Good Camping Knife

D

DiyRambler1982

Joined
Apr 2, 2009
Messages
1
Hello, cheers to all! I have a question for you knife enthusiasts.

I'm going camping/hiking soon in the pacific northwest, and I was wondering what knife/combination of knives I should bring. I already have a Gerber Multi-Tool, but should I bring both a fixed and folded blade? Any help would be appreciated :D!

Thanks,
Jimmy
 
It's never bad to have a back-up blade in the form of a folder, if weight isn't an issue that is. But the Gerber has a small knife in it, am I correct? So for me the choice is obvious, find yourself a fixed blade in the 5-7 inch range. My recommendations would be Busse first and foremost, Swamp Rat, Rat cutlery and Bark River.:D
 
If you are looking to walk to a store and pick out a decent fixed blade, Buck 119 is fairly ubiquitous. There are of course many other options if you are looking to go online. My go to cheap options are Mora of Sweden 510, Ontario Pilots Survival Knife, and Benchmade Rant DPT.
 
GregS has recommended some excellent knives. Also consider the Fallkniven F1, S1, or A1 as good all round choices (F1 being the smallest of the three, A1 the largest)

If you are going to carry the knife while hiking, then size and weight become a consideration. Of the above three I would suggest the S1, Smaller and lighter than the A1, but still large enough for light chopping and batoning.

Kevin

PS, Multi tools can be handy, but when hiking I would be looking to keep weight at a minimum. Personally I would go with a good knife over the multi tool.
 
All the above are great choices, but if you're looking for a beater, that you can get cheap and just about anywhere, check out the Ka-Bar Heavy Bowie (short or long). Great investment for about $45.
 
I'll also second the 119. That's a classic well built knife:thumbup: For a pick up and go that won't break the bank, it's tough to beat. If you want something that is a little "tougher" yet not excessively expensive, check out the Becker line by Ka-bar.

If you are looking for something a little more custom, there are several makers on BFC that specialize in hard use woods-stomping camp knives. Many of them are severely underpriced for what you get out of them:D:thumbup:
 
Dag-nabit said:
GregS has recommended some excellent knives. Also consider the Fallkniven F1, S1, or A1 as good all round choices (F1 being the smallest of the three, A1 the largest)

If you are going to carry the knife while hiking, then size and weight become a consideration. Of the above three I would suggest the S1, Smaller and lighter than the A1, but still large enough for light chopping and batoning.

Kevin

PS, Multi tools can be handy, but when hiking I would be looking to keep weight at a minimum. Personally I would go with a good knife over the multi tool.
Click to expand...
Thanks bud, and I forgot Fallkniven, they make some kick arse blades as well.:D
 
I'd vote for a small light FB, the multi-tool (the lighter, the better) and a 3/4 size single bit ax such as the Hudson's Bay model, for camping in the Pacific Northwest. It's a lot easier to split logs to get at the dry stuff with an ax. Keep your knives for slicing, use an ax for splitting.
 
check out the Becker line by Ka-bar
Click to expand...
.


+1 to that. My tiny little BK11 is my EDC and dayhike companion. Small but tough .The larger knives should be just as tough.:thumbup:

100_0577.jpg


there are several makers on BFC that specialize in hard use woods-stomping camp knives
Click to expand...

+1 to that one as well. Waiting for my JK Hiker to be made and delivered is hard.:D Understandable due to his volume of orders, but still hard.:o
 
If you need to cut brush, the Kershaw Outcast works well. It's a lot of good steel for a reasonable price.
 
I'm certainly no expert, but I think that some form of a Swiss Army knife would have a more useful selection of tools than the Gerber, and the SAK and a Mora fixed blade combined would probably weigh less. Hopefully, your backpacking trip won't turn into a combat/survival situation!

Just a thought, good luck!
 
There are so many variables. How far are you going? Do you need the knife to chop? What kind of food prep are you expecting? ...the list goes on and on.

A lot of people carry a fixed blade in the 3"-5" range and then a backup of either a small fixed blade or a SAK.
What matters most are what you expect from the knife and what your skills are.

