Best heavy trail user?

Z

z537z

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Apr 14, 2004
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I'm thinking of hiking the AT once out of college, but among other things I do like to have a knife when camping, hunting, hiking, shooting, etc.
Among the heavy users, what would be the best pick for a survival, trail, heavy duty knife?
I've got my money on the Becker BK7 right now (thanks in large part to Cliff Stamp's reviews), but Fallkniven's Forrest knife (I can buy my own blade blank, which I really like) are really catching my eye, as well as the Cold Steel SRK, Ranger knives, and the classic Camillus Mark 2, or similar Ka Bar models from back in the day (e.g. Vietnam era), Swamp Rat Camp Trap (and other SRKW models).


On the one hand, not having to sharpen a knife is nice. On the other hand, steel so hard that you can't sharpen it with a rock (vs. carrying extra DMT stone weight) with a little practice. I want a good steel, but bendability (CPM-3V<-- WOW) is preferable to snapping in the field, I would think. Prying is a good option to have with a knife.


Is a Busse really worth the $$$ ?
Thanks for any advice, I'm sure this topic's come up about 100000000 times already :-P

_z

EDIT: I forgot. Also, Nimravus looks nice, and the "AT" from Bud Nealy, for smaller fixed blades.
 
Yes, a Busse is really worth the $$$, if you want a tool you can bet your life on.

1. Any big Bussee: Steel Heart, Battle Mistress, or SFNO.
2. Swamp Rat: Ratweiler, Camp Tramp, or Battle Rat.
3. Chris Reeve: Any large one piece, or a Neil Roberts Warrior.
4. Ranger Knives: RD7 or RD9 (ultimate bang for the buck: forget about the Becker).
5. Fallkniven: A1, A2 or NL2. Amazing quality that made me appreciate laminated blades.
 
I would say get the Battle Rat, and also a smaller fixed blade, maybe the Howling Rat or something similar. I have a BR and it is awesome. I am going to order a HR soon. I see that as an excellent camping duo.

When you say "sharpen with a rock" I assume you mean carrying a benchstone? I dont think you would have much luck scraping your knife on a random stone, unless you could find one that is really flat ;) But you can carry sandpaper to sharpen the knives, and it doesnt get any lighter than that. :D
 
Well I'd be happy carrying a light-weight medium DMT stone or something, but a large benchstone or whatever I won't have room for.

And hey, if I lose that, you can sharpen a knife on a beachstone, if you work it right. Sandpaper wears out too quick to be worth taking traveling, IMO.

I like the RD7, can you still get them? Had trouble finding them on the net.

Swamprat ratweiler looks really nice, Busse style but affordable.


How do the RD7, BK7, Battle Rat compare?
How do the Ratweiler, Busses compare? Lotsa % for a Busse, I don't see the immediate advantage... :confused:


_z
 
For hiking, wieght really is a serious issue, and of the knives you mention, the Fallkniven S1 Forest knife probably has the best weight vs. utility ratio. The SRK is a close second, and half the price. It is my knife of choice for hiking and long distance backpacking when I need a reliable fixed blade and weight is a issue.

Will
 
I dont see the battle rat as being too heavy. I think its usefullness outweighs its weight, so to speak, as it is great for chopping and is much lighter than most hatchets. Also, A battle rat is pretty much indestructable, and wont break. if you somehow managed to bend it, Swamp Rat would replace it or fix it. :)
battlerat1.jpg
 
Have a read of the Busse forum. IMO, seeing a knife is meaningless: using it is the key. Most Busse owners use their knives, and once you've used INFI you can understand why people love it. My Magnum EU-17 is big, sharp, and tougher than I know how to describe. I wouldn't trade it for any other blade, but at the time I bought it I was worried about spending so much on a blade.

Justin is in Iraq at the moment, but if you get in touch with Ranger Knives they'll be able to let you know about availability. www.rangerknives.com.

There is no comparison between the Becker and the RD7. I've seen broken Beckers (too brittle), but my RDs take everything I can throw at them.

With the Swamp Rats: It really depends if you want micarta or Res C. Either handle material/model is excellent. The Howling Rat is excellent if you don't need/want to do any chopping—or if you are prepared to use a baton.

A big fixed blade and a small fixed blade/folder is a good way to go.
 
acolonelofcorn said:
I dont see the battle rat as being too heavy. I think its usefullness outweighs its weight, so to speak, as it is great for chopping and is much lighter than most hatchets. Also, A battle rat is pretty much indestructable, and wont break. if you somehow managed to bend it, Swamp Rat would replace it or fix it. :)
Click to expand...

I guess it really comes down to what you want to do with the knife. I am not sure how much heavy chopping there is to do on an AT thru hike. I am not sure what the BR+sheath weights but a GB Wildlife hatchet must be close, or even lighter. There are few a really light hatchets like the Gerber BackPaxe, and GB mini. I do realize that the BR may be more versitile than a hatchet, like for clearing lighter brush - again, not sure how much of this you will want to do. A small saw, like the Pocket Chainsaw at 5 oz. is very efficent for it's weght. This might be better choice than a large blade for cutting thick wood. Folding bowsaws are efficient too, but much heavier than the Pocket Chainsaw (but still lighter than the BR). Splitting firewood is easily accomplished with a short (4-6") fixed blade.

