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But it makes for a great photo.
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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is available! Price is $250 ea (shipped within CONUS).
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/
2 knives for 4 daughters backpacks.
- Thread starter JamesofArc
- Start date
I'm a heretic.
Out here in the West back country fires are often banned. And if they're not, you often can't collect wood either so bring your own or do without.
So you can skip the hatchet and saw. Mora and sak will do the tasks and the Mora may well be idle most of the time.
Hammocks are fun but depending on terrain of less use.
I have those things in my 4x4 kit for a tree fall blocking the road, but I've never put them in a backpack.
Out here in the West back country fires are often banned. And if they're not, you often can't collect wood either so bring your own or do without.
So you can skip the hatchet and saw. Mora and sak will do the tasks and the Mora may well be idle most of the time.
Hammocks are fun but depending on terrain of less use.
I have those things in my 4x4 kit for a tree fall blocking the road, but I've never put them in a backpack.
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It's just a thought I had, but if you buy multiples of the same thing, I'd make sure to ask for a discount, given the amount you're buying, I am sure it'll save you a few bucks at least. Especially if you agree to a deal with the store to buy for example all the knives/hatchets from them (like the folders 1st month, the fixed the 2nd and so on) knowing you come back with more orders would give them incentive. Worth considering at least I think.
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The BK-16 is a good all a rounder for the woods. There are so many choices, but you know your kids. You're going to be spending some pretty serious $ to assemble these bags.
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- Mar 19, 2001
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I say forget about the hatchet, get them mora companions and silky saw model f180.
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- Feb 13, 2015
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- 240
I have a wife and two daughters 17 and 18 now, I started their bags a year ago. Same thing, I went with affordable quality. I went with ESEE because of their good quality to price ratios. I prefer Silky saws for their ability to cut with less effort. And we don't carry an axe or hatchet, instead we use a good chopping knife which I think provides more flexibility. Some of the gear I got for my wife is higher quality.
- ESSE 6 for my kids. Large enough to do light batoning for fire building. Bark River Bravo 1.25 for my wife.
- Backup = Morakniv Companion Heavy Duty Knife with Carbon Steel Blade less than $20
- Silky ULTRA ACCEL 240mm CURVE 446-24 saw. Or you could use the Gomboy. These are expensive saws but worth it.
- Silky Pocketboy for harvesting smaller wood - You could get a spare blade for the larger silky instead.
- Benchmade Griptillian - Cheap and proven. I will probably give them larger folders in the future. Wife got Benchmade 940. We have a bunch of folders.
- Condor Tool & Knife, Pack Golok, 11in Blade (~60 bucks at Amazon) - Temporary inexpensive solution, I'm still sorting this out. I'll probably end up getting them something like an ESEE Junglas II or something from Tops. The Condor Chops very very well, however the blade requires fairly frequent maintenance. Wife is getting a Busse Mountainman Du in two weeks.
Bottom line. ESEE, some Tops, Morikniv (Garberg) are good quality affordable production knives that I would and have used. I'm sure there are others, but these are the ones I have experience with. I prefer Silky saws (very light weight) over axes if I have to carry them, but saw blades can break. I prefer large chopping knives over axes because they have more uses. I've had really good luck with Benchmade, but Kershaw makes some very nice USA made knives for the money, USA made versions.
A lot of folks like the Tops BOB and there is the ESEE 4 too. It doesn't make a lot of sense to pay too much or too little for a knife for kids. Cheap knives will get discarded before long and become a waste of money. Expensive knives probably won't get used enough to justify the cost or might get lost.
- ESSE 6 for my kids. Large enough to do light batoning for fire building. Bark River Bravo 1.25 for my wife.
- Backup = Morakniv Companion Heavy Duty Knife with Carbon Steel Blade less than $20
- Silky ULTRA ACCEL 240mm CURVE 446-24 saw. Or you could use the Gomboy. These are expensive saws but worth it.
- Silky Pocketboy for harvesting smaller wood - You could get a spare blade for the larger silky instead.
- Benchmade Griptillian - Cheap and proven. I will probably give them larger folders in the future. Wife got Benchmade 940. We have a bunch of folders.
