Double edged knives for wilderness use?

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Salamander42

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Mar 21, 2007
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I recall hearing or reading somewhere that trappers and hunters back in the colonial days would carry a double edged knife, keeping one side razor sharp for finer tasks and using the other for heavier, more abusive tasks like chopping and such. I was wondering if anyone knew if there is any truth to this, and does anyone use a double edged knife in the woods? I can see some advantags and some disadvantages. If you're a fan of batoning, then that's right out the window. It would have to be a pretty big knife to work as a chopper, especially without the batoning option. A smaller knife with one edge plain and one serrated might be handy. . . like having 2 knives in one. I personally don't care much for serrated edges though, and I don't think too many other folks here do either. So I'm pretty sure I'll be sticking with a 4 inch or so plain single edged knife on my belt. I just thought this might make for a bit of an interesting conversation.
 
The double edged knives I have seen typically do not have a very usable blade shape or grind (except for stabbing).
A double-bitted axe would be a different story though. One edge ground fine for cutting green softwood, and one ground with a steeper angle for cutting or splitting hardwood.
I think Nessmuk carried a "doublebarrel" hatchet.
 
I use my Applegate all the time in the woods...
For...For...For...
well for nothing
but it will always be one of my favourites:D
 
Look At the british Smachett (im sure i spelled that wrong) That is what it was designed for.

As for me I have used A sog pentagon as a woods knife and it is a good knife but, I find that for comfort and versatility in the woods I prefer a single edge, it allows me more freedom in grip position.
 
I think it would be good to have with a single bladed knife, depending on a doubble edge only wouldn't go over to well. Things like baton, or doin detailed work by applying pressure on the spine of your knife with you thumb.

Other than that, as long as there was something to back it up, I know I've thought a few times of picking up a Gerber gaurdian, but never got around it.

Ill find a review of one, just give me a few, it was a good read.

here it is.
 
Good review Fonly . I carried a Guardian 1 for years and while not the best design in the world for camping/survival, it can and does work.Another knife i have that i consider double edge is the Puma White Hunter,on mine about 3 in. of the top spine is convex ground for braking bone or chopping wood i've used it for about thirty years and it has cleaned many deer, made frames for tarp shelters ,and most important of all it has made thousand's of marshmallow sticks for my kids. when they were small. Show up to a camp fire with out marshmallow,s and survival could be a real issue. (picture lawn scene from dawn of the dead)
 
Daniel Boone carried a large double edge, IIRC. Maybe it was Crockett, either way... Atlanta Cutlery used to have a heavy double they marketed as an Arkansas Toothpick that probably is the closest I've seen to the historical models; they probably still carry it, but I can't comment on quality. But this wouldn't have been the only knife carried, most people in the era would have had a patch knife or something similiar for fine work.

Keep in mind that most modern double edged blades follow the SAS/Commando-pattern. Good for stabbing and thrusting, but not always the best for rough work. Hence the reason why the SAS used to be issued pocket knives, and now multitools. American raider units issued similiar blades in WWII also issued the demo knife. The more things change...
 
That was a nice review Fonly. Thanks!

Mike, the Cold Steel Outdoorsman has a sharpened section on the spine similar to what you're talking about with the White Hunter. I've always liked that design, but had totally forgotten about it when I made my original post.
 
I may be wrong but I think I read that the bit on the CS Outdoorsman is designed for smashing through bone when preparing Deer etc to save the main blade !!!
 
If you can see the functionality of the, Nessmuk trio, A proven combination that is still considered optimal for almost all outdoor tasks. There is no need for a double edge blade for use in the wilderness. IMO, the double edge blade is an offensive weapon! They scare me, I'm too use single edge blades and I'm afraid I could seriously hurt myself with one. FWIW My Nessmuk variation; A forged tomahawk, BK-7, I consider this to be a "camp knife," not a chopper or survival knife, A Frosts clipper (carbon), a Leatherman wave, and the never absent, BM mini grip. Just an oldmans opinion, YMMV.
 
ironraven said:
Daniel Boone carried a large double edge, IIRC. Maybe it was Crockett, either way...

Actual your second was right, Crockett carried a double edge knife. Crockett was a bear hunter, and just as suggested one edge was sharpened at a different angle than the other for work on pelting bears.
Daniel Boone took a knife off an Indian he had shot and carried that knife the rest of his life. I believe that was an Aims rifleman's knife.
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Like a lot of guys on this forum, I have collected many knives over the years ,I hunt, fish, shoot, and camp.while I dont claim to be a expert on any thing. I do have 40+ years experance practicing some of my favorite pass times so i'll stand by my earler statement. Double edge boot knife wouldn't be my first choice for the woods . but if it holds an edge it will work for the things a knife is supposed to be used for preparing game, camp chores .small traps, and snares , every thing else i'ed use my GB mini or hunters axe.
 
Troop, you don't baton with such a blade. Every time I see some batoning, I flinch, but that's because I've only ever broken one fixed blade, by batoning, and I've bent two machetes pretty badly that way. Generally, they carried along with thier big and little knives a hatchet and whittled wedges as needed.

And thanks, Bikermike- I had two stories and couldn't remember who they belonged to.
 
Are you guys saying you haven't batoned a double-edge knife, or you haven't batoned at all? I'm jsut curious. I've probably split as much wood while camping with a knife and baton as I have with a hatchet.

And I will agree with most here, stating that a double-edge blade definitely isn't the ideal woodcraft tool. However, it would be better than nothing.

The only double-edged blade that I have been attracted to for years is the SOG Pentagon. However, that knife is something that I would see attaching to my PFD, and not necessarily carrying while camping or backpacking.
 
I personally wouldn't use a double edge in the bush for the same reasons most have given. Recently I've seen an episode from the Ray Mears series where he treks through some African wilderness with a Massai man. This fellow carried a double edged knife and a spear. The knife was a bit larger resembling a sleeker version of a smachete. He used it for everything. The only DE knife I own is a Gerber MII and I don't plan on using that for anything other than cutting up my phonebook clad practice dummy in the comfort of my garage.;)
Rick
 
hikeeba said:
Are you guys saying you haven't batoned a double-edge knife, or you haven't batoned at all? I'm jsut curious.
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I'm saying that I haven't batoned anything.
Let me clarify and say that my back ground in outdoor activity's is extensive. I was a survival instructor in the U.S.Marine corps, and I have taught small groups and friends primitive living skills for years. I built my first bow and drill fire forty years ago.
The closest I have ever come to batoning is to us a foe A (tool made for the job) and a mall to split wood for arrows.
It is my opinion that most people build fires that are to big. If the heat drives you back more than arm's length your wasting resources.
 
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