chop, dig, cut: whatcha gonna bring?

Liam Ryan · Jan 11, 2008

Bushman5 said:
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:

Ditto there, my brother practically begged me to give it to him, so he got it for x-mas. I am getting another one of the big ka-bars, maybe the heavy bowie, if rescueriley likes it.

RescueRiley · Jan 11, 2008

Kabar heavy bowie...opinel folding saw....anyone of my large stockman patterns.

allenC · Jan 11, 2008

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 think that it really depends upon the expected duration of your situation.

If I'm just staying alive until help arrives, or until I can hike back to civilization, then a simple multi-tool or folder is all I need.

HOWEVER....

If I'm stuck on an island somewhere (ala the movie Castaway or the TV show Lost), with virtually zero chance of rescue, then I would want different tools.
Specifically: a good multi-tool, a bow-saw, and a mattock.
But this is more like pioneering or homesteading rather than mere survival.

sicily02 · Jan 11, 2008

Here is what I CUT, CHOP, DIG and what I carry them in and how I carry them. Well after CUT, CHOP, and DIG my Hiking partner and I take a nice
relaxing rest on the couch.

Well there you have it. Take care all,

Bryan

Bumppo · Jan 11, 2008

Swamp Rat Knife Works Camp Tramp. With that, a SAK. It's not fun, but I have used my Knife to bust through ice, as well as dig cat holes, but I usually use a stick shaped by my knife for digging roots or digging up plants.

Grimspoon · Jan 12, 2008

Pretty much all I need in my survival kit!

Well, not the ball tops to my Neo Geo arcade cab, those are just for decoration!

Trout Tamer · Jan 12, 2008

allenC said:
I think that it really depends upon the expected duration of your situation.

If I'm just staying alive until help arrives, or until I can hike back to civilization, then a simple multi-tool or folder is all I need.

HOWEVER....

If I'm stuck on an island somewhere (ala the movie Castaway or the TV show Lost), with virtually zero chance of rescue, then I would want different tools.
Specifically: a good multi-tool, a bow-saw, and a mattock.
But this is more like pioneering or homesteading rather than mere survival.

Yep, this makes sense, allenC. The last statistic I heard was that most successful rescues occur within 72 hours of the survivor's status becoming known. Therefore, as survivors, we're not out there to build a whole new civilization; our goal is to stay alive long enough and remain healthy enough to return to civilization.

The tools which I feel best meet my needs are:
- Cold Steel camp shovel. It's big, bulky, and heavy compared to folding shovels, but I like its durability.
- Large, fixed blade knife. My current survival knife is a Greco Explorer with 9.5" blade and micarta slab handles.
- Multitool. Currently a Leatherman Supertool 200 - the perfect multitool!

With this trio of tools, I feel equipped to take on my neck of the woods. An alternative grouping would be:
- Cold Steel Frontier Hawk or Estwing 18" Camper's Axe
- Cold Steel shovel
- medium-length, fixed blade knife, such as the BRKT Boone
- Victorinox Farmer

This second set of tools is my next intended group (by type of tool, not necessarily particular selections), once I purchase 'em and get back into the wilds :thumbup:

nodh · Jan 12, 2008

If I only had one thing: then it would be a really good fixed blade knife. The Fallkniven F1 or S1. On the sheath I would add a firesteel. Then it doesnt count

Anyway, if I got to bring more things I would add a Bahco folding saw and a multitool.

Then to add on even more tools, a swedish army folding showel is nice. It weighs alot but it is built like a tank.

The Cold Steel shovel looks like an old Wehrmacht model or that used by the russians. Finnish soldiers used them with good results in close combat and trench raids during the war.

Anyway, an axe might be good but it can also make big injuries.

Trout Tamer · Jan 12, 2008

nodh said:
If I only had one thing: then it would be a really good fixed blade knife... if I got to bring more things I would add a Bahco folding saw and a multitool... to add on even more tools, a swedish army folding showel is nice. It weighs alot but it is built like a tank.

The Cold Steel shovel looks like an old Wehrmacht model or that used by the russians. Finnish soldiers used them with good results in close combat and trench raids during the war.

Anyway, an axe might be good but it can also make big injuries.

I agree with your assessments, nodh: a strong, fixed blade knife (along with a firesteel) is my single go-to tool, as well. I didn't think about bringing hatchets or axes until I'd gotten a lot of practice with axes, chopping up firewood each fall for the upcoming winter. I keep hearing about the Bahco folding saw; I think I'm going to look into it. A folding saw can be a big plus, especially when paired with a good knife.

You are also right in your assessment of the Cold Steel shovel - the company says they modeled it after the Soviet Spetznaz shovel. Cold Steel's shovel head, though, is supposed to be twice as thick as that of the original.