- Condor Tool & Knife, Pack Golok, 11in Blade (~60 bucks at Amazon) - Temporary inexpensive solution, I'm still sorting this out. I'll probably end up getting them something like an ESEE Junglas II or something from Tops. The Condor Chops very very well, however the blade requires fairly frequent maintenance. Wife is getting a Busse Mountainman Du in two weeks.
Bottom line. ESEE, some Tops, Morikniv (Garberg) are good quality affordable production knives that I would and have used. I'm sure there are others, but these are the ones I have experience with. I prefer Silky saws (very light weight) over axes if I have to carry them, but saw blades can break. I prefer large chopping knives over axes because they have more uses. I've had really good luck with Benchmade, but Kershaw makes some very nice USA made knives for the money, USA made versions.
A lot of folks like the Tops BOB and there is the ESEE 4 too. It doesn't make a lot of sense to pay too much or too little for a knife for kids. Cheap knives will get discarded before long and become a waste of money. Expensive knives probably won't get used enough to justify the cost or might get lost.
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- Feb 13, 2015
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- 240
More....
I forgot about the Multi-tool. Yes, you should definitely get them each a Leatherman, I think I got the Wave model for my daughters and the Charge model for my wife and I. The Charge model is not worth the cost I suggest the Wave. Some folks think the Leatherman Supertool is the way to go because it is a little heavier duty. I'm satisfied with the Wave and Charge. The nice things about the Wave (and Charge) is the diamond file which can be used if you loose your knife sharpener, and the small saw that can be used for small bushcrafting duties. Also, you really need the bit extension if you think you might use the bits.
A couple other things I learned:
- I included a dry bag in each pack. These are useful to keep stuff dry, sure, but they can also be used to gather water, and you can wash cloths in them.
- I went with the Sawyer Squeeze for water filtration because of its performance and flexibility. But use...
- The "EVERNEW Water Carry Hydration Pack" collapsible bottles because they are far better than the Sawyer bottles, and they fit the Sawyer threads perfectly.
- If you choose to have a shelter tarp in each pack get one that will hold up in a heavy wind. I chose the "Aqua Quest Safari Tarp" in 10X10. Very good quality and it uses loops instead of grommets which tend to tear out. This is a very high quality and somewhat expensive tarp, but check it out.
- Its a good idea to have an IFAK Trauma Kit and a boo-boo kit. The trauma kit is for major injuries that could result in a bleed out. They include a good tourniquet, Israeli bandages, Celox clotting gauze, tape, and medical scissors. Sometimes you might want to include chest seals. And of course you need a boo-boo kit for regular cuts, pain, diarrhea, infection, etc. You also may want to have water purification tabs, electrolytes, vasoline (good to protect chapped lips and start a fire), band-aids, eye wash, N95 masks (particle filtration), etc. I've forgotten what all is in my kits now.
- If you buy LED headlamps, buy water proof lamps.
- Lithium batteries are your friends in an emergency bag. One, they have a very long shelf life, and 2, they work even in very cold conditions. I like to use CR123 powered devices. CR123s can be bought pretty cheaply online. For AAA and AA, Energizer L92 and L91 are the way to go if you don't want to go rechargeable. They have a shelf life of 10 years and they are Lithium, but buy them online.
-I haven't done it yet but I am also putting a small firearms cleaning, lubricating, and repair kit in each bag. A couple specific tools, a couple brushes, CLP, and a couple bore snakes, spare firing pin, trigger springs, and a spare AR15 bolt.
Anyway there is tons of stuff to say and limited time. Good luck with your project.
I forgot about the Multi-tool. Yes, you should definitely get them each a Leatherman, I think I got the Wave model for my daughters and the Charge model for my wife and I. The Charge model is not worth the cost I suggest the Wave. Some folks think the Leatherman Supertool is the way to go because it is a little heavier duty. I'm satisfied with the Wave and Charge. The nice things about the Wave (and Charge) is the diamond file which can be used if you loose your knife sharpener, and the small saw that can be used for small bushcrafting duties. Also, you really need the bit extension if you think you might use the bits.
A couple other things I learned:
- I included a dry bag in each pack. These are useful to keep stuff dry, sure, but they can also be used to gather water, and you can wash cloths in them.
- I went with the Sawyer Squeeze for water filtration because of its performance and flexibility. But use...
