So - I am after a knife that I want to carry when out on trips with my family where I might need to cut some food, sharpen a stick, etc. I don't mean camping, just really shorter hikes.
I am have been carrying the Brouwer for this purpose (for the lack of a knife more suitable for the purpose) and while it does the job in a pinch, the blade is just too short for this.
My preferences are the following:
- Edge longer than 3", should slice reasonably well, does not need to be a 'laser' though
- Not super thick blade, should have some belly towards the tip
- Handle should sit well in the hand
- Preferably stainless steel, though semi-stainless would be fine too I suppose
- I am not too hang up about the weight, but the 150g of GB1 was just feeling too heavy in hand
- Choil or no choil - both is fine
- Probably not a flipper
Some knives I just don't to connect design wise and thus have been excluded: Endela, Endura, Police, Kapara (super narrow handle), Military (just too large), Chief (because of the blade profile)
I have so far collected the following candidates:
- Schempp Bowie - I know, not a super practical knife, but I can't stop looking at it since at least February. I am pretty much in love with the design.
- Caribbean - the handle looks excellent (hand filling), the blade could have a little more blade but should be fine
- Stretch (k390 or ZDP),
- PM2 (not quite sure about this one)
- GB2 ... I had one briefly but kinda did not bond with it ...
- Siren - though it keeps hand pretty far from the cutting edge plus the model apparently needs a CQI because of the lock issues
- ... and as a non-Spyderco canidate - Cold Steel American Lawman in XHP (one just happens to be available second hand with apparently a very well made regrind)