Best blade size for a survival situation

Let me have my Cold Steel SRK. However, I always keep a small swiss army knife w/one blade, file, scissors, toothpick, and tweezers handy for minor surgery. The large heavy knife is nice for most tasks, and in a real pinch I could whittle my own toothpick and tweezer like utensils, so if it was only one let it be the SRK. However, any knife of decent quality greatly helps, even a 2 inch folder could make a decent survival knife, with the right mindset.

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Know Yourself, Know Your Weapon, Know Your Enemy; then Know Victory! ---DaHaMac
 
my favorite frequently asked question.

a 7"-10" knife a busse (sthII)

you can always find a piece of glass, metalscrap or break a piece of shale for small detailed work. but building a shelter and making fire. I'll always want a large knife. it has nothing to do with machismo or sexual insecurity.

I got lost in the canadian wilderness in winter.I learned a hell of a lot that NIGHT. When I was about to get hypothermia and all I had was my SRK to hack pine branches to protect me from the sleet. The SRK performed but it was more my sore arms and wrists and it also increases the chance for an injury, when you are maxing out a tool.

after that trip I bought a busse now I know I can build a log cabin if I had to. It goes with me on every backcountry trip.



 
I also prefer the smaller blade (when posed with the above question... only one). Although I like to carry a big knife... many (not all) of the tasks I use it for can be done without it by simply using a little inginuity and improvising (I can't always say the same about the tasks I perform with my smaller knife).

Just my openion... the bottom line is... use what you are comfortable with and be prepared to improvise.

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Greg Davenport
http://www.ssurvival.com
Are You Ready For The Challenge?
Are You Ready To Learn The Art Of Wilderness Survival?

 
There are lots of plastic handled Moras with molded guards. The hard one to find is a laminated carbon steel Mora with a guard.
 
Well, since they are so cheap compared to my ridiculous collection, I carry a Busse badger Attack in the woods. Never been attacked by one, but I am ready. Or are they for attacking badgers? Anyway, it is the perfect size. I also carry an ultimate survival chain saw http://www.tripleaughtdesign.com/survival.htm which I prefer over any chopper. I am always amused at the emphasis on chopping. Then again, if you are going where you need a machete, don't take a 9" blade, no matter how great it is. But I can take down a 6" diameter tree in a few minutes if needed and chop high overhead limbs with some rope.... let's see a BM do that! I do own several and use them... but I am trying to answer the original question.



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Dances with lemmings
Accept M/C, VISA free, 5$ bonus to sign on.
 
Originally posted by chrisaloia:
I got lost in the canadian wilderness in winter.I learned a hell of a lot that NIGHT. When I was about to get hypothermia and all I had was my SRK to hack pine branches to protect me from the sleet. The SRK performed but it was more my sore arms and wrists and it also increases the chance for an injury, when you are maxing out a tool.
Click to expand...

I just trimmed about 10 wrist-size limbs from my trees in the backyard using an opinel saw. What a great little tool this is and weighs nothing. Didn't take much work to get the job done either. No wrist fatigue and I didn't even work up a sweat.

I also did some chopping with the Camillus Companion and it did well but my small Sanvik Hatchet kicked its butt and then some. I found I actually had more control over the chopping with the hatchet than the Camillus. Then I tried my old Norlund hatchet. This is a very small hatchet head with Hudson Bay styling. I had just put a 12 1/2" handle on it. So it has a fairly small head and a good sized handle and I was amazed the way this thing could chop. Nearly as good as the Sanvik and way better than the Camillus. But the profile is narrower than the Camillus as well.

I'm not knocking the Camillus though. It did well and whittled nicely. But a good hatchet is a wonderful thing.

Overall, I'd say if you want to chop and do it cheaply, buy a good hatchet (I can wholeheartedly recommend the Sandvik) and if you want to save weight, get one of those Opinel saws. They are awesome for the money.
You can carry a couple of those in your pack and not know they are there.


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Hoodoo

The low, hoarse purr of the whirling stone—the light-press’d blade,
Diffusing, dropping, sideways-darting, in tiny showers of gold,
Sparkles from the wheel.

Walt Whitman
 
Figured I'd weigh in....

If I had one choice I'd take my SAK Rucksack model. I can make everything else I'd need from what is out there.

If it's bushwacking... walk around or cut a heavy club. In ancient days folks broke branches with clubs to get through. An SAK can help you make that tool.

Given two blades... my Anaconda or Nordooh and my SAK would do it all.

