Bushcraft Knife V's SAK !!!!

pitdog

pitdog

Joined
Apr 13, 2007
Messages
12,294
Thought I'd do a quick test today using a Bushcraft knife ( ML Kephart ) and a SAK to make a simple Bushcraft tool !

Please take into account that I'm not the best at Bushcraft stuff !!!!

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To split the Arrow wood with the Kephart I had to use a wooden batton and truncate it through ( it always makes me nervous doing this but the ML knives are tough so no worries ).Time taken about 1 min 30 secs.

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Now for the SAK's turn. No probs here, time taken about 30 secs !

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Now to sharpening the ends, the Kephart was a pleasure to use doing this task and flew through both ends in just over a minute.
The SAK suprised me again here and although not as quick or as comfy as the Kephart it sailed through in maybe a minute 30 to two minutes.

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Now onto the notching, not being the best at bushcraft it too me a few minutes with the Kephart, first truncating the sides and then slicing out the centre, still an easy task but a little fiddly.
Using the SAK I sawed the sides and then used the blade to cut out the centre, it was probably twice as fast as the Kephart !!!

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A couple of minutes cordage work and the Apache Throwing Star was finished.

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The conclusion ? On this occasion I guess the SAK won, which would I rather have on my belt.......no contest the ML anytime !!!!!!;)
 
The Survival course I run for Army cadets the kids aren't allowed fixed blades. So a SAK with saw is first choice. Maybe not the best choice but certainly the best availavable.
Carl
 
We've got a tractor-mounted logsplitter at work that will bust that sucker right in half!

Interesting review, though. The SAK saw can definitely be beneficial when doing notches. When you're first starting, it's definitely more accurate, although I've found that with some practice and a good knife it goes pretty well either way.
 
Fun comparison, pit! Good stuff. For a great deal of bushy tasks an SAK is pretty invaluable, albeit often not as comfortable as a good fixed blade. Or put another way, they're a perfect adjunct to a solid belt knife.

By the way, did you ever get a chance to join & check out that Ranger a while back? Here's the pic, bottom one...

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Great write up! Just goes to show how much can be done without having to carry a sword around with you.
 
SpookyPistolero said:
Fun comparison, pit! Good stuff. For a great deal of bushy tasks an SAK is pretty invaluable, albeit often not as comfortable as a good fixed blade. Or put another way, they're a perfect adjunct to a solid belt knife.

By the way, did you ever get a chance to join & check out that Ranger a while back? Here's the pic, bottom one...

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Click to expand...

I didn't join but did find the knife on the Ranger forum and your right it does look a lot like my TTSK although if I remember right the Ranger was 3/16" stock ! Nice looking knife though !!!!!;):thumbup:
 
Good little review, Pit. Definitely nice to have a SAK with you in the woods, they can always help. Especially when you need to make notches, or when a saw could come in handy, perfect fixed blade companion :thumbup:
 
I worked for quite a few years in the carpenter and remodeling trade, I can't began to guess how many wood working jobs I did with the SAK's or how many trips to the tool box that they saved me. The good ones, are real serous working tools. The fixed blade knife is a great cutting tool but you can't beat a good SAK for real work and chores. Nothing Fancy or elete about them, just a great dollar value tool and the very, very last one that I would give up.

That said, it's even harder to beat a Farmer and a Gephart.:D
 
Good review! A couple of years ago on a trip I similarly reviewed a SAK and a Mora, and the SAK won. That said, it's always nice to have a quality fixed blade backing it up, but SAK's constantly surprise me with how much they can do...
 
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