Author Topic: KNIVES (Read 7756 times)

williamlayton · « **on:** November 01, 2005, 01:32:18 AM »

What kind of knife would you consider too be a one choice, all around, do all??
Blessings

gino · « **Reply #1 on:** November 01, 2005, 03:55:05 AM »

Boy did you just open up a big can of worms! I've seen this question start 200+ post flame wars on other forums.
Just for openers where you are is a big factor i.e. rainforest=machete taiga=axe. Then comes the question what are you going to use the knife for?
All that being said in my BOB I have a 12" machete, a Frost's Mora SWAK & a Vic Rucksack SAK. Total cost about $50. If I had to choose just one it would be the Rucksack, nice size locking blade & a great saw blade. FWIW
gino

BamBams · « **Reply #2 on:** November 02, 2005, 05:28:20 AM »

Tough choice!

I would take my Swiss Army Knife. It's loaded with tools and gadgets. It has back up blades, and magnifying glass that I could use to start fires with.

If I didn't take my Swiss Army Knife, I'd take my buckmaster 184. It's a heavy duty survival knife (was issued to the Navy Seals) and it holds a bunch of white tip matches in the handle.

Swamp Yankee · « **Reply #3 on:** November 07, 2005, 03:10:22 PM »

Like Gino said, a lot of factors to consider.................My daily carry knife is a Gerber para frame. For survival my 5" Ka-Bar Marine knife. For the streets of Providence my Puma lock-back, but only one huh? Don't laugh, my old Boy Scout knife.............Jim

mrlizzzard · « **Reply #4 on:** November 07, 2005, 04:37:09 PM »

I went to a plastic handle China cheapy with a saw SS blade.Got a dozen from a vender at a fair I did.They have a pocket clip which I wear on my boot shoe lace.I've lost a couple I just reach for another.I mostly use it for cutting frozen bean containers,hammer heads and then little bitty slices of a tender tomato.

Plainsman · « **Reply #5 on:** August 16, 2006, 02:54:07 PM »

There are two primary thoughts on this:
1) You can make a BIG knife do big and little jobs...
2) Multiple blades allow you to do more...

I personally feel that a 'larger' Swiss Army Knife (SAK) with a locking blade and a sawblade is one of the absolute best survival knives a person can own. My own choice is a One Handed Trailmaster (Trekker now that they had to change the name.) But then I also don't carry 'just one' knife daily. I often have it, another smaller SAK and a SWISSTOOL on my person all at one time.

Fixed blades are nice as they are more 'robust.' I prefer 4" bladed models for most general work and have either a Simonich "Kanji" project blade, a custom Lee Boot Knife or a Scandinavian (Mora shaped) knife for this role. You can get most of your jobs accomplished with one of these four but they are a 'compromise' without a saw or a large blade.

For BIG blades, I like Becker Knife & Tool knives. I have a BK-1 Brute and a BK-9 Combat Bowie. The CB is the most user friendly and I carry it with a Victorinox Rucksack SAK in it's side pouch. This gives me the most flexibility.

If I had to take JUST ONE, it would be the OH Trailmaster!

Just my $.02 worth!

S.S. · « **Reply #6 on:** August 24, 2006, 06:48:36 AM »

K-Bar or one of the Cold Steel Recons.

RJM · « **Reply #7 on:** September 09, 2006, 08:15:29 AM »

Well everywhere I go a SRK goes with me. The one most often carried is the Victorinox Craftsman...has about everything you need and nothing you don't.

But if you are talking about a "knife" rather than a "mulitifunction tool" that the SRK or survival tools really are then for me it would probably be a 5-7" fixed blade knife. For the past 25+ years my favorite has been the Cold Steel Outdoorsman. The original had a 5.5" blade but the new release has a 6" blade. It is a very straightforward knife having a straight spine and hollow ground blade. In addition the back of the blade is sharpened into an axe for course work like splitiing kindling and chopping off leg bones saving the main cutting blade for the fine work.

For the 20 years before the Outdoorsman I carried a 5.5" Cartaugarus that my father carried in WWII. It made many shelters and fires and cut what ever needed cutting.

Bigger knives like the Cold Steel Trailmaster I have are great for making firewood, clearing paths and making shelters but try wearing one around all day every day and it gets old.. A 5-7" blade carries nicely without always being in the way and is long enough to chop with...depending of course on your blade.

