Describe your ideal 'Woods Bummin' knife !

[pitdog]

I still can't decide on exactly what I want from mine, so let's hear your views on what you expect of yours and what is your ideal one!



Edited to add that Bryan B's new Dall Deweese look's mighty close to my ideal !

 

[Foilist]

My ideal woodsbumming knife these days is my SDS Nessmuk.:thumbup:

It has a very comfortable handle, a broad blade good for batoning, enough belly for food prep or game (although I don't hunt), and a pretty acute point in line with the handle for detail stuff. The full flat grind is very sharp and easy to maintain.

Looks neat too.

 

[kgd]

Don't know. I keep trying to figure that out and never come up with 'the one'. For me it really boils down to:

1) I really like 3" - 4" knives for control cuts and detailed work. These are the knives that it feels like the tip is an extension of your hand. On anything from making notches, drilling or carving spoons, I prefer a sharp little blade in this size. Handle comfort in these knives is something I'm less picky about. I like actual handles better then skeletal handles. On the other hand I don't like it when they are over-contoured or too thick. Simple, barrel shaped and lacking more than a single finger notch lends to diversity in grips.

2) I like a bigger knife 6-7". These camp style knives are great. I did go through a bit of a chopper exploration but despite what every kept telling me, how these big blades excel at chopping and 6-7" blades are the worst of all worlds it just doesn't ring true with me. Some of my 7" blades, like the scrapyard SOD routinely outchopped big choppers like the RD-9. In the end though, a blade that is a really good chopper is too big to really carry around and I'm tired of figuring out novel ways of hiding my big blade in places with people present. A lighter 6-7" knife presents a lot of versatility in kitchen (where they excel) and camp duties. Not great at fine tasks, not great at chopping but capable of big chopping (with more patience) and pretty much just as effective at batoning.

3) I really forayed into the intermediate of (1) and (2) with a number of 5" blades. Hard for me to categorize these except that in the end they behave more like a 4" knife than they do a 5" knife. On this one, it is so grey that it is hard to separate any generalities because the knives are so variable. My Koyote skinner is 5" x 3/32" thick and for all intensive purposes behaves like a 4" knife but has some great attributes for kitchen duty. My Scrapper 5 wants to behave like a 6" knife, but can't quite cut it at that level nor does it compete with the 4" cutters....

Oh well, I suppose I'll keep searching. But if I find the right little blade to pair up with my S-curve I might just have everything I want. By right blade, I already have many that will functionally complement it, its really just an aesthetic thing....

 

[BarberFobic1992]

I have my tastes pretty well narrowed down. Here is my ideal criteria:
- 3''-4.5'' blade length
-Scandi ground or thin saber convex (or somthing similar to my W. Davis' geometry)
- .095'' thickness, although I can be okay with anywhere from 3/32'' to 1/8''
- O1, 15N20, L6 or 1095 steel
- Narrow blade, around thumb width ideally.
-pointy point, usually straight spine or full-length clip.
-Natural Handle material
- Barrel shaped handle with swell close to the edge and no handle flair towards the blade (although a flair at the but is okay).
-pronounce bonbe (traditional of course)
- Swell at thickest point on handle approx. 1''
-Balance point just between 1st and second finger.
-Full exposed tang or long stick tang.
-Leather dangler sheath, western or nordic.
- It has to be pretty.

Having this criteria has really helped me cut back on buying knives. If the knife dosent satisfy most of those conditions, I don't buy it (usually ).

 

[dbltap45acp]

I have been on the search as you have, but I have gone through multipal phases in the mean time. I started down the chopper path, had every large Busse I could find. They were to heavy to pack for the most part. I ended up selling all my busse knives. I liked that RAT cutlery has the same warranty, so I picked up a RAT 6 and RAT 4. I still have them both and love them. I think I will always keep those two blades, they make a great pair for my area. I also thought that my Fehrman 7 incher with the Thru Hiker made a great pair for my area as well, but it was a little heavy.

I then ended up going down the custom road, 3 Laconico's, 2 NWA's, 1 Koster, 1 Brian Andrews on the way, as well as a Skookum. I have found that my taste and needs have changed a bit over time, as almost everyones does. I have gone shorter and lighter and love it. I dont pry with my blades, I dont abuse them by pounding into cinder blocks. I need them to be able to cut well and keep an edge.

I am still not at the point that I feel comfortable going out for a few days with only a 4" belt knife to do all tasks, so I still have them paired up. Like the RAT4 and 6, or my 4 and 8" laconico. I know my problem is lack of knowledge and feeling comfortable in using them. I am sure when I look back I will realize I have found the one, and when I do, I hope I still have it. I have let a lot of blades go, because of funds or for whatever reason. I just hope I still have it, or them, when the time comes. Its probably right under my nose now and I cant see it for what it is.

 

[kgd]

I am still not at the point that I feel comfortable going out for a few days with only a 4" belt knife to do all tasks, so I still have them paired up...... I know my problem is lack of knowledge and feeling comfortable in using them.