What is your hiking approach? Most AT thru hikers like to go ultra-light and fast. No shleter building, or clearing campsites.

Will

Edit:
I re-read your post, and see it isn't specifically for the AT, but a general heavy duty knife. For the price, Swamp Rat all the way. If size and weight are no issue, may as well go for a big guy, like the BR, or the BK9 from Becker if price is an issue. For smaller knives, less geared towards chopping power, CS SRK is good for the price, Fallkniven S1, or a smaller Swamp Rat maybe.
 
I guess my approach is more old fashioned than the lighter than air hiking/camping experience. I dont have alot of super lightweight gear, such as modern campstoves and such. I would be more inclined to make a fire to cook, and that is where the chopping ability comes in handy. My pace would be classified as "a nice stroll" -I wouldnt be seeking a quick finish, but rather enjoying every minute in the elements. I wouldnt be able to hike as far, of course, on the same amount of food, so I would probably have to invest in alot of that lightweight gear before doing the AT, but I dont think having the BR strapped on my leg would slow me down much. But then I am fairly big, 6'2", and I can understand how it might be cumbersome for smaller framed individuals. I hope that explains my camping/hiking approach. I would have to change my methods quite alot to hike and camp anywhere fires arent allowed or where there is high fire danger (or be really carefull and use a smokeless fire- so I dont get tons of fire retardant dropped on me :) ) Well I am kind of beat and I am not sure if I am making any sense, so forgive me if I am unclear. :cool:
 
Been reading up on "TOPS DART Tactical v. Swamp Rat Camp Tramp" and I'm liking the sound of SRKW more and more.
Still, I can't help but love the look of the RD7 or BK7. Perfect size and shape for what I want.

Busse does have a loyal following like I've never seen...must be something to it :).

I'll keep my eye out for deals...

Beyond the AT, I do like going out into the woods, and have friends who enjoy it too. Like, take a backpack and go out in Canada for a while and rough it kinda stuff, no trails or campsites. Haven't had any time since I've been out "on my own" so to speak, but plan to before long. I'd like a knife that would preclude the hatchet, I don't mind a pound of knife as long as it's not too hard to attach to my thigh or belt. I'm 5'11" but not scrawny. :D



Keep the suggestions coming!

So far BK7, RD7, maybe SW Battle Rat or Ratweiler (I'm not made of money, Busse is out of my leauge I suspect), but Trace Rinaldi has some really nice stuff that tickles my bankloan bone :p

_z
 
I've completed two ~100 mile hikes; also two 150+ mile cycling holidays. On all occasions I carried everything I needed, i.e. tent, mattress, sleeping bag, stove & utensils etc.

I never felt the need for anything other than a SAK.

Ask yourself why you'd ever need a large fixed blade on a hike. If you're realistic, you'll come up empty! It's surplus weight, and you'll find yourself cursing it. You'll reach a stage where you find yourself looking for pointless things to chop, just to justify having the damn thing with you. Then you'll realise that you want a pair of tweezers. Or a magnifying glass. Or a can opener. What do you have? 9" of dead weight gorilla-gutter...

Don't listen to the siren voices of the armchair explorers and keyboard commandos. Take a SAK.

maximus otter
 
Yop, I agree with Maximus, I've been trekking in the montains quiet a few times, and despite a had a good fixed blade with me, I just used it to cut slices of saucisson :)

A SAK or a Wave (if you're afraid to fall short of tools :D ) will do for everything you'll need if you don't intend to hunt or go survivalism.

Xavier.
 
Maximus has a good point, and I agree with it. But if you WANT to have a big knife anyway, check out the Himalayan Imports line of khukris.
 
I've been carrying a 7" bladed knife in the field for 15 years, and I wouldn't carry it if I didn't enjoy using it, and putting it to use.

I use it for shelter building, wood splitting, and food prep, and take it for granted that this is the tool to use.
 
>"Ask yourself why you'd ever need a large fixed blade on a hike. If you're realistic, you'll come up empty!"

=================================

Amen! Carrying a monster knife on the AT? :rolleyes: I've hiked a lot in my time (though not the AT ...... yet) and I've never needed a fixed blade or even a large single-blade folder (though I do like toting my frn Endura). Also, I've done a lot of reading of AT thru-hiker testimonials (blogs and such) and have seen numerous examples of people recommending SAKs -- I even read where one older woman walked the whole thing in sneakers. Her knife of choice? The SAK Classic! Not sure I'd go that minimalist, but it does show you what can get the job done. I've yet to ever read or hear of any AT vet recommending a bowie-type knife ....... ever.

On the AT, you will NOT be chopping. Cooking is done on gas cookers and, IF you need a campfire, gather up dead wood. A SAK with a saw will more than suffice if you really need it. There'll be no trail blazing either. You'll be on a trail, hence the name: Appalachian TRAIL.

