chop, dig, cut: whatcha gonna bring?

T

Trout Tamer

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This thread was initially a response in the worthy "Why carry a folder?" thread. However, my response veered off topic, so I figured I'd make a new thread. The gist of this thread is simple: is there any 1 tool, or any single combination of tools, that will take on any wilderness survival situation that a person may encounter, anywhere on this planet? In addition, the tool selection must be with the hypothetical survivor so as to actually be viable survival tools. With this brief foreword, I'll get to the post:

Any sharpened steel is better than no sharpened steel. However, in those 1% of times - heck, .01% of times - that it matters, a fixed piece of quality steel is more dependable than a folding piece of quality steel. Any is better than none; two is better than one!

I think that the most pertinent survival question may be - "what is the ideal wilderness tool setup for the environment that I will encounter?" Such a query demands the inquirer to assess their potential situation before going into the wilds. It demands the would-be wilderness farer to assess their skill levels. This question also causes the wayfarer to be specific about their needs and prudent about potential set-backs. In short, specificity of wilderness venture will dictate optimal tool selection.

Ah, but what if the venturer wants a tool, or tool combination, that will accomplish any wilderness task? That's where things get fun and we get internet discussion forums popping up! ;) This question demands that we assess every possible tool need. This sounds like a big task, but it's really quite simple. We ask ourselves: what are the basic needs to sustain human life? The answer: food, water, shelter. We need to eat, we need to drink, we need to stay safe from the elements. The next question, then, is "which tools will most readily help me accomplish this task?" Since a survivor will be living off the land, said survivor needs tools with which to work the land. The answer then, as best I see it, is, "something to chop with, something to dig with, and something to cut with." These are the most basic wilderness tasks that I've encountered. The next step is finding the tools with which to optimally do so...

I'll leave my thoughts for the time being 'cause I'm curious what y'all think about this. Let the games begin! No flaming, just feasting on shared knowledge and perspective, please :thumbup:
 
I take this as "What you REALLY carry when you go in the woods?"

My SAK Tinkerer(I think that is the model)
One of my good fixed blades(usually my NWA O1 Sportsman-5" 3/16" thick blade)
folding pruning saw
firesteel
MSR filter

I carry other supplies but these are the tools. I do little real chopping, preferring to saw or for small stuff batonning the fixed blade. For digging I prefer to use a sharpened stick of the back of the saw blade to scrape. All this is in my location of Virginia.
If truly camping/backpacking, I would have my small shovel & Fiskars hatchet with me.

2Door
 
I always have a certain array of things on me when I go camping with a lot of things.

I like folders, so my emerson commander due to the only moving part being the pivot and for durability.

My SAK One-Hand-Trekker for sawing through stuff.

One of those military fold up shovels so that I can carry it with me (and use it to bury my "droppings" :D).
 
Often left out of these discussions is the lowly ax. Probably because they are heavy to carry. A good ax can do it all and if I had to chose just 1 tool to take into the wilderness that would be it.

Add to it any good fixed blade and you are pretty well set in the minimal tools department.

Just my 2 cents worth.
 
Well, here's my $.02.

Nothing digs like a shovel. Not a sharp stick, not a big knife.
The GI folding shovels are real nice. Either the old, bi-folds with the wooden handle, or the new tri-folds work well. I don't use them to hammer or to chop, so I've never had one fail on me.

I'm of the opinion that one should have a chopping tool. Either a large hatchet (18-20" length), small axe (24-ish" cruiser size), or a large-ish kukri (18-22"). Big knives don't chop or split as well, period.

Then add a 4" or so fixed blade for other knife tasks.

The shovel can be attached to something as small as a buttpack, or added to a large rucksack. The chopper can be lashed to a pack, carried baldric style, etc. The smaller knife can be carried on belt, on the pack, etc.

Those three would be able to get everything done.
Of course it'd be nice to add a dedicated skinner and filet knife, but the 4" general use knife can do those jobs if you want to stay minimal.

ETA: if you throw out efficient digging as a requirement, then I'd agree with Tballetta: an axe, 3/4 axe or cruiser sized, or a full-size and a good fixed blade, 4-6" could be pressed to do any woods task.
 
I think a person could do really well with a Cold Steel shovel, a small fixed blade (I'd take my Nessmuk, or my Bushcrafter Jr) and a Sak.
 
I think a sturdy fixed blade, Mult-tool, axe and a folding saw would see you through most situations.

Your location obviously dictates these factors, ie. in a jungle a machete or parang would be more use than a Nessmuk !!!
 
Well, Ron Wood thinks he has your answer with the Atax. Tom Brown, has his all in one knife. Neither of these clever approaches appeal to me but both of these guys have a reputation for knowledge and skill. I'm just a country boy from Idaho.

Me? These days I have a Fallkniven F1, in my home daypack along with a folding Buck 501, a little Leatherman P4 and a Gerber sliding wood saw. The other smaller pack (it rides in the truck) has a Buck 119 and Leatherman Blast. I recently bought a couple Wetterlings hatchets but I don't think they will be carried on day hikes. One rides under the back seat of my truck and the other is in the trunk of my wife's car with her small kit.