- The "EVERNEW Water Carry Hydration Pack" collapsible bottles because they are far better than the Sawyer bottles, and they fit the Sawyer threads perfectly.
- If you choose to have a shelter tarp in each pack get one that will hold up in a heavy wind. I chose the "Aqua Quest Safari Tarp" in 10X10. Very good quality and it uses loops instead of grommets which tend to tear out. This is a very high quality and somewhat expensive tarp, but check it out.
- Its a good idea to have an IFAK Trauma Kit and a boo-boo kit. The trauma kit is for major injuries that could result in a bleed out. They include a good tourniquet, Israeli bandages, Celox clotting gauze, tape, and medical scissors. Sometimes you might want to include chest seals. And of course you need a boo-boo kit for regular cuts, pain, diarrhea, infection, etc. You also may want to have water purification tabs, electrolytes, vasoline (good to protect chapped lips and start a fire), band-aids, eye wash, N95 masks (particle filtration), etc. I've forgotten what all is in my kits now.
- If you buy LED headlamps, buy water proof lamps.
- Lithium batteries are your friends in an emergency bag. One, they have a very long shelf life, and 2, they work even in very cold conditions. I like to use CR123 powered devices. CR123s can be bought pretty cheaply online. For AAA and AA, Energizer L92 and L91 are the way to go if you don't want to go rechargeable. They have a shelf life of 10 years and they are Lithium, but buy them online.
-I haven't done it yet but I am also putting a small firearms cleaning, lubricating, and repair kit in each bag. A couple specific tools, a couple brushes, CLP, and a couple bore snakes, spare firing pin, trigger springs, and a spare AR15 bolt.
Anyway there is tons of stuff to say and limited time. Good luck with your project.
For small hatchet I suggest a full steel shaft one, not tubular steel shaft one a real solid steel shaft one like an Estwing. Many a hatchet head I've seen busted, the head still was able to cut but a full handle still is handy.
Saws I take a small brush saw with extra blades, but for small compact a folding saw is good, but put in EXTRA SAW BLADES is the best thing to do. The Extra blades don't weigh to much and the saw is really one of the most energy saving tools one can take.
Knives...I take a fix blade that can do heavy things if needed, but I usually take a chopper myself and not need a hatchet (and a saw as well!), and for a folder I get a LOCK BACK knife for primary small blade (Buck 110 usually) and an extra light FIXED belt knife (I guess that might be a Mora to other people), small swiss army knife and multi tool (most are in the pack but I carry at least two knives in some form on me with a multi tool.)
But not knowing what your weight limits are and budgets are or the duration of packs are for, mix and match for budget and needs. But really EXTRA BLADES for the saw is a light and easy thing to pack away.
Saws I take a small brush saw with extra blades, but for small compact a folding saw is good, but put in EXTRA SAW BLADES is the best thing to do. The Extra blades don't weigh to much and the saw is really one of the most energy saving tools one can take.
Knives...I take a fix blade that can do heavy things if needed, but I usually take a chopper myself and not need a hatchet (and a saw as well!), and for a folder I get a LOCK BACK knife for primary small blade (Buck 110 usually) and an extra light FIXED belt knife (I guess that might be a Mora to other people), small swiss army knife and multi tool (most are in the pack but I carry at least two knives in some form on me with a multi tool.)
But not knowing what your weight limits are and budgets are or the duration of packs are for, mix and match for budget and needs. But really EXTRA BLADES for the saw is a light and easy thing to pack away.
- Joined
- Oct 29, 2016
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I carry one of my two Helle knives. The Scandi grind is a plus for foolproof field touchups. However I was really impressed with the KaBar Dogs Head knife after reading this thread. Dog's Head Utility-The First Thirty Days. From food prep to light baton work, this F/U (field utility) knife does it all.
A folder is a compromise for reasons of concealment or to reduce the carry size. Thus not needed outdoors.
A folder is a compromise for reasons of concealment or to reduce the carry size. Thus not needed outdoors.
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- Sep 27, 2008
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- 947
Instead of equipping four packs with exactly the same items, why not add variety?
A Victorinox Champ (or any other SAK) for pocket knives, a multi tool with pliers and locking blade x2,
Mora X2, a fillet knife for the group, and another fixed blade.
