Cheap Survival Choice - Folder + Machete vs Tactical

A

Audiobotica

Joined
Jan 7, 2004
Messages
11
Hi!

The watermaster here opened up the flood gates while I was hiking the other day and I ended up having to bushwhack a half mile to the least dangerous crossing I could find to get back out without drowning. In the midst of this, my folder went missing. Sheesh! At least I'm alive.

My question, to replace the folder and be ready for future trail emergencies am I better off with another folder and a machete? Or should I just get a big tactical to serve both purposes?

The big complication is I'm between jobs so the the actual brand/model choice needs to be as cheap as possible. No three figure knife choices please, you'll just be torturing me needlessly.

Thanks!

Ben
 
Wait, I'll look on the handle for the manufacturer name... oh, darn that's right, I lost it! ;)

I don't recall really, bought it, stuck it on my pack and carried it for years as a 'just in case' item. I don't hunt, so my needs are strictly survival in case of a backpacking misadventure. This knife failed job one, don't get brushed off the pack in the underbrush. No more clip on designs for me, the next one has got to have a sheath!
 
Mate, the best way to meet the "cheap" criteria is
to stick with mass produced knives in order to
maintain an acceptable quality level,i.e., Buck,
Camillus,Schrade,etc.

All of the current "designer" names,i.e.,Cold Steel
Spyderco,CRKT,etc. will add a few more bucks to the
equation. FWIW, pick your knives based on their
value as pure grunt working duty fitness as the
main point. Names, visuals, toy factor, or other
such nonsense aside.

In otherwords.....If the knife ain't gonna work
for it's keep it ain't gonna be in my kit bag!!
 
Thanks for the brand name recommendations. But I'm still wondering about the relative merits of a small knife plus a machete vs a single large fixed survival blade. I'd be especially interested in the experiences of ex-mil guys or backpacker guys that have had to put this choice to the test in the field.

For instance, given the choice would you rather have a Leatherman Supertool plus a Collins Machete or an Air Force survival knife? Imagine, it's getting dark, you can't make it back to camp for whatever emergency reason, you've got to stay alive in freezing temps with just what you've got in your day pack. Which set of cutting tools do you want?
 
It depends entirely on where you live and what you'll be doing with the blade. If you think that you'll be doing a lot of chopping, then I'd recommend going with a shorter machete like the Martindale Golok which is around 30.00 or so.

I live in oak and elm country with a variety of other trees including redwood. I won't be felling any trees, so I carry a small saw on my pack to cut up deadfalls and larger fallen branches. Carrying a saw means a chopping blade isn't really necessary, but I still carry a Becker C/U-7 which is a good all around blade that does an adequate job of chopping if I need it. I always carry a SAK on me that I found in a tool box and it probably cost 25.00 or so, but my favorite folding utility knife is a German issue utility w/saw which new is around 20.00. The springs on the German blade are a lot stouter, the blade is larger and the saw is more aggressive than the SAKs. However, the German blade doesn't have all the cool little tools.

If you don't think you'll be doing a lot of chopping and clearing brush and want a good all around blade that's inexpensive, the Mora 2000 is a very good choice for around 30.00 or less. It's chopping ability is lacking, but you would be hard pressed to find a better blade for the money.
 
Originally posted by longbow50
It depends entirely on where you live and what you'll be doing with the blade.
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I'm in Southern California and mostly hike in the Angeles and San Bernardino forests. There are lots of poorly maintained trails with encroaching underbrush. Temperatures are wildly different at different elevations. We can get anything from 0-120 depending on the season. We have lots of minor veggie annoyances on the trail. Spiny yuccas, underbrush, etc.

Since we have such diverse vegetation and conditions at various elevations, I'm basically trying to put together a blade kit that can handle everything.
 
Yeah, I'm familiar with the S. Ca. mountains and foothills. I forget the name of the little town, but I attend a flint knapping rendezvous and atlatl competition on Indian Springs Ranch. I like the Yucca, lots of uses for that plant. Food, soap, medicine, etc.

Yeah, a shorter machete like the golok which I think is 12-13" or so in length would be good for what you're looking to do and it won't scare heck outta all them beach bunnies.:D Don't opt for one with the D style hand guard. They are illegal in California. That combined with a SAK or similar utility blade would go well together in the area you'll be using them. How do the local LEO's look upon long blades in that area? Around here, Central Cal Coast, they don't take too kindly to them.

Whatever you decide on, I'm sure that it'll work just fine for you.
 
Originally posted by longbow50
How do the local LEO's look upon long blades in that area? Around here, Central Cal Coast, they don't take too kindly to them.
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Well, all those LEO's tend to stay in their cars all the time and I've never seen a single one of them back on the trail. They can seize it from me when I hike out successfully from a life threatening situation if they like. No probs. Gear is replaceable. The wife and dogs aren't.... well the dogs anyway ;) just kidding... I'd hate to have to train another one... wife that is... I'm good at training dogs. :p

They saw my belt knife and jumbo sized bear pepper spray on my pack belt the other day and just waived and drove on. The LEO's around here seem pretty cool.

They have enough problems with dealing with urban youth driving up in the mountains and getting hammered and spraying paint on everything that doesn't move. Don't envy them that job.
 
I'm thinking the Martindale Golok plus a Leatherman Supertool will probably handle everything I'm up against around here. About $85 for both, that fits the current budget pretty well. Thanks for the feedback guys!

Anybody want to shoot down my choices? Fire away!

Ben
 
I knew I sound like a broken record BUT.....Maybe I should add it to my sig line????

