Deep Wilderness "Dream Team"

M

Myth

Joined
Dec 19, 2005
Messages
106
I think everyone here agrees that no single knife is optimum for all jobs, so what would/do you carry for a deep wilderness hiking/camping trip? For a couple of years now, I've carried a Battle Rat or Rat Mastiff as my heavy knife, and have used an assortment of other knives for lighter duties. Problem with the BR or the RM is, they are sometimes a little clumsy, and they are a little heavy on the hip. My Camp Tramp is easier to carry, but sometimes lacked the chopping power I wanted, and I always worried about abusing the resiprene-c handles. Compromises in my heavy knife lead to compromises in my mid-size blade, which sometimes meant yet another knife..... :eek: What to do?!

Then, just recently, I got my hands on a Ratweiller, and DAMN! For me, the solution to the equation all came together. My deep woods "Dream Team" is:

SRKW Ratweiller (coming again to theaters soon as the M7 and combining BR chopping ability with CT handling)

Ontario RAT-3 (Ultra-light, mine holds an edge VERY well, and handles fine tasks beautifully...especially after re-profiling)

Original Leatherman SuperTool (carried in the RW's sheath pouch, it fills in all the gaps)

This is what I will be carrying for those week-long "Bob Marshall Wilderness" type trips that I love to take.

So, what would YOUR pick be? You don't have to limit yourself to three, but don't make this a "my favorite knives" list either. List those that would make up your "Dream Team" for an extended trip into God's Country.
 
For me # 1 wouldn't be a knife at all.

1. GB Scandi Forest Axe or GB Small Forest Axe. (I would be comfortable with either)
2. Fallkniven F1
3. Vic "Farmer"

Good to go:thumbup:
 
Wetterlings hatchet
Dozier Wilderness knife
Leatherman Wave

The Wilderness knife has become my outdoors knife as there is none better. The hatchet it far superior to a knife for chopping and the wave, as you said, fills the gaps.
 
A never ending subject and an issue that I have lost a lot of sleep over.:)

The only answer I can give is, it depends. For constant everyday hip carry I wouldn't want anything larger or heavier than a standard KaBar, it would just be too cumbersome and would probably annoy me to death and start chafing, and so on. I am still looking for the ultimate field/utility knife, so can't give any preferred make or model. If I would go alone and start a new civilisation in the wilds (I presume we are talking northern European/American terrain) I would have to bring a serious axe, probably something along the lines of the GB "SFA" already mentioned. If not alone (or on a shorter trip) I might carry some sort of rugged machete that can also chop reasonably well, and let someone else carry the axe! I have very limited experience with bowie size knives, but to me they seem like a poor compromise in many ways. A bit too heavy and clumsy to comfortably carry all the time, too large and clumsy to use for any finer wood working or other precise cutting chores like cleaning a fish, and not large and heavy enough to be much use for chopping wood either.
 
Large knife: CS Trailmaster or Busse Battle Mistress
Small knife: Fehrman Peacemaker or Dozier K2
Folder: Queen or Case Stockman or Vic Huntsman

Even for deep camping, I don't need some heavy single purpose axe to chop down trees, just enough tools to build fires and possibly shelter (and clean fish, game, whatever).
 
sodak said:
Even for deep camping, I don't need some heavy single purpose axe to chop down trees, just enough tools to build fires and possibly shelter (and clean fish, game, whatever).
Click to expand...

How deep is deep?:) A good axe is not necessarily single purpose, you can do more things with an axe than chopping down trees. If building a more solid long term shelter (like a log cabin:D ) an axe would be very good. During the winter you may need a fire with large logs that burn through the night, an axe is a far more useful tool than a bowie knife in such a situation. An axe can also be good for butchering large animals, like a moose for instance. I see your point though, a large axe is overkill sometimes.
 
Please understand that I love big knives and many people would consider this overkill.
I carry 1 big one, a medium (6-7in) and a folder:

CS Trailmaster or Kuhkri
USMC Ka-bar
X2 Voyager/ Leatherman
 
Hey Guys....

This comes up quite a bit..
I'll throw in my 2 cents....

Large Knife - Busse Battle Mistress E
Medium knife - Foster Fears Survival knife
Small/Med knife - Mora of some type M2K,Swak,Clipper
Folder - Vic Outrider
Multi-tool - Leatherman Wave

ttyle

Eric
O/ST
 
tarmix101 said:
For me # 1 wouldn't be a knife at all.

1. GB Scandi Forest Axe or GB Small Forest Axe. (I would be comfortable with either)
2. Fallkniven F1
3. Vic "Farmer"

Good to go:thumbup:
Click to expand...

:thumbup: Nice choice
 
TOPs Badger - Good medium sized knife for heavier chores

Mayo or Sebebza - Both are great slicers and easily cleaned

Swisstool - Prefer the heft/feel of the Swisstool over the LM/Sog/Gerber/whatever
 
Himalayan Imports 18" WWII khukri
Schrade Sharpfinger
Leatherman Wave


I might exchange a Ka-Bar for the Sharpfinger, can't quite decide.
 
For me, an unashamed Spyderphile, a Delica4 with ZDP blade, and a PE Temperance.

I might also have a Cold Steel Bushman with a fully stuffed handle strapped to my ruck.
 
The last time I was in the woods was kind of a bit of trekking and stump shooting. Had a B.S. Plumb axe and a my CS Master Hunter in carbon V. Did fine. Didn't really use the axe but a couple of times and only then I did just to use it. Keepem sharp
 
Myth said:
So, what would YOUR pick be? You don't have to limit yourself to three, but don't make this a "my favorite knives" list either. List those that would make up your "Dream Team" for an extended trip into God's Country.
Click to expand...


Valiantco Golok

Bark River Fieldsman

Leatherman Tool
 
I'd also bring an axe as #1: Wetterling Large Hunter
#2: Bark River Settler
#3: Moore Maker Jumbo Stockman

That's really my dream team.
 
I have my "big 3" on a webbing belt ready for the woods all the time.
Tops Tom Brown tracker
Either my USMC or my D2 extreme Ka-bars
Fallkniven F1
 
puukkoman said:
I'd also bring an axe as #1: Wetterling Large Hunter
#2: Bark River Settler
#3: Moore Maker Jumbo Stockman

That's really my dream team.
Click to expand...

I was torn between the F1 or my BRKT Highland special. I would be more than comfortable with either. Settler looks to be a very nice knife:thumbup:
 
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