Doug Ritter Grip for survival?

[Mugen]

Well, it says it's a survival knife... and I would like to buy one. But is it really capable of replacing a fixed blade for survival? Lets say the SHTF, you needed to cut through numerous objects in a hurry such as cuttable metals (thin metals able to be cut ) , thick fabric, ect etc. Then, you needed to make a shelter.. Cutting branches and the like. Would the blade hold its own and stay realatively sharp? My basic question out of all of this is: Is it able to replace a fixed blade for survival.?

 

[Will]

I good folder, such as the Ritter Grip is adaquate in a pinch, but certainly not the ideal choice. A good fixed blade for hard use, with a smaller folder kept sharp for finer tasks is probably the combination you want.

Will

 

[Plainsman]

The BEST survival knife is the one that is ON you when you need it! And that is most often a good SAK, such as my one-handed Trailmaster. It'll do EVERYTHING I need it do as it has a locking main blade, saw blade, screwdriver, can opener, bottle opener, awl and phillips screwdriver. If I can't do it with this, a fixed blade probably won't do it either!

What jobs would you think a fixed blade would be able to perform a folder couldn't?

There may be a few guys around here to dispute whatever you come up with!

 

[longbow50]

I've never had the opportunity to handle the knife, but understand from those that have posted about their experiences with it, that it is an excellent blade.

The locking system is supposed to be top notch, but it is still a folder, so it will not measure up to a fixed blade in all respects. That said, I can head into the woods with nothing more than a SAK and erect shelters, make fires, cut carpet and whittle a pair of chopsticks. I would think that the Ritter blade could do no less than a SAK.

Nope, you won't be wanting to batan or chop with the blade, but there are other ways to shorten a piece of wood and cutting metal is probably best left up to a pair of snips.

 

[BuckyKatt]

What jobs would you think a fixed blade would be able to perform a folder couldn't?

Batoning, for one. Although I've heard of some people using their Ritter Grip successfully for this.

 

[Cliff Stamp]

But is it really capable of replacing a fixed blade for survival?

Any knife is better than not having one, but if the question is would you be better off with a similar sized fixed blade then yes for many reasons, mainly due to stability issues with the lock.

Now as to how much better off it would depend on factors such as your skill level, what exactly you plan on doing, the details of your enviroment and so forth.

In general a larger knife would be better to have in most cases, up to a machete, axe or parang style blade depending on the enviroment. Smaller knives, especially folders are just able to be carried with you everywhere.

It is like the small mini-kit Ritter sells, this isn't really advocated to replace a larger ruck, you just don't always carry the latter.

... as cuttable metals (thin metals able to be cut ) , thick fabric, ect etc. Then, you needed to make a shelter.. Cutting branches and the like. Would the blade hold its own and stay realatively sharp?

Cutting woods, fabric and such won't do anything, light metals is mainly how you do the cutting. Don't twist the blade, try to make the cuts as smooth as possible, if you do so then you should be able to cut light Al with no real concerns but heavier tins and such will cause significant dulling.

This doesn't mean the knife becomes useless, but you will notice a loss in ability for fine cutting. As a general rule of thumb, when in any such situation try to think about what needs to be done and after you get the priorities straightened out, do the tasks which require the greatest sharpness first.

As well you should carry some means of sharpening on you if you are carrying a knife. You can get some really small hones which fit on a keychain. Sooner or later all knives will go blunt.

...you won't be wanting to batan or chop with the blade ...

Doug does :

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=3115556&postcount=18

You can't really chop with folders that light, you can cut wood easier than you can chop it, however you can lash them to poles to make small bill hooks :

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/CliffStamp/Spyderco/Byrd/meadowlark_baton.jpg

That's a Byrd Meadowlark.

-Cliff

 

[Mugen]

Ok, now my question is. If this were the only knife on you at the time. Would it "perform" better than most other folders in the same situation?

 

[BuckyKatt]

You're certainly not going to come up short, if that's the question. S30V steel and a Griptillian handle? I mean, that's an awesome steel and an awesome design. Probably the only "weakness" is the FRN (or somesuch similar material) handle, as compared to more expensive materials like G-10 or Micarta.... But really, it's plenty strong and still incredibly light.

 

[Mugen]

Thanks for the rather quick replies guys. I'll be buying one of these along with a Benchmade Nimravus.

 

[BuckyKatt]

Good combo... Let know your impressions when they arrive.

 

[Thomas Linton]

The BEST survival knife is the one that is ON you when you need it!

