Yet Another Knife Thread: Outdoors/Survival

[sensei_kyle]

I'd like to hear what people's thoughts are on outdoor knives. I started backpacking last year. Our trips are usually 3-7 days, and sometimes in very remote wilderness areas where there is no cell service. After my first trip last year I started rethinking alot of my gear choices. I typically carry a Swiss Champ and a 4" fixed blade. I've been thinking of upgrading that fixed blade to more of a multi-purpose capable, more heavy-duty knife.

Opinions?

[Wildtim]

I used to carry a Swiss army knife as well but then I couldn't find it once so took my Leatherman instead. It's amazing how many tasks having a set of good pliers made easier. From cooking dinner to tying tight knots it really helped. Other than that I usually also have a fixed blade or large folder, something big enough to make a weapon or good hunting knife. I don't have any real favorite knife or brand for this, my only criteria is cheep enough to lose but capable of holding a good edge.

[Chopper]

I've had my eye on one of these for a while, it looks like a very multi-purpose knife that has an incorporated sharpener in the sheath.

I'm thinking that I'll pick one up soon for hiking and camping in the summer.

Maybe someone already has one of these and can elaborate a little more.

Btw this store is the cheapest I've found online.

[gratewhitehuntr]

There are many things a knife cannot do. Like be a small axe.

I used to spend lots of time in the woods, as in "Pick me up 20 miles downriver in a week".

I have found a small axe to be a wonderfully useful tool, as much or even more than a knife. It makes a far more formidable weapon too.

http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/st...html?s=GB41420

it even has a saw in the handle, or get it without.

I switched to the nylon Zytel handles long ago because they take around 1 pound off the weight and still swing very nicely.
This one is coated in rubber which should make for wonderful gripping.
Go to Walmart and look at a Gerber Gator knife in sporting goods.
It should be the same feel on the handle.

get a leatherman(whatever brand you like) and a medium fixed blade, like 4 inches.

and an extra compass or two, nothing fancy, just those "stack of three quarters" sized ones.
Lost my compass once, no idea where it went. Maybe a goddamn raccoon took it or something.
I was in the middle of nowhere walking back to camp from a coyote shoot in the pitch black and MAN did that suck.

Get a spool of the strongest "spider braid" you can find, at least 40#.
60# would be better, splurge and find some 100, 150 maybe.
if you put it on a smaller spool (like one out of the front of a Zebco 330) it makes a decent handline and one hell of a good version of emergency rope, especially since 100 yards of it fits in a matchbox and it weighs almost nothing.

I like a pile of leaves covered with a foil emergency type blanket. I think they are mylar. does a good job of reflecting body heat so the ground doesn't feel cold and packs nice.
add a decent mosquito net over top of you and it beats the pants of toting a tent.
Damn, that reminds me of a joke, maybe in my next post.

get the pure DEET insect repellent, why carry a big can that doesn't work so good?
Put a couple of drops in you hand and add spit or use hand cream(what kind of a man takes lotion to the woods?) to make it easier to apply evenly.

if the deer flies get to buzzing around your head but won't land (thank god)
1) stop 2) lean your head back as if looking at the sky 3) hold your hands up in front of your face about 4 inches apart like you are praying
the flies will think they are your ears and land so you can swat them.
they are actually pretty slow to take off and make easy kills, it shouldn't take more than 2 mins to kill 5 or 6 flies if you're good

2 mins you ask??? seems like a lot right? imagine how long it's gonna itch if one of dem sumbitches bites you! longer than 2 mins to be sure!

don't forget the salt, pepper, brown sugar (all for curing fish), and saltpeter(sodium nitrite) what do you need a hard-on in the woods for anyway??

[mhailey]

http://www.m4040.com/Survival/Ghurka...dification.htm

here is what I did. although I also agree with the leatherman given the pliers and their endless usefulness.

edit: not my website, and I stole his idea

[BabyJoe]

All you need is a small knife, a medium knife and a huge knife. You can comprise though and have only two.
My setup:
1) Opinel 10 or Victorinox Spartan
2) Fallkniven F1
3) Himalaya imports 18" Khukuri (this is a heavy duty MTF, nothing can take it)

If you only want two, I would do this:
Fallkniven F1, Fallkniven A2

[gratewhitehuntr]

the problem with the Khukri idea is that many of them aren't designed very well.

I don't mean like a crap handle. I mean where the weight is in the blade.

This is a lot to read but here is a link about optimum point of impact.
If you like large edged weapons this may be facinating to you.

most Khukri knives I have seen have the point WAY too far back. Like 3 inches in front of the handle.

Look towards the bottom at the "mass distribution" part
http://www.thearma.org/spotlight/GTA...nd_impacts.htm

not to shoot down your idea Mr.Hailey

BTW, I have heard good things about Himilayan Imports IIRC.

Even the biggest Ghurka knife won't be a axe, even a small axe.
.

also, the physics are better for having the weight all at the end of a handle instead of a long blade and it is going to weigh more for the same chopping power.

I dare someone to take a 2.5 lb Khukri up against my 2.5 lb axe in a felling contest on even small trees.
or cutting downed logs into fire wood

[sensei_kyle]

Has anyone seen this knife, used or know someone who has?
http://www.savsonswordsandknives.com/totombrse.html

This is the knife used in the Tommy Lee Jones/Benecio del Torro movie "The Hunted". It isn't a fighting knife, but is supposed to be the jack of all trades outdoors knife. Use it as an axe, saw, gut hook, etc. This knife seems to be both loved and hated.

I'm all about carrying multiple instruments in different sizes to accomplish different tasks. I debated long and hard about my Gerber Multitool versus the Swiss Champ. In the end I went with the SwissChamp because it has a few more features.

My backpack buddy and I have debated about saws, hatchets & axes. The last trip we opted to use downed wood only. The SwissChamp has a sawblade, which is one reason it went the pack instead of the Gerber.

[Wildtim]

Man guess I'm a cheepskate! the most expensive knif I have ever taken into the backcountry is my $30.00 Leatherman. I always pack my fuel in though, If I were planing on using wood I would carry a hatchet or buy this:

http://www.campingsurvival.com/woodpalam.html

Seems like it would so the same job as a hatchet plus a few more.

[mhailey]

GW

I don't care if you disagree with me. I just don't have the wherewithall to carry an axe and a large knife while I'm backpacking. TOO HEAVY. I would rather save that weight for food, and have a knife that is a jack of all trades, master of none.