Best Camp Knife ?

pitdog

pitdog

Joined
Apr 13, 2007
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Iv'e never really had a Camp Knife as such before, the closest I have to what I would term a camp knife is my MOD 4 so I was wondering what you guys use and class as your favourite Camp blades ?
Before ya ask I would guess it's uses could be anything from chopping a little wood, cutting up some steak to knocking in some tent pegs....you get the idea !:D
Please don't come with the cracks about use an axe for the wood, a mallet for the tent pegs and a steak knife for the steak cos that's not what I'm asking and it just ruins the threads !!!:grumpy:
 
I was fortunate enough to have a friend get me a Busse SF Natural Outlaw at cost. It is the perfect camp knife in my estimation. I am really anxious to try Daniel Kosters more succinct WSK design when he releases it. I think it will be another great camp blade.
I'm not fond of blades over 6" so that really limits my input, but not my use.
 
For a while I used a Gerber LMF II or a Buck Nighthawk. The Nighthawk was better. I also used a SOG Seal 2000 and that I believe was even better than the Nighthawk. When I think of a camp blade I think of it being at least 6" or larger. The Largest knife I ever carried was a 10" machete. Affectionately called my, "Big Ten Inch" named after the Aerosmith song.
 
I usually use my RD9 but I'm just betting my Koster Nessmuk in 3V is going to become my camp knife of choice. The RD9 is a little cumbersome for food prep stuff.
 
Pitdog,

I have a camp knife/chopper that I picked up several years ago from its maker, as fellow by the name of Miller up in Indiana. It is hand-forged from an old horseshoe rasp, has a drop-point blade about 8" long, and is about 1/4" thick after forging. It has sheephorn handle scales. It takes a great edge and is "soft" enough to handle hacking and chopping chores, while still having the ability to slice. And it's easily resharpened. It's my favorite camp knife!

Ron
 
I'm really liking my KaBar Heavy Bowie. I think their Camp Knife would make a good choice too. Both are very hearty, meaty blades with a lot of power.
 
My vote would have to be the Swamp Rat Knife Works Ratweiler Chopper. Amazing control, steel, handle design, etc... Good for general use as well as chopping. It's beefy without being too beefy.
 
Noshtero said:
I usually use my RD9 but I'm just betting my Koster Nessmuk in 3V is going to become my camp knife of choice. The RD9 is a little cumbersome for food prep stuff.
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:thumbup: I can't wait for my 3V Custom Nessie with extended pommel and finger guard from Dan either. Been on order a month and a half and I'm becoming fidgety.:rolleyes::D
 
It was a Camillus (Ka-Bar style) 5" Pilot/Air Force Survival knife circa 1968. That was 'til it didn't come back from camp with me one day.

Due to the loss and my falure to replace it, I'll have to say my BK7 even though its a bit large for food prep.
 
If you don't mind a production knife with D2 steel, in the past I've used a Knives of Alaska Bush/Camp knife. I did all those things you listed pretty well, but it really excelled at food prep. I liked the rubber grip model too.
 
mymindisamob said:
I was fortunate enough to have a friend get me a Busse SF Natural Outlaw at cost. It is the perfect camp knife in my estimation. I am really anxious to try Daniel Kosters more succinct WSK design when he releases it. I think it will be another great camp blade.
I'm not fond of blades over 6" so that really limits my input, but not my use.
Click to expand...

:D same boat....I just picked up a Busse NO in a trade ,(inbound) and waiting on my Bushcraft from Mr.Koster...but for now until the RC4 is released,I am using my NWA and wife uses my TAK-1 .
 
I have to confess, this "camp knife" thing has always had me a little confused. I mean, why would you need a somehow special, dedicated knife for camping? I would think that the knives you carry in the wild will do the camp tasks just as well. And if they won't, why carry them in the first place? We Finns don't have "camp knives", just "knives." A Fällkniven F1, for example, will do just as well in the camp as it will do while you're walking towards your chosen camp spot. If it's just for firewood chopping and things like that, then any good chopper knife will do - or you could just bring a hatchet.
 