1 hatchet, 1 full size axe, an 18" thin machete and 12 inch stout machete like an Ontario or a golok, parang etc...
2 folding saws (such as Bahco, they are harder to break than Silky), 2 large folding bowsaws (or regular ones)
This would give a whole heap of tools to do a wide variety of cutting tasks and your girls would be able to decide what they like.
A Victorinox Champ (or any other SAK) for pocket knives, a multi tool with pliers and locking blade x2,
Mora X2, a fillet knife for the group, and another fixed blade.
1 hatchet, 1 full size axe, an 18" thin machete and 12 inch stout machete like an Ontario or a golok, parang etc...
2 folding saws (such as Bahco, they are harder to break than Silky), 2 large folding bowsaws (or regular ones)
This would give a whole heap of tools to do a wide variety of cutting tasks and your girls would be able to decide what they like.
I'll chime in. I saw your reasoning for the hatchets. Personally I'd omit the hatchets. I do a ton of backpacking and backwoods stuff, and have had a hatchet for 30 years, when I got a Norlund.
I'd definitely have a multi tool. They are so handy, and Vic and Leatherman are making really, really good stuff. As much as I love a Huntsman or Farmer, the pliers on LM is the trump card. Rebar, Wave, or Juice CS4. That Juice model is under-appreciated for woods use.
From there, go cheap. Mora Companion and Silky F180. These and a CS4 weigh about a pound even. Incredibly capable trio, with redundancies at blade and saw, with scissors, pliers, awl, etc. The CS4 is on sale now at Leatherman, so each set of blade, saw, multitool would be $100 even.
The problem with this set might be that there isn't anything that answers Dad's knife hobby. Pretty boring choices. No fun folding knife, etc. Maybe get them each a Delica in 2019.
I'd definitely have a multi tool. They are so handy, and Vic and Leatherman are making really, really good stuff. As much as I love a Huntsman or Farmer, the pliers on LM is the trump card. Rebar, Wave, or Juice CS4. That Juice model is under-appreciated for woods use.
From there, go cheap. Mora Companion and Silky F180. These and a CS4 weigh about a pound even. Incredibly capable trio, with redundancies at blade and saw, with scissors, pliers, awl, etc. The CS4 is on sale now at Leatherman, so each set of blade, saw, multitool would be $100 even.
The problem with this set might be that there isn't anything that answers Dad's knife hobby. Pretty boring choices. No fun folding knife, etc. Maybe get them each a Delica in 2019.
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- Jan 6, 2016
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Ditto the Mora and RAT. Though a SAK Tinker could be very useful if they have a fixed blade as well. Just got a Mora Companion for $8.
Vaughan makes a nice little hatchet or two. Sears may even sell the same with their name on it. Used to. Marbles has very economical hatchets and small axes, made in El Salvador by Imacasa. The MA701SB "camp axe" is nice. Around $20. Some of the Fiskars get good reviews. Light.
Komelon makes reasonably priced pruning saws in different sizes, curved or straight. Typically around $10-$15. I just got three 7" strait blade folders for less than $5. each. And a 14" straight blade fixed handle with a really sturdy molded sheath for $13.
Last edited:
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You could also do a lot of practical service while saving a few $$$ by buying them each a Tramontina Machete and a rough rider slipjoint.
Fixed blade + folder that will handle 99% of tasks.
-don't sleep on a cheap Buck Bantam either for a locking option. Easy to sharpen and maintain, even for a novice.
Spend more on the pack itself and less on the steel. Tram and RR are both good enough for their respective tasks, but a cheap sack is much more prone to tears, ripping seams, and failing zippers, all of which can be catostrophic to the "mission at hand".
Tram + RR + Mora + Buck Bantam
+Smith's pocket pal or 3-in-1
= right around $100 total for all 5 pieces...
So $400 for all 4 of your daughters combined, (knifewise), and they each get 4 knives a piece (machete, small fixed, slip joint, and locking folder), w/ a simple means of maintaining the edges... more $ to buy other awesome stuffs; life straw, fire steel, saw, pack itself, etc. Without screwing them over with crap knives.
Cheap, yeah... but far from "crap"...
Fixed blade + folder that will handle 99% of tasks.
-don't sleep on a cheap Buck Bantam either for a locking option. Easy to sharpen and maintain, even for a novice.
