12" AK or 15" Siru

Yep Greg,

I had a Queen steel stockman that filled that purpose for me for decades. Two blades, bone handle, er...maybe 3in blade, and I was good to go.

The OldTimer 80T took over that role many years ago when the Queen went "walkabout."

Somewhere I've posted my trinity: 12in AK, Sarge, and the Schrade 80T on a canvas game bag. Light weight 90% package.
 
munk said:
Also sounds like if you have the small knife role covered, I'd take the larger 15" Sirupate because it provides a better defense and the true start of chopping wood ability.
munk
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Actually, you make a good point. What I really want is to make a sheath for one of my 15" Khuks and have a small piggyback sheath on the front side that I could put something like a Mora in. Still, I always consider that "what if I only had one knife scenario".
 
Sylvrfalcn said:
Looking back through this thread, I had to stop and kind of chuckle at myself. As a boy, I roamed the fields and forests far and wide, went on many a hunting, fishing, camping excursion, and all with nothing more than an old barlow knife in my pocket. It skinned many a squirrel/rabbit, gutted many a fish, and whittled many a hot dog stick in it's time. It wasn't just my "go to" knife, it was my only knife, and I honestly had no idea that I needed more knife than that. Funny how we change.

Sarge
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I had my share of pocket knives and loved the barlows that passed through my hands. I'd still like to have a Granddaddy Barlow but the ones I've seen are just too spendy for me.
At one time my favorite fixed blade was an Old Hickory Butcher Knife. I batoned that knife through hard Ash and carved and gently twisted on the handle to break pieces off. It could be sharpened with most anything that had a cutting surface but I usually used a file.

It's funny how the Skeen Doo's keep coming up for discusion though, just goes to show that the small knives haven't lost their charm.
 
Sarge and Kis, I also carried a traditional folder forever, and got by just fine. I even field dressed a 200+ lb feral pig with a Kershaw 2 blade pen knife (2" blades) because it was what I had on me. Wasn't ideal, but I was able to git er dun without much trouble.
 
This is one of the reasons why i love my SAKs so much. When I was a kid all I had was your traditional folders. Old Barlows and Trappers that my grandmother would pick up for me at yard sales. That was one of the neat things about getting stuff from my grandparents. Now that i look back on those old knives, many were not that "good" they were cheap knock offs or had been put through the paces and outlived their usefulness long before they reached my hands, but they worked. If you try to talk blade steel quality, or lack there of, with someone who lived through the depression you're going to get an odd look. When I was about 8 or 9, i guess I sold enough boy scout popcorn to get a scout pocket knife. I don't really remember much about it as I lost it very soon after I earned it, but i do remember closing it on my finger the night i got it:eek:
Sharp!..not me, the blade;)
In the last few years I've grown more fond of SAKs. Simple, honest little knives that will do 90% of what you want of them. Honestly, if someone told me that I was going to get dropped off in the middle of the woods and I had to hump it to a pick up point 2 or 3 days and I could only have one knife, i think I'd pick a locking SAK with a wood saw before a large knife. Would i feel better taking a khuk along with me? Oh heck yeah!;) But i don't think i could leave my SAK Fireman or One hand Trekker at home.
I think i'm still on the fence as to which khuk between the AK and Siru. I think it would largely depend on how I felt when I woke up in the morning:D Either one would probably get ya through the worst stuff. I mean "ideal" wilderness survival is all relative. What's more "ideal" the siru or the AK?...I dunno, but my "ideal" would be a large tent, air mattress, stove, and a beacon with a clear signal;)
This is a fun conversation.

Jake
 
If I was to choose...I would go with an "18 AK;any blade under 12 inch loses it's usefulness real quick to me.;) (if I was to have only one)
 
You definitely want something with a deeper belly for dressing and butchering . You need the point back from the slicing belly so you don,t poke and puncture intestines or bladders . As for self defense and animals ? I guess if you were in a clinch and desperate with no way out . The last thing your average man wants to do is go up against any animal that survives for a living . You don,t ever want to go up against something that kills for a living .
 
Kevin the grey said:
The last thing your average man wants to do is go up against any animal that survives for a living . You don,t ever want to go up against something that kills for a living .
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Well said.:thumbup:
 
Tomorrow it's a shrew. (Think of it as a VERY compact wolverine.)

Workin' my way up to a sparrow hawk. :grumpy:
 
Yvsa said:
At one time my favorite fixed blade was an Old Hickory Butcher Knife. I batoned that knife through hard Ash and carved and gently twisted on the handle to break pieces off. It could be sharpened with most anything that had a cutting surface but I usually used a file.
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Day-um Yvsa. The first real knife I ever bought for myself was one of those. I had moved into my first apartment and the usual crappy kitchen tools that people left in furnished apartments lacked a decent knife. It never occurred to me to buy any kitchen tools before then. I found the knife in the local hardware store, and realized it was somehow, better than the junk for sale elsewhere. I carved my initials in the handle to keep my roommates from stealing it. I still have it and it is still a day-umned good knife.;) I think I must have paid $.75 for it at the time.

The Old Hickory knives are still a great bargain, IMHO. A kid could do worse setting up housekeeping than a few of these in various sizes, plus some cast-iron pots and fry-pans. And, of course, a big stew-pot in which to brew-up chile verde :=) Which I am going to do this weekend - thanks to you.
 
Yup, the Old Hickory line is dayumed hard to beat. I think they are about the last American company offering a line of good carbon steel blades in kitchen knives.
And good carbon steel has a charm like no other!!!!:thumbup: :D :cool:
When they are taken care of like any fine kitchen knife they will last just as long if not longer. They just can't be allowed to soak in water or put in a dishwasher as that totally ruins the handles!!!!:( :mad:
A little veggie oil on the handles once in a while and they will also keep their appearance a lot longer, actually if they are cared for as you should care for your cast iron you are home free!!!!:thumbup: :D
I don't know why I haven't gotten one but I have wanted one of the Old Hickory "Stickers" for many a year and just never got the gumption to order one and they are still available. The "Sticker" is a double eged dagger and similar to what was once carried by folks like Davy Crockett.:thumbup: :cool:

If you take the same care of your HI Khukuris they will also last a lifetime and many more. I'll bet there are some well used khukuris in Nepal that have been in a family for generations!!!!:thumbup:
 
Hey Yvsa, you mean stickers like the one's Ragnar sells? :D

sticker.jpg


Got'cha again ;)

Sarge
 
Sylvrfalcn said:
Hey Yvsa, you mean stickers like the one's Ragnar sells? :D

Got'cha again ;)

Sarge
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If it's an Old Hickory you sure did Sarge!:thumbup: ;) :D :o
I went to Ragnar's site and sure enough they are made by Ontario so must be the OH line. The model happens to be a 2nd but who cares it's sure not gonna hurt anything AFAIC, and for 9 bux it's a real bargain.:thumbup: :D :cool:
 
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