Hello everyone,
New to tribe, nice to be here.
I know very little about knives. I've owned one in my life when I was living in the forests in Oregon.. I don't remember what kind it was. The guy at the store told me it was quality, so I trusted him. My friends oooed and ahhhed over it.. very nice. Umm, so I lost it.
Anyhoo.. now I'm looking to buy a new one. I'm looking for quality. I'd like an all purpose type knife, used mainly for wilderness survival type stuff.
I'm looking for any info and advice ya'll have to offer me.. like where to buy one, and what kind.
Thanks so much!
New to tribe, nice to be here.
I know very little about knives. I've owned one in my life when I was living in the forests in Oregon.. I don't remember what kind it was. The guy at the store told me it was quality, so I trusted him. My friends oooed and ahhhed over it.. very nice. Umm, so I lost it.
Anyhoo.. now I'm looking to buy a new one. I'm looking for quality. I'd like an all purpose type knife, used mainly for wilderness survival type stuff.
I'm looking for any info and advice ya'll have to offer me.. like where to buy one, and what kind.
Thanks so much!
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Re: Wilderness survival knife?
Sat, April 30, 2005 - 11:41 PM -
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Re: Wilderness survival knife?
Sun, May 1, 2005 - 12:30 AMThanks Christopher.
I also just joined bladeforums.. lots and lots of talk about knives. Wow.. do I have a lot to learn. :) -
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Re: Wilderness survival knife?
Sun, May 1, 2005 - 8:25 AMlook here: www.knifeforums.com/ and for survival: bishop85gt.proboards31.com/index.cgi
The fist tool I'd get would be a Victorinox Swiss Army Knife with a wood saw...like a Huntsman.
todd -
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Re: Wilderness survival knife?
Thu, September 1, 2005 - 11:43 AM
For survival you only need to think about a few things unless you're trying to avoid law-enforcement (then you need to think about alot more than just knives) They are basically:
A.) Staying warm (or cool) from the elements until you can be found.
B.) Making temporary shelter (s)
C.) Hunting and or defense
For this you want a knife with a single edge blade that also has partial sawtooth on the cutting edge. Heavy enough so that you could use it to whack-off small branches and the saw tooth is immensely helpful here. This is for fire (signaling or warmth) and making lean-toos. You'll also want a shiney blade for signalling using the sun.
You also have to consider defending yourself by making a spear. You can attempt to spear small game or fish or keep dangerous animals at bay. In that instance you'll want a knife that is big enough to use as a spear-point attached with bootlaces or whatever.
For unimpeachable advice I'd contact the people at BOSS (Boulder Outdoor Survival School) and they'll probably echo some of my post.
You don't need to pack-around a giant Bowie knife nor do you need one with a million gadgets. But there is at least one company out there that is making a knife specifically for survival.
It has a hollow handle that contains matches, fishing line and hooks and some other stuff. The bottom of the handle has a compass built into it, but if you know some basic survival skills and don't plan on being in the bush for weeks you don't need all that. Good luck.
Swaz
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PS. Go with a wood or steel handle. If you drop one with plastic and the handle shatters it could make things alot more difficult for you.
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Re: Wilderness survival knife?
Wed, September 7, 2005 - 3:06 PMHello Rebekah, quite new myself to this tribe in particular and also new to the whole tribe-thingy as such. Interesting but still trying to find some people who are likeminded. Your question is a very interesting one and as i have been going on extended survivalhikes for the last 10 years or so i felt i write you a note with some of the things i found out over the years.
. you need to do several different chores/tasks in survival situation so you actually need 3 different kinds of blades.
. but definitely not in one knifepackage!!!!
. most of the tasks/chores consist of carving, cutting or others for which a medium seized blade is quite suitable.
. a sturdy non-folding blade of about 15 centimeters should do well. It should made out of one piece with a full tang and be kept absolutely razor sharp!!
. remember that chopping wood (larger than small branches) with a knife is very tiresome and can be dangerous. An small axe is much better suited for that.
