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definitely a fallkniven a1...that thing was built for winter conditions.
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A good winter survival knife?
- Thread starter ASharpCanadian
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If I can throw my 2 cents here, I assume that any knife you would use in autumn or spring will do in winter (assuming it's grippy and comfy while you are wearing thicker gloves).
But for processing wood, especially in winter, bring an axe.
I carry a folding saw for that purpose (for weight reasons), but I usually roam in mild weather conditions.
In winter I would surely go for an axe, and carry a small blade for lighter tasks.
But for processing wood, especially in winter, bring an axe.
I carry a folding saw for that purpose (for weight reasons), but I usually roam in mild weather conditions.
In winter I would surely go for an axe, and carry a small blade for lighter tasks.
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Well, I live in Canada, and it wasn't "fantasy role-playing" when I was out in winter batonning wood for the fire.
Just because YOU don't see the use of something doesn't make it stupid or fantastical.
It only means that you don't like it. Nothing more.
As for the OP, get a Junglas. It handled my "fantasy role-playing" batonning quite well.
No need to fight over it. Realistically, an ax would work better for wood, it's just physics. A knife is much smaller and thinner, along with a much thinner cutting edge. The knife would break much sooner than the ax. The best bet would be to have an ax AND a knife.
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You're saying that you think everyone here who thinks hitting a knife with a baton knows enough to stay alive in the outdoors, especially in winter? Most of these guys don't even know how to build a fire pit in the snow, let alone know how big a fire is necessary, or how to build a wind-break & reflector. People using up their energy and sweating into their clothes can easily succumb to hyperthermia in the outdoors.
Supporting beliefs that a knife with no skills will keep people safe can create a false sense of security.
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CWL you are preaching to the choir here. I live in an area that gets well over 120 inches of snow a year. I have hunted caribou in Northern Quebec in the winter time. Sweat is your enemy. You have to be able to build shelter, a reflector and even a platform to get the fire going on. in my backpack there are multiple ways of starting a fire in it because I know hypothermia is my number one enemy in the cold. I do see where you could baton wood with a knife at a base camp but in a survival situation the ax is king. Even look at Ray Mears when he went into the Canadian Rockies he carried an Ax and a bushlore knife. I respect everyone's opinion and SHTF and you don't have an ax ya better have a knife that can baton to get to the inner dry wood to get a fire going. Just my 2 cents.
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No.
But there's plenty of unknowledgeable people with axes too.
I was at a summer party with one; he thought throwing piles of damp leaves on top of massive chunks of wood (cut with an axe) was the way to build a fire.
Tinder of various sizes, twigs and such, hell no! He was having none of it...more damp leaves and lighter fluid was the answer.
He was pretty good with the axe though...
jdk1
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The OP asked specifically about "largeish survival knife for delimbing/batonning and fuzz stick". I think most folks were simply trying to answer his question about the large knife. I know very little of harsh winters or snow, but always heard an axe was mandatory in northern forests. I guess my concern would be if the axe handle breaks or the whole thing gets left behind in camp. A big knife could be handy in that situation. The below link is from a fellow member from Finland who seemed to like his Junglas in what I would consider winter survival type situations, which is what the OP asked about. I have no dog in this fight, but it seems that de-limbing and such would be a legitimate issue.
http://www.jungletraining.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5837
http://www.jungletraining.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5837
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Actually, what I'd really want is a large saw to go along with my Junglas.
And preferably a fully fueled and heated motor home, with ATV on the trailer, and a 12 guage shotgun (Remington 870 would be nice), .308 bolt action scoped rifle, complete cold weather wardrobe, sat phone, 3 weeks worth of food, laptop, 42 inch LCD television, Blu Ray player, ...
And preferably a fully fueled and heated motor home, with ATV on the trailer, and a 12 guage shotgun (Remington 870 would be nice), .308 bolt action scoped rifle, complete cold weather wardrobe, sat phone, 3 weeks worth of food, laptop, 42 inch LCD television, Blu Ray player, ...
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I agree that you should be looking at an axe but I'll stick to your question specifically.
If you want to limb trees/branches I would suggest a larger knife then a 6 incher. They work okay in that role but not compared to a large knife/machete. If that's not as big of an issue for you then the 6 would work well.
If you want to limb trees/branches I would suggest a larger knife then a 6 incher. They work okay in that role but not compared to a large knife/machete. If that's not as big of an issue for you then the 6 would work well.
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This will also depend on which tool you're best with as well as what the intended situation is.
I'm not that great with an axe. I live in a city, and get to use my knives far more often.
