Another Question From Dr.Bill

WILLIAM.M

WILLIAM.M

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Apr 14, 2006
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In the last question I posted-most read the title and missed the question completely.

In the attempt to prevent that from happening this time

Here is the question.....

Do you feel as your skills have gotten better that the knife size you choose for Wilderness carry has gotten smaller-larger-or stayed the same???

For me --It has gotten smaller.

I LOVES my choppers--but I do not NEED them to feel safe.

I am not at the stage where I would feel comfortable with just a neck knife if I was dropped off in the woods for example-but If I had a 4-6" Blade even if I never used it--it would make the travel back easier to deal with.(from a mental standpoint of making me feel more secure)

I have camped/backpacked for the last 40 years-but I am in NO WAY as qualified as some of the members here and ALWAYS seek to learn more.

But overall--- I used to think I needed for survival/security/etc in the woods has gotten smaller as my experience has gone up..

What say you all---?????

Smaller-Larger-or the same???
 
Ok This might not be the answer you are looking for but, my main knife has gotten smaller. From six? inch to four inch. That is a from a gerber shorty to a F1. However I now pretty much always carry two or more other knives.
 
I'd say it would stay the same. I like to have a large knife with me all the time, because I like how it makes many things easier, even though the smaller tasks may be harder. I COULD do with a smaller knife, sure, but I still prefer to take the larger knife with me.
 
flnder said:
Ok This might not be the answer you are looking for but, my main knife has gotten smaller. From six? inch to four inch. That is a from a gerber shorty to a F1. However I now pretty much always carry two or more other knives.
Click to expand...

Thanks for taking the time to answer

I'm not looking for the "correct" answer -as there is none

Although I'll wager that most people will state that as they got better and more experienced that the knives they choose get smaller or stay the same.

We will see if that is correct

again--thank you both for answering:thumbup:
 
Mine have stayed the same... I've allways used mora-styled knives (tollekniver), although sometimes I bring a larger knife (9" Leuku) just for the heck of it! :D
I don't think I would be comfortable with anything much smaller than the 510.

Jontok
 
I almost invariably carry several in varying sizes (14" bolo, 5 1/4 inch fixed blade, and a Vic Farmer), but the 5 1/4 inch blade has remained my main knife for years, so I'd have to say that I've stayed the same.
 
As I have become more aware over the years of the threat of hypothermia as well as the need to build a shelter quickly in foul weather I have drifted towards thicker blades i.e. away from a Ka-Bar to a Chopweiler. The general length has stayed the same.

-Stan
 
My confidence has grown now I have learned to manage with a smaller blade however my choice still changes more often than the weather.

In reality I can manage quite fine with a 3" blade but often feel safer with a 5"+ blade given that there are bears and cougars where I hike .
 
Both: i feel as my skills get better i want the right size tool for the job.
 
Hmm.. having a hard time answering this one Doc... I usually carry combinations of tools, However as my skills have developed the combinations have gotten more efficient.
I went from an axe or machete a 2 medium size knives a multi tool and a saw... TO a bk7 or machete. and a locking sak... so I guess you could say as I get more confident my tool kit gets smaller.. but I'm not at the point yet where I would willingly attempt a long term wilderness venture with just my Sak...sorry to muddy things up..
 
RescueRiley said:
Hmm.. having a hard time answering this one Doc... I usually carry combinations of tools, However as my skills have developed the combinations have gotten more efficient.
I went from an axe or machete a 2 medium size knives a multi tool and a saw... TO a bk7 or machete. and a locking sak... so I guess you could say as I get more confident my tool kit gets smaller.. but I'm not at the point yet where I would willingly attempt a long term wilderness venture with just my Sak...sorry to muddy things up..
Click to expand...

+1. :thumbup:
 
I'm split on this because I often depended on just my Spyderco Military for my professional career (more than a decade as a mountain guide) and now always carry a fixed blade so I guess in a way knives have gotten bigger.

When I was truly woods bumming before I would usually bring a 7+ inch blade (what I got used to carrying in the military) and now I typically use a 3-4 inch blade, and I would love to find a full handled knife with a sub-three inch blade, as I think that it's all I need for a lot of the tasks that I do and it's handier to use. So really my knives have gotten smaller.

But then again larger blades have been really appealing to me lately and I'm leaning towards a 9-10" blade for certain applications.

Realistically I feel I can handle just about anything with style with just a sub-4" blade, a folding saw and a pocket knife.

So I guess the answer is "smaller and/or bigger!" Does that clear things up?
 
As I've gained experience and knowledge, I choose smaller blades. Especially when woodcarving, a big blade just gets in my way.

But big blades are still pretty cool.
 
RescueRiley said:
Hmm.. having a hard time answering this one Doc... I usually carry combinations of tools, However as my skills have developed the combinations have gotten more efficient.
I went from an axe or machete a 2 medium size knives a multi tool and a saw... TO a bk7 or machete. and a locking sak... so I guess you could say as I get more confident my tool kit gets smaller.. but I'm not at the point yet where I would willingly attempt a long term wilderness venture with just my Sak...sorry to muddy things up..
Click to expand...

Muddy away my friend:thumbup:

Remember--I ask people questions to get them to think...

and you Sir are experienced enough to listen to

Thanks for your answer

as well as for the other answers posted
 
Bigger, then smaller, then REally Big, then smaller still, and now....
small (Mora 510) and REALLY BIG (AXE)...I still love to carry a good 7-9" blade, I find using them alot of fun, and as some have stated, making shelters they are REALLY fun, but an Axe is the wise woodman's choice IMO.
(read- A good sharp axe and well practiced skills to use one)
 
Doc. Mine has always stayed the same. But interestingly I think I have grown into the knife I carry. I've always carried a 3 inch blade. So I'm the opposite. I had a smaller knife when I should of had a larger one. But now I feel like my skills have grown and I've grown into the smaller knife.
 
i always carried a big heavy chopper and a sak. Now i carry a large traditional bowie, hawk and traditional slipjoint.

I would say my tool set evolved into a more efficient set as my skills growed but not smaller.

I enjoy your threads Dr. Bill. They do make me think about my gear choices and why i chose them.
 
I suppose early on I was in the "bigger is better" camp. As time went on I started carrying based on environmental conditions. If I'm heading to the desert for a day a 3" or 4" blade will do just fine. If I'm motorcycle touring/camping all over the place for a week then I bring a larger knife to cover a wider variety of chores. I'd say my choice has become more refined over time.
 
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