eliminating the middle man

RescueRiley

RescueRiley

Joined
Mar 22, 2006
Messages
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just windering if anyone uses just a folder and a chopper, and for goes a med sized fixed blade
 
RescueRiley said:
just windering if anyone uses just a folder and a chopper, and for goes a med sized fixed blade
Click to expand...

I you wanted to go light, this isn't a bad idea. For me, I like the mid-sized fixed blade (~4-6") as I can comfortably carry one of that size on my belt without it getting in the way. I don't aways carry a large chopper on my "first line", it's usually in the pack, therefore, I like to always keep a fixed blade on the belt. Others may say that the chopper doesn't do fine work, and a folder may be a little sticky with gutting/skinning...I wouldn't feel "underknifed" if I had my Seigle Hoodlum II and a quality folder like my 710 D2/AFCK D2/Sebenza/Ritter RSK/Rukus/Military...

ROCK6
 
SOG FLASH II + ONTARIO RAT 7 is my combo.

I also sometimes have my CR Shadow on my belt (not at same time as RAT7 heh)

-Todd
 
RescueRiley said:
just windering if anyone uses just a folder and a chopper, and for goes a med sized fixed blade
Click to expand...

Lots of professors out there that prefer a SAK and chopper as their tools of choice. If I'm not mistaken, I believe Ron Hood travels that way. I'll be doing the same when I get a few days to head into the bush and test new gear, except my beloved SAK will be left home and I'll be carrying a couple of Beckers. The 7 and 11.
 
i feel that if i'm in the woods, i need to have at least a good fixed blade.... if anything....

my buddy is really into ultralight backpacking, and he doesn't take a fixed blade at all...usually just a SAK classic or something a tad bigger... we debate about constantly....:D
 
The past couple of years I've been leaning more and more to that end. For most of my outings a sak and a 12 inch Ontario machete seems to do anything I need. A victorinox soldier or Wenger SI handles the small stuff, and the 12 inch chopper whatevers left over.

A few years ago we took a rainforest tour in Costa Rica, and all the jungle guides carried a sak and small machete. Those guys even used a small machete to slice up the roasted pig on our last nights dinner in the rainforest. It opened up my gringo eyes to the all around handines of the 12 inch machete be it an Ontario, Tramontina, or what ever.
 
The only real problem I could see would be getting the joint and the insode of a folder all goobered up when cleaning small game or fish. Perhaps a small fixed blade like a necker or a minicanadian might do.
 
I have just recently switched to a small hatchett, a single blade folder, a multi tool and a small necker.

I figured the folders are my normal EDC and what I am most likeley to have on me in a SHTF scenario, so I might as well get used to using them.

My current Carry system is an Endura, a Wave, A fiskars hatchett, A Crawford Necker.

I may bring a Mora of my other skandi Blades if I plan on fishing or hunting. and I plan on adding a Fiskars saw in the near future.
 
Fiskars makes a pretty good saw, as does Bahco. I'm looking at getting a Bahco at some time in the future to compliment the axe, knife combo.
 
I have always preferred a Bolo and a stockman as a woods carry combo. I carry a SAK in town but have never used all those extra tools on a SAK in the bush. Just never seem to have found the vine that had wine bottles growing from it, or the beer tree, or any tree with canned goods growing from it. But having a small pocket knife with three sharp blades has been handy.
 
i use to carry a big chopper with a sak for all my tasks but i find i am getting away from that due to many on this forum going with smaller handier knives.

i just bought a ranger knives customized renegade tomahawk with hammer poll instead of the spike. i always have a sak on me so i am trying to find a smaller fixed blade but i am not sure what blade length feels the gap better.

i do carry a small fixed blade edc with a blade ranging between 3" and 4" so i don't think a dedicated folder for the woods would do me any good.

i have this old mindset of one perfect do-it-all tool for the woods but it just doesn't exist. it is just about as hard for me to find a layering of tools for the woods:grumpy:
 
I usually go with a SAK and Spydie Endura. There's not much chopping needed or allowed where I usually go backpacking (high altitude Eastern Sierra). In the past, I've carried a Benchmade Nimravus in my pack "just in case" but I've never needed it. Several times, I sleep so high that no trees grow there.
 
I think a Leatherman and an axe/big knife is a great way to go but I like small fixed blades too much.
 
Is this an excuse to buy another large blade if we all say yes ?

I'm going to give Mrs Riley a break here and say go with a medium size blade and a folding saw !!!:D :thumbup:
 
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