But the nice thing about knives is that they are small, light, generally not overly expensive so one can have a "battery of cutting tools" without breaking the bank or your back trying to carry them...

Bob.

JeffG · « **Reply #8 on:** November 03, 2006, 05:12:21 PM »

A nice Victrinox boning knife comes close to the best "do all" knife. Filleting to self defense.

jpm · « **Reply #9 on:** November 04, 2006, 06:03:59 AM »

Swedish Mora, army issue with a 37/8 in. blade. Remarkable knife.

Almtnman · « **Reply #10 on:** November 07, 2006, 03:24:44 PM »

I have a Leatherman Wave that does pretty much what I would need. I was able to cut a small chain once with the pliers part where it has the small notch in that cutting section. Just got the chain up against that notch, clamped down and whack, it was cut. No, I wasn't breaking into something either, just had to get the chain off after losing the key. I was amazed that it cut it so easily.

hillbill · « **Reply #11 on:** November 18, 2006, 02:18:11 PM »

swedish mora? sounds interesting, anybody got a pic?maybe go with my swede mauser and swedish opinel knife?

southernpride · « **Reply #12 on:** November 23, 2006, 02:46:37 AM »

I like the Buck 119. Good knife, can skin game and defend yourself and in a pench chop wood

jrnsuz · « **Reply #13 on:** November 23, 2006, 10:04:57 AM »

Hillbill: go to Sportsman's Guide and search "mora". exact same knife for around $10.00.

jpm · « **Reply #14 on:** November 23, 2006, 03:39:53 PM »

Sportsman's is where I got mine. Bought one and was so impressed, I bought 5 more. Carbon steel and comes sharp enough to shave with. Used one all day cutting boxes and a couple of swipes on a ceramic stick, and right back to shaving sharp.

kid_couteau · « **Reply #15 on:** November 23, 2006, 03:51:03 PM »

Hi All

Do to the fact that I am not supposed to carry even a pocket knife at work I carry a SAK Farmer and dont talk much.

In the woods or a survival situation I like the following.

Mora knife in pack
SAK in pocket
Larger 5-7" bladed knife on belt
Large chopper in pack

I dont feel that one blade can do it all. I also feel that a man should have back ups.

Just a thought
Kid

victorcharlie · « **Reply #16 on:** November 23, 2006, 10:56:09 PM »

Quote from: kid_couteau on November 23, 2006, 03:51:03 PM

I dont feel that one blade can do it all. I also feel that a man should have back ups.

Just a thought
Kid

I agree. While I'm in the woods hunting I carry a leatherman tool, a very small pocket hen and rooster, and 2 sheath knives, both a thin 4", and a Buck General.

I never thought I'd like a multi-tool, but I've changed my mind. The quality of the steel in the leatherman make it a very nice knife. I carry it all the time. Plus, I use several of the screwdrivers and pliers from time to time. It's a handy little tool.......

S.B. · « **Reply #17 on:** December 14, 2006, 05:37:09 PM »

A recent showing of "I shouldn't be alive" talked about knives and their advice for a all purpose knife was a parang or khukri?

bfflobo · « **Reply #18 on:** March 19, 2007, 03:57:31 PM »

If your looking for a "swedish Mora" check out RAGWEED FORGE web site. Lots of information, selection and are great to do business with.

gray fox · « **Reply #19 on:** March 25, 2007, 07:27:00 AM »

schrade + lb7 bear paw it is good for lost of things.

LEO · « **Reply #20 on:** March 26, 2007, 06:40:06 AM »

I don't buy into the one knife for everything school of thought. As I sit here on my lunch break, I have a Case small stockman in my pocket. Clipped in one pocket is a Benchmade Automatic, and in the other pocket is a Kershaw Ken Onion series assisted opening. As a side note I would not carry the automatic if it were not agency issue and therefore I am supposed to. I like the Kershaw better as a using knife plus you can buy three of the Kershaws and lunch for what the Benchmade costs. On my web gear is a Ka-bar and a multitool and in my pack is a Mora style knife. I guess my point is most knives are small and weigh little carry more than one to fill the niches you may encounter plus if you lose one you have a spare. Remember the basic rule that one is none and two is one. Always have at least two knives, two light sources, two fire sources, two compases you get the picture, these items probably won't add two pounds to your load but may make the difference in getting home or not.

ironglow · « **Reply #21 on:** April 12, 2007, 02:57:43 PM »

Hillbill;

If you want to see a real asssortment of Scandanavian blades that include Moras ... www.ragweedforge.com

For some top notch combat/survival knives www.ontarioknife.com check out the ASEK also the Spec series...