There is a tendency in this forum to subscribe to a less is more attitude as though it were some kind of natural point of minimum energy state. At one time I started thinking that way and then I started rebelling against it. It is always great to have skills but the tools vs. skills debates only works at one end of the spectrum (i.e. riding guys with no skills and false sense of security related to over-reliance on their tools, which may be poor quality at that). At the same time, we have to recognize the other end of the spectrum. Life sucks having nothing but a pile of skills and no tools, or requirement to fashion all of your tools de-novo, to meet your needs. A guy with all those skills can survive, but aside from earning the bragging rights to do so makes for crappy weekend.

Keeping working on your skills, but don't necessarily think it means you will throw out your vital pieces of gear because of an increase in knowledge. In my mind, the two aren't mutually exclusive.

I do like your combo choices a lot

 

[Mannlicher]

I think a5 inch Randall Made #25 with a scandi grind would be about ideal. Need to buy one of those and grind it to see.

 

[dbltap45acp]

KGD, thanks brother. I will never get rid of all my toys. I look at it like this, with a couple good blades, I can always make other tools or comfort items. To me, a good blade is almost more important then all other things you can bring (within reason).

 

[matthewdanger]

My ideal woods bumming knife is the HWK made by Ray Laconico. It ought to be my ideal since it has name on it!

With it I can prep for fire (fuzz sticks, batoning, shred jute twine, etc), cut stuff, skin game, and spread PB&J... you know, knife stuff. I have even done some digging with it (usually in stumps looking for fat wood). It is a pretty straight forward design that just works.

Here it is pictured with it's bigger brother, the HWK+ and a Victorinox Farmer.

 

[Mack]

I still don't have one and it looks like it will be a while before I get one but Bryan Breeden's 7in Pathfinder is my all time favorite style.
That said, I'd have a hard time finding a better "working" knife, something that is always at hand and able to do most things I need to do, than my EWOK.

 

[raylaconico]

Everyone has their own idea of a perfect woods knife. Whatever works best for you is ideal. I like this design myself.. Something with around a 4.5" blade, 1/8" carbon steel. I think simple designs work best.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

One of these!

But I'm having Stomper whip me up this fun little number this coming summer. My ideal? No. A lot of fun? Hell yes!

It'll have either a black G10 or natural canvas micarta handle. Blade length is 8" Partial back edge is just an unsharpened swedge to help with drilling or piercing.

 

[Cpl Punishment]

For a knife that does everything from cutting fuzz sticks, to clenaing game and food prep, carving, etc, my HI R-10 is my most used, and the one I instinctively grab, so I guess that would be "it" for me.

Although since getting it, I've been using my HI Kerambit a LOT as a general utility and woodsbum knife, and I may have to have a sheathe made for it to ride on my baldric rig as it's fast becoming my favorite.

 

[Bill Siegle]

I like em big I usually carry something with 7-10 inches of blade. I play with shapes though and don't really have a favorite although this one is my current woods knife. It has a 10 1/8in blade and is 15 1/2in overall. It is large by some standards but I skip the hatchet on short trips. Backed up by a folder or multi tool I feel ready for any cutting I need to do.

 

[Iboschi]

I like to think a minimum two knives fit the bill for me. The more I search for the perfect knife, the more I come to think that nothing will out preform two knives. Besides, the more knives I accumulate, the harder it is to carry just one. Usually something over 8 inches and something under 5 inches. However, it is more likely I would have a few in the under 5 inch category at one time, and I will often take two choppers and put them through the ringer. Then there is the SFNO, she likes to go solo, but rarely has that option (although she could handle it).

 

[sicily02]

Hi all,

This knife here.

This knife resides in my pack, right next to my Axe .

I do not really carry just one knife for trying to do ALL the cutting chores that require cutting. With my knife and axe there really is not much that I can not provide for my camping and possible survival needs lol.
BUT lol
I know that for clearing brush , a small knife and axe are poor cutting tools for it, so if, I am planning on doing any brush clearing.
I take my larger knife

with a longer blade along with my smaller knife and axe.

Yep sometimes I carry my axe, my smaller knife, and then my larger knife with a longer blade all in my little shoulder pack. I am not into the more you know the less I need to carry type stuff.

Over the years of woodsbumming. I have come to the conclusion that one cutting tool does not work as well as having several cutting tools and when those different cutting tools have different edge, lengths, WOW that makes my woodsbumming just plain better. Also if you Throw in a hand saw, Woooo hooo that really makes my woodbumming even more fun.


Hope this kind of thinking helps ya pitdog,

Bryan

 

[The Government]

Aside from a SAK, my ideal woods bummin' knife would be a koster Bushcrafter.

 

[Skimo]

Ideal, sharp, good heat treat, and nothing smaller than 5 inches.

 

[SouthernCross]

For me it's this one..

4 inch blade, handle that is comfortable in extended use and a variety of grips, 3G steel that holds a very good edge for a long time :thumbup:




Kind regards
Mick

 

[zombie_killer]

already got mine . a sog knives seal 2000