Spend more on the pack itself and less on the steel. Tram and RR are both good enough for their respective tasks, but a cheap sack is much more prone to tears, ripping seams, and failing zippers, all of which can be catostrophic to the "mission at hand".
Tram + RR + Mora + Buck Bantam
+Smith's pocket pal or 3-in-1
= right around $100 total for all 5 pieces...
So $400 for all 4 of your daughters combined, (knifewise), and they each get 4 knives a piece (machete, small fixed, slip joint, and locking folder), w/ a simple means of maintaining the edges... more $ to buy other awesome stuffs; life straw, fire steel, saw, pack itself, etc. Without screwing them over with crap knives.
Cheap, yeah... but far from "crap"...
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- Apr 19, 2016
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After thinking and studying reviews i was going to go BK16 and a Leatherman Wave but after looking at prices and wanting to get the most for the buck i am going BK16 and the Victorinox SAK Farmer.
Thanks for your time and answers.
Thanks for your time and answers.
- Joined
- Apr 13, 2016
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- 199
Just did this for myself and did oodles of research and meticulous scenario thoughts. Here's what I wound up with...
Hatchet: Schrade SCAXE2
Saw: Corona RazorTOOTH (side options here so choose wisely)
Fixed blade knife: Terava Jääkäripuukko or Mora Garberg
Folding blade knife: I actually opted for a multi-tool instead, Gerber Suspension
To be frank, I've got a pack with a ton of woven pockets on the inside, so I've got about 10 different folding knives in my bag. But what I chose to have to carry on me, because it has way more uses and a belt carry holster, I went with the multi-tool. Folding knives really don't have much function in the woods. The locks don't hold up well under any abuse and you've already got a fixed knife, so what's the point? Anyway, just my thought.
Hatchet: Schrade SCAXE2
Saw: Corona RazorTOOTH (side options here so choose wisely)
Fixed blade knife: Terava Jääkäripuukko or Mora Garberg
Folding blade knife: I actually opted for a multi-tool instead, Gerber Suspension
To be frank, I've got a pack with a ton of woven pockets on the inside, so I've got about 10 different folding knives in my bag. But what I chose to have to carry on me, because it has way more uses and a belt carry holster, I went with the multi-tool. Folding knives really don't have much function in the woods. The locks don't hold up well under any abuse and you've already got a fixed knife, so what's the point? Anyway, just my thought.
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- Jul 2, 2017
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Multi-tool: SOG or Leatherman
Fixed: ESEE 4 or 5 or a Bark River Bravo
Saw: Sven Saw (as much as I love Silky saws, I can chew up more, larger, faster with a Sven. Plus, I've had students break Silky blades, but never a Sven blade. It's a game-changer for litter making and other wilderness first responder work. Even better is they are light and have a compact form factor.
If a folder is needed besides the multi-tool: Spyderco Delica or Caly.
I'm not a big hatchet fan. If chopper is necessary: Husqvarna Multipurpose with the 26" handle or a GB scandinavian forest axe.
Fixed: ESEE 4 or 5 or a Bark River Bravo
Saw: Sven Saw (as much as I love Silky saws, I can chew up more, larger, faster with a Sven. Plus, I've had students break Silky blades, but never a Sven blade. It's a game-changer for litter making and other wilderness first responder work. Even better is they are light and have a compact form factor.
If a folder is needed besides the multi-tool: Spyderco Delica or Caly.
I'm not a big hatchet fan. If chopper is necessary: Husqvarna Multipurpose with the 26" handle or a GB scandinavian forest axe.
- Joined
- Jun 21, 2006
- Messages
- 31
All sounds great! But every ounce counts....REALLY! When my wife and I were preparing to hike the AT, we would lust after every piece of camping and outdoorsman equipment we saw. But the deciding factor always came down to one thing! Who's going to carry it? Saved a lot of money that way!
Unkei
Unkei
My go-bag has a LM Juice CS4. If I were to need more dedicated equipment with price as a consideration, I would go for a 6-10 inch Corona or similar folding saw, Mora Companion or similar, and an MT with scissors, can opener, and pliers... the Gerber Suspension is pretty inexpensive. SAK's toothpick and tweezers seem to come in handy for a lot of people too.