Best Knife Combos?

B

beckerhead

Joined
Feb 11, 2005
Messages
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I have read so many posts about big blade vs. small, etc., and it seems to me that most of us here carry some blade all the time, with others close at hand or in a pack. So what is your idea of the most functional combo? I love my becker CU7, but its best friend is a nice trapper model. For so many things a "plain ole" pocket knife is best hands down. I can just see myself cleaning bluegill, and skinning squirrels with my Becker, it is clearly possible, but so much nicer with the right tool. My reasons for a trapper model, other than nostalgia, are 2 good sized blades in a slim package that are great for whittling small pieces (buttons, trap parts, etc.), filleting fish, small game, and the countless other day to day tasks where a big knife is just in the way. :p
 
A good fixed blade or hatchet and a SAK is my usual combo. Ok make that a fixed blade, a folder, a multitool, a couple of SAKs, AND a small hatchet. It takes a lot of self discipline to keep the number of cutters to a functional minimum! ;)
 
Much depends on the area you live and work in, and the scope of work you hope to accomplish.

In the jungle, a machete and a swiss army knife will do just about all you need.

IN the North woods, a saw is vital to me, the Sawvivor is cool, but justa $5 Sandvik bow saw works fine. THis is the single best tool for bringing down standing dead wood in my hands.

Then I add a large tool for limbing, splitting and rough shaping wood, shelter building etc. Either an axe, hatchet or large knife will work, mostly depnds on your personal experience, skill, and what exact chores you will be doing.

I then add a folding knie, usually a swiss army knife, schrade old timer or opinel, with the edge thinned out a bit. This handles all my wood shaping, tool building and general fine tasks.

Last (but first to some people) I will add a belt knife. Usually I want something light and sharp, like the Mora 2000, but sometimes I will use a heavier knife like the Gerber Yari, BK7, Rat7, or a custom knife. Mostly I use the fixed blade for food prep, where using a folder gets messy and hard to clean in the field. As well, I like my fixed blade belt knife to be durable enough to split a small log into kindling with the help of a baton if needed. That way I can get a small fire going without having to get my axe out of the pack, etc.

That is just how I see things, for what I do and where I do it. Your mileage may vary.
 
I am constantly switching between blades that I carry, but for the most part, I carry a SAK w/saw on my belt and a good fixed blade (SwAK, M2K, Becker 7, PSK) in my ruck, shoulder bag, or a BRKT NS on my belt. Just depends on the what's and where's of the day.
 
Right now I have an Ontario 12 inch machete on my pack under the right side pocket. (Sometimes this gets traded in for a 16 or 14 inch Tramontina)
There's a neat tract that runs under the pocket with a tie at the top to hold the sheath. Tonight I just finished a neat leather sheath that holds a Forst's Mora Clipper to my left shoulder strap. These two will stay on the pack. My belt knife is most likely my BK-7. Mac
 
I really like my HI Khukuri's for the heavier knife and chopping/digging/prying knife. The Helle that I recently got I think is the perfect companion. I think that it's the sharpest out of the box knife that I've ever gotten. I haven't had a chance to use it yet but it's lightweight and should be a great slicer.
 
I cannot wait until this gets here. It is being made in Australia and I am getting anxious to try it out. It is a bushman/gecko combination from Jensen Elite Blades. Right now my combo is my new Meaner Street / 5160 Beast that I had RazorBack knives finish out for me. I got the blade form Justin prior to his intro of the RD series. So far they have done alright :D

Here is the pic of what I am waiting on.............

Cerberus
 
Well, this year it will be Bob Dozier Pro Guide with Fiskars camp axe combo for me. I am also thinking of Busse BM-E but that would hardly substitute an axe here in North Cali. I second the opinion of getting what you need where you need it. It all depends on that.
 
I'm a big believer in redundancy and avoiding all my eggs in one basket...Mr. Murphy and I go way back :mad: I know a lot of serious types can make do (and do well) with one large 9+" knife. I'm more for an all-around combination...sure, a little more weight, but I've found some combinations are just more efficient when doing a lot of different tasks.

I see a lot of similar choices here...a 12" Ontario machete is a great tool for the weight, and for me, a saw is indespensible.

Combo.jpg


saws.jpg


I'm really getting to the point where my EDC always has at least one good locking blade folder, a quality multi-tool, a SAK (for some reason I always come back to the Huntsman) and a small fixed blade...

SmallFBs.jpg


I like bigger blades, but, unless I'm deploying to the sandbox, I like carrying shorter belt knives...my Busse NOe is about as large as I go...and then it's left up to the Ontario (or Martindale), hatchet or saw.

Combo's = Redundancy = Good :D

ROCK6
 
I think a good combo would be a WSK (Wilderness Survival Knife) along with a Microtech SOCOM Elite (Partially serrated tanto). Put those in a custom kydex sheath that allows you to carry them "piggy-back" style, in addition to a firestarter and you're good to go..
 
grant4353 said:
what's the knife to the right of the grohman (sp?) knife? Looks interesting.
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grant, on the right is a Dozier Professional Skinner...a few squirrel and a deer felt her this last hunting season :D

ROCK6
 
Right now I am carrying a CS khukrie, a Allan Blade packpal, BM RSK mk1, and a sak. These 4 blade cover all and more of the tasks that I have encountered so for. I am waiting for a CS Bushman to arrive. That will take place of the khukrie on times, or it just may ride in the pack on all times.
 
I take a HI Khukuri (a light (22 oz.) Chiruwa AK) and a multitool or a SAK (outrider). If the second had to be a fixed blade I like my EKA H8 (easy to sharpen, small enough to do skinning and everything else. So this would be my combo (my Chiruwa is wood-handled)
16-5in%20chiruwa%20ak%20-%20ank.jpg

hb04392-.jpg


Andreas
 
-posted by someone else!

This is the last in a series of pics I took today and posted in another thread here. The NO played cleanup after the kukri bit the dust. Did a real good job too, right through malaleuca and florida holly saplings like they weren't even there.

One thing though, the shock of chopping thicker branches with the NO played hell on my wrist. More blade length to absorb shock is what I need! I'm trying to decide whether I should go looking for a user SH or BM or wait patiently for the company store to get the SH in stock... I'd ask what you all think but I know you'd just tell me to get two. Of each.


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Rock,
That is a fine collection of field knives. That Dozier looks like it would make an excellent hunting knife.

I like to carry multiple tools becuase I can make sure each one is optimal for its intended task. Yes, they weigh a little more, but the extra energy spent carrying a half pound saw is far offset by the energy savings of using it instead of my big knife or axe to chop.

Since I carry a small knife for fine task, it means that my big knife can be be bigger and have a thicker edge. That means it can be more durable can handle a wider range of heavier tasks.

Not carrying a saw because you have a big knife is like not wearing your seat belt because you car has an airbag.
 
knifetester said:
Not carrying a saw because you have a big knife is like not wearing your seat belt because you car has an airbag.
Click to expand...

Thanks again knifetester...and good analogy :D There's a fine line between having too many tools to optimize every task as efficiently as possible (with a big increase in weight) and having only one or two tools to do the tasks with more effort and mediocre, but acceptable results. I think you can go to the extremes on both sides, and I think seeing others' views and trying out what works for you is really the "optimum" answer.

I like a hatchet, but I can make do with a good knife...a saw is always added, just because it's more efficient for a lot of tasks. Finding your own balance is half the fun...being as efficient and proficient with what you end up with is the goal...

ROCK6
 
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