Best knife for long-term camping?
- Thread starter jay1992
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campandtravel, calling campandtravel.
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Assuming you're still around and not on the trip;
For the big knife I'd go with one of:
Condor Hudson Bay (I really like this one honestly, as long as you check the heat treat)
BK-9
The Terava Skrama seems cool
Sheath knife:
BK-16 (my personal favorite knife when stripped and convexed)
Mora Garberg
Cold Steel SRK in AUS-8A or 3V (the new SK-5 one has a hollow grind, and has had some other issues I won't bring up--wouldn't bet my life on it)
Cold Steel Master Hunter in 3V
Some Mora carving knife
Backup knife:
Mora Companion Stainless, not the HD version. It won't break as long as you use your brain. And it's light. That's all that matters if you're going in the bush for this long.
Sharpening system:
Worksharp Guided Field Sharpener and a Falknieven DC4 and/or CC4 as a backup. Maybe get the others that will be joining you to carry some of the stuff lol.
A small bottle of Balistol would be a good thing to bring too.
I will also say, the Cold Steel Drop Forged Survivalist is probably the best one-tool knife I have found going. If I brought that, I wouldn't bring the "big knife" or the "sheath knife." I would just bring it and a Mora Companion or maybe the Garberg and a small carving knife. The Survivalist is a very, very good tool and criminally underrated. The tip is a little thin, but the steel is very, very good and tough.
There are also cool knife blanks from CustomBladesEU on Etsy. I haven't used any of them, but they're a good steel at a good price. Again, I cannot vouch for their quality personally.
It would be great if you did a writeup whenever you're back to see how the tools you chose fared. Good luck, and bring a good gun lol.
For the big knife I'd go with one of:
Condor Hudson Bay (I really like this one honestly, as long as you check the heat treat)
BK-9
The Terava Skrama seems cool
Sheath knife:
BK-16 (my personal favorite knife when stripped and convexed)
Mora Garberg
Cold Steel SRK in AUS-8A or 3V (the new SK-5 one has a hollow grind, and has had some other issues I won't bring up--wouldn't bet my life on it)
Cold Steel Master Hunter in 3V
Some Mora carving knife
Backup knife:
Mora Companion Stainless, not the HD version. It won't break as long as you use your brain. And it's light. That's all that matters if you're going in the bush for this long.
Sharpening system:
Worksharp Guided Field Sharpener and a Falknieven DC4 and/or CC4 as a backup. Maybe get the others that will be joining you to carry some of the stuff lol.
A small bottle of Balistol would be a good thing to bring too.
I will also say, the Cold Steel Drop Forged Survivalist is probably the best one-tool knife I have found going. If I brought that, I wouldn't bring the "big knife" or the "sheath knife." I would just bring it and a Mora Companion or maybe the Garberg and a small carving knife. The Survivalist is a very, very good tool and criminally underrated. The tip is a little thin, but the steel is very, very good and tough.
There are also cool knife blanks from CustomBladesEU on Etsy. I haven't used any of them, but they're a good steel at a good price. Again, I cannot vouch for their quality personally.
It would be great if you did a writeup whenever you're back to see how the tools you chose fared. Good luck, and bring a good gun lol.
Daniel L
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If you just have 1 knife, it will be a compromise on smaller (or bigger) tasks and also depends on the environment (e.g. jungle is different to boreal forest.)
By class I'd be looking at:
Axe / Machete depending on environment - I like my custom Kailash Mutiny as a machete/chopper but for specialised axe, I'd take a Gransfors Bruk Scandinavian Forest Axe (or Small Forest Axe for compactness)
Folding Saw - I have Fiskars but for longer term use I'd take a Silky or a Sven with replaceable blade. The saw is probably most useful for prolonged camp tasks like building furniture.
Fixed Belt Knife - I'd be happy with my Mora Kansbol as it makes a great food prep and general woodworking knife. Or my Bark River Aurora LT for something more heavy duty.
Multi tool for fixing stuff and extra tools - Victorinox Swisstool Spirit X
Optional extra would be a small detail / carving knife like a Mora 120.
A 10 inch blade belt knife doesn't have the chopping power of the axe, and it's usually so big and heavy it's not great at the usual tasks finer tasks like food prep - it can be done but vastly inefficient.
My 15" blade Kailash Mutiny is a thin light blade that will chop and is 85% of a machete.
Still... that's a lot of cutlery when you think about it!!
By class I'd be looking at:
Axe / Machete depending on environment - I like my custom Kailash Mutiny as a machete/chopper but for specialised axe, I'd take a Gransfors Bruk Scandinavian Forest Axe (or Small Forest Axe for compactness)
Folding Saw - I have Fiskars but for longer term use I'd take a Silky or a Sven with replaceable blade. The saw is probably most useful for prolonged camp tasks like building furniture.
Fixed Belt Knife - I'd be happy with my Mora Kansbol as it makes a great food prep and general woodworking knife. Or my Bark River Aurora LT for something more heavy duty.
Multi tool for fixing stuff and extra tools - Victorinox Swisstool Spirit X
Optional extra would be a small detail / carving knife like a Mora 120.
A 10 inch blade belt knife doesn't have the chopping power of the axe, and it's usually so big and heavy it's not great at the usual tasks finer tasks like food prep - it can be done but vastly inefficient.
My 15" blade Kailash Mutiny is a thin light blade that will chop and is 85% of a machete.
Still... that's a lot of cutlery when you think about it!!
Daniel L
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Mine has the micarta wrap handle and a kydex sheath... I'll probably be buried with it LOLYou ever want to part with that Mutiny I'll be your Huckelberry.
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Consider asking a local. Or at least someone familiar with the environment. Even if you don’t duplicate their choices you’ll get an idea of what qualities their experience has found valuable.
I'd say it depends upon the environment you will be operating within. Eg coastal, desert, alpine, tropical etc. Water easily available for cleaning etc. ? I've been on over one month camping trips in the tropics and had to most times only use water from coconuts to drink and cook with with and therefore no water to waste washing knife baldes and other gear (meaning clothes as well-they got washed in the ocean) most people don't go on such long trips in total wilderness expecting to "survive" off the grid without adequate tools and other essential equipment. How far from the nearest road? Airport, hospital? Why I'm asking this is that whatever u chose to take you must be able to easily sharpen it, unless u want to make life difficult with the old stone out of the creek business to sharpen it but that won't happen with some HRC60 knife, trust me, only for arm chair survivalists.
luethge
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Daniel L
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I've been watching this YT channel of a guy in remote Vietnam on a farm he has built up.
His #1 used knife appears to be a 10"-12" machete/golok style blade with a wooden sheath. Everything from making shelter to being his primary kitchen knife.
I note he did use a saw for processing some wood, and in some videos he also uses an axe.
His #1 used knife appears to be a 10"-12" machete/golok style blade with a wooden sheath. Everything from making shelter to being his primary kitchen knife.
I note he did use a saw for processing some wood, and in some videos he also uses an axe.
barkingspider2007
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Car Camping: Becker BK 9 (wood processing)
Hiking: Real Light fixed blade... Spyderco Mule Team in Magnacut Or
White River M1 Pro in Magnacut.
I am partial to chain saws and equipment for processing large amounts of fire wood.
Silky Saw would make a good pairing with a BK9 for typical camp use.