alittle rant of mine

Great sh*t stirring post:thumbup:

First let it be said that although I LOVE bushcraft knives I'm not a bushcrafter:rolleyes:

Although I like to be prepared when I go backpacking I would not consider myself a survivalist either.;)

I am a hiker, backpacker and nature lover:D

Second, your post confuses me:confused: But it confuses me in a very good way:)

You say:
Bushcraft, many bushcrafters recommend small pretty finely crafted blades for survival. They often chose this over durability and function.
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I think you are confusing Bushcraft, which is more almost like primitive living skills with survival. A bush craft person would likely have a sharpener with him so he can sharpen his knives should the edge get dull:thumbup: Also the bushcraft knife is built to perform best for the functions that Bushcraft involves.

Then you say:

First of all when you go into the woods weight is a concern, a axe and small knife is just to much weight.
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I think you are confusing an axe and a hatchet. An axe is too heavy. But most people on this forum are carrying light hatchets. The 3 I take most are 12oz 15oz and 18oz. I have no problem carrying such a HATCHET and keeping my pack weight around 20 lbs.

Finally you conclude

Luckly I found my perfect survival knife, the Scrap Yard Yard Hook. Light enough to carry but big enough to preform large tasks, I can make a figure 4 trap with a very large blade like a kershaw outcast or Dog Father plus unlike bushcraft blades I can chop wood for shelter and fire.
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If you think survival is silly and you are worried about weight why are you carrying such huge heavy knives. A Dog Father? That thing is huge! A yard hook is pretty massive too. Why do you need to build a shelter? Why not carry a tent?:D

Seriously I started out with big knives but a small hatchet and fixed blade with a good keen edge for me is way more versitile than a huge chopper:rolleyes:

But great post. Always good to shake everyone out of their doldrums and make them think:)
 
Threads like this are a real " Can of worms ", what it boils down to is carry what you need, what you know and what you can rely on !
When I'm out on my little hikes there is no way I'm going to carry an axe, yet I could still easily end up in a survival scenario so we have to make sacrifices and judgement calls.
To me a stout 5" bladed knife is that compromise and one which I am happy to carry along with the rest of my gear.
Would I be better able to make a shelter etc with an axe....of course I would but I have no doubts that if forced to, I could manage with my knife !
SaanichInlet115.jpg

Or just as easily with one of these....
knives008-1.jpg
 
tarmix101 said:
An idiot with a tool is still an idiot. Without the knowlege to use them, what dfference does it make. A big knife will not save your skin. Your ability to THINK will allow you to survive.

Rule of survival S T O P

Stop

THINK



Orientate

Plan

You want to have an intelligent duscussion.... your use of the :foot: doesn't make you look all that good. More like a troll.
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in my use of :foot: I was saying you were right about your mind being the most important tool you have
sorry if you misunderstood
 
hollowdweller said:
If you think survival is silly and you are worried about weight why are you carrying such huge heavy knives. A Dog Father? That thing is huge! A yard hook is pretty massive too. Why do you need to build a shelter? Why not carry a tent?:D

Seriously I started out with big knives but a small hatchet and fixed blade with a good keen edge for me is way more versitile than a huge chopper:rolleyes:

But great post. Always good to shake everyone out of their doldrums and make them think:)
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I dont carry the Dog Father
what I was trying to say is that you can do fine work with a big knife and that small knives cant easyly do big work
 
pitdog said:
Threads like this are a real " Can of worms ", what it boils down to is carry what you need, what you know and what you can rely on !
When I'm out on my little hikes there is no way I'm going to carry an axe, yet I could still easily end up in a survival scenario so we have to make sacrifices and judgement calls.
To me a stout 5" bladed knife is that compromise and one which I am happy to carry along with the rest of my gear.
Would I be better able to make a shelter etc with an axe....of course I would but I have no doubts that if forced to, I could manage with my knife !
SaanichInlet115.jpg

Or just as easily with one of these....
knives008-1.jpg
Click to expand...

Well said Pitdog.....:cool:




macgregor22 said:
in my use of :foot: I was saying you were right about your mind being the most important tool you have
sorry if you misunderstood
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My bad. I did misunderstand you. The troll comment was not needed on my part. :o
 
Macgregor,

I think I understand where you're coming from. A hatchet or large knife merely increases the probability that you'll have an easier time surviving using up less energy and time - in a survival situation. But that's all it does. Try doing a solo trip and meeting your survival needs, in the winter, without a knife. THAT is where the mind is forced to be creative. Now, I'm not saying, "Don't bring a knife." Bring a knife, tent, all the back up you need in case things go wrong enough that you just want to get warm. But try meeting your needs with no knife. Rocks, sticks, bones, antlers, what can you find to use as tools? Making a hand drill and bow drill set using only natural materials as the tools to fashion it is a huge confidence booster.

The point is, if your knowledge is strong enough (the MIND tool), then all other tools - including knives - are simply luxuries. This is a general "mindset" rule to strive for. Nothing in survival, including the "rules," is absolute, except the need to improvise.
 
pitdog said:
When I'm out on my little hikes there is no way I'm going to carry an axe, yet I could still easily end up in a survival scenario so we have to make sacrifices and judgement calls.
To me a stout 5" bladed knife is that compromise and one which I am happy to carry along with the rest of my gear.
Would I be better able to make a shelter etc with an axe....of course I would but I have no doubts that if forced to, I could manage with my knife !
Click to expand...

