A Hatchet and A Pocket Knife

[Coopdog]

I was a Boy Scout in the 1960s and 1970s. I have done a ton of camping my life. I’ve never carried a knife larger than a pocket folder. It makes me chuckle when I see all the videos and reviews of survival knives and the art of “batonning” and “processing wood.” Sure, if I only had one tool to bring into the woods that would be a survival knife like an Esee 6 or a BK7. But I always go into the woods with a hatchet and sven saw. They “process” all the wood I need. For a pocket knife I have a Boker Kalashnikov automatic. Why in heavens name would I want to spend the money on a survival knife?

 

[GB940Rookie]

Because we like buying knives.
I prefer a small fixed blade over a folder for camping.
To each their own.

 

[scdub]

Because it’s fun to try out different tools and learn how they work. If you’ve never tried using a larger knife in the woods I would suggest you do. Go bigger than an Esse 6/BK7 though. Try something with a 9-10” blade (maybe try a machete?) so you have some real chopping power. You might be surprised to see that a big knife will out-work a hatchet at certain tasks…

 

[Bready]

Hatchets and big chopping knives are both fun. I have an Esee Junglas and a Grandsfors Bruks Small Forest Axe (tiny axe, or long handled hatchet). I love using both of them. I haven't used either to do smaller tasks around camp, but in a pinch either could work. I highly recommend either one for smaller-than-axe tasks.

 

[lmalterna]

For me the hatchet is usually 2lb head on a 28" handle, folding buck saw and small fixed blade. Folders are too hard to clean the fat and blood out of.

Bill

 

[oldmanron]

I was a Boy Scout in the 1960s and 1970s. I have done a ton of camping my life. I’ve never carried a knife larger than a pocket folder. It makes me chuckle when I see all the videos and reviews of survival knives and the art of “batonning” and “processing wood.” Sure, if I only had one tool to bring into the woods that would be a survival knife like an Esee 6 or a BK7. But I always go into the woods with a hatchet and sven saw. They “process” all the wood I need. For a pocket knife I have a Boker Kalashnikov automatic. Why in heavens name would I want to spend the money on a survival knife?

A properly sharpened Cold Steel "Spetznaz" shovel can be an effective campsite cutting tool ... and a ferocious defensive weapon. It even "feels good in the hand" while trail-walking ...

Add a nice pocket knife of your choice for other minor stuff.

 

[Mannlicher]

a friend recently made me this set. Steel is O1, the handles are Maple. So far, they are really impressing me with their ability.