Elen said:
I have to confess, this "camp knife" thing has always had me a little confused. I mean, why would you need a somehow special, dedicated knife for camping? I would think that the knives you carry in the wild will do the camp tasks just as well. And if they won't, why carry them in the first place? We Finns don't have "camp knives", just "knives." A Fällkniven F1, for example, will do just as well in the camp as it will do while you're walking towards your chosen camp spot. If it's just for firewood chopping and things like that, then any good chopper knife will do - or you could just bring a hatchet.
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I thought things were going too well :(

I tend to think of a Camp knife as being a little larger than what you would usually carry when hiking, ie. for me I don't like to carry a knife with a blade larger than 5" when hiking but for camping I wouldn't mind throwing something a little larger in my pack or car !!!
 
Ron53 said:
Pitdog,

I have a camp knife/chopper that I picked up several years ago from its maker, as fellow by the name of Miller up in Indiana. It is hand-forged from an old horseshoe rasp, has a drop-point blade about 8" long, and is about 1/4" thick after forging. It has sheephorn handle scales. It takes a great edge and is "soft" enough to handle hacking and chopping chores, while still having the ability to slice. And it's easily resharpened. It's my favorite camp knife!

Ron
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That sounds a nice knife Ron, d'ya have any pics ?
 
My tan Camp Tramp has served me very well. Just bought a slightly used black one off the exchange with a Buy Brown kydex sheath shipped and Paypal for 190.00 bucks to match it. Pretty good deal if you look at the current market value on this discontinued knife. Those Res-C handles are great for cold weather, shock absorbtion, and fit my small hands very well. Not to mention Busse heat treated (differentially) 52100 steel. What's not to like? Not available any more, but hopefully the Scrap Yard will be coming out with something similar in S7 or God's willing "INFI" steel before long. About due they've been hitting all around it with different size knives.
 
pitdog said:
I thought things were going too well :(

I tend to think of a Camp knife as being a little larger than what you would usually carry when hiking, ie. for me I don't like to carry a knife with a blade larger than 5" when hiking but for camping I wouldn't mind throwing something a little larger in my pack or car !!!
Click to expand...

Sorry! :o

I see... so do you guys differentiate between "hiking" and "camping"? They're the same thing to me... I mean, I go hiking, and at some point I stop to camp, and then pack up again and go hiking further, set up another camp... ad nauseam, or ad Russian border guards start shooting at you. :D I mean, you do camp while hiking, don't you? Or do you just do day hikes with no camp of any kind? Sorry for all the questions, but I'm kinda not up to speed on American hiking culture. :eek:
 
Elen,

when reffering to a "camp knife: it is a term to describe something that would be the american version of a leuko ( I think I spelled that right ) oh well... just a large knife for heavy tasks to accompany a smaller one.

Pit I've been using the kabar heavy bowie as of laye and it's pretty awesome...1/4 inch thick 1085 steel blade, shaving sharp out of the box....I chose this over the camp knife as the camp knife has a hollow grind (not the greatest for heavy work IMO) but the bowies has a flat grind... good luck in your quest.
 
Elen said:
Sorry! :o

I see... so do you guys differentiate between "hiking" and "camping"? They're the same thing to me... I mean, I go hiking, and at some point I stop to camp, and then pack up again and go hiking further, set up another camp... ad nauseam, or ad Russian border guards start shooting at you. :D I mean, you do camp while hiking, don't you? Or do you just do day hikes with no camp of any kind? Sorry for all the questions, but I'm kinda not up to speed on American hiking culture. :eek:
Click to expand...

Yeah I see where you are coming from now, the only times I have camped so far I have driven in, if I was hiking and camping as you do then I would guess I'd stick with a 5" type blade as the last thing I'd want is a ton of steel adding to my already heavy load !
I hope to do that kinda camping in the not too distant future though !!:thumbup:

As I live in bear/cougar and wolf country I also like the comfort of having a slightly larger knife with me in the tent as I don't own any firearms !
 
Elen,
Hiking usually refers to day hikes. Backpacking to hiking/camping with you goods(obviously) on your back. & then there is car camping. My notion of a "camp knife" comes from the backpacking use. There is personal kit and community kit. In a group of 8 packers, there really is no need for 8 shovels, axes, etc. My camp knife would be a community use knife to augment the smaller personal knife each man would have on them.

My offering is a Gossman- 7" blade, traditional spearpoint, 1 3/4" wide, 3/16" O1, buff scales, full tang, full convex ground.

2Door
 
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