All you big knife fans, sell me on why I should carry a big knife (RD9, BM size).

Tknife, that is a Busse indeed. It is a Natural Outlaw from the Terror Monkey series of knives. The sheath is a Semper Paratus unit I had Dan customize the design for me. The handle ergos happen to be very good for my hand. (read fictional story about it here.) Be sure to follow link at end of story to picture.

Handle ergonomics are one of the least talked-about aspects of our knives. And are one of the more important aspects while the knives are in-use.

Noshtero, one of the knives (perhaps the ultimate small camping/backpacking knife IMHO ;) ) I forgot to mention is the Swamp Rat Bog Dog in D2 steel with its Mudder textured Resiprene-C handle. How well the Swamp has nailed the heat treat for D2 is reported in this D2 torture test thread. Unfortunately, like other Swamp Rat D2 models, it is discontinued, so availability can be a problem. If you find one of the Swamp Rat D2 knives for sale, grab it. :thumbup:
 
How about:

RD9 (big chopper/hammer/prybar/etc...)
Buck Special (6" thin bladed food prepper. I think I could fillet with this guy) or Benchmade 710 in D2 (4" folder)
SAK Rucksack (small 3.5" blade and a decent saw)

The other option would be to trade the big chopper for an axe and up the ruggedness of the Buck or Benchmad with an RD6

Wetterlings Axe or RD9(if needed, and probably leave at the camp).
RD6
SAK RuckSack
I think between the big knife (RD6) and the little knife (Rucksack) I should be able to do most things. Then I have the big Axe, or hell maybe even an RD9 if I need to kill a dinosaur or something.

I've never been a fan of saws, so as much as they are awesome for some people, I think I'll stay away from them
 
Actually... how about this.

Let's play "pack Noshtero for his trips"

Noshtero owns:
Benchmade 710 (4" D2 folder)
Buck Special (6" fixed)

Noshtero is open to buying:
Ranger RD4/RD6/RD7/RD9
Wetterlings axe
SAK Rucksack
Any smaller fixed blade under $50ish

Trip 1: car camping or single overnighter

Trip 2: 5 day backpacking trek

btw guys.. I REALLY appriciate the help.
 
this is just an idea instead of spending all kinds of money on a lg chopper just get yourself a Gerber or fiskers small hatchet as for a knife id get a bark river if you can there a little pricey but there good and as a back up a mora i like the clippers i use them as neck knives i take a leatherman and the doug ritter gripper that a lot of knives i could leave the bark river home but she would get lonely:D
 
How Can You Possibly Decapitate a Yak in under 3 blows without a Large Chopper ???


I love big choppers, but for practical camping purposes other than trail clearing I dont find them all that practical.

I will second the fiskars hatchet, I have one and love it, its lighter than most of my larger knives and out chops them for most things.
 
Noshtero said:
Actually... how about this.

Let's play "pack Noshtero for his trips"

Noshtero owns:
Benchmade 710 (4" D2 folder)
Buck Special (6" fixed)

Noshtero is open to buying:
Ranger RD4/RD6/RD7/RD9
Wetterlings axe
SAK Rucksack
Any smaller fixed blade under $50ish

Trip 1: car camping or single overnighter

Trip 2: 5 day backpacking trek

btw guys.. I REALLY appriciate the help.
Click to expand...
What location and terrain?
Camping on the beach in South Carolina is very different than camping in the mountains of Alaska.

What season and weather do you expect, and how rapidly does the weather change where you would like to camp?
 
I was hiking in the Black Hills last weekend, and needed a walking stick. I found a good one, with smaller branches attached. Out came my Camp Tramp, and snick, snick, snick I had a nice walking stick. Took all of about 2 minutes. Never even thought about using my Mora or Opinel, and I had both on me as well.

The more that I do outdoors, the more I favor a larger fixed blade. My moras are handy in the kitchen and garden, but I just don't find much use for them in the woods, especially since I'm usually carrying a Calypso Jr or 3.
 
sodak said:
I was hiking in the Black Hills last weekend, and needed a walking stick. I found a good one, with smaller branches attached. Out came my Camp Tramp, and snick, snick, snick I had a nice walking stick. Took all of about 2 minutes. Never even thought about using my Mora or Opinel, and I had both on me as well.

The more that I do outdoors, the more I favor a larger fixed blade. My moras are handy in the kitchen and garden, but I just don't find much use for them in the woods, especially since I'm usually carrying a Calypso Jr or 3.
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You don't hunt or fish, do you? I can't imagine not using a mora, or mora size knife A LOT! A lot of what we talk about on here is really subjective, it all depends on what you are doing, or expect to do in the woods. Chris
 
allenC said:
What location and terrain?
Camping on the beach in South Carolina is very different than camping in the mountains of Alaska.

What season and weather do you expect, and how rapidly does the weather change where you would like to camp?
Click to expand...

Let's say WI/IL forest camping in late fall, most likely at national parks. I expect to fish, but not hunt. I expect to build a fire. I will be sleeping in a tent.
 
runningboar said:
You don't hunt or fish, do you? I can't imagine not using a mora, or mora size knife A LOT! A lot of what we talk about on here is really subjective, it all depends on what you are doing, or expect to do in the woods. Chris
Click to expand...

