Favorite Combos

[oldsalt]

Not what is the best "single" blade for survival, but rather what combination of blades would you chose for survival? I am of the school that never goes lightly armed into the wilderness. I always have several blades for different purposes and backup. Growing up hunting and fishing in SE Texas in the '50s everyone had to have a Buck, wo my first combination of knives were all Bucks. With the exception of a Buck special that was stolen a while back I still have and use the following: (1) 4" Buck Woodsman [most used of all], (2) Buck 110, (3) Buck Skinner [my first deer knife] (4) Buck General is a great camp knife. (5) Thin bladed Buck 6" used for fish cleaning. Not sure what the model is.
Another Combo I really like started when my wife returned from Mexico with a leather scaboard for a large folding knife and sharpening stone. No knife, just the scaboard. This one fit an Old Timer folding hunter, 4" with liner lock. This began a hunt for the perfect knife to fit it and (she fell into that one), the perfect excuse to buy another knife or 3. That became the Old Timer Carbon Steel hunter and diamond stone. I later added medium and large Old Timer Ranchers as companion blades. I will add a Sharp Finger eventually and , if I can find one, the Old Timer 5" skinner they used to make for the perfect Old Timer carbon steel combo.
Currently my camp carry combo is a Becker Brute, a Swedish camp hatchet, a Grohman 4" boat knife, a Dozier personal 3", and a SAK or SOG multi-tool. However, I am constantly changing one out for another to try and get the perfect combo. When I get the ability one of these days I will post some pics of my various combos. For those who can, lets see what you favor.

 

[longbow50]

I've owned a few Bucks in my day, but the only one I own now is a T-handled saw that I bought at Lake Tahoe, Ca., about 15 years ago. It's an excellent working saw for it's size.

What I take with me really depends on where I'm going and what I'll be doing when there. Usually when trekking around the hills close to home, I'll have a Vic SAK w/saw and a 4" fixed blade like the Mora 2000, Frosts SwAK or BRKT NorthStar. If I'm heading into distant wilderness, I'll add an additional blade, which is either the USAF PSK or the Becker BK-7, depending on which rucksack I grab.

 

[Preacher Man]

My budget is limited, so my choices for a survival and camp combo have to balance utility, reliability and a low price.

For camp I carry a Gerber Sport Ax, Gerber Exchange-A-Blade Sports Saw, Cold Steel Master Hunter, Becker Necker, and a Gerber Pro Scout multitool.

For Survival I keep in a BOB a Cold Steel Kukri machete, Gerber Exchange-A-Blade Sports Saw, Cold Steel Master Hunter, Cold Steel Bushman, Becker Necker, Victorinox Hunter, and a Gerber Pro Scout multitool.

I know these are not the best combinations out there, but they are the combinations I can afford for now.

if I was to dream on what I would want to carry in a BOB if money was not a concern, I guess I would carry a HI WWII Kukri, Gerber Exchange-A-Blade Sports Saw, Natural Outlaw, Howling Rat, Cold Steel Bushman, and Victorinox Swiss Champ,and a Letherman Wave.

 

[longbow50]

My budget is limited, so my choices for a survival and camp combo have to balance utility, reliability and a low price.

For Survival I keep in a BOB a Cold Steel Kukri machete, Gerber Exchange-A-Blade Sports Saw, Cold Steel Master Hunter, Cold Steel Bushman, Becker Necker, Victorinox Hunter, and a Gerber Pro Scout multitool.

My budget is limited as well and I'm considering the Vic Hunter for my next purchase and want it to replace my current Vic SAK as a daily carry. How do you like the lock blade Hunter? Enough knife or are there tools you wish that it had?

 

[alco141]

for those on a limited budget, we all like to talk about our cutlery, but in the greater scheme of things, african bushman and amozon indians have lived with not what we would consider the best of cutlery, a 3 dollar machete, a bushmans axe, a hand forged knife, all have served these folks for centuries and have done a good job at being adequate tools. so use what you got and dont worry about it. a handmade custom knife is sure a beauty to behold, a bushman would give his eye teeth for any of the knives you have mentioned. i would not worry about what you have just spend time getting a feel for the blades and what you like or dislike about them. i have a basket full of blades from 3 dollar chinese knockoffs to 500 dollar customs, i like them all, but when i go outside i have my leatherman supertool and a cold steel voyager lockback, in the woods or the jungle it might be another story, but around the house i dont feel underknived. although the woodsmans pal and the jungle knife have been usefull as of late.

alex

 

[Preacher Man]

Originally posted by Longbow 50
My budget is limited as well and I'm considering the Vic Hunter for my next purchase and want it to replace my current Vic SAK as a daily carry. How do you like the lock blade Hunter? Enough knife or are there tools you wish that it had?

