Featherlite Survival Knife ?

[pitdog]

I had an idea when I was hiking today and just wondered what everyone else thought !

My most carried blade is now my Booshway but sometimes I feel the need for something to pair with it that is thin and super sharp.
I then got to thinking that this knife could also be a stand alone knife as well, not something to baton and pry with but one that would cut up your fish, skin a squirrel, make feather sticks and strike a ferro-rod etc.

My idea was to have a smallish knife outta 3/32" stock. The handle section would have a cut-out that would house a ferro-rod blank. Now if this was mine I would then secure some cotton pads ( Tinder ) to the handle over the ferro rod with some waxed Jute ( More tinder or cordage ). I would then wrap the handle with Gorilla tape to keep water out and hold it all together. In an emergency the handle could be peeled open and you have some great dry tinder and the means to light it.

The knife would likely have a small simple Kydex sheath that could be carried round the neck, in the pocket or secured to your main knife with ranger bands.

Here is the sort of thing I had in mind......

By pitdog2010 at 2011-04-15

What do ya think ?

I'd posted this in Mark Wohlwend's forum and he said he could knock one up for people to see if there was enough interest.

 

[foxx]

I like thin knives, but, maybe the ferro rod just adds weight? Have you seen the TOPS SSS? It has a mini ferro rod glued to the micarta sheath, so it's always there, but small and lightweight.
I think the Gorilla tape will be a gooey mess in the summer heat. Wrap it with some cordage that can be used in other ways. A small ferro rod attached to the sheath would allow for starting fires without unwrapping the handle. Round the edges of the tang, so once the cordage has been removed, you can still use the knife.
If the tang has holes or is skeletonized, then all sorts of options open up for make-shift handles or making it a spear!

 

[mtwarden]

I think the idea of a light, thin knife teamed w/ a heavier, larger (chopper) is a good one

housing the firesteel complicates things imo and could easily effect comfort of the grip- just as easy to include it w/ a light kydex sheath- no impact on the handle and you can get to it at any time- simply add a ranger band and you can include a little tinder as well as a fw other little bits

ala

this is a really thin/light knife, I included a small firesteel into the cord wrap- nice little knife for handling small game/birds/fish

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

I like the idea of the waxed jute wrap, but agree that some form loop on the sheath would be the best way to carry the rod. After all, you don't always need the tinder, but you'll need the rod more frequently. Instead, just wrap some extra jute on there to take up the extra space, add extra comfort, and make you not feel as bad when you nip a little off to start a fire! :thumbup:

 

[pitdog]

I like the idea of the waxed jute wrap, but agree that some form loop on the sheath would be the best way to carry the rod. After all, you don't always need the tinder, but you'll need the rod more frequently. Instead, just wrap some extra jute on there to take up the extra space, add extra comfort, and make you not feel as bad when you nip a little off to start a fire! :thumbup:

But I was thinking of this Ferro-rod as a last resort emergency item with this kinfe !

 

[m. wohlwend]

I have an idea....

 

[Anrkst6973]

I think you've got a great idea. Something thin like a knife made from a crosscut saw blade. With a little "flex" to it but not like a filleting knife. 3-4 inches in blade with thin micarta scales or g10, a little kydex sheath, and you could have grommets to have a small pouch (like a military compass sized pouch) attached if you wanted. It would be super light and a companion to your big brush buster!

 

[Skrapmetal]

What if you skeletonized the handle and put the rod in the middle then cord/tape-wrapped over that. So long as you had the rod drilled with a lanyard, you could pull it out easily enough without removing the wrap if needed.

 

[JTC]

Sounds like were basically talking about a small butcher knife or boning knife. I would think what you are wanting to accomplish could be done with a small light folder. Just my .02.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

But I was thinking of this Ferro-rod as a last resort emergency item with this knife !

Hmm...in that case maybe also have a loop on the sheath for an external one? I'd be worried about the rod shifting a bit during use with the present location--I just don't see the wrap being able to be secure enough in that regard. Perhaps the rod could fit into a cut-out in the center of the handle so the swell would help add to the swell of the center of the handle? Then tape over it to waterproof the chamber, then the waxed jute?

 

[foxx]

Yeah, a center cutout for an emergency ferro rod and wrap that with something, anything. As long as the knife is a user, meaning the handle isn't gooey, too loose, etc..
Like 42blades says, keep another loop on the sheath for a normal ferro rod.
The trick here is the handle. It can be easy, or over-engineered. So, here's one more idea!
Two removable scales, made of fatwood! Take off slices as needed. Inside the tang is the ferro rod. A striker is attached to the sheath, that also unscrews the two flathead screws holding on the scales.
It may not work, I haven't tried it. You'd have to find the right fatwood to make it work. Just an idea.
My thought here is that the handle material is a good fire starter, if needed.