Oh, and I always have the tiny SAK Classic in my front pocket!
 
A woodsmans pal or one of those similar Soviet tools (I forget the propper name for them, Sovietski collection used to sell surplus ones) would probably be capable of doing all three.

In reality, I go with a trifold shovel, SAK camper, fixed blade (we'll say Ontario SPEC101 for this post), and Pocket Chainsaw. If I plan on chopping, a hatchet. My Estwing is nice.
 
The gist of this thread is simple: is there any 1 tool, or any single combination of tools, that will take on any wilderness survival situation that a person may encounter, anywhere on this planet? In addition, the tool selection must be with the hypothetical survivor so as to actually be viable survival tools...

I think that the most pertinent survival question may be - "what is the ideal wilderness tool setup for the environment that I will encounter?"

For myself, I can be pretty much assured that there are several environments I will never encounter (again). My most likely environment where I would find myself would be somewhere in the South Eastern U.S., probably in a woodland environment and near some source of water. This presents much different needs than the broad "anywhere on this planet".

I do very little chopping, not much digging. Cutting would be my primary need for a tool. Any relatively sturdy fixed blade knife would do. From the knives I currently own, 90% of them would do just fine from my new Fiddleback Forge Nessmuk to the favorite 5 1/2" bladed Schrade 165OT, down to the flat ground early Camillus Sportsman or Marbles Woodcraft up to the heavier Schrade 15OT or X-Timer XT-1B camp knife. In fact, I believe that even my 1950's Imperial that originally sold for $1.25 would suffice.

I would be more likely to be in posession of a standard fixed blade sheath knife of modest size than an axe, hatchet, saw, shovel, etc. As to what I trust most, I trust myself to use a knife within it's limits and to it's best advantage. I don't think there is such a thing as "best", just an individual's favorite choice.

Codger
 
I will explain my digging with a sharp stick- Like Codger, digging is not a big need for me here.
A sharp stick is anything from an 12" stick with a point for a cathole or to open a water seep to a 6' long stick with a forked branch upturning and about 6" of straight below that--- hold onto the top part and step on the forked branch to drive 6" spud into the groud to loosen dirt, hard to describe. I did mention that is what I use for things I ALWAYS have on me. I do not carry a shovel if going hunting or on a short hike but do for camping or backpacking all day.
For my locale, chopping a trail is not needed. I just happen to prefer a good folding saw to an axe or hatchet- just my preference. My saw fits in a carget pocket and weighs little. No offense to any that prefer the axe I have a few and am pretty fond of them. I do intend to try a tomahawk as it breaks down to pack well and is very versatile.

2Door
 
i do tons of chopping, zero digging (except for the bodies ;)) and lots of cutting.

my #1 choice for gear is:

Kabar Kukri, Becker BK7, CS Canadian knife & Wenger single blade folder. It works for me.
 
I've heard Kukri's make excellent chopping and digging tools, I'll probably buy one if I can find a cheap one that has a bit of quality. (College student + don't wanna abuse an expensive tool).
 
caterpillar-d9-bulldozer.jpg
 
My days of packing in are over. I still camp from the boat or the jeep but any walks have to be pretty short. That being the case there is no strict limit as to what I can carry now. When I did hike in I carried a Hatchet, any good sharp knife and small sharpening stone and a Army surplus folding shovel of which I still have two. For chopping, digging and cutting, its darn hard to beat a knife, a shovel and a hatchet or ax. Or as close as you can get to that. ME PERSONALLY, am not going to dig with my knife. No knife, no way, no time.
 
If I were to carry only 1 tool it would be my M43 kukri. However when I go into the field I generaly carry said kukri, a folding shovel, AF survival knife, or my JMK1. as well as a firesteel tinder etc.
 
If your asking what we would take that would have to do all this I'd say my ka-bar or my M-7 bayonet.
 
ICEAGE said:
I've heard Kukri's make excellent chopping and digging tools, I'll probably buy one if I can find a cheap one that has a bit of quality. (College student + don't wanna abuse an expensive tool).
Click to expand...

the KABAR Kukri is incredible, and cheaply priced. I've put mine thru hell and back. It is easy to sharpen, holds an edge, and chops and slices VERY WELL.

less than $40

:thumbup:
 
My favorite woods toys: F1 knife, Vic Farmer, Kershaw/Bahco folding saw, Leatherman Wave, Fiskars 14" axe.

Digging isn't a big priority. I would go the sharp stick routine for food gathering. I do take a plastic potty trowel or for real ultralight, a Mont Bell titanium scoop (really!). You can take a sharp stick and a rock and loosen up some pretty hard soil.

As far as vehicle kits go, a good folder or a garden shovel that had a broken handle and cut down works for me. I'm not haulin' that much iron up a mountain!
 
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