Would you sooner carry a mora or a rucksack? They both have 3.5"ish thin blades.
 
Personally I feel naked without a big knife on me whilst in the woods. I find that the big knife gets used more often while in camp or on the trail than small knives unless food prep is concerned. This is with me (fairly experienced) and most of my "rookie camper" friends. Usually a big chopper, small neck knife/chopper and a supertool/wave are what goes with me for more mobile short term hikes/ camping trips. If in a large group or car camping then out comes the hewing axe.

I find that I rarely use knives in the 6-8" range- although I do like them this is what works for me.
 
Noshtero said:
Would you sooner carry a mora or a rucksack? They both have 3.5"ish thin blades.
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Mora, I don't have to dig in my pocket for it, and if I am in my canoe or kayak it is light and quick to carry on my PFD or around my neck. If I were picking 3 tools for what you described it would probably be a Mora, 12" or 14" ontario or tramontina machete, and a leatherman wave. Don't get me wrong I love the rucksack and it is a darn good pick, but I like the leatherman better, especially for fishing and camping. Chris
 
When backpacking for extended periods, 10 - 20 miles a day, in rough terrain, weight matters. I've been known to cut the handle of my toothbrush so as to save weight. This is especially true if you're hiking at altitude, and even more true if you simply aren't used to backpacking, and so might not be in the best shape for it.

So if you're really going to backpack, you need to think long and hard about how much that knife weighs.

Since you're carrying everything you need to survive, I suggest you look into a neck knife style of knife. Make it small and light and able to hang on a lanyard around your neck. This will be the easiest thing to access, no matter whether you're wearing your pack or not.

If they were still available, I'd suggest a Becker Necker. Since those are now really hard to come by, maybe a RAT-3 is a good suggestion. I'm also looking into Bark River Micro Canadians, but I'm not sure if they're strong enough to handle a "lost my pack in the river" scenario, so I don't want to recommend them yet.

Alternatively, you can look into ultra light backpacking techniques, and then carry a bigger knife. You'll need the bigger knife to help prepare your campsite because you won't be carrying as much with you in that scenario.

I would never bother with a hatchet or a big knife or an axe (:eek: ) for backpacking. The weight alone is prohibitive. A folding camp saw, at the most, is what you'll need for that campfire. But you shouldn't need a campfire because you've got your sleeping bag, camp stove, and tent/slitarp with you, right?

4 - 6 inches, max, on a fixed blade when backpacking, and if you're going 6 inches then you need to be looking into ultralight techniques so you can save weight somewhere else.

Before heading out into the wilderness on a backpacking trip, I suggest a weekend with just whatever knife you carry and your PSK (both of which should ALWAYS be on your body). Make a shelter and a fire and hunker down for for a night or two. Make sure you can get by on just those things for ~48 hours. Because there's always a non-zero chance that you'll lose your pack somehow, so know that you can get along with just what's around your neck, on your belt, and in your pockets.

Big knives and hatchets and such are for when you're setting up a base camp, or horseback riding through an area, or 4-wheeling or ATVing, or even canoeing (but even there the weight starts to matter, especially when that portage comes up). Or, maybe, if you're US military and on recon. :) But they're really not something you want to lug around on a civilian recreational backpacking trip through your local national forest.

Just my opinion, of course. That and my knees', that is. :D
 
So it sounds like here's my plan.

I'll buy an RD6, a gerber sport hatchet, a mora, and either a rucksack or a leatherman.

I'll carry the RD6 and multitool. I'll leave the mora in camp for camp chores. I'll use the hatchet to set up camp and get a fire going, then leave it in camp.
 
Because.... damn it.... I want a big nasty knife of SOME sort!!

Don't I need something to bridge the gap between axe and mora? If I know them right, mora's don't stand up to THAT much abuse.

Maybe I skip the mora and get an RD4 instead?
 
Noshtero said:
Because.... damn it.... I want a big nasty knife of SOME sort!!
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Well get one.:D Just because you want it is justification enough, I have a safe full of shotguns, I only needed one but I wanted the others so I got them too.:thumbup:

Seriously, the vast majority of backpackers and campers do just fine with a small SAK or multitool. Even if you are fishing, a folding filet knife from wally world, a folding saw from the same place and your SAK will be all you ever NEED. But there is something that sends an electric charge up your arm and into the pleasure center of your brain when you hold a razor sharp piece of functional art in your hand, all of us here understand, buy the RD6, or even the RD9 and enjoy it.:D :thumbup: Chris
 
runningboar said:
But there is something that sends an electric charge up your arm and into the pleasure center of your brain when you hold a razor sharp piece of functional art in your hand, all of us here understand, buy the RD6, or even the RD9 and enjoy it.:D :thumbup: Chris
Click to expand...

Beautiful!! I know you're all thinking it... but you're the first to just say it!

RD9 it is. I'll go:

RD9
Mora
Rucksack or leatherman (gotta compare the gadgets)

When the time comes that I'm up to the challenge of backpacking, I'll ditch the RD9 and Mora and replace them with a sensible 4"er, maybe a RAT3 or RD4 or something light weight.

I can't give the win to the big knife guys... but I can give the win to testosterone.

Thanks guys :)
 
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