www.khukrimuseum.com/catalog/enlarge.php?id=323130fd3d10&image=left

I have to say that I'm not disappointed! The feel of the knife in your hand is incredible - quite simply the best I have used to date. It's rock solid, holds a fantastic edge, copes with heavy and fine work with easy. It has made making feather sticks a pleasure not a chore. It is now my No. 1 knife.

I appreciate that is is not a RM or BG lookalike, but it is entirely handmade (by ex-gurkhas), which supports a local, tribal economy in Nepal; the steel is taken from a re-cycled SUV suspension - so it has green credentials, so to speak. And all for less than £38 delivered Quite frankly I think you are mental not to get one!

enough said

 

[rapidboy]

Certainly looks like a bargain, let us know your thoughts after you have used it for a while.

How thick is it ?

I appreciate that is is not a RM or BG lookalike,

RM - Ray Mears,
BG - ???

 

[HillBill]

Bear Grylls
http://www.bayleyknife.com/site/bear.aspx