Boundry Waters Knife of Choice?

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robow

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Aug 3, 2000
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Guys, I would like your input as to what knife would you take canoeing into the Boundry Waters of Minnesota/Canada for a week. I want to take ONLY ONE knife as weight will be a concern and it must be easy to carry. It will have to clean plenty of fish (I hope) and fulfill all the other camp chores. Obviously more knives would be better and then one could live with fewer compromises but this is going to be a survival-like minimalist effort so what are your thoughts. Thanks
 
Man, you are KILLING me with that one knife limit! With the extreme lightness of many folders, I'd be carrying at least one (like a SAK Rucksack or similar) plus a compromise fixed blade.

It would be useful to know whether you are carrying a small hatchet, saw, and/or a multitool but since you said it's a superlight trip, I'll assume not.

I would probably bring either my Busse Basic 7 or Mad Dog ATAK2, with the nod likely going to the former because it is such a good general purpose camp knife. However, if I had a small hatchet I might bring a SAK Rucksack or Leatherman Wave instead of the larger blade.

Have fun!
 
I should let the more experienced outdoorsmen pick a knife for you.

I just want to emphasize that a fish knife should have a narrow, thin blade, not necessarily very long. The fish knife will work fine for food prep generally.

A camp knife should be a bit longer, stronger, maybe for chopping wood or clearing brush. You might have a hatchet along instead of a camp knife. If that's too heavy, consider a saw. You can get an effective, lightweight folding saw cheaply enough. Fiskars is about $10.
 
I know it would be nice to be able to take an axe, a heavy camp knife, a fillet knife, a saw, and a multi-tool, but the nature of this year's game is dictated by the weight of provisions. Thanks for any suggestions.
 
Taking a good knife is fine but make sure you don't forget your "most important" tool. A GOOD guide. Forget that tool in the Boundry Waters and your one week trip could take just a wee bit longer.
Later,
Alex
 
As far as knives are concerened, I am sure you will get pleanty of suggestions from others. I just wanted to say--take pictures and show and tell when you get back. I would love to make a trip myself someday. When are you going? Not untill spring I am guessing.
 
#9 Opinel should meet your criteria.Under $10 with a little shopping.Short on glamour long on performance.
 
Yes, knzn, we will be going this summer but half the fun is in the planning and preparing. Some older fellows like myself are going to have a survival show game without the cameras.LOL
 
I would bring my Spyderco Moran drop point and my SAK Huntsman. These two together wiegh less than most fixed baldes.
 
I would bring a khukuri, preferably Himalayan Imports. A little on the weighty side but you can do a lot with a khukuri that can't be done with other knives. I have chopped and split wood with my khukuri and cleaned fish with the accessory knife that came with it. A khukuri might not be the best choice just my preference.

Ryan
 
For sentinemntal reasons, a Russell Belt Knife by Grohmann's. Carry it in a neck sheath when canoeing for easy access. I spent a summer working at a YMCA camp on Burntside Lake, a long time ago, and that's where I first encountered one.
 
Bottom line is: Is it going to need to chop or have you got something else to perform that chore (hatchet) or substitute for it (saw)? The saw is lighter than a hatchet. Then you can go with a nice knife for fish. There are thousands to choose from ranging from $10 and up into the stratasphere! If I had to make the trip without further preparation given what I own right now I'd go with...

1. If it has to chop, then my Busse Steel Heart II. Heck at least I can chop fish heads off, and who's going to complain about maybe a little SAK besides.

2. If I've got a saw, then I might drop back (in weight) to a Livesay Air Assault. If its got to weigh mere grams, then even my Mora2000 would do nicely as a fish cleaning and general light-duty (including some kindling prep for example) camp knife. I'd still want the SAK.

None of this includes my few true customs which, except for my latest from Taz, are a little too short for a wilderness trip. My new Taz bird & trout (4" long of flat ground 0.1" thick [a 64th less than 1/8] D2 steel) would fill the camp bill perfectly for me so long as I had some other chopping tool around.
 
robow,

I have been going to the BWACW for over 30 years, it's a great place. If you know how to fish and have good maps, you might get away with one knife. I do not count a fillet knife...that should be 'camp gear', there is no substitute.