Respectfully, wrong and misleading if taken as literally true. The survival knife (knives) you will have to use is whatever you have when the situation becomes one of survivial. What you have may be a really bad choice, but it's what you have. Indication: learn about better choices and try to have one available.

And that is most often a good SAK, such as my one-handed Trailmaster. It'll do EVERYTHING I need it do as it has a locking main blade, saw blade, screwdriver, can opener, bottle opener, awl and phillips screwdriver. If I can't do it with this, a fixed blade probably won't do it either!

Respectfully, wrong. A SAK is a useful tool, and any knife (as observed above) is better than none, but the blade is no great example either of toughness or edge-holding ability. The amount of work that could be done with a stout fixed blade and a folding pruning saw eclipses what a SAK can perform by orders of magnitude. I have reviewed the sixteen books I have on survival. None suggests a SAK as the optimal survival knife. Only two even mention them.

What jobs would you think a fixed blade would be able to perform a folder couldn't?

There is not time, but batoning through a series of six inch hardwood logs would be a good start. Wanna' race?

 

[Will]

You're certainly not going to come up short, if that's the question. S30V steel and a Griptillian handle? I mean, that's an awesome steel and an awesome design. Probably the only "weakness" is the FRN (or somesuch similar material) handle, as compared to more expensive materials like G-10 or Micarta.... But really, it's plenty strong and still incredibly light.

People complain about the cheap look and feel of FRN, but from a practical point of view, FRN is lighter and less expensive and I am not sure other materials offer a whole lot more function.

Will

 

[BuckyKatt]

People complain about the cheap look and feel of FRN, but from a practical point of view, FRN is lighter and less expensive and I am not sure other materials offer a whole lot more function.

Will

Exactly my point.... Thanks for phrasing it better than I did.

 

[Cliff Stamp]

Indication: learn about better choices and try to have one available.

Yeah, a huge amount of "survival" incidents are so because people simply didn't plan and they turn bad because of a lack of simple issues like just telling someone where they are gone and when they expect to get back. Even very basic skills are often ignored like what to do once you get lost, most just wander aimlessly.

You take a 50 x 10 mile area, you can easily navigate a mile in a half an hour through decent terrain (no mountains or large rivers), but you have someone lost and wandering, they can be locked in there forever. They can also just be nearly missed by other people who are also in there who pass by one another like the scooby gang being chased by ghosts.

Just a few basic skills like leaving some indication that you are lost (who you are and dates), and being able to use landmarks to walk in a straight line would save a lot of people. There there is the mindset to actually realize you are lost and stop and do something about it rather than to ignore the problem or worse yet freak out.

Just the idea that you might need to "survive" is the start of planning and leads to the right path.

...batoning through a series of six inch hardwood logs would be a good start.

In a tropical envorment, try gathering lots of leafy vegetation vs a parang, in a woody climate try cutting poles vs a hatchet, in a really cold climate try cutting snow blocks vs a long slim blade, or through thick ice vs a hatchet. SAK's are great, I always carry at least one, but I almost never just carry it alone. Yes you can do most anything, but you can say the same thing about a Gil Hibben fantasy knife, or no knife at all, better tools just make it easier.

-Cliff

 

[tknife]

If you only had a folder and were placed in a survival situation, I think it would be more than enough knife. Even though I am of the large knife school of thought when it comes to survival knives, I think one could get by without having to chop, dig or pry anything. Even batoning, while I have done it with a folder, probably wouldn't be necessary.
As long as I could get a shelter built and get a fire going, I'd be set for at least a day or two.

 

[Thomas Linton]

If you didn't wear a seat belt and were placed in a driving situation, you probably would survive. Even though I am of the "wear the seat belt" school when it comes to driving, I think the odds are that one could get by without needing to be kept from being thrown from the car by a seat belt. Even being kept from slamming one's head into the windshield probably won't be necessary. As long as I get to my destination, that's enough.

Wear the "seat belt."

[shallow attempt at ironic humor ]

 

[tknife]

And in the above situation, I'd rather be in '78 Caddie El Dorado instead of a Mini Cooper.

 

[Cliff Stamp]

I think one could get by without having to chop, dig or pry anything.

You can also get by without the folder, so does that mean you should not carry one?

-Cliff

 

[tknife]

That might be going overboard a bit.

 

[Cliff Stamp]

I think the central point is just try to be as prepared as possible, not only with knives but the rest of your equipment such as clothing. Worse care senarios you will take along a large knife or a set of gloves you don't need.

-Cliff