Lastly, z537z, my main advice would be: Take whatever knife/s you want but just DO IT! The time just after college is perfect to get out and experience something you may not have a chance to do for a long long time. Start planning and saving now and MAKE IT HAPPEN! ........ lucky bastid! :)
 
There is ZERO need for a large knife on the AT. The AT has very firm rules on hiking, from what I gather, that will utterly prevent you from using it. If you really want more than a large SAK or multitool, try one of the small to medium sized Bark River Knife & Tool knives. They will make quick work of a hiking stick, which is about the most use you'll get out of a fixed blade on the AT.

I highly recommend reading a couple books on hiking the AT. I have a feeling that it's quite a bit different than what you're expecting.
 
I'm thinking of hiking the AT once out of college, but among other things I do like to have a knife when camping, hunting, hiking, shooting, etc.
Among the heavy users, what would be the best pick for a survival, trail, heavy duty knife?
Click to expand...

This is what he was asking, not "what knife to carry while hiking the AT". He was specifically asking what is the best heavy use knife, not just for the AT. In fact he never directly states he is going to go. Mentioning the AT might have been a mistake, since alot of replies have missed the whole point. I would suggest reading past the first sentence. :)
 
I've spent a lot of time working and living outdoors. Camping, backpacking, hiking, etc. And I gotta go with the small lightweight crowd. There has never been a time when I needed a hatchet or large chopping knife.

The best cooking fuel is finger-sized sticks that are easily broken by hand. Large fires are poor for cooking, difficult to no-trace, and nearly impossible to completely burn to white ash.

I usually cook on a lightweight camp stove, but when camped in the same spot for several days, the warmth and atmosphere of a real campfire can't be beat. Still, I've never had trouble finding proper-sized dead branches.

Are you planning on hunting? A fixed blade would be my first choice in that case, for the sake of cleaning the knife after. But there are plenty of lightweight small hunting knives available too. Many of the Bark River knives aren't too heavy, and the quality can't be beat. The Buck Pathfinder, Ghrohmann Belt Knife, and midsize drop point by Northwoods would all be on my shopping list.

Or are you primarily interested in backpacking? You'll learn that weight is the most critical factor when selecting gear. Serious backpackers remove the cardboard tubes from toilet paper rolls and cut the handles off toothbrushes to shave ounces. On short trips I rarely carry a tent, and take food that doesn't require prep time or cooking.

As far as recommending a specific knife... I first used a BuckLite for backpacking and wilderness survival. I liked the blade's durability and relatively light weight (light compared to a Buck 110 anyway). But I wanted something more traditional and a bit lighter. So I switched to a mid-size Opinel. I carried those for years, as European outdoorsmen and workers have done for a hundred years. The first time I saw an Opinel was during a 21-day desert survival course in Utah. Guess who had one? The instructor of course...

But I've recently switched again, to save weight mostly, but also to have a knife that's easier to clean. My current choice, the AG Russell Hunter's Scalpel, only 8/10 of an ounce and perfectly capable of every outdoor cutting task I've ever encountered.

I'm not a big fan of SAK-style knives, but when you get outdoors you'll probably see more of those than any other product. If you go that route, I suggest a model with a minimum amount of 'toys', no-slip handles, and a locking blade.

Good Luck in your future adventures! The AT is a great adventure. I've only done a day hike in Georgia on the AT, but I have several friends and family who have through-hiked (or attempted) the AT. Planning and determination seem to be the keys to success, as well as getting an early start on the southernmost point.

Best Wishes,
Bob

darn I wrote a lot. sorry for hogging the space
 
z537z,

If you're concerned about weight, you might want to consider a 4" or smaller knife and either a folding saw or a wire saw (pocket chainsaw, etc.). Of the knives you're considering, the BK7 is probably the lightest at 13 oz. The RD7 is probably heavier because of the grind, and the Swamp Rats are much heavier. On top of that, you need to add several ounces for the sheath. A 4" folder and a pocket chainsaw can weigh as little as 8 oz. They're not the best if you need to baton or clear brush, but they cover almost all your needs, can handle thick wood easily, and weigh half as much as a 7"+ FB and sheath.

If you don't mind the size and weight, by all means carry one of those bigger knives. They're more versatile (cut, chop, pry, dig, baton, etc.) which makes them great for survival use. I carried one for years until I figured out that I don't really need it. Now I'm content just carrying a folder. Seriously, carry whatever makes you happy. We can give you tons of advice about the most efficient and versatile choices, but it simply comes down to what you'll really enjoy bringing along.

In the field, DMT Duofold or ceramic rod are effective, lightweight choices for maintaining your edges. They're only a few ounces and work far better than rocks.
 
Great stuff, everybody.
I've looked at the SAK knife road, but I find myself needing something besides just a knife very rarely. I'll carry my leatherman (had it for years) on my belt, then want a knife that'll do what I need.
I have considered that the large knives are less than necessary in most situations. But if I'm chopping a large piece of wood, I'd rather have a heavy blade vs. a 4-6" slicer to get the job done without my arm falling off after back-cutting for half an hour.

I'd rather have it and not need it, you know?

Maybe I've been watching "Lost" too much? That guy with the knives is the MAN there.

_z
 
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