...And they have some great "old-fashioned" carbon steel knives including the boner tyupes that JeffG suggested

Those carbon steel Old Hickory knives come at very reasonable prices..

hatchetjack · « **Reply #22 on:** May 02, 2007, 08:09:49 AM »

I like the Gerber Harsey hunter, it has a full tang design for strength, a soft rubber handle for good grip and a thick strong blade. Also the knife comes with a molded plastic sheath with a thumb retention button.

corbanzo · « **Reply #23 on:** May 08, 2007, 05:55:26 AM »

Let me tell you, nothing better than a good old spork, man those things are sure handy, especially when you have peas AND carrots.

Swift One · « **Reply #24 on:** January 29, 2009, 08:49:34 AM »

I used a good fixed blade knife for years. They are great when you need them. The one thing that I did not like about them was the size. Some of the knived seemed like you were carrying more of a sword than a knife. Then...........I discovered the Leatherman Surge. I Liked the tools on it and took a chance during a remote camping trip and took that as my only knife. WOW!!! I could not belive the uses that I was getting out of it!! However, the Surge seemed a little heavy. I bought a Leatherman Wave and I found what I think is the most versatile survival/ work tool you can have in the wilderness!! Lightweight and plenty of items on it that are multi-task functional. I will also carry a small gerber saw but in a pinch the Wave will do it.

gstewart44 · « **Reply #25 on:** January 29, 2009, 10:30:48 AM »

One Blade?

I don't think that is possible for me....

That being said for the sake of this post I would probably have to say one knife for all around use would have to be the 7" KaBar or the Cold Steel version of the Randall #1. Both are tough as nails, can handle big jobs fairly easily, can get by with small jobs.

If I could have two it would be a 12" Cold Steel Kuhkri and a 4" Voyager folder. Those two are what I use just about every trip to the hunting camp - they are easy to carry and very effective.

ironglow · « **Reply #26 on:** January 30, 2009, 08:35:42 AM »

Bill;
You visited Ontario with me, just down the road from my house. The question is difficult, since a medium/large straight blade is not interchangable with a folder, so I will just take up the straight blade here.
Bob, the pres of Ontario gave my grandson a then brand new model knife for his first deployment to Iraq as a Marine Spec Ops..he was the first military man to be "issued" the new knife (issued by co. president..LOL) This knife proved to be very useful and versatile in all the rigors that an elite trooper can put it through..and still came up smiling. What knife was it? Why, it was Ontariop's ASEK knife:

http://www.ontarioknife.com/asek.html

Next; I would be forced to reccommend Ontario's Randall training & adventure knives: http://www.ontarioknife.com/adventure.html.. But I think you may have gotten one of those, the day we visited Ontario..

BTW; you may want to take a look at their "quartermaster" knife also.

nodlenor · « **Reply #27 on:** January 31, 2009, 03:23:49 AM »

Use the one that you like best.

Different strokes for different folks!

phalanx · « **Reply #28 on:** January 31, 2009, 10:47:42 AM »

I have always liked the PUMAs ,and i have several of them.
But a Leatherman tool is hard to beat as the utility knife.
The all around knife ? i bought a PUMA Tac 2 ,DO NOT BUY these ,the pictures are deceiving.
The blade is molded only on one side ,turn it over and it is FLAT , it has some reason i am sure but for the price is a rip off.
And they cut their sheaths all to pieces.
Eickhorn-Solingen are good if you can find them ,and a SOG is a Randle rip off.
They are good knives , great for the price.
But i ended up with a Randle , it is costly but if you ever held one you see why real fast.

This is the one i bought ,people who used them in Vietnam say they are the very best bar none.
In a bad situation you don't want to find out your knife isnt worth a hoot.
http://www.nordicknives.com/RandallGAL1.php?productmodelid=R01

mrbigtexan · « **Reply #29 on:** January 31, 2009, 03:23:45 PM »

i carry a ridgid skinner, a buck crossloc, and an ol-timer. i lost a boker, it was a really good folder.