A good winter survival knife?

The best winter survival knife is one that can turn a dead Tauntaun into a pre-heated sleeping bag. Mmmm, warm guts.
 
Mission makes large straight knives out of beta hardened Titanium which will not get brittle when the temperature drops below 0 degrees F. Otherwise warm your steel blade before you whack it. The arm pit is a good place to warm a blade.
 
tiguy7 said:
Otherwise warm your steel blade before you whack it. The arm pit is a good place to warm a blade.
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My knives never break when whacking wood when cold.
Has anyone got any real data on knives breaking because of cold, or is this one of those urban...I mean woods myths?
 
stabman said:
My knives never break when whacking wood when cold.
Has anyone got any real data on knives breaking because of cold, or is this one of those urban...I mean woods myths?
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No specific instance I can tell you about but it's a thing. Has to be really cold though and I think it's more of an issue with axes where a lot more force is being applied.
 
Shotgun said:
No specific instance I can tell you about but it's a thing. Has to be really cold though and I think it's more of an issue with axes where a lot more force is being applied.
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+One for knives!!!:D
(sorry, I just had to)
 
chiral.grolim said:
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.
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I'm talking about the GB mini compared to knives in the 5-7 inch range especially 1/4 inch thick ones. It will out chop those knives and it's about 12 ounces total and not a 1.5 pound head. Much different when used for carving then your husqvarna. Give one a try and you may just change your mind. I've used mine to prepare chicken and veggies for dinner without a hitch. That's not really the point of this thread however. I would still choose a 3/4 axe in this situation over any knife. Yeah it wouldn't be all that great for carving but that's what pocket knives are for.;)
 
You could be dropped off shoeless in a remote area of Northern Canada in January and survive with this:

bear_grylls_knife_2010.png.scaled500.png


Just kidding guys/gals. I don't know much about winter survival and am learning a lot here. Thanks for the info.
 
I would second the axe...
However, I and my son built a nice snow mound/igloo using a 24" D handled machete... it had a saw back on it and cut through the frozen snow like a butter knife.
It was even handy for moving the bigger blocks into position.
I guess it all depends on what you plan to do and what equipment your willing to carry.
 
Shotgun said:
I'm talking about the GB mini compared to knives in the 5-7 inch range especially 1/4 inch thick ones. It will out chop those knives and it's about 12 ounces total and not a 1.5 pound head. Much different when used for carving then your husqvarna. Give one a try and you may just change your mind. I've used mine to prepare chicken and veggies for dinner without a hitch. That's not really the point of this thread however. I would still choose a 3/4 axe in this situation over any knife. Yeah it wouldn't be all that great for carving but that's what pocket knives are for.;)
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Thank you for the clarification. I've never handled a GB Mini (didn't realize how small it really is), and if I'm ever out with a buddy who has one I promise to give it a try :thumbup: I'm sure you are right that it's much easier for carving than with a large hatchet, but I'm not convinced it'd replace my Catt225Q or RMD for versatility (again, I'll have to try one to find out, i guess). Yes, the design is better for chopping, but putting a baton to the spine of a 3/16" blade is a mighty effective alternative to chopping, and the knife is a tool I've experience with in carving... Someday I guess I'll find out which proves the better method.:thumbup:
 
chiral.grolim said:
Thank you for the clarification. I've never handled a GB Mini (didn't realize how small it really is), and if I'm ever out with a buddy who has one I promise to give it a try :thumbup: I'm sure you are right that it's much easier for carving than with a large hatchet, but I'm not convinced it'd replace my Catt225Q or RMD for versatility (again, I'll have to try one to find out, i guess). Yes, the design is better for chopping, but putting a baton to the spine of a 3/16" blade is a mighty effective alternative to chopping, and the knife is a tool I've experience with in carving... Someday I guess I'll find out which proves the better method.:thumbup:
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Really both ways will get the job done they just require different skills. I agree with your experience with hatchets as well. I don't find any use for the 1-1.5 pound headed jobs. If I needed more chopping ability then my GB or my CS trail hawk(modded to 10.5oz head) I'd skip the 1 or 1.5 pound hatchets and go straight for a 3/4 axe.
 
chiral.grolim said:
Excellent pictures, though I am very skeptical of the effectiveness of that trap :o 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:
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I think that "trap" was set as a practice exercise. I'm sure dayhiker did not intend it to be a prime example of the capabilities of a "figure 4" trap, but instead a demonstration of the fine cutting ability of a small axe.
 
chiral.grolim said:
Excellent pictures, though I am very skeptical of the effectiveness of that trap :o 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:
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Not my best work by far. :o

The only one done with my hatchet with pre-loaded pics though. Along with the problems you noticed the trigger arm was lighter than I like. I blame a slightly over-sized notch on the center post.:o

In my defense... it is really only a toy trap. I enjoy whipping these up while relaxing on a sunny day and drinking a cold one.:)

My wife thinks it a bit strange.:D
 
dayhiker1968 said:
Not my best work by far. :o

The only one done with my hatchet with pre-loaded pics though. Along with the problems you noticed the trigger arm was lighter than I like. I blame a slightly over-sized notch on the center post.:o

In my defense... it is really only a toy trap. I enjoy whipping these up while relaxing on a sunny day and drinking a cold one.:)

My wife thinks it a bit strange.:D
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Strange? Which part, relaxing on a sunny day, drinking a cold one...? oh, i guess she thinks the little traps are strange :) Gosh, what will she think if she catches you dressing a small rodent for a snack ;) :p
 
dayhiker1968 said:
Not my best work by far. :o

The only one done with my hatchet with pre-loaded pics though. Along with the problems you noticed the trigger arm was lighter than I like. I blame a slightly over-sized notch on the center post.:o

In my defense... it is really only a toy trap. I enjoy whipping these up while relaxing on a sunny day and drinking a cold one.:)

My wife thinks it a bit strange.:D
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Try making dinner with it and you'll get some seriously strange looks. I believe I got the dreaded :rolleyes: when I did it. :D
 
Might be worth taking a serious look at the Fallkniven's; several models were specifically designed for Arctic survival.
 
Shotgun said:
I'd skip the 1 or 1.5 pound hatchets and go straight for a 3/4 axe.
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Mine is a 1.25 lbs head on a 10" haft, I can stuff it into a Maxped Jumbo bag. Love to try a GB mini someday it just isn't isn't in the cards for me right now ($$$$$). I'll bet it is pretty nimble in the hand.

Whipped this up when out having a smoke today.


About pencil thick sticks


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100_1765.jpg
 
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