. the materiel of which the handle is made must be comfortable to hold (even after a while); be non-slip materiel; not of a plastic-like stuff.
. do not buy a knife that is sold as a survivalknife with a build-in compass, 15 blades, a gps and the Lord knows what (excuse my language).
. think KISS (keep it simple stupid!)
. preferably buy a knife with a coating (to prevent easy rusting 'cause ALL metal will rust) but also one that you can use to start a fire (and when you have a fire, a shelter, water and food life becomes more enjoyable).
. and survival is not about starting that fire (although when it is wet 'n cold IT IS crucial that you do! Survival is about staring the fire within.
. being in the outdoors during a survivalhike is being close to nature and trying to find a way to be part of it and life with it. There's no other outdoor pursuit that gives you that reward.
Enjoy while you are outthere and never takes a change you don't have to (always have a back-up plan).
It's getting rather late here and tomorrow is another early rise but when i feel i left out something i will be back. For you, if you have any questions feel free to get in touch.
Take care, stay well.
Eric. -
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Re: Wilderness survival knife?
Sat, April 15, 2006 - 12:58 AMa-man , Can you recommend some specific knives of the types you recommended, with links to descriptions, photos and purchase perhaps of these particular knives?
Included in sub-categories for each of the three types you mentioned?
Thanks for the interesting post.
Aaron
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Re: Wilderness survival knife?
Thu, August 10, 2006 - 12:12 AMDear Rebekah
I've had good luck using my Tracker Knife made by Topps. It is by no means cheap, usually costing over 300 dollars, but it is well made and VERY versatile. It now comes in two sizes. My wife and I have used it to create shelters, trim limbs, and she used it to make a bow. Worked darn well too. Another good knife, though perhaps not as versatile is the USMC KaBar.
I have small hands for a man, and will probably purchase the smaller Tracker Knife, and let my wife keep the larger version. If you saw the movie The Hunted, with Tommy Lee Jones and Benicio Del Toro, that was the knife which was highlighted in the film. Though it was shown as fighting weapon, Tom Brown (whom I have the honor of knowing) designed it primarily as a tool making knife. It works.
You can usually find one or two being sold on eBay. Warning...they are devilishly hard to sharpen, but keep an edge for a long time once you do. I have mine professional sharpened when needed.
Good luck. -
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Re: Wilderness survival knife?
Thu, August 10, 2006 - 6:28 AMWell, let's rock the boat some, shall we?
What are you going to do with your knife most of the time? I bet you will
1. Prepare food for meals
2. Cut thread and material for patching things up
3. Trim fingernails
4. Whittle wood to make little things in the woods
5. If you hunt or fish, you will skin game, gut fish, etc.
What? You won't wrestle bears? Go hand to hand with terrorists? Fend off outlaws?
Nope. You will probably never do any of that.
So get a knife that works for what you will do. There is a line of kitchen cutlery called "old hickory". Go get yourself an Old Hicory butcher knife, make a sheath for it, and there you go. Instant survival knife. You can easily sharpen it to a razor edge, and it works really well on camp chores.
Oh, and you can cut your veggies at home with it as well, so there's no wasted money here.
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Re: Wilderness survival knife?
Thu, August 31, 2006 - 6:35 AMRebekah;
The knife you will survive with is the one you have on you.
Often big fixed blades of any type get left in the car or at home.
45 years running around in Oregon and 11 years in the military, much of it in the field as an Infantry NCO, and I have always carried my Leatherman, always.
I just upgraded from the Super Leatherman to the new Leatherman Surge and am very pleased with it and am aware that other companies make a multitool, like SOG and Gerber.
Next I like to keep my Swiss Army knife close by for the tweezers, toothpick and keep its blades fresh for minor surgery and such.
Lastly a large fixed blade, I carry a Ruana baby bowie and I always carry a hawk(tomahawk) when spending a night out.
I see by the post dates that you have probably already purchased what you need but I would still consider a good multitool.
try www.Leatherman.com
They are an Oregon company but sadly do not do all of their production here anymore.
Bliss
Jason