For example, a lot of people like a SAK with a saw because they are useful in making fireboards and traps.

The most important thing is to have a tool that you can use if and when you need it.
 
Like many of us I carry a fixed blade a folder in my pocket (BM Griptillian) and a SAK. For years my fixed blade of choice was my hunting knife, the ubiquitous Buck 119 Special. Lately this has been replace by a Fallkniven F1 and a Bark River Bravo-1. As others have said, you can't gow wrong with Fallkniven F1, S1 or A1, but check out the Bark River and RAT Cutlery lines as well. I think the RAT RC-4 is a darn good all around woods knife.
 
Pilot1 said:
Like many of us I carry a fixed blade a folder in my pocket (BM Griptillian) and a SAK. For years my fixed blade of choice was my hunting knife, the ubiquitous Buck 119 Special. Lately this has been replace by a Fallkniven F1 and a Bark River Bravo-1. As others have said, you can't gow wrong with Fallkniven F1, S1 or A1, but check out the Bark River and RAT Cutlery lines as well. I think the RAT RC-4 is a darn good all around woods knife.
Click to expand...

+1 The best fixed balde you can afford ( lots of good options already mentioned), and a SAK.
 
One of the Air Force Pilots survival knives either by Camillus or Ontario Knives made for years by them for the military is all you need on you besides a multi-tool and a good folder. $32 to $42 for a new one old stock but brand new non issued one on the auction site all the time. :thumbup: Some are selling them new with broken snaps but they are easy to fix in about ten seconds using the pommel end of the knife itself and a new snap bottom connector for the bottom reusing the old snap after using the blade to ream it out. I've done it twice now for two of three I bought on the site recently. All three were minty new condition just needed oiled down and sharpened. One guy had some there for $32 plus shipping and he repaired the snaps. Best deal IMO is with him.

STR
 
1. ditch the gerber. 2. get a SMALL slippy (2.5"- 4") 3. if you insist on a sheath knife, get a 3" parer, or a Mora. 4. replace the gerber with a pair of small needlenose 5. better then the Mora get a SAK (Pioneer) 6. get a small stone.
 
Sharp Eye said:
There are so many variables. How far are you going? Do you need the knife to chop? What kind of food prep are you expecting? ...the list goes on and on.

A lot of people carry a fixed blade in the 3"-5" range and then a backup of either a small fixed blade or a SAK.
What matters most are what you expect from the knife and what your skills are.

For example, a lot of people like a SAK with a saw because they are useful in making fireboards and traps.

The most important thing is to have a tool that you can use if and when you need it.
Click to expand...

I would add that it also is important to factor in how far you are going and how long you will be gone. If you are camping a mile or two from your truck and are mainly looking to practice camping skills, then by all means take a big knife.

If you are going to pack it 20 - 30 miles, you will have to ask yourself just how seriously you intend to use the knife.
Are you going to be able to gather wood and have an open fire? How wet are your conditions -will you need to use the knife as a splitting wedge to get burnable wood? Are you restricted to camp stoves? Will you be using the knife to clean game you kill to eat? A knife on the trail means a lot of different things to people.

For me, a nasty sharp 3 -4 inch fixed has always been a best bet. It seems to dispatch any camp chores I have ever had since I was a Boy Scout. I usually have one of those attached to the pack, and a scalpel sharp splinter/thorn digger in my pocket.

Although I don't have one, something along the lines of the 3 - 4 inch RAT lines or their brothers look pretty ideal for my style of camping. On the other hand, most of my old hiking buddies won't carry anything more than a utility Mora style knife due to its low weight and slicing ability. One thinks he is carrying an entire tool chest by bringing his Leatherman. We have actually used that tool a bit because of the tweezers and tiny saw.

YMMV

Robert
 
As many other have said - Fallkniven F1, S1 or A1.
Also, if you can get your hands on a Gryphon M35, those are excellent knives for a great price. (Check out Jeff Loffer's Cutlery Shoppe for the M35.)

Regards,
Mike
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top