You are correct to minimize weight, it will kill you...or at least make your trip a horror. Do NOT bring a blade over 4 inches, it would be useless and only add weight. You cannot cut anything living in the BWCAW. There was a big blow down a couple years ago, so there is no lack of firewood, and a saw is recommended (mine weighs 3oz and can cut a 9 inch log). We used to be able to wander all over through the woods, but because of the blow down, you will be lucky to get 100 yards out of your campsite.

We only bring food for half the days that we will be out, because we know HOW to fish and WHERE. Maps (bottom contours) are online from the DNR of MN, I recommend them.

I have watched otters fish for hours in a good hole, woken to a bear two feet away (looking into my tent), watched ospreys drive eagles from their territory, canoed to within 30 feet of browsing moose and watched the northern lights stretched out on a flat rock (you will learn to like flat rocks)...few places are like that.....anymore.

Feel free to email if you have questions, otherwise...have a good time!



Steve-O
 
What a great trip! What a diabolical question. In my canoe camping and backpacking, I have managed to never need to chop. I like a 4 inch fixed blade. If you want to filet fish (up there I can think of no other way), you have to have a thin blade. A real filet knife can be dispensed with if you don't skin em. The Spyderco Moran looks great. Marbles in several models would work. I am in love with Murray Carter's Fish Knife, or Camp Knife. http://www.bladeart.com/artists/Murry%20Carter_/murry%20carter.htm Or almost any Bob Dozier. Lightweight indicates no sharpening eqpt to me, so maybe the Moran will retain an edge best? Have fun planning.

Paul
 
My thoughts on this line up with most of the others, with an addition. Limiting yourself to one knife calls into play all the usual questions about minimal mission requirements for the knife, price you are willing to pay, materials & design considerations, consequences of under-knifing yourself, etc.

IMHO Busse blades are the best survival knives when chopping & other heavy work needs to happen. They are insanely tough, practically indestructible blades made expressly for beating. If I had to pick just one blade to take when mission requirements aren't certain (When are they ever, really?) I would take a Busse Basic 7 or Steel Heart. If the price tag for the Busses is a bit steep, for a mid-size knife I'd recommend looking at some of Newt Livesay's blades or the new Becker Knife & Tool Combat Utility Knife with its 7" blade & comfy handle. The Becker is $48 at Bayou LaFourche Knive Works. http://www.knifeworks.com/product.asp?3=1630

For wood work I advocate taking a folding saw. So if there's no wood chopping to be done, then the Spyderco Moran drop point in 1/8" VG10 steel that others have recommended would be a very handy fish/food prep knife in camp. It is not very flexible, but that convex edge is scary sharp out of box & should hold up well gutting fish. It weighs just a few ounces & carries very conveniently. :D You could easily wear it as a neck knife by taking the TekLok off the sheath to reduce weight. The Spyderco Morans are among my favorite non-Busse commercial blades.

My addition: Gerber Yari. Slightly longer blade than the Moran and slightly heavier. Blade is flat ground in 154CM steel with a very pointy tip. Its matte canvas micarta handle offers a solid grip, even when wet. Comments & links for the Yari here: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=161841 It would be a bit heavy to wear as a neck knife and, as noted in the thread linked above, the standard sheath begs for tweeking or at least the addition of a TekLok to expand its carry flexibility. Nonetheless, with its lack of a guard I think the Yari would make a very reasonably priced and very handy camp kitchen knife.
 
I agree with Alberta Ed, I REALLY like the Grohmann bird and trout model, and you can carry it around your neck,,, leaving room for another choice. BK&T Magnum Camp, or your favorite 'Hawk? Mine would be a hard choice. But the Grohmann would definitely be a part of my kit, if you haven't used one,get one, you won't regret it.You didn't mention how many canoes, nor how many were going, if you are traveling alone in a canoe,two differant size knives and an axe would be part of my kit. Good luck, canoe trips I've taken are some of my fondest memories. When you can look up and there is NO glow on any horizon, all the stars are there and you only hear the night sounds of nature, you are the closest to God. Good luck!
 
Get the CS Master Hunter. If possible in CarbonV. It has a great distill taper to it so it should be a good fish cleaner but more than that it takes and holds a great edge, is easy to maintain the edge, has a rubber grip for grippiness when your hands are slippery and spreads peanut butter, butter, etc as it is kind of wide. I have used one exlusibely for years as my bowhunting knife and have to be disappointed in it. Keep'em sharp
 
what about the camillus cuda talon?

cam-tal1_sm.jpg


http://www.1sks.com/store/camillus-talon-info.html

$99 in 154cm
 
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