Hoodoo,
Ray Mears is not a knife nut; he saw my CR and "hmmm, ok, so, yea". His idea is: 'if you happen to have a knife on you then thats a bonus, whatever it is; if not you can make one.' For his research, (I'll call it research because Ray is not one to get himself into a real survival situation: not his idea of fun at all), he likes a flat ground blade as its good for chisel cutting, tough, and easier to sharpen on a stone/rock. If his knife is good enough to last a couple of years real work then that plenty good enough to last another two. Chopping up logs with a small knife uses up too much energy. Full tang so if the handle material fails then he can make a new one. He also likes it carried around the neck where he can replace it during tasks; he is not one for putting it on the ground.
Alan Wood is one of the few knife makers in the UK. He has been at it for a good few years now and knows his stuff, $150 upwards for a useful knife that will work for its keep. He can even do some fancy stuff. He likes his job.
Ray uses Gransfors Bruks axes.
If you can catch one of Ray's programmes then they are a good watch.
SAK's are good but not as your main survival blade once well off the beaten track. The CS SRK and similar quality, makes and styles are fine. We are talking backpacking and not an expedition?
One last thing. I'd be the first to recommend a $$$$$$ knife. I fancy a big Busse, though haven't a job for it yet. When I was younger I went places where I could have really used one. BUT, I didn't have the money to travel and have a $$$$$ knife. Now I'm older I have too many responsibilities/burdens to go traveling but can aford a $$$$$$ knife. Those contemporaries still not tied down and doing it still, still don't have two cents to put together, but they do make me green as hell.
A $$$$$$$$ knife is not worth one great adventure. Have a $$ and go for it.
[This message has been edited by GREENJACKET (edited 02-22-2001).]
[This message has been edited by GREENJACKET (edited 02-22-2001).]