Tramontina bolo machete is 5.95 + shippping at smoky mountain knife works. I have abused mine for 2 years and it is doing alot better than my Martindale golok which I hardly use. The martindale won't let you down either and brigade Quartermasters have them for $20.

I vote for a cheap machete you can abuse and 2 decent folders a SAK and a one handed opening for emergency cutting if caught in rope vines or wild animals of all kinds.

you lost one knife if you only carry a one expensive knife package and lose it then you are "up a creek, with out a paddle." I thought you already learned that lesson.;)

While hiking I carry a SAK trailmaster, a Spyderco endura, a Leatherman supertool and sometimes a machete depending on place and length of hike. If I lose 2 I am still in good shape. My leatherman is on my belt with a sheath I made. It has a slot for a ferro rod, a file and a few safety pins.
 
cold steel also has a line of machetes that are fairly cheap, I have a panga machete that's just collecting dust. if you are interested, email me. I am also in southern california, i work in santa monica and live in alhambra.
 
Personally, I would just go for a nice SAK with a saw. I live in So. California, and have spent some time in the area National Forests, and I haven't ever really felt the need for a machete or even a big fixed blade knife. Perhaps we hike in different forests?

Unless you're doing really long term backcountry survival stuff, knife-wise I don't think you really need much more than an SAK.

Personally I can't imagine hauling around a huge, ackward machete on the trail. Heck, I don't even like carrying a leatherman, as most of it's functions are wasted and it's heavy (how often do you need all those screwdrivers on the trail?)

I'd rather be better prepared with other gear - like a nice silnylon tarp, a nice lightweight down coat or vest, and a LED headlamp. That way I could stay warm, dry, and be able to keep hiking at night if necessary.

The additional weight of all those knives really adds up, slows you down, and causes more wear and tear on your feet and joints. Unless you really need them, think twice about bringing them. A tarp or raincoat will keep you a lot warmer and dryer in the short term than a machete.

But, get what makes you comfortable.

-- Rob
 
baraqyal, I'd have a tendency to agree with your SAK as an only knife, had I not found an immediate need for a heavier and longer bladed knife, which I happened to have with me at the time. I guess until you are actually face to face with the situation that you'd need it and wish you had it, you don't really miss it.
 
Speak of the devil. The experience I talked about needing the larger fixed blade for has reared it's terrifying head down south. As I used my Becker to fend off a lion when I was hiking the hills here where we live, the recent Mtn. Lion attacks (one fatal, one not) in So. California are a perfect example as to why a solid fixed blade is a wise carry. If carrying a larger fixed blade isn't an option because of unwise laws, then carrying a good hiking staff would be a good decision. It's also a good idea to check your six often, because lions and other predators will usually attack from the rear and see a fast moving human as prey, especially if they eat nothing but plants. You are what you eat and a vegitarian is what predators eat.
 
Originally posted by longbow50
baraqyal, I'd have a tendency to agree with your SAK as an only knife, had I not found an immediate need for a heavier and longer bladed knife, which I happened to have with me at the time. I guess until you are actually face to face with the situation that you'd need it and wish you had it, you don't really miss it.
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I'm sort of the less gear, more planning type. Some people prefer to take everything but the kitchen sink.

For example, snow gear in early fall. I bring just enough equipment to get myself safely the heck out of there if there's an early blizzard. Others prefer to just pack heavy duty winter tents, heavy goretex jackets, mittens, etc and still try to enjoy themselves regardless of the weather.

There are definetly situations where a big fixed blade is what you need. I just don't think that light hiking and backpacking is usually one of those situations.

Like my reply in the Mountain Lion attack thread - I don't think that a big fixed blade would save you from just about any large North American predator. You're better off planning in advance. Are there lots of attacks in the area you want to hike in? Go someplace else (avoid the situation), or take a bunch of friends with you (safety in numbers).

-- Rob
 
Baragyal,

I would rather have a tomahawk or a heavier blade than a SAK, If i were attacked by a mountain lion. Though a 5'-6'walking stick would be extremely effective as well.

I agree you need to plan but.....why not plan and have the proper tools to do a good more efficiently?

if you had to pull your kid's head out of a mountain lion's mouth I would rather do it with a tomahawk into the back of the neck of the mountain lion.
 
Audiobotica, I recommend you get something with more of a point on it in light of the attack.
 
Originally posted by chrisaloia
if you had to pull your kid's head out of a mountain lion's mouth I would rather do it with a tomahawk into the back of the neck of the mountain lion.
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Wouldn't you be a LOT better off not having to pry your kids head out of the mouth of a Mountain Lion at all? At that point, the kid's probably already damn near dead. Sorry son, dad thought he could fight off the lion with his trusty tomahawk. It's a real shame that dad didn't see the lion until it was too late.

If there's a man-killing lion on the loose, why on earth would you take your kid into its territory? Take the kid to Disney land instead. Part of planning is avoiding an obvious danger.

Also, backpacking is no fun at all with an overloaded pack. You can go further, do more, and feel better doing it if you have a light load, which means taking only what you need. In my case, more food, water, and warm clothing take priority over a heavy, bulky machete which isn't going to be used.

Mountain lion attacks are exceedingly rare. I'm a lot more afraid of being struck by lightning or losing my balance on a toothy ridgeline. If you use your brain and avoid areas of risk you can get along pretty well in the wilderness.

If it makes you uncomfortable to not have a machete, then by all means, take one. But I honestly think you can probably get along just fine in S. California with just a SAK.

-- Rob
 
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