Good point Pit. I never carry hatchets on day hikes either. The only time I carry a big knife is hiking in my woods because I do a lot of trail clearing.

When I'm backpacking I carry a hatchet because I build fires and cook.

On the other hand this summer I went on a 4 day 32 mile hike and used my hatchet once. It was dry and there was lots of wood and I used my Skookum Bush Tool to cut most of the firewood, small stuff and then just burned the big peices in half:thumbup:

You can make do. Who said "The more you know the less you need":D
 
thank you Brian
I am hoping to practice some finer skills soon.
I am going to take a primitive survival course this summer to hone my skills in the areas you mention.
 
macgregor22 said:
I dont carry the Dog Father
what I was trying to say is that you can do fine work with a big knife and that small knives cant easyly do big work
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Well what does the Yard Hook weigh?

True you CAN do some fine work with a big blade but I would much rather say mince a garlic clove for my scrambled eggs, or clean a fish with a knife say 4" or so thin bladed and sharp. Also nearly impossible to do much fine food prep with a big blade like that.
 
I have been in a few real survival situations where all I had was a fairly light 5 inch knife and by golly I am here typing this. Any decent knife from a Mora to my Kabar Camp knife will do what I need to do along with my acquired knowledge. However, given a choice, I want my Hatchet and what is now known to be a woodcraft knife. That being a 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 inch fixed blade or a good SAK.
 
tarmix101 said:
I would bet most of what matters is what you're comfortable with. If you're comfortable with, and know how to use a 4-5" blade. Isn't any reason in the world you won't do just fine.

Besides, no matter the knife, a $400.00 Busse, or a $300.00 scandi knife will save you if you don't have the knowledge to use them.

We have done this to "little rant" to death before.

I firmly believe your brain is your most important tool. Knives and everything else come second.

I ever actually find myself in a "survival situation", I'll be thrilled to have any sort of tool with me. Big, small, or in between.
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Truer words were never spoken. :thumbup:

Sort of like the "best tactical folder" without having the slightest clue or training in how to use it. While I might prefer to stick a Mk II into the brainpan of a skyjacker, a Cross pen will do in a pinch. :D

The mind is the most important "tool." Everything else are just resources with varying degrees of comfort level, preference and resultant suitability.
 
If I might ask, how do you even AFFORD a Yard Hook? Let alone at 16? Christ my most expensive knife MSRP's at $75, and its a folder.
 
Paddling_man said:
Truer words were never spoken. :thumbup:

Sort of like the "best tactical folder" without having the slightest clue or training in how to use it. While I might prefer to stick a Mk II into the brainpan of a skyjacker, a Cross pen will do in a pinch. :D
The mind is the most important "tool." Everything else are just resources with varying degrees of comfort level, preference and resultant suitability.
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Pepsi hurts when it flies through my nose...... LMAO:thumbup::D
 
Sometimes I'll carry a larger knife just because I feel like it. Other times I'll just have a slipjoint.

I guess I'd be glad to have a knife at all than wishing for something else.
 
Shotgun said:
I personally don't understand the point of a thin stock fixed blade unless you're on a budget. Yes it's a more efficient profile but most of the people on the forum EDC a folder that can outperform or at least keep up with fixed blades of yester year. The only reason I carry a fixed blade is for the same reason the original poster stated, if I lose everything I still have a knife that can split out some fire wood. I personally carry a hatchet quite frequently but the problem is that it rides in the pack and not on the person.
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Shotgun, Being from Oregon, you ought to know better. After all, thin knives settled the West! :)

macgregor22, Nothing like bringing a match to a gunpowder factory, eh? :thumbup:
 
Midwest Ninja said:
If I might ask, how do you even AFFORD a Yard Hook? Let alone at 16? Christ my most expensive knife MSRP's at $75, and its a folder.
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I was wondering myself why the thread sounded like an ad for the Busse family knives. Need a big knife? Buy a Ka-Bar. Buy an Ontario.

Tossing around general terms doesn't help either. hollowdweller added some good context to "bushcraft". "Survival" is another one that means very different things depending on circumstance. Survival to a SAR team is one thing, survival to an accident victim is another.

What are we really planning for on a trip off the city sidewalk: a day in the park or a week in the mountains? And the specific environment matters too. Your canoe will not overturn on you in the Arizona desert.

The demonstrable fact that many people have dealt with difficult conditions - survival - with a hatchet or small fixed blade, compass & water, means you should think long and hard about how much more you want to add to your gear besides that.
 
I avoid this whole discussion by ensuring that I have too many knives to use at once. That way, for any given outing, I'll have a good three or four of varying types to take care of various tasks. Lose one? (god forbid!) It's great to have backup. And it's fun to use knives, no matter the type:thumbup:
Categorizing usage is :jerkit: to me. Lots of bushcrafting survivalists and survivaling bushcraftists in here. No need to define oneself as this or that.
We're all knife lovers primarily.
 
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