Ron

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Learn Life Extension at:

http://www.survival.com ]
 
Originally posted by Greg Davenport:
I also prefer the smaller blade (when posed with the above question... only one). Although I like to carry a big knife... many (not all) of the tasks I use it for can be done without it by simply using a little inginuity and improvising (I can't always say the same about the tasks I perform with my smaller knife).

Greg,

Any particular brands you prefer?
Click to expand...
 
Originally posted by Doc Ron:
Figured I'd weigh in....

Given two blades... my Anaconda or Nordooh and my SAK would do it all.

Ron
Click to expand...

Ron, I have a couple of questions. (1) What's a Nordooh and (2) why do you prefer the tanto point on your survival knife?



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Hoodoo

The low, hoarse purr of the whirling stone—the light-press’d blade,
Diffusing, dropping, sideways-darting, in tiny showers of gold,
Sparkles from the wheel.

Walt Whitman
 
I tailored my response to meet the criteria of a situation where I thought that one was stuck in the woods for an extended period of time with only ONE cutting tool. I believe that THAT was the spirit of the question. If that is so, would any of you guys change your choices? If you CAN carry an axe and a saw as well... hmmm. I'll have to think on that one.

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They've got us completely surrounded... The poor bastards!
 
Originally posted by fracmeister:
Well, since they are so cheap compared to my ridiculous collection, I carry a Busse badger Attack in the woods. Never been attacked by one, but I am ready. Or are they for attacking badgers? Anyway, it is the perfect size. I also carry an ultimate survival chain saw http://www.tripleaughtdesign.com/survival.htm which I prefer over any chopper. I am always amused at the emphasis on chopping. Then again, if you are going where you need a machete, don't take a 9" blade, no matter how great it is. But I can take down a 6" diameter tree in a few minutes if needed and chop high overhead limbs with some rope.... let's see a BM do that! I do own several and use them... but I am trying to answer the original question.
Click to expand...

Hey fracmeister,

The Badger Attack was the knife I was really thinking of when I posted about the mean street above. I edited my original post to reflect this.

The Badger Attack is one mean knife. Great size for a do all knife and excellent toughness. I think I'm going over to the Busse forum and post a question concerning the status of this knife. From what I gather, it is currently in limbo.



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Hoodoo

The low, hoarse purr of the whirling stone—the light-press’d blade,
Diffusing, dropping, sideways-darting, in tiny showers of gold,
Sparkles from the wheel.

Walt Whitman
 
The question is an interesting one, although I usually carry 2 knives on any extended venture into the woods or mountains.

As for a big blade being unnecessary, I am glad that has been more than one person's experience. Some years back, while taking what I consider to be little more than a "walk" [out saturday, back sunday] I happened upon a dog about 3 miles south of nowhere. Skinny as a board, mean as hell, either I was going up a tree, or there was going to be a fight. Since that day, each and every time I think about leaving the Busse BM at home, taking something lighter, etc., I remember that day. No, I had no tree in reach and the fight ended favorably for me.

In the over all scheme of things, darn few knives add any real weight to the load. Figure before I leave a "too big" knife at home for the convenience of weight, maybe I will lose a pound or two in body weight
smile.gif
 
Straightblastpfs,

First of all, what kind of name is that?

Second, your story reminded me of Jack London's book, The Call of the Wild. In that book, London made a point of saying that the wild dog was mastered with the club. That's one of the reasons I take a good stout walking stick into the woods. That and the fact that it can save you a twisted ankle.

I don't want to be so close to a dog that I have to use a knife on one, especially if it has rabies. That's too close. A good walking stick will keep them away and a well thrown rock will usually send them scurrying. Of course, there's always the Walther TPH I usually have in my hip pocket.
smile.gif



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Hoodoo

The low, hoarse purr of the whirling stone—the light-press’d blade,
Diffusing, dropping, sideways-darting, in tiny showers of gold,
Sparkles from the wheel.

Walt Whitman
 
In a survival situation I want a big knife. The big knife will do more with less effort, which is a key in survival. I read somewhere, and couldn't agree more, that the less stuff you have on you when you hit the wilds, the bigger you want your knife to be. So if I'm out there with nothing more than my mini kit and my good looks, then I want a big knife.

If I'm backpacking, I carry a swiss army knife or my old faithful Gerber Parabellum. Backpacking assumes that I'm carrying around enough stuff to survive for an almost indeterminate amount of time.

