Camping/Hiking Knife

Ryan, sometimes I just do what I'm told. The sword is an Espada for an FMA customer. The elongated choil is for blocking the opponent's blade in a spot where it won't damage your blade. That area is not sharpened and should be tough on the opponent's edge.

In the wilderness you can use it to crack walnuts too. (Just trying to stay on topic here)

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Jerry Hossom
knifemaker
www.hossom.com


 
As others have noted, it depends on size. If you want a pretty good knife for the money, you can't beat the Ontario Spec Plus line (or you'd at least be har-pressed to do so). I'll warn you ahead of time; that Marine Raider is HEAVY!!! If you want something in a higher price range, I really like the looks of the CS khukri. Never handled one though, so I won't comment on that.

If you're talking about a trip during which you will have a good bit of access to the "civilized world", I'd stick with a small-ish knife, with a blade not more than 7" (I like the looks of the Lynn Griffith Patrolman, but again, never used one). If you mean a hardcore survival situation, a large knife (blades 9" and up) is definitely appropriate.

Howie
 
Hey Howie, do you realize that the Patrolman has only about a 3 3/4 inch blade? IOW, about half the length of blade you mentioned? Not to criticize you or Lynn... just thought I'd point that out.

The knife I have found to be most useful to me is the Vanguard (4 1/8 inch blade). Lucky me, I just found one in BG42 and it's on its way. Now, I just gotta get back out in the woods.

I still want one of Lynn's mid-sizes though. Probably a Tracker (4.5 inch blade).

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"Absolute safety is for those who don't have the balls to live in the real world."
 
A $10 Mora knife, a $10 saw (the Fiskars pruning saw at Sears that slides out of the handle is very light and works well), and either a Leatherman or Swiss Army knife of some sort should work fine for starters. For a larger 'camp knife' one of the discontinued Cold Steel 6in Red River or 7in Hudson Bay knives at $10 ea should work ok, and they're lightweight too. Knives that cost a lot more that are very much worth the price are the Doziers. I'm considering a large folding hunter with a saw blade as a 'day hiking knife', but the model that I'm looking for, an Old Timer, was discontinued awhile back and is hard to find as it was evidently kind of popular.
 
Here is my #1 choice, a Grohmann Camper. I especially like the offset handle when I'm slicing veges on a board. And for all else, the knife does a great job. And it's light.

I've had it in the field now about a dozen times and used it for all camp chores that have come along. I've cleaned two squirrels with it--no problemo. A Finnish leuku has long been my campknife of choice for years but the Grohmann has won me over. primarily because the offset in the handle allows me to use more of the blade when my hand is close to a surface as when using a cutting board.

http://www4.gvsu.edu/triert/camper1.htm

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Hoodoo

No, I do not weep at the world--I am too busy sharpening my oyster knife.
Zora Neale Hurston

Oversharpen the blade, and the edge will soon blunt.
Lao Tzu

[This message has been edited by Hoodoo (edited 02-13-2000).]
 
If you are trying to cover ground each day, then light weight will outweigh any "cool factor" after the first day. I've found an old 4" Gerber FB to satisfy any cutting needs I've come across in a typical week of "minimal impact" style backpacking. On the other hand, I do own some larger, heavier knives like the Busse Steel Heart, and my Livesay RCM which I might choose to take along if I was doing some real primitive style bushcraft, something I haven't done mind you in 20 years!

In between, my favorites are turning out to be my Livesay Air Assault (5" blade), and suprisingly enough, my Pukko M.95 which, while I think is too expensive, nevertheless cuts like crazy and turns out to be much easier to sheath and unsheath than the Livesay.

I also never leave home without my SAK no matter what else I'm carrying, and I'll also throw a small and inexpensive folder into my pack just in case!
 
I'd nominate 2 knives for any and all camping/hiking situations. One would be the Greco Companion (5" of very nice A2 steel... rugged, sharp, around $90). The other is a Dozier Yukon Pro Skinner (around 4" of extremely sharp D2 steel... also very rugged, around $150).

The Greco is a very rugged, all purpose sort of knife. It can chop stuff for firewood, defend you against critters (as well as any knife can reasonably defend you), and help prepare the food for your meals. My Greco Companion is my favorite walking around the woods & camping knife.

The Dozier is also rugged, although not quite in the same league as the Greco. It is, however, a little better suited to skinning and preparing game. The Yukon Pro Skinner has been with me on many hunting trips over the past few years, and it is one awesome hunting knife. I've yet to see its equal, let alone its better.

My $0.02

AJ
 
I guess knifer preference would be based on wher i was hiking, but her in wv we have many bramble blackberry busshes and otherr thorny issues that not only require a long blade but one that is quite sharp as well. a machete might get some weird looks even though it is useful, i usually carry a folder 9at all times)and when hiking a large fixed blaed about te size and shape of the busse basic 9. it really helps save on punture wounds.

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Sanity is overrated, simply a moonbeam spilling pearls on a dark and treacherous sea.
j . p hissom
 
Originally posted by AJ:
The Greco is a very rugged, all purpose sort of knife. It can chop stuff for firewood, defend you against critters (as well as any knife can reasonably defend you), and help prepare the food for your meals.
Click to expand...

I see this a lot but have never quite figured it out. The only thing I use a knife for in preparing firewood is in making fuzz sticks for starting fires. And for that I want a nice thin blade. Otherwise, if you can't break it by hand, it's too large or too green for a quick cooking fire and if it's too large for a quick cooking fire, then it is probably too large for for a small knife to chop up for an evening campfire. I'd have to have a pretty large knife for chopping up large logs to put on an evening campfire (my preference would be for an axe). Usually, though, I make a star fire, feeding long logs slowing into the fire.

At least...this is the way I learned it in the kiddie scouts.
smile.gif


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Hoodoo

No, I do not weep at the world--I am too busy sharpening my oyster knife.
Zora Neale Hurston

Oversharpen the blade, and the edge will soon blunt.
Lao Tsu
 
Gotta agree with you, Hoodoo, on the fire wood. LONG logs fed slowly into the fire work great. And I have never encountered anything so far that my Buck Vanguard couldn't handle.
Although carrying a BIG knife could be great fun, on longer hikes, or even short backpacking trips, it's just too much trouble.

Fun thread.

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"Absolute safety is for those who don't have the balls to live in the real world."
 
Humm...hiking. I personally would recommend the busse basic #9. I have used it for whittling, cleaning a squirrel, cutting down wood for a bow and making a bow, it also makes a good draw knife due to the asymetrical edge.
There are lots of ways to go...you just need to find what is comfortable, usable, practical and cost effective for you.
Luke
 
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