For a "survival Knife"

W

wade

Joined
Sep 22, 2005
Messages
493
Do you want a chopper or a cutter? What do you think is more practical? I know it depends on the area you live. So, for you and your area. My vote goes to more of a chopper, but small enough to skin/clean game as well.
 
I go for the cutter every time. Most knives are NOT made for chopping and any time a tool tries to do more than one task its effectiveness suffers on each task. Chopping is something one can do without IMO.
 
Yup, cutting, stabbing, slicing for me ... I can get same results of chopping done by means of a hand saw chain that fits into a spectacle case.
 
I guess I would have to second that. To me anyway, a knife is a cutting tool first. A blade heavy enough to chop is generally too large/thick/unwieldy to do delecate cutting tasks. Unless you were refering to chopping food. My 5 1/2" carbon blade will do camp chores and kitchen chores equally well.

Codger
 
Cutting for sure.

A 5-6" blade cutter and a folding saw will weigh less than a 7.5" chopper, and be a lot safer, more versatile and more efficient. It also saves the edge of the knife, keeping it sharp for the cutting tasks, and minimized the chances of braking the blade.

Will
 
wade said:
Do you want a chopper or a cutter?
Click to expand...

Chopping is cutting, just with high speed. See the knives used in the ABS style cutting competitions for examples of blades which can chop and cut a variety of materials very well. In general complaints about chopping knives not cutting well are usually in reference to knives which don't actually chop well for their size. The edges on my 10" chopping blades are actually more acute than the majority of modern 4" and under folders so they easily out cut them on many materials.

The main issue would be do you want something with the length/weight of a knife which could chop. Do you want a leuko or a puukko, a parang or a Temperance, a machete or a small fillet blade. It depends on the enviroment and what else you have. If I didn't know anything and had to pick blind I take a small parang as it is most versatile being able to work cutting snow blocks, harder woods and leafy vegetation. It also will easily fillet fish, chop open a coconut, serve as a draw knife to shape wood, etc. .

-Cliff
 
I think that Cliff is onto something with his idea of good chopper also being good cutters.
For my own use, in my neck of the woods, I need to be able to chop some and cut much. If I could find a quality folding saw, I'd be willing to carry it. However, I find that I can do everything I need to do with what I'll call a "versatile chopper". My go-to field knife has a 9.25" long, .20" thick blade. It cuts extremelywell, due to its thin edge and wide, relatively thin blade profile. It has a semi-bolo shape to its blade, which gives it greater chopping power. It can also double as a field-expedient spatula :D

So, if I can't have a hatchet, folding saw, what-have-you, I'll take a chopper. Hitherto, even if I can have something else, I still take my good chopper :thumbup:
 
Cliff Stamp said:
Chopping is cutting, just with high speed. See the knives used in the ABS style cutting competitions for examples of blades which can chop and cut a variety of materials very well. In general complaints about chopping knives not cutting well are usually in reference to knives which don't actually chop well for their size. The edges on my 10" chopping blades are actually more acute than the majority of modern 4" and under folders so they easily out cut them on many materials.

The main issue would be do you want something with the length/weight of a knife which could chop. Do you want a leuko or a puukko, a parang or a Temperance, a machete or a small fillet blade. It depends on the enviroment and what else you have. If I didn't know anything and had to pick blind I take a small parang as it is most versatile being able to work cutting snow blocks, harder woods and leafy vegetation. It also will easily fillet fish, chop open a coconut, serve as a draw knife to shape wood, etc. .

-Cliff
Click to expand...

I agree with Cliff's approach on this. I have choppers that can easily shave the hair. We are talking 10" hammer forged blade. The same can be done with my kelapa as well as my large golok (15.75" blade). Then again I also use a smaller blade (between 3.75" and 5") in case I want to cut a sausage or peel an apple. However, all of the above mentioned choppers that I have can also perform these simple cutting tasks but it can't be done the other way around. I will admit though that they are not as manoeuvrable.
Aside from that, in the wilderness I think it holds true that a large and I would add a "very sharp knife" can do the tasks that a smaller can but, not vice versa.
 
Both, I like a bigger knife for the heavy stuff, but a nice folder has a place in my pocket any time.
Swamp Rat RW and a sebenza, good to go.

Helle
 
I tend to favor cutting knives as the effective choppers that I have tried and used tend to be the heavier knives (when you carry all of your supplies on your back for a couple of days even a few ounces becomes important). Also, I tend to use knives mostly for food related chores, with a low abuse level.
Use the tool best suited to your aplication.

Enjoy!
 
The perfect survival knife would also cook breakfast and keep you warm. :)

It may not be having to pick EITHER a chopper or cutter (Slicer), but more, picking a Chopper that also Slices well, or a Slicer that can also do some chopping.

Cliff is pretty much on the mark, a lot of the chopping and slicing issue is the edge that is placed on the blade. Chopping typically requires some extra mass, and durability, as you may not cut down that 3 foot diamter Oak with your 6" fixed blade.

I'd suggest fitting the blade to your region and uses.

Also, you can carry two knives. Or even a knife and hatchet! :)
 
Tarmix101. Love that patch knife.
 
aproy1101 said:
Tarmix101. Love that patch knife.
Click to expand...

Thanks:cool:

For me it fits the "survival knife" very well. 3/32 in thick L6
steel. Combined with a axe and a small folder, it works well for me.

I have never had any use for the "sharpened pry bar" but as many here have pointed out, you can profile the edge on any large knife to do what you need. I just feel more comfortable with a axe.
 
I prefer a polished edge that is well suited for chopping onions and other herbs that might be found. The drop point has an excellent curve you don't find on traditional chopping instruments, but is well suited to cut and slice with a polished edge.
 
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