Suggestions please - cheap utility food prep knife

[AimlessWanderer]

I'm looking for a cheap portable fixed blade knife for food only. Stainless blade and easy to sharpen. No folders, no Scandi's and ideally a sheath that can be sanitised (ideally avoiding wood scales for hygiene too)

Top of the list at the moment is a Cold Steel Roach Belly. Polyprop handle, thin blade with hollow grind and a nice sweeping curve for slicing. I've had reasonable results off the Canadian Belt Knife and Finn Bear (the FB is normally primary knife for this role). I own both the CBK and FB but am considering something a little more precise. Something that can handle anything from peeling to chopping to more delicate tasks like fantail potatoes, or other thin slicing.

Are there any other options I should consider before taking the plunge on the Roach Belly?
Portable small kitchen knife - what have we got?

[jekostas]

Victorinox Fibrox 5" mini chef knife.  $16, same steel as the Roach Belly but a substantially better food prep type blade (flat stamped instead of hollow ground).  Also rated food safe.


Add a 5 inch plastic edge guard (you can get them at restaurant supply stores or online) for $2 and you're set.

[Gareth]

For a dedicated camping kitchen knife I use a.......kitchen knife!   A modern Santoku knife to be exact, that comes with it's own sheath.  Blade is about 4.5" long.

[WhichDawg]

MORA! I use a 711 or 911 and my 2000 (stainless) and they work great! Easy to sharpen, easy to clean, long time around and tested and tons of models for really cheap prices.

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

I put my old Gerber Pro Guide 950 in the camp kitchen gear we use.  I'd suggest something like a Gerber Big Rock.  You can get them in either CE or PE blades, they have removable scales for cleaning, the scales are a very grippy rubberized material, and they have a nice thick (4 mm?) blade so they can handle some tough use; I wouldn't hesitate to use the one I have for some emergency wood chopping if necessary.  They're also full flat ground as well, so they slice very nicely.  You can find them online for less than $30.  Crappy sheath though.

[rp252]

MORA! I use a 711 or 911 and my 2000 (stainless) and they work great! Easy to sharpen, easy to clean, long time around and tested and tons of models for really cheap prices.

+1 to that.  A stainless Mora seems to fit the bill nicely.  Cheap too.

[Sazabi]

The reason why I didn't mention Mora when I read the thread was because of 50ft not wanting a Scandi grind; with that in mind, I'd suggest any Victorinox/Forschner kitchen knife or even an Opinel kitchen knife.

[WhichDawg]

The reason why I didn't mention Mora when I read the thread was because of 50ft not wanting a Scandi grind; with that in mind, I'd suggest any Victorinox/Forschner kitchen knife or even an Opinel kitchen knife.

if he's gonna use it in the kitchen he's gonna have to learn to sharpen! and not many blades are as easy to sharpen as a Mora, and if he sharpens the other side (few simple passes) it won't be a Scandi anymore! lol

[theonew]

For a dedicated camping kitchen knife I use a.......kitchen knife!

Now that's what I call 'thinking outside the box'

[AimlessWanderer]

The reason I initially said no Scandi's is that they don't tend to be the best options for food as they force it apart rather than cutting it - to see what I mean try slicing an apple failry thin with a Clipper or Puukko and note how it breaks rather than slices clean. No worries on sharpening, I'm fine with that - my comments on ease of sharpening were aimed at the steel choice (no fandango steels) rather than the grind style 

I'll look into the Gerber options as I'm not familiar with their knives, though I think thick blades may be counter productive for the same reason as the Scandi's

There's something quite wholesome and poetic about using a kitchen knife as a kitchen knife  I'm all up for that providing it has a sheath - for what I'm wanting I'll need a sheath rather than just a blade guard. I only trust blade guards if they're sitting in a drawer, not if a rucksack etc. So basically, that's what I'm looking for - a 4" to 5" kitchen utility knife in a sheath 

[Gareth]

I totally agree with scandi's not making great kitchen knives, your apple example is exactly why.  Just the same issue with potatoes, carrots etc.  I'd definitely stick to looking for a flat ground, thin blade for general food prep.

Here's the one I use:




There's no belt attachment on the sheath, but normally it's being chucked in my camp utensils box or in a bag, so it really doesn't need one.  Has a couple of retaining 'lugs' inside the mouth of the sheath that nicely hold the knife in place.  Never been an issue yet.  Even better it was only £5 from TK Maxx.

[jekostas]

I totally agree with scandi's not making great kitchen knives, your apple example is exactly why.  Just the same issue with potatoes, carrots etc.  I'd definitely stick to looking for a flat ground, thin blade for general food prep.

There's very little a true scandi grind is actually good at.  There's a reason why Mora's have secondary bevels, even if they're very small.

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

I totally agree with scandi's not making great kitchen knives, your apple example is exactly why.  Just the same issue with potatoes, carrots etc.  I'd definitely stick to looking for a flat ground, thin blade for general food prep.

Here's the one I use:
(Image removed from quote.)

(Image removed from quote.)

There's no belt attachment on the sheath, but normally it's being chucked in my camp utensils box or in a bag, so it really doesn't need one.  Has a couple of retaining 'lugs' inside the mouth of the sheath that nicely hold the knife in place.  Never been an issue yet.  Even better it was only £5 from TK Maxx.

Santoku's are great food prep knives, though I find the whole thing with the channeling on the blade to reduce food stickage to be barely effective.  The best thing about them is their blade shape; it's excellent for slicing, which is most of what one does with a kitchen knife.  They're harder to use for fine chopping and mincing though... a traditional chef's knife with more belly that allows you to rock the blade more works better for me for that.

[AimlessWanderer]

I totally agree with scandi's not making great kitchen knives, your apple example is exactly why.  Just the same issue with potatoes, carrots etc.  I'd definitely stick to looking for a flat ground, thin blade for general food prep.

Here's the one I use:
(Image removed from quote.)

(Image removed from quote.)

There's no belt attachment on the sheath, but normally it's being chucked in my camp utensils box or in a bag, so it really doesn't need one.  Has a couple of retaining 'lugs' inside the mouth of the sheath that nicely hold the knife in place.  Never been an issue yet.  Even better it was only £5 from TK Maxx.

That is a nice looking knife Gareth, and to be honest I've never used the Japanese style knives. Am I right in thinking these tend to be chisel ground? 

I have found another contender, and a Mora at that - but a thin one:
http://www.heinnie.com/Knives/Mora-Knives/Mora-Craft-Line-Flexi-Knife/p-92-304-4271/
Having a flexible blade doesn't fill me with confidence for chopping duties though or for harder veg 

There's got to be a Mora priced, Mora sized, Roach Belly shaped FFG blade somewhere. The 5" Seaman's knife in the Big Knife Passaround looks like a contender too as Nowills/Adams do them in stainless as well as carbon - but I'm back to a wooden handle and leather sheath 

[jekostas]

That is a nice looking knife Gareth, and to be honest I've never used the Japanese style knives. Am I right in thinking these tend to be chisel ground? 

Actually, Santokus tend *not* to be chisel ground knives.  Sashimi knives are the generally the chisel ground ones.

[Gareth]

That is a nice looking knife Gareth, and to be honest I've never used the Japanese style knives. Am I right in thinking these tend to be chisel ground? 

Actually, Santokus tend *not* to be chisel ground knives.  Sashimi knives are the generally the chisel ground ones.

I really know very little about Japanese knives, but that's certainly true of this one.  No chisel grinds to be found here.

[Carlos]

What about a "necker" type, like the Izula? It has the shape geometry you seem to want and you can fit it a custom handle.

These guys have made a custom clone of it, lower priced, eg. http://bushcraft-pt.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=1515&start=495#p39561. There have been good reviews about it.

[jzmtl]

I have a blade guard that is two hinged half fold and lock onto blade, very secure. Found it at lock kitchen supply store, maybe try that if you don't think a regular blade guard will stay on.

Sent from my phone using tap tap tap

[AimlessWanderer]

It's a good job Christmas is just around the corner and I can't spare the funds or I'd have just snatched up a cluster of knives I think. Marbles Outdoors Safe Grip Fieldcraft, Cold Steel Roach Belly, John Nowills Rabbitter, Svord General Outdoors & Svord Pig Sticker  ... the internet ... your wallet's worst enemy

I think the Izula is a bit small, and having thought through some of the other options I think the Roach Belly seems to currently be one of the few that offers "knuckle room" when chopping i.e. laying the blade flat along a chopping board. Maybe looking for safe/secure carry options for a 5" cooks knife is the way to go after all  Any kydex sheath makers in the UK?

Jzmtl - Sorry mate, I'm struggling to get my noggin around that blade guard. Got any pics?