I considered the Vic Hiker and Trailmaster before deciding on the Hunter. I got the Hunter as a companion/complement for my Gerber Pro Scout. I was looking to expand my available tools, not for a redundant backup. My goal was to have a tool combo that would cover most of my urban and camp needs. As such, the Hunter fits the bill.

I love the Hunter's lock which is basically an axis lock. I prefer this lock to the liner lock on the Hiker or Trailmaster because the axis lock is easier and safer for my wife to use.

The tools I was looking for were the saw, serrated gutting (curved) blade, reamer with sewing eye, and corkscrew. These are tools I lacked on my Geber. The only tool I'm really missing in the Hunter is a magnifiying glass. I got the Hunter new at Ebay for $6.99.

Keep in mind that I was looking for a companion for my multitool. I would still consider the Hunter a great EDC and I do EDC it with my Geber Pro Scout and my CS medium Trailguide, but for an urban setting you may also want to consider the Trailmaster. It has a phillips screwdriver instead of a corkscrew and a bottle opener instead of the serrated curved blade. If the screwdriver is not important for you, or if like me you already carry a multitool, I would highly recomend the Hunter.

 

[Preacher Man]

Originally posted by alco141

for those on a limited budget, we all like to talk about our cutlery, but in the greater scheme of things, african bushman and amozon indians have lived with not what we would consider the best of cutlery, a 3 dollar machete, a bushmans axe, a hand forged knife, all have served these folks for centuries and have done a good job at being adequate tools. so use what you got and dont worry about it. a handmade custom knife is sure a beauty to behold, a bushman would give his eye teeth for any of the knives you have mentioned. i would not worry about what you have just spend time getting a feel for the blades and what you like or dislike about them. i have a basket full of blades from 3 dollar chinese knockoffs to 500 dollar customs, i like them all, but when i go outside i have my leatherman supertool and a cold steel voyager lockback, in the woods or the jungle it might be another story, but around the house i dont feel underknived. although the woodsmans pal and the jungle knife have been usefull as of late.

Alex,

Thank you for reminding me that the main issue behind choosing a survival tool is not to make a "knife fashion statement" but to do the most with what we have. After all the best survival knife is the one you have with you when you need it.

 

[bishop85gt]

I change my mind on what knives all the time depending on where or what I am doing. The idea does however stay in the same.

I carry a large blade (about 7-8 inches) For big chores.
Small fixed like my modified Becker Necker for smaller things.
Maybe a folder.
SOG Powerlock Multi.

I don't think there is a perfect combo is there?

 

[rebeltf]

I too am on somewhat of a limited budget (few arent). One of my Grandpas used an old 3 blade pocketknife (which I have) a simple hatchet and a big old Ka-Bar butcher knife when he was hunting or camping. It doesnt take a several hundred dollar knife to 'survive' , yea neat to have and impress your buddies with but when it comes down to being in the mountains I have lost a decent number of goodies , much rather lose that 25$$ bushman than a prized custom
Myself I would carry my two EDC's (original Gerber MT and Gerber Ez-out) the MT has lasted 6 years and is my constant companion , the EZout has been used and used and I wouldnt get bummed if I broke it or lost it , for my 'camp knife' I have a few choices , maybe my Kukri or my Smatchet.

 

[Bear]

A versatile, yet inexpensive combo might be:

SAK Farmer ($20)
Mora 2000 ($30)
Ontario 12-inch machete ($20)
Bahco folding saw ($30)

Grand total: $100

All that's missing is a thickish blade to baton through rounds.

And Preacher Man, why do you call the Hunter lock an Axis lock. Isn't it a liner-lock? Do you mean you release it with an external lever, like an Axis lock?

Bear

 

[Preacher Man]

Orriginally posted by Bear

And Preacher Man, why do you call the Hunter lock an Axis lock. Isn't it a liner-lock? Do you mean you release it with an external lever, like an Axis lock?

Bear,

Nice practical combo there.

I call the Hunter an axis lock because I think that is the closest description of this particular lock. Correct me if I'm wrong (and I may just be wrong, in which case I would appreciate the correction and the information that comes with it), but a liner lock uses a section, strip, or liner of the knife frame to lock the knife in place by blocking tha tang's path. Every time the knife is used there is friction between the back of the tang and the lock. To close it you just need to push that section or liner out of the way of the blade.

An axis lock pushes a pin or stud into or against a section of the tang. When pushed, the pin or stud fills a gap in the tang or between the tang and the frame immobilizing the tang while minimizing friction between tang and lock.

