What Knife?

[reddeath]

Ok Folks here goes for the ultimate noob question:

a little background so i dont sound as dumb:
im a 34 year old father hitting mid life crisis, ex forces( as i note alot of you are) but in the last 15 years i found beer and pies so in an attempt to get fit n healthy againi took back to the outdoors, thus rekindling my passion for the green n brown stuff

getting myself kitted out slowly and im not looking for a lightsabre-esq blade ( not wanting to sound like i mock those that do) but im looking for a main knife. i have gerber folders / multi s etc and even a kabar but im not into stabbing the **** outta people anymore so please im looking for practical recommendations and advice

i like the classic woody design and thickness etc, i have quite big hands so unsure about the kryton / plastic type grip - thinking real wood maybe better ( and better looking)
costing i suppose around €50 - 70 mark ( yes im in ireland so euro!)
and i suppose how to get my hands on the chosen one as im not sure of decent outlets where i live ( kilkenny for those interested)

is there anything that i should certainly not be without that i may not have thought of - i have plenty of clothing / bags/ rucksacks/ torches/ pots n pans cooking gear etc and a decent amount of common sense - what is the one piece of un-obvious kit you all wouldnt be without?

anyhoo thanks all for taking the time to read and answer a bcuk noob
cheers
Andy

[Draven]

Hey mate!
Dunno how experienced you are with knives, but I'd always recommend a Mora Clipper, tis still my main user. It's a fine knife at a finer price (around £10, give or take) - though I, too, have large hands and it can get a bit sore sometimes but I've got palms like leather mitts now so it's not too bad any more...

Best of luck!

[David.s]

Im not a knife expert on any account and quite a noobie as well, but i have a frosts mora and a clipper and would reccomend them both, they are very sharp and very cheap so dont matter if it breaks or you loose it. I actually broke the handle on mines and fitted an old chisel handle to it so its a lot chunkier and a bit more personalised.

[British Red]

Andy,

Bang for your buck, The Forsts Mora or Frosts clipper are, by far, the best knives made - about £8 UK and issued by all the best schools (Woodlore etc.).

For you budget a Lapp Pukko is probably as good a knife as you will ever need
http://www.attacc.com/acatalog/LAPPI..._LAPPLAND.html

The Helle range are good too - this is the Eggen



http://www.heinnie.com/

As for other gear - a good first aid kit is a must and good folding saw (Laplander or Silky) a wise investment.

Red

[benp1]

what British Red said!

Mora is a great knife. Its hard to justify buying any other knife. most people that do have done so because they wanted a knife that was a bit more special etc, i can't see many people saying the mora's aren't good!

[reddeath]

thanks guys - jees u are a fast lot, have u not seen the time!
ive been nosying around bcuk for a few days when i came across it and the mora seems to get plenty of attention - im guessing price has something to do with it - i just didnt like the look of the handle, my palms are currently smooth and gentle fairy liquid style, would it possible to change im not too bad with the ole power tools - i mean carving by hand and fancy a bit of diy ( usually takes me forever tho so not good for a main unit)

thanks for those 2 red, i have 1st aid and a crappy saw . where do i get the laplander ( seen them about too)

[weaver]

I agree with all except for one thing, you said you have big hands. I do as well and the Mora has a very small handle for me. If you are a bit handy that is no problem, take off the old and fashion a new. otherwise you need to look carefully at the same type blade but with a larger handle that will fit your hand better. Helle have some of those.

[British Red]

You wont need to go far Andy - click "Shop" at the top of the forum and select tools and you'll find a laplander easy enough.

If the Mora handle looks too hard for your soft hands (), try a clipper - its the same blade in a softer more contoured handle (a comfy grip is very important in fact - you are right there).

Don't mess with re-handling a Mora though - full tang bare blades are available and you can make up your own handle and shape it to your needs. Theres a few tutorials kicking about that will show you how.

You have to buy a firesteel when you are in the shop if you haven't got one - every Bushcrafter needs one for playing silly buggers when a Bic just isn't posy enough

Red

[Greg]

You didn't say you had a tarp, or a bivvi bag - the British army issue ones are cheap, and good enough for starters. And eventually you'll want a hammock of course!
Knife wise, I have fairly big hands and I have no problems using the Mora, which, like everyone has already said are excellent starter knives but make sure you get a High carbon steel version and not stainless steel, although thats just my preference.
Its cheaper to buy a Bahco Laplander saw from amazon.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-lis...6010826&sr=8-1

Welcome to BCUK by the way!

[markheolddu]

If you have big hands check out the Mora hunter it has a much larger handle.

mark

[Shinken]

The helle harding is a good one to look at too, they sell them on hennie too, thats the more expensive bracket. Or for about 37 pounds the helle Folkekniven
is a good one in the cheaper bracket

[sxmolloy]

For a DIY job a look at the Frosts Lapplander 90 or 75 knife blanks may be worth while. Costing approx only £20.00 they are very good, and with a little file work shower a good deal of sparks from a fero rod. A member on here has just handled one for me and it's the dogs dooda's IMO.

Heres a place where they sell the blade blanks: http://www.survivalschool.co.uk/acat..._and_Saws.html

ATB....Stu

[woodstock]

Has anyone tried the mora 740 it seems pretty cheap for what looks like a quality knife

[bushwacker bob]

If you fancy putting a handle on a knife you could buy a mora and a frosts pukko blade from attleboroughs and still have change from £20.Then you have a knife to use and one that you could make to your spec.

[woodstock]

Got the knife today the mora 740 what a great bit of kit for the money does what it says on the label and what a shower of sparks it produces from the Swedish fire steel

[sharp88]

Im actually thinking of putting the F1 down and using the Frosts original mora knife. Just so much easier to maintain.

[gorilla]

frosts clipper is a great knife for starters - i have huge hands, and have carved loads of stuff with the clipper without getting sore hands.easy to sharpen with a DC3/4, and for £8-10, you can't go wrong

[woodstock]

Im actually thinking of putting the F1 down and using the Frosts original mora knife. Just so much easier to maintain.

You can't go wrong considering what I have paid in the past for custom knifes and they have not been all that and then pay less than a tenner and get a decent blade what can I say

[reddeath]

excellent stuff guys thanks very much - i have a carbon clipper on route to me
cheers
Andy