Buck 880/881 spear points & Ultralight gear review...

sunshine

sunshine

Joined
Sep 5, 1999
Messages
1,106
How do you guys feel about the Buck 880/881 spear points as Survival folders?


I'm going "ultralight", so have forgone a fixed blade for a folder and a multitool with a saw...current setup is an old style Leatherman 2000, Buck 880/881 SP and an added Sterling carbide sharpener.

I could not be happier with all three of these tools so far....

Fire...Aviation Survival Spark-Light...Doan AFS Mag. bar...Serrated Spydy Lady Bug...small tube of Petro Jelly for coating kindling...and an orange Bic lighter:)...Trioxane for the canteen cup/stove.

Water...Blackhawk SF pack w/Hydrastorm bladder(100 oz. w/ inline filter).
1 qrt. mil. canteen w/nested cup/stove...emergency boil:) and the standard purification tabs for backup. And an extra bottle of water in pack for Gatorade.
(Really need to add a portable filter)

Food...Mainstay 3600...1 per day...usually only get to do a 3 day hike. Could be streached in an emergency. And a couple bags of the commercially packaged beef jerky. Gatorade packets for canteen. Hooah Bars... Coffee bags with Carnation instant breakfast for the canteen cup/stove.

Shelter...USGI Goretex sleeping bag cover...just the cover...and casuality blanket/poncho liner inside the cover, with a super thin fleece blankie inside that...BAR bug net, and a USGI sleeping pad and another casuality blanket to go underneath it. All this rolls up in the pad...strapped...then stowed in bottom packstraps on pack. Gives me more options depending on weather. Snugpac is the way to go, but this works for me:)

Light...Looking to get into LED Surefires now...they seem perfect.
Using SF G2's and Photon's now.

Self Defense...Glock 26/Spyderco folder...thinking on an ultralight .17HMR revolver too.

Clothing...varies...Goretex/Carhart/ECWCS/PolyPro/Nomex all rock!

Boots...I like Danner.

Med kit...* in progress...currently...asprin and bandaids, lol.

Nav...compass/map junkie :)...no GPS yet though.

Signal...2x3 Star Flash mirror.

This is my basic setup...I go with Coyote/Tan on everything possible...everything has really worked great for me...other ultralight ideas/comments are most welcome.
 
I never heard of the ultralight revolvers . What size cartridge is it exactly ? How many grains is the bullet ? I wonder if its lightness makes handling an issue ?
 
Myself, I'd put one of the folders in my pocket and get rid of the multi-tool. Then I'd go with a lockblade SAK w/saw. That way I'm carrying 2 tools and one is actually designed for the outdoors.

Do you think that a .17 caliber handgun would benefit you in a survival situation? I don't know a thing about them, but would it be a better choice than a .22/.22wmr or Mk III?
 
Those .17hrm's are pretty sweet. Smaller than a .22 but much higher speed.
A few of the guys I know who do alot of small game hunting are switching over to them, they say they have way more punch.
 
Kevin the grey...

Good artical on .17 HMR ammo here...
http://www.shootingtimes.com/ammunition/17_hmr_0508/

Revolver info here...
http://www.taurususa.com/products/product-details.cfm?id=49&category=Revolver

Model: 17CSS2UL
Caliber: .17 HMR
Capacity: 8
Barrel Length: 2"
Action: SA/DA
Finish: Stainless Steel
Grips: Rubber
Weight: 18.5 oz
Construction: Ultralite-Alloy
Frame: Compact
Front Sight: Fixed
Rear Sight: Adjustable
Trigger Type: Smooth
Length: 6-3/4"
Width: 1.312"
Height: 5.125"
Rate of Twist: 1:10'
Grooves: 6
Safety: Transfer Bar
17CSS2UL.jpg



longbow...
Spyderco is already in pocket...Buck and Leatherman are in pack...all tools on the LM ST 2000 lock, and the saw is way better than on any SAK...all the tools are actually.
Old style Super Tool...all locking/heavy duty.
lm6l.jpg

Yes to your question...I think the .17HMR in an ultralight revolver is an outstanding small game getting/survival tool. I like the .22 mag, but the .22 LR is just too messy...(waxed bullets/barrel leading)(just my opinion). I could be very happy with an ultralight .22 mag revolver or a .17 HMR...but the Ruger Mk. 2/3 are too heavy/large for my needs.


shotgunner...
Yeppers...a bud has one...is what got me thinking about it...quieter than a .22LR...flatter shooting and harder hitting than a .22 mag...no barrel leading...no waxed bullets...18 oz. 8 shot revolver...looking pretty good to me :)
 
I wouldn't call either of the Bucks you mention as exactly lightweight... good knives tho'. I'd go with a Helle fixed blade if you're looking at ultra lightweight gear.
 
