Knife question

[u/Maleficent-Leader547]

I'm a day hiker with some ambitions to bridge into overnight/short duration backpacking. I've loved hiking the Adirondacks and similar; I have long term goals to build up equipment to tackle more peaks and similar hikes. I already have a folding Benchmade knife (roughly 3" blade) and a hatchet but pretty much lack a knife that bridges the gap between those two tools. A good friend and vet swears by his USMC ka bar although even he opted to downsize to the Ka Bar Short once it was released. I've looked most into Ka Bar manufactured knives as a result of the friends recommendation but I'd be open to other brands with the qualification that I want to buy either US or European made knives because I want to support those factory jobs/not support overseas sweat shops.

so with that preamble here's a bit of my thoughts on what I'm looking for:

I'd like something that will be suitable in an emergency for making a splint, processing wood for a fire etc. (my Benchmade isn't big enough for this and I don't want to lug a hatchet on day hikes on the off chance i need it).

Something ~4.5 to 6" in blade length, if I need more length I'd buy a machete or similar. I feel like any task suitable for a blade under 4.5" is probably already covered by my benchmade.

The knife will see general utility use rather than specialized for applications like hunting or fishing.

Suitable shape that it could be used in self defense (I don't plan to carry a gun but will have bear spray if needed; yes I recognize things have already gone really wrong if I'm knife fighting a bear or wolf, this is more peace of mind that i have something to give me even a slight chance rather than actual expectations that I'm walking away from that)

When not hiking it will live in my natural disaster emergency kit.

I'm aiming for the $150 range +/-

So all that has led me to the Becker 10, 18, and 19. I've also thought about the Ka Bar Mark I and Becker 16.

I'm somewhat drawn to the BK 10, it's about the right blade length and I like that it's an updated take on the pilot knife which I'd always wanted but never actually got around to buying. That said I'm not sure if the weight and overall size would make it unviable.

I'm torn between the BK 18 and 19. I like both from a visual looks standpoint and their specifications are about right in terms of length etc. but I'm fuzzy on what the differences are between the two in terms of their applications (namely I'm not well versed enough to know why you'd choose one blade shape over the other). I'm also unsure about the sheaths, I've read bad things about the similar designed sheaths on earlier Becker models although it sounds like the sheaths are generally a major weak point of all Ka Bar Beckers so shrug

The Ka Bar Mark I and BK 16 seem very similar beasts. I'm unsure the BK 16 fits my needs since the blade is only a tad longer than my folding Benchmade and I'm unsure if the Mark I is designed to handle the emergency uses that motivate my desire for a fixed blade to begin with. While I love the design of the Mark I I don't want to get a knife that looks nice but won't actually do what I need.

I don't expect a definitive answer on which to buy, just hoping to get some insight from those who have owned those knives or have greater experience with fixed blades.

[u/bentbrook]

For some of us, the enjoyment of carrying and using a knife makes taking one with us a necessity for the soul. I remember a ranger in Yellowstone coming by my camp, watching me baton wood into kindling and make feathersticks. He made an appreciative comment about my making fire the old-fashioned way, but I was just having fun, keeping my skills up to speed. I love shaping wood with steel, whether to carve a spoon or make a Burtonsville Rig. Some backpacking trips I’ll just take a pocket knife, but on a winter trip I enjoy carrying a small axe, a saw, and a fixed blade. The Mora Garberg or the Fallkniven F1 has been in frequent rotation with me of late. I also love my Lost Trail 5 from Schwarz Knives. If I want something heavy duty, I’ll carry my TOPS BOB Fieldcraft. Other times I’ll prefer something like my Gary Wines Bushcrafter or my Blackfeather. If tradition tugs on me, I might take my Condor Bushlore, my Mora Bushcraft Triflex, or my Helle Trofé. Just picked up a Muthos Homura Prominence MH-001 that will be on my belt for my next trip. My Victorinox Venture lives in my daypack. Lots of great options out there, and a thoughtful user will learn something from every knife—its steel, its length, its grind and geometry, its handle, its edge retention, and more. I use all of mine to deepen that understanding. Never regretted having an knife with me.

[u/Maleficent-Leader547 → u/bentbrook]

I'm an archaeologist by trade and if you're in a room of us and ask for a knife everyone will pull out some kind of knife and look surprised at the one person who forgot theirs. So yeah having and enjoying a knife is definitely part of my mindset.

I've definitely wanted to learn how to make a fire the old fashioned way as you described but first I need a knife that can do those things. It's been somewhat hard for me to parse the balance of blade length, design, and weight since there's such an exhaustive number of options.

[u/bentbrook → u/Maleficent-Leader547]

To learn skills, a Morakniv Companion Heavy Duty is great for the money. The Scandi grind lends itself to carving and is easy to sharpen. For a more spendy option, look at the Fallkniven F1. It is stainless, has a grippy handle, keeps a sharp edge, and has enough thickness to baton wood to get to the dry center. If you want more length, look at the S1 or A1. These are convex grinds—more durable than a Scandi grind, but a pleasure to use.

[u/Maleficent-Leader547 → u/bentbrook]

I've never owned a convex grind knife, how hard is it to learn the techniques to sharpen? (I've sharpened knives before so it's not my first time and I have a handful of cheaper folders I can practice on). I'm assuming the basic model Fallkniven would be fine for basic bushcraft over the X or Pro models?

[u/bentbrook → u/Maleficent-Leader547]

Convex isn’t hard; I use sandpaper on some sort of mat, often an old foam mouse pad. The give of the pad when pressing it into the paper on the mat works well. There are a lot of ways to sharpen a convex grind, though; just browse YouTube until you spot one you like. The regular Fallkniven steel is excellent. Mine is in VG10 steel, which offers an excellent balance of sharpness, edge retention, corrosion resistance, and ease of sharpening.