The latter is the best description I can give you of the mecanism used in the Hunter, or at least in the one I have.

Again, please I would appreciate to be corrected if I'm wrong. I don't want to repeat information that may not be accurate.

 

[Mr.BadExample]

Supertool/SAK and a Bowie/kukri/hatchet of some sort usually fits the bill for me, though I usually manage to carry about 30lbs of stuff I'll never need.

 

[Preacher Man]

Originally posted by Mr. BadExample

...though I usually manage to carry about 30lbs of stuff I'll never need.

Don't we all do that? I mean, Isn't going outdoors sort of a justification to take with us the toys we have but rarely get to play with at home?

 

[Bear]

Preacher Man:

You may be right. I haven't seen the lock in a Hunter, and was assuming it to be similar to that in the Wenger Ranger. This is a liner lock, but a sliding button on the scale lets you release the liner without needing to put your finger in the path of the blade.

That's one thing that irks me about SAKs. You can never seem to see a detailed picture of the locking mechanisms.

If anybody can point me to a picture, or describe the lock used in the Hunter, I'd sure appreciate it.

Bear

 

[shpshooter]

1. The main blade is the Benchmade Nimravus Cub carried horizontally on my back or side.
2. The Gerber Backpax handles my chopping, crushing, chipping, hammering.
3. The One handed Trekker (non-serrated) is my backup. It stays in my pack, but makes an excellent outdoor knife as the grip is solid, it locks, it has a long saw, an awl, and a longer philips screwdriver (lacking in the charge).
4. The soldier is my loan out. If someone needs a knife or needs to cut something that is the knife I give them. If they take it or break it i'm out $25.00, which is a lot better then breaking my $65 Charge (which I could never find again for that price) or $120.00 Cub I also keep that in my pocket so if something happens to my pack and belt I still have something.
5. The Charge is my multi-tool and main folding blade. Excellent outdoor multitool.
6. The Swiss Card light I wouldn't want to rely on, but it is nice to know I have a light, knife, magnifying glass (fire), and a pin (improvised basic compass) all in one package, again kept deep in my pocket in case something happens to my pack and belt.

If I need something extra I have a Machete and Sawvivor, but I rarely pack those unless i'm going on extended trips.

 

[longbow50]

I considered the Vic Hiker and Trailmaster before deciding on the Hunter. I got the Hunter as a companion/complement for my Gerber Pro Scout. I was looking to expand my available tools, not for a redundant backup. My goal was to have a tool combo that would cover most of my urban and camp needs. As such, the Hunter fits the bill.

I love the Hunter's lock which is basically an axis lock. I prefer this lock to the liner lock on the Hiker or Trailmaster because the axis lock is easier and safer for my wife to use.

The tools I was looking for were the saw, serrated gutting (curved) blade, reamer with sewing eye, and corkscrew. These are tools I lacked on my Geber. The only tool I'm really missing in the Hunter is a magnifiying glass. I got the Hunter new at Ebay for $6.99.

Keep in mind that I was looking for a companion for my multitool. I would still consider the Hunter a great EDC and I do EDC it with my Geber Pro Scout and my CS medium Trailguide, but for an urban setting you may also want to consider the Trailmaster. It has a phillips screwdriver instead of a corkscrew and a bottle opener instead of the serrated curved blade. If the screwdriver is not important for you, or if like me you already carry a multitool, I would highly recomend the Hunter.

I carry an original Leatherman tool at times when I head into the big city, but am primarily looking for a knife to compliment my bush blades while hunting, hiking, etc. and because of the curved gut blade, sounds like the Hunter is the way I'll go. $6.99? WOW. I would almost be affraid I was getting a knock off for that kind of price.

 

[Gossman Knives]

I would say a large fixed blade, 7 to 8" blade. A smaller fixed blade 2 1/2" to 3 1/2" blade. A leatherman and a SAK. If you are carrying a pack, maybe a small hacket. You could even subsitute the small fixed blade with a lockback like a Buck 110.
Scott

 

[Preacher Man]

Originally posted by Longbow50

$6.99? WOW. I would almost be affraid I was getting a knock off for that kind of price.

So did I at first, but for the price it was worth the risk. It turned out to be the real thing. Of course it took me about a week of constant hunting for last-minute deals on Ebay to get the knife at that price.

 

[rebeltf]

constant hunting for last-minute deals on Ebay to get the knife at that price.

Just in case , make sure you check the description carefully on those, more than half I saw are Chi-Com knockoffs. I hate when they use SAK in the description , description should read CAK.

 

[tknife]

The new set I'm getting from Bill Siegle should cover it. A large chopper and a small utility knife, with a folder or SAK in my pocket.