I also like knives more, which has led to me using them instead of axes, even when an axe might have been the better tool.
Also, the OP was talking about backpacking. How much weight is he already carrying? How long will he be out there?
He might not be processing enough wood to necessitate an axe even if he's good with one (unlike myself who really isn't).
For me, on an overnighter or even a two day woods trip, I don't even need a tent...I don't sleep in those uncomfortable situations unless I'm extremely tired (which takes me a bit more than 2 days). And I don't want to carry much weight anyway, as my lower back has been having recurring injuries for the last few years.
So, for me I ditch the tent, don't bring a sleeping bag, pack more food and water, some knives, and keep the fire going. I'm the only person I personally know who camps this way.
It all depends on the person, eh?
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Your Junglas with sheath weighs 33 oz, just over 2lbs, according to the ESEE website. A Wetterlings 19" "bushcraft axe weighs about the same, the head is only 1.5 lbs the haft isnt that many more ounces.
Me I'd take the Wetterlings, but I agree with you ...use what you know and are comfortable with.
But, learning new skills is fun too.
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Yeah, I should get a decent axe and learn to use it better.
But I keep buying all these knives!
My wife really wants a nice axe though. Maybe I'll get her one, and see if I can borrow it sometimes.
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Yeah, I should get a decent axe and learn to use it better.
But I keep buying all these knives!
My wife really wants a nice axe though. Maybe I'll get her one, and see if I can borrow it sometimes.
That is a great excuse to spend money. Wish my wife wanted her own axe.:grumpy:
Small axes (belt,hand,boys) are fun to play with.
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Really cool pics, Dayhiker! I'm always amazed by what some of you guys can do with your little pocket axes. Never tried one myself, though.
...
I tend to gravitate toward a bowie for a general purpose survival tool. I'd probably stick with my SP10.
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I've found my GB mini to be vastly superior to medium-largish knives. The balance makes it less fatiguing at doing "knife" work then a big knife and it kicks the crap out of a knife for chopping. I think the term "survival knife" has been a detriment to a lot of people. A small axe is vastly superior as a survival tool then a medium sized knife IMO.
chiral.grolim
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I think there are already a number of threads on this, but my own experience has been the opposite.
I own a Husqvarna Hatchet - 13" 1.5#, and while it chops well, my 15" 1.3# HI Khukuri is far superior in chopping ability (objectively owed to the extra 2" and excellent design) and I would not be surprised if others have had similar experiences with both heavy and light machetes - the extra length lends such tremendous advantage in force of impact as well as reach, and a lighter tool with more even weight distribution is, for many, easier/safer/less-fatiguing to use effectively for chopping tasks.
As to batonning, esp. in winter, it's effective for me here in WI and was in MN as well. To relate one such experience, when chopping & splitting logs for a fire on one occasion where I had both hatchet and "survival knife" (Catt 225Q) handy, I was struggling with the hatchet - swinging hard as I could, it would penetrate and bind in the cold hardwood, and then I'd struggle to withdraw it. Finally, I picked up a make-shift baton/mallet and tried to hammer the hatchet like a wedge to split the wood, but no dice. After a hard struggle to dislodge the hatchet, I drew out the Catt, set the blade into the wedge groove and had at it with the baton... all the way through the log. The next cuts I didn't even pick up the hatchet, just employed knife+baton to get what i needed. This method proved more effective, less fatiguing (and thereby more efficient), and also less dangerous than swinging a heavy blade-edge at high-speed into a target of uncertain stability/integrity. Now, my hatchets and axes remain at home, only knives and machetes accompany me into the field. When I need to process a lot of cordwood rounds for the heater, I break out the splitting axe; when I need smaller pieces for kindling, I break out the knife and baton.
As for finer work, be it whittling/carving or general slicing or dressing game, I know very few people who do not find a hatchet awkward/cumbersome/dangerous/fatiguing/inefficient compared to a knife which is why those that carry them most often pair them with a knife. I do not mean to criticize those that are so skilled with their hatchets and hawks that a knife is superfluous and a large knife less efficient.
A "survival knife", tools like the old KaBar (earlier and newer versions alike) can be effectively put to such a variety of purposes with a very short learning-curve on techniques, I consider them well-deserving of popularity... though it is of course the techniques and skill that really deserve the attention.
chiral.grolim
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Excellent pictures, though I am very skeptical of the effectiveness of that trap
The block looks to have much too far (time-wise) to fall, and it lands not only on the support sticks but it also looks like the adjacent stone helps to prop it up - hard to imagine an animal unable to escape... but I'd happily be proven wrong. Nice carving :thumbup: