Advice for a newbie: to buy just a blade and complete the knife or buy a complete

[DiDi]

Hey guys, im a complete newcomer to bushcraft but am thinking that a good knife is a priority for starting out. Id be after a pretty all purpose knife, however will be doing a fair bit of woodwork with it.

Im on quite a tight budget, wouldnt want to spend much over £50 and so want to know whats the best way to get a good knife for the money, as i see it I have two options:

1. Buy a complete knife (any advice on a good one for the money would be great)
2. Buy a blade and make my own handle (any advice on a good blade, handle design etc).

Im leaning towards 2 as I guess I can get a better knife for cheaper, and I would be far more satisfying to own a knife that you have put some creativity into. Im pretty good with wood/carpentry stuff but is it a bit ambitious to try putting a handle on a blade with little experience?

Any thoughts/ideas/advice would be great. Cheers

[MushiSushi]

Option 1: get yourself a Frost Mora (http://www.axminster.co.uk/mora-craftline-allround-knife-prod793241/)

Option 2: get yourself an Enzo kit (https://www.brisa.fi/portal/index.php?option=com_oscommerce&osMod=index&cPath=119_103_133)

[Basemetal]

Good advice :)

[MushiSushi]

Option 2B. pick a blade (https://www.brisa.fi/portal/index.php?option=com_oscommerce&osMod=index&cPath=94) ;)

[teknohippy]

If you go for option 2 then see this tutorial here: http://www.britishblades.com/forums/content.php?23-Low-Tech-Enzo-Tutorial, a quick read will reassure you that you aren't being over ambitious.

[parbajtor]

Smallholder often sells bushcrafters for around that price, or you could PM him for a blade.

Or there's this
http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?97951-Bushie-Woodie-full-knife-making-kits-FS&highlight=bushie+kits

PM. Paul Hardwick if you can't view the thread

[DiDi]

Cheers guys,

with the Mora being so cheap may even go for both option 1 and 2.....

Is it a lot harder to put a handle on a non full tang blade? (im still getting to grips with terminology).

And for option 2B (https://www.brisa.fi/portal/index.php?option=com_oscommerce&osMod=index&cPath=94) are there any blades that are particularly recommended?

[ngraudal]

Is it a lot harder to put a handle on a non full tang blade? (im still getting to grips with terminology).


Depends who you ask, I find it more difficult with the fulltang, I guess it is a matter of taste and oppinnion.

I would say go for 2 Moras, one in stainless- and one in Carbonsteel, that is an easy and cheap way to see wich kind of steel suits you performance/maintenance wise :)

[Everything Mac]

You will find that a Mora knife will come highly recommended from just about anyone. (ordering myself one soon)

as far as handling a knife goes - I personally find it easier to handle a full tang blade - particularly if you buy ready made scales.

All the best
Andy

[flexo]

Cheers guys,

with the Mora being so cheap may even go for both option 1 and 2.....

Is it a lot harder to put a handle on a non full tang blade? (im still getting to grips with terminology).

And for option 2B (https://www.brisa.fi/portal/index.php?option=com_oscommerce&osMod=index&cPath=94) are there any blades that are particularly recommended?

every one says it's easier to put a handle on a full tang but i prefer to work on a thru tang.
you could choose any blade on brisa site.
enzo are pretty well famous,and you can have full tang or thru tang (and a blind tang if you cut it...)
you can also choose a lauri pt,or even a mora to handle,i heard good things about polar blades too.
lauri stainless are'nt bad.
well you choose even several blades,i think it is buscrafty to make our own knife handle,it's a skill we might have to practice in some way in the wilderness...

[cave_dweller]

Cheers guys,

with the Mora being so cheap may even go for both option 1 and 2.....

Is it a lot harder to put a handle on a non full tang blade? (im still getting to grips with terminology).

And for option 2B (https://www.brisa.fi/portal/index.php?option=com_oscommerce&osMod=index&cPath=94) are there any blades that are particularly recommended?

Even better! I started with a Clipper, then ended up at Knives UK and got an Enzo Trapper kit. It's a good idea to have a spare, and with Moras available for £5 (scan today's threads for details) it's silly not to have one.

I'm a numpty - if I can build an Enzo, anybody can. I rate the Enzo Trapper as a very good "allrounder" for bushcraft. Mine has been on a few camping trips and has done almost all typical camping chores. The next choice is which steel - I went for D2 (to be honest I didn't know there was a choice at the time - I picked it up because I like the scales) and I found the blade chips a bit - others have had no problems at all.

Whatever you choose, enjoy it.

[Tim-Gabz]

I have always battled with a through tang, did one, and as a result have a box of the Frost laminate blades still waiting (6years) for fitting. I have fitted the full tang Frost 115s (and 90s) easily and they make a superb upgrade of the Mora. Similar in blade shape but 3mm thick in lieu of 2mm. The Mora is decent, excellent handle, but a little under specked (Botswana does't have knife restrictions either).

The carbon laminates are very good on cutting but I could never reconcile the high up keep. I still have a mint laminate Mora in the box with the other blades.

What I make I use (12c27 sandvik) 2.5mm minimum for kitchen and utility. 4mm for out doors. However my journey started with fitting out the Frost full tang and I learn't one heck about shapes and uses.