Favorite survival knife?

tknife

tknife

Joined
Mar 18, 1999
Messages
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As an avid woodsman, and big blade lover, I think a large camp/survival knife is the way to go. My top 2 favorites are the Simonich Nordooh, and Busse Battle Mistress. One of these knives will always be with me when in the backcountry. Any other thoughts on the perfect survival knife?
 
The Fallkniven F1 goes with me whenever I'm on a hike in the wilderness. It is the definition of the word trustworthy. Very solidly built and it takes a good edge. It is a handy little knife though and not a real chopper. For that purpose I would recommend the A1 from the same maker. The Cold steel SRK is a real tough one, more of a prybar than a keen cutter, But it chops well and it served me fine during my military service.
The Bush Ranger, also a Cold Steel product seems as a good compromise with a wide, about 7 inches long flat ground blade and it is quite light, but should still be a good chopper.

Live well

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Tea drinker and hellraiser from Northern Sweden, above the arctic circle.




[This message has been edited by Cousin Cinnamon (edited 22 March 1999).]
 
My favorite survival tool is the one I have on me.

Or if I am feeling envious the custom Bolo from a local maker I advised my friend to buy.

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Check out the future possible Spyderco Worker 2000 www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum20/HTML/000224.html

One may want to keep an Eye out for my review of the Bob Kasper designed, Kevin Gentile modified AFCK and interview of Bob Kasper. Sorry about the wait, my review and interview should be online shortly, luckily Spark has graciously offered to do the pictures, look for it right here at BladeForums.com.

Marion David Poff ska Eye, one can msg me at mdpoff@hotmail.com

"A journey of a thousand miles begins but with a single step" Lao-Tzu
 
My favorite so far is my Marine K-bar. I own a few others but I keep coming back to it. It's light, easy to keep sharp, moderately tough, and it was cheap when I bought it 9 years ago.
 
I have been thinking about getting a big knife in the way of a camp knife. But the more I think about it the more I wonder why?
I tend to carry the right tool for the right job. If I know I am going to be in the backcountry and camping I will have my hawk, my pocket saw and a sheath knife. More than likely my Double Edge Forge belt knife. Just adopted it as my always belt knife. If I am just out stumping then will carry only my pocket clip and my .45acp.
 
Mad Dog WSP1 (variant on ATAK).

Completely unbelievable knife. Beyond "good".

Jim March
 
This is a tough one. So many to choose from. I'll tell you when I have figured it out.
 
The Uluchet, Cliff Stamp will be doing a review on one in the near future. Now, for the next question, what's an Uluchet?

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P.J.
YES,it is sharp, just keep your fingers out of the way!
www.silverstar.com/turnermfg


 
My Beck "Tracker" will handle anything that you throw at it. It is an unbeleivable knife! I'd put it up against any knife you can come up with.
 
Jaeger, did you get the small companion knife with the Tracker? I came so close to getting that set. But, had to go with something bigger!
 
I'll second the vote for Fallkniven, although I can't say I've had one long enough to comment on its durability :-) I recently picked up their new S1, which is roughly mid-way between the A1 and the F1. For me, it's the ideal blade shape and size, has a nice handle, and is quite light. If VG-10 is all it's cracked up to be (I was swayed by Fred Perrin's eloquent review, and I believe there was one in Tactical Knives, as well), this should be a good performer. I don't know about survival, per se, but I think its quite a utilitarian knife (and my first major knife purchase, after haunting this forum for a couple of months :-)

Incidentally, this is the first time I've encountered a convex grind. Seems like a good idea to me. What do you people think?

[This message has been edited by Frankk (edited 22 March 1999).]
 
Frankk:
The convex grind is an excellent edge, if you'd like to learn more about it there is a good article by Ken Warner in Knives 97.

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P.J.
YES,it is sharp, just keep your fingers out of the way!
www.silverstar.com/turnermfg


 
I still like my Cold Steel Recon Scout in kydex sheath. You can spend a lot more, but why for a knife that is going to be used hard as a tool?

tknife - what is a Simonich Nordooh?
 
Check out Rob's website at www.ixi.net/~hipshot for pics of the Nordooh. It was designed by Rob and survival instructor Ron Hood to be a big all around outdoor/survival blade. I just got mine last week, but I love it. Can't wait to chop more with it.
 
Tknife,
Something bigger than tougher than the Tracker? Wow! I do have have the small companion knife with it. Mr. Beck is working on a new catalog with some really fantastic new designs. If you like big survival knives then you MUST see his Pathfinder. The original Tracker was designed by survival/tracking expert Tom Brown. The Pathfinder is Beck's own design and costs about half as much as the Tracker. I've seen the Pathfinder and it is truly impressive. Get a catalog and check it out.
 
My carries:

If there is no chance I'll lose it but want something I can bet my life on, then it is the Mad Dog ATAK2, $340.

If there is a chance I'll lose (or ditch) it, Cold Steel SRK, $50-ish


--Doug
 
My outdoors needs have always been well-met by the big-knife/little-knife strategy. My little knife tends to be the A.G. Russell Deerhunter -- a lightweight scalpel that will handle all small cutting jobs and (*the* most important job) food prep like you won't believe.

For my big knife, I've never really gotten into the large-bowie or kukhri mode. I use a 12" machete, which is reasonably light, has plenty of length, is inexpensive so I'm not afraid to really bang on it, and performs well. It chops small limbs easily and quickly. Here in northern california, it's so easy to find wood, I've not needed a bigger better chopper. If I did, I'd probably go with a bolo or kukrhi.

Joe
jat@cup.hp.com

 
Randall Model 16 divers knife. This is a virtually indestructible knife. With a 7 inch bladeand the single hilt it is more useful as a general purpose tool than the double hilt fighters.

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who dares, wins

 
For a hollow handle survival knife, there is only one choice - Chris Reeve.

If you don't see the need to store stuff inside a knife, then there are many fine FIXED blades to choose from. My favorite will always be the one I actually have with me. The ones at home locked up where there safe won't do me any good :-)

Sid

p.s. Take that "survival" gear out and actually use it! The wrong time discover it doesn't work like you want it to is when you find out you really need it most!

[This message has been edited by Sid Post (edited 23 March 1999).]
 
Sid, thats good advice about checking out the survival goodies before you need them. And the Reeve is bar-none the toughest hollow handle blade I've seen. I have the Project 1, and it's really squared away. I also have a Lile Sly 2, but it's just for looking at!
 
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