[AimlessWanderer]

Well I've made a decision to hold on on new purchases on this for a while, and give some of my other knives a serious culinary workout. Boxing Day's tradition for me is to visit some friends and we have our own Christmas Day affectionately known as the day of food. A couple of years ago I did a 10 course meal up there, but it'll just be a humble cooked breakfast and 5 course midday meal this time round.

I've decided to take the following to compliment (or compensate for) his kitchen knives:

Outdoor Edge Wedge  (should be a good move for detail work I reckon)
Cold Steel Finn Bear   (Utility knife chores)
Cold Steel Bushman    (Chefs knife chores)

Even if they don't do what I want, at least I'll have a better feel of what I do need next time

[bladechick777]

You Could Check Out Kershaw's Kitchen Knives. All Kinds Of Colors And Many For Anything You'd Like To Used Them For, And They're Very Wallet Friendly. 

[AimlessWanderer]

Well the three I chose did an excellent job of cooking on Boxing Day. The Bushman did an excellent job of the red cabbage and chopping duties, the Finn Bear picking up most of the other chores. The Wedge did OK at the finer tasks too. The only thing tht got me worried was that one I turned my back on one of the knives at somepoint while I was busy doing something, and didn't notice that one of the mates decided to be helpful  - she grabbed the Finn Bear to wash it, then jjust threw it in the draining rack with all the other metal items like she does with  her knives. Festive spirit prevailed and I didn't throw a paddy - I just let her see me inspecting it carefully and take a steel to it for a few minutes before putting it in it's sheath.

I think I'll still be keeping my eyes open for more culinary leaning sheath knives but also consider looking at getting a knife roll with some good kitchen gear in too. I'll take a look at the Kershaws, thanks for the pointer Jessie

[AimlessWanderer]

Necro 

Just jumping back into this topic, I have found that the Cold Steel Bushman has been a good Chefs Knife at times, but the best food utility knife I have found to date has been the Cold Steel Roach Belly. The Finn Bear is not a bad knife at all, and does have good grip when wet or with oily/slippy food stuffs, but the Roach Belly has been a joy to use, and I find the blade better than the Finn Bear for food, even if the FB has the better hendle traction. I still felt the Roach Belly was a bit of a compromise though, and not quite was I was looking for in a blade ...

... but I might have FINALLY found my ideal knife for the task

I was just having a browse through Heinnies, and sifted through all the fixed blades under £35, and when I clocked eyes on a particular knife, I thought "THAT'S IT, THAT'S IT!!!" Here appears to be the knife I wanted that nobody was offering. It might not be to everybody's taste, but here's what I have just placed an order for

Show content

http://www.heinnie.com/boker-plus-knives-tuf

It's out of stock at the moment, so they're going to have to back order it. I really hope it's still available. I've not been this excited about a new knife for a very long time. If this proves to be the knife I was looking for, my grail hunt may finally be over 

[Gareth]

That really does look to be a strong contender.   Hope you can get your hands on it soon.

[SteveC]

Nice looking knife   

Looks like you could get it from Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/B%C3%B6ker-02BO295-Boker-Plus-Knife/dp/B004OVV9HE

[AimlessWanderer]

Heinnies are currently advising 2-3 weeks as a rough guide, but from experience the back ordered items sometimes take a little longer. I opted to get it from Heinnies purely for ease and reliability.

There are a couple of vid reviews out on it, and there is a guy using it for bushcrafty stuff, although he seems to be struggling with his technique a bit, which might not give a good reflection of what the knife can/cannot do. He says that the sheath is effectively left handed (which might interest a few bods on here) although another reviewer say that is because it is designed for carrying inside clothing rather than outside ...  For my purposes it would be pack carried anyway, so it's probably no real biggie either way for me once I get used to it.

[cbl51]

What I carry on camping and hiking trips just for food use, is a Victorinox serrated paring knife. It comes with a plastic blade cover, and the whole thing can be didpped in boiling water in the field to sanitize. It cuts like a laser, and slices an apple in almost wafer thin pieces with almost no effort. The serations are easy to sharpen with an Eze-Lap diamond hone that looks like a little ball point pen. I love these things, and the fact that they are all of 7 or 8 dollars with sheath, is gravy on the potatoes. And I think a good size feather may be heavier.

[AimlessWanderer]

Nice one  I don't recall seeing those with sheaths over here. I'll have a look around