As an aside, my advice is to avoid the Busses. They're having trouble with customer service and one retailer stopped carrying them due to their poor sheaths. But don't take my word for it... http://www.nwcutlery.com/busse.html

I met Newt Livesay and he's super nice, and I always recommend his products. I also met the gang from TOPS, and they're ... well ... tops
smile.gif
And the new Camillus Becker lineup is turning a LOT of heads (mine included).

HTH,



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-ramius
"oderint dum metuant"
 
Another nice thing about the khukuri is that they tend to come with a small utility knife and steel for restoring the edge. It all fits into the same sheath and you can sharpen that little blade into a razor if you so desire. You can use that for some of the finer tasks and chores. Just thought that I'd extol the virtues of the curved blade again.

I will admit that a well made khukuri is going to be a bit on the heavy side, but if it is going to be the only cutting tool I have at my disposal for quite some time, I think that that would be my choice.

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They've got us completely surrounded... The poor bastards!
 
Hoodoo...straightblast is the centerpiece to progressive fighting systems [pfs], I just combined the two for a handle. My real name is Bruce, and a little more common
smile.gif


As to the comment about a big stick on a wild dog, or a well thrown rock, let me say this. I have had 3 encounters in my life with feral dogs. That is, bezerkers who are not just mean, but seriously wanting to take you down in the wild. A rock, unless well placed enough to stave in its head, is not going to detour it. A good thick 4 foot stick might. On 2 occasions I used a .45, which makes fine medicine. The 3rd (being the one I described) I used the Busse and some well timed cover.

I have come across dozens and dozens of dogs in the wild. Most either want to be your pal, or break contact with you. These crazy ones, well, good luck.

I own several Busse knives and love them all. Jerry Busse seriously injured his hand some time back and that slowed production. The sheaths I have are all kydex, and work great. The newt livesay knives I have are super, and very well priced. The Becker companion I have is nice as well, and I have not yet seen the Tops Anaconda, although it looks super in pictures.
 
David:

Even if I were limited to merely one knife, probably meaning I was in a plane crash, and my belt flew off on impact or something like that
smile.gif
, I would still desire a short fixed blade.
Given the proper seasonal attire, a short fixed blade, the ability to start a fire, and a pot, I feel comfortable surviving in all but the most extreme climates of North America. There are other things I would like, but these tools would sustain me. Of the listed items, the knife is the one I'd give up first, the pot second, fire third, and proper clothing last.


Stryver
 
Gentlemen; your points are well taken. However, may I remind you that the equipment which matters most is that which YOU HAVE WITH YOU.

Sure, I love 3D cell Mag-Lights with the Carley xenon lamp. However, while I do carry one in a leather pack with me just about everywhere I go, I sometimes find myself in a position where I have been separated from the Mag-Light, and the Photons I carry on my person are what I use.

Don't count on a knife unless you always carry it on you.

Walt
 
Originally posted by Stryver:
David:

Even if I were limited to merely one knife, probably meaning I was in a plane crash, and my belt flew off on impact or something like that
smile.gif
, I would still desire a short fixed blade.
Given the proper seasonal attire, a short fixed blade, the ability to start a fire, and a pot, I feel comfortable surviving in all but the most extreme climates of North America. There are other things I would like, but these tools would sustain me. Of the listed items, the knife is the one I'd give up first, the pot second, fire third, and proper clothing last.


Stryver
Click to expand...

For short term survival I suppose that makes sense but what about longer term? With a knife you can get the rest. A knife will carve a bowl, strike flint for a fire, whittle traps to catch small game from which you could make clothing, and a whole lot more.
smile.gif



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Hoodoo

The low, hoarse purr of the whirling stone—the light-press’d blade,
Diffusing, dropping, sideways-darting, in tiny showers of gold,
Sparkles from the wheel.

Walt Whitman
 
I think some people are responding to respones without reading the original question.

The orginal question was one knife, not a saw and a hachet or a flashlight or any thing but one knife. What knife would you bring?

Does anyone out there think you can improvise a small knife easier than a large knife?
There have been many times I have been in the back country(20-30 miles from roads) and found glass frags or old beer cans and of course shale flakes. All of the items I feel I can create a skinning blade or even a scapel with. I feel it is way more difficult to improv a large chopper.

I do believe the best tool is the mind and a lot of us would survive either with a small knife or a large knife the question is purely armchair. but I think it is fun !!!!!!

I am sure others do or they wouldn't be on the thread!

Thanks

chris aloia
 
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