Greetings and salutations.
I'm a long time lurker here - I had an account once long ago, but can't remember what it is/was.
Anyway, in response to the headlamp giveaway I thought I would start a thread about my favorite piece of gear, knives.
Ever since my grandfather gave me my first knife as a kid, I've had a close relationship w/ the knives I carry with me daily and/or use for specific tasks. If I don't have one on me, I feel naked.
There are many options out there to choose from, but I'll list a few of my favorites from least expensive to most.
Opinel: a longstanding French designed and made folding knife, the most popular of which is their no. 8. It has a locking collar that can be turned to keep the knife safe (won't close on fingers) when opened. You can choose it in either a stainless or carbon steel. I prefer the carbon steel as it develops character as a patina develops (force a patine w/ acidic substances such as vinegar, mustard, citrus juice, etc... this will keep it from rusting). They are sharp and run below $10.Mora / Morakniv of Sweden Fixed blade knives made in Sweden. They can be purchased in multiple steel types: stainless, carbon, and laminated. They are extremely sharp and hold up well for most light tasks. Their most popular versions can be purchased for under $20 although they also have recently developed models that range up into the $70+ price range. They have long been considered a definitive "bushcrafting" knife as they can accomplish most tasks one may need in the woods camping / hiking. They are also extremely handy around the homestead for tasks that a smaller folding knife may not be suitable for. Condor Knives Made in El Salvador with a very large line of knives and some axes / tomahawks / machetes. They produce their sharps in stainless and carbon steels. From large to small you can find a variety of their knives to suit a multitude of tasks around the homestead. Most of their knives are reasonably priced under the $50 mark with some of their more specialized blades going for higher.Bark River Knives Semi custom knives made in Michigan. These are made in a variety of tool and hi-tech steels with customized handles. They are quite a bit more expensive than the other knives I have listed thus far coming in typically above $150. As of right now they produce mainly fixed blade belt knives. All of their knives have a lifetime no questions asked warranty. Adventure Sworn Produces fully custom works of art in upstate New York (Adirondacks). Their knives come in at $200+ but are crafted to last. They are designed mainly around "bushcrafting" tasks meaning that they are highly versatile blades.
So there's a small sampling of some of the knives out there that I love and use on a regular basis (excepting the Adventure Sworn which is on my wish list).
What knives do you find useful around the homestead?