 

[Rprecision]

There is alot of blades available that allready meet or exceed your intended use.

My favorite

http://www.bensbackwoods.com/servlet/Detail?no=387

Not that I think making your own is a bad idea

 

[DOC-CANADA]

I think the idea of a light, thin knife teamed w/ a heavier, larger (chopper) is a good one

housing the firesteel complicates things imo and could easily effect comfort of the grip- just as easy to include it w/ a light kydex sheath- no impact on the handle and you can get to it at any time- simply add a ranger band and you can include a little tinder as well as a fw other little bits

Hey pitdog, I'm with mt on this. The little Fallkniven looks like an excellent little knife for this purpose, and I have considered it before, but, I recently bought a Izula-II and it is absolutely perfect. I love this little knife.

As far as the ferro rod, I EDC a Coghlans mag bar with a loop on my belt. It's small and innocuous but it's there if I ever need it and because I would have to undo my belt and remove a few things to get at it, I'm not tempted to use it all the time. Also the loop could be made out of jute, giving you extra tinder.

Doc

 

[tonym]

I don't like the idea of having the firesteel in the handle either. I like my Vic farmer for very light tasks, and the saw and awl are also useful tools. I have take to carrying my Vic Farmer, a firesteel. and a spy capsule with PJCB's all in a small pouch on my belt. That has been working for me lately.

As far as the ferro rod, I EDC a Coghlans mag bar with a loop on my belt. It's small and innocuous but it's there if I ever need it and because I would have to undo my belt and remove a few things to get at it, I'm not tempted to use it all the time. Also the loop could be made out of jute, giving you extra tinder.

Doc

Jeesh, someone should teach you a couple of quick release knots..

 

[pitdog]

The plan with this knife is that hopefully you never have to resort to removing the Gorilla tape and using the ferro-rod, for everday stuff you would just use your regular Ferro-rod etc !

The reason I made the cut-out where I did and not in the middle is because I figured it would be quicker and easier for Mark to make that way, this would keep costs down, I think with the handle all wrapped you wouldn't be able to feel where it was anyway.

Regarding the rod moving about I quite sure that with a Gorilla tape wrap nothing would move, heck I've even got small extra weights attached to my set of dumbells with gorilla tape and they don't shift !

I guess a slot cut down the middle from the end of the handle would be just as simple to do....I think someone mentioned that eh !

 

[foxx]

Could you cut a line out of the ferro rod? That way it just slides onto the tang, it won't move around at all. Unless it's too fragile, I've never tried to cut it.
I was reading about fatwood handles, it's not the best material it seems.

 

[Troy H]

Hi Pit,

I'd encourage you to give that a shot and let us know how it works for you. It is one thing for us to theorize on something's functionality and totally another to get hands on results. There is no substitute for experience. I could definitely see the value in that kit in a scenario where that was all that you had on you.

I've have also been working lately to pack the most functionality into the least amount of space (doesn't always mean I'm saving weight). That said, my personal view is that all gear should be easily and rapidly accessible. I've moved drastically away from any type of kit that discourages its' use. In other words, I find gear more practical if it's simply stuffed into a pouch rather than tied in a decorative knot. If a ferro rod holder only fits when the ferro rod is new then I avoid using it because I'll lose it if it isn't tight. In those cases, I'm essentially carrying weight that I don't use. That sort of thing.

I do like your knife idea, but I think that it's important that all gear is easy to deploy. Maybe a couple one-inch pieces of bicycle inner tube or something to hold the ferro rod on ? With the groove idea above, that could work pretty well.

 

[Battle Creek Knives]

I think the idea of a light, thin knife teamed w/ a heavier, larger (chopper) is a good one

housing the firesteel complicates things imo and could easily effect comfort of the grip- just as easy to include it w/ a light kydex sheath- no impact on the handle and you can get to it at any time- simply add a ranger band and you can include a little tinder as well as a fw other little bits

ala

this is a really thin/light knife, I included a small firesteel into the cord wrap- nice little knife for handling small game/birds/fish

what knife is that? did you make it.. ??

 

[mtwarden]

^ that's a Fallkniven WM1 that was custom handled in orange G10

 

[Tixx]

These are pretty cool, but I do like your idea!

http://goinggear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=109_126&products_id=2280