True, but compared to my old setup they really are...I consider(for my uses) the Buck 880/881 skinners...large and small.

Before, I carried one of 2 pairs depending on mood...A large chopper fixed blade and a small skinner...or a small hatchet and a medium fixed blade(7 inch blade).

So in perspective, these are a radical difference in weight and size for me...the saw on the Leatherman has gathered shelter poles with ease, and the Bucks have performed their task beautifuly.

Not saying it's the best setup, or the height of ultralight, just a review of what i've got now, and how it's working for me...
As a Stag handled Bowie / Flint & Steel kind of guy, this gear is new and "high tech" and fun to try. :)
 
For the shelter you might consider a lightweight tarp tent. Unlike a bivy it allows you to sit up and do stuff in inclement weather including cook. They can weigh less than a pound and generally have the option of being able to set up using trekking poles. I've used bivys and if you get caught in long term bad weather you will discover the meaning of claustrophobia. That and if they are truly waterproof your sleeping bag will get clammy, Gore-Tex claims notwithstanding. They used to make Gore-Tex sleeping bags. Didn't work out too well.

For ultralight backpacking when I'm not hunting, I like my Becker Necker. It is a very stout and useful knife for the weight although I plan to have a handle put on it increasing utility but also increasing weight.

If you are serious about cutting weight, get a digital postal scale that measures down to a tenth of an ounce and measure each piece of gear. Pretty soon you'll get an idea of where you can really cut weight particularly if each time you take a piece of gear out you don't use it (survival stuff excepted of course).
 
sunshine said:
all tools on the LM ST 2000 lock, and the saw is way better than on any SAK...all the tools are actually.
Click to expand...

I don’t agree whit you buy saying a saw and al the other tools on a LM are better than a SAK. Sure it is handy to have a pair-of-pliers but the saw my Victorinoc OHT kicks the ass of the saw or my LM new Wave.

Locking don’t make the individual tool on a SAK or LM better. The steel and design of any SAK tool are proven by time and millions of satisfied users.

The trick is that every tool on the SAK or LM is that they are made for only one or two separate functions. And the tool is very capable for those functions. When handled whit care you really don’t need a heavy and sometimes overbuild Mulittool or big SAK. But it is nice to have whit you as EDC or when hiking.
 
In my trekking pack I have a Spyderco Mini-Manix, a folding Kershaw saw, fire starting stuff, cordage (50 feet of 550 cord) and a few other basic items. I really am satisfied with the Spyderco folder as a substitute for a fixed blade.

Additionally, I carry a small kit on my person. It contains, among other essential items, fire starting stuff and a 111mm Victorinox with a saw. As you probably know, the 111mm Vics have locking blades.

My style of trekking doesn't justify a multi-tool like the Leatherman. I just don't find nuts, bolts, screws, etc out there in the woods. The Vic with the saw just makes more sense to me. In an urban environment the multi-tool makes great sense to me.

:)
 
Unless you are thinking of hunting small game and are a very good shot loose the gun. A .17 will do nothing against a preditor.
Use the weight saved to carry a lightweight fixed blade and something with a saw.
Other than a saw, can opener, a reamer, tweezers and the blades on my SAK I have never needed additional tools while hiking, your experince may vary.
I typically cary a poncho and a light weight sil nylon tarp as weather protection.
For light weight first aid I carry;
a mini SAK with sizzors, a couple of gause rolls, about a dozen large fabric band aids (can be cut to make butterflies), a small bottle of beta dene, a battle dressing, sutchers, and a roll of vet wrap in leu of an ace bandage.
Tape would come from the rerolled section of duct tape that I carry.
I carry a spoon in the canteen cover with the stove, cup and canteen.
Enjoy!
(edit) Some toilet paper is usually handy! (much better than leaves).
 
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