Help me out with this nagging question...

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KEmSAT-Survival

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Sep 23, 2008
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Let me preface by saying: If you read this as an attempt at "I'm better than you are in the woods", you're reading it wrong. Go back and read it again. This is a serious question that I really want to understand.

That said, here we go:



Why the two-knife combo thing?

Now, obviously certain exclusions apply: full sized machetes and other BAK's (big ass knives), axes, hatchets, etc...

I can understand carrying a pocket knife or a small-ish fixed blade when carrying a full sized machete. It ain't fun to try to gut a fish with a 'chete. It ain't easy, either. I've never tried to make a hearthboard with an axe, or whittle a figure four trap. So I can see where you'd need a duo in certain instances. I also fully understand carrying a knife for a back-up as an incaseshit, because I do it. It just makes sense to mitigate Murphy's Law as much as you can..

But what I can't figure out is, there are guys and gals--and forgive please if you fall into this category, because this isn't meant as an insult-- who will carry something like an ESEE6 (RC6), BK7 or 9, or anyother knife in the 6"-9" range...and then they'll go and carry something like an SAK OHT, ESEE 4 (RC4), or something else with a 3" inch or 4" blade AND an "incaseshit" knife. Why?

The general answer is: "for fine work." But what do you mean "for fine work"? Like whittling those neat little bears from logs? Splitting hairs? Carving your initials into trees in an elegant caligraphy? What? Help me out.

You don't have to justify yourself to me-- or anyone else for that matter-- if you do it just because you like carrying two knives, that's fine. If you just like to show your blade-junk off, super.

But I've seen a lot of back-and-forth about a duo: "What should I carry?", What two knives?", etc....

I've been doing this stuff a long time, and have never needed one knife for a task; then had to switch to another for a different task...Unless I happened to be carrying something like a full-sized machete or a BAK, and then had to use a smaller one for some teenie tiny task that the blade of the machete was just too ungainly for. But even then, the smaller knife was SMALLER: a case pocket knife or the little blade on my trusty SAK Tinker.
However, with anything from a 4" up to a 9" blade, I've never had to switch to a small knife for anything. I've always been able to work the big knife in such a way as to accomplish small tasks, like hearthboards and such. I've never found myself thinking: "Boy, here I am carrying this 5" ESEE5, and I really wish I had a three inch blade...this thing is just too big."

Is it because some folks just aren't comfortable using a big knife for small tasks?

So this is a question born of ignorance, not of any kind of self-centered, high and mighy attitude.

Just trying to gain some insight. So don't flame me.

Thanks in advance to all you who pitch in. :thumbup:
 
personally i just like playing with my knives. i don't get out to go into the woods that often these days, so when i get a chance, i take a few knives so i get a chance to use them all.
 
I don't carry a ton of knives. Maybe around three or four.

I usually have some type of inverted carry on the right shoulder strap of my pack. This is purely a SD knife, and luckily, has never been deployed.

I'll through a SAK inside the pack, which, again, never get used. It's backup, in case I loose the SAK in my pocket.

In addition to the SAK in the pocket, I'll carry some type of fixed blade, usually inside the pack, but within easy deployment.

I don't need all these knives, and I've been working on lightening the load.

I would say that I usually carry the two knife combo, being a fixed blade and a SAK. I don't count the spare SAK inside my kit of emergency stuff, or the (push-dagger, now) shoulder strap knife.
 
Does a Multitool count? I carry a 4in fixed blade, and a Swisstool spirit on outings. Wheather it be hiking, biking, etc...

I carry it to work on my bike if needed among other things. Like when im around sheeple, the multi is just more friendly.

However I also carry these 2 when I add a Golok or Axe. Reason being, I dont like doing food prep etc with something im chopping wood with.

As to why some guys carry a bunch of steel, and back up to that steel, and backup to that steel. I have no idea. Maybe just for fun? Or to make the pack heavier to get a better workout? lol... Who knows, whatever makes em comfortable.
 
I rarely carry 2 knives of the same size... lately I tend to carry a larger heavy use knife, and a folding saw which reside in my pack.....(for sectioning and splitting and such) a neck knife on my person for cutting, and general use, and a locking sak witha saw as back up.
 
yeah some people just don't feel comfortable using their big blades for everything.....on the other hand I've used my ESEE 4 for everything (food prep, fuzzsticks, fire starting) and the same goes for my rat 7....I've got the izula, but haven't really put it in the mud yet, like I have the other two.....I like knives so every chance I get to use a few, I'll take it.......but I can't see myself carrying 3 knives and 3 different backup.....that's a little OCD for me...jmho....If that's your thing then go for it.....
 
Dunno.

I fall under your first exemption: I take a long and a short blade. If I'm carrying an RC6 size knife, it's because it's the only one I'm carrying.
 
I don't carry two knives of the same size. My EDC is a small, thin, fixed blade scandi, and it goes everywhere with me. When I'm in the woods, I strap on a larger fixed blade belt knife that is appropriate for the tasks and terrain. If I'm on an extended outing, I'll bring an axe or a large chopper as well.

Possible reasons for carrying multiple similar knives might be:

  • Using one as a dedicated working knife and another as a 'clean' food prep knife (this is also relevant if you want to keep a close eye on the tools that come into contact with food when hiking / fishing in bear country)
  • Having two knives with different grinds for specialized tasks - perhaps convex or flat for regular work and a scandi for easy fuzz-stickery.
  • You're Bushman5 ;)

All the best,

- Mike
 
I generally carry a Vic Farmer in my pocket, A becker BK-2 on my belt, a 14 inch bolo strapped to my pack, and a Silky 210 saw in my pack.

The BK-2 gets the most use, followed by the bolo, then the saw. The SAK hardly ever gets used when I'm out, but it's always in my pocket as a backup.

These are the things that work for me. I've been doing this for over fifty years and I've tried a lot of combinations over that period of time. Those four items are what work for me, in my terrain (Southern California), at the moment. That doesn't mean I won't change them in the future, but they work for me now.

I like having all of them because they all perform different tasks (with some overlap), and they're what I'm used to using. Besides, I like to play with things that cut.
 
I fall into the I just like to play with knives category. I know it's not practical. I at least try to keep it to only one "chopper", but 6" or less fixed, plus folders and multi's; I probably have 5+ with me.
 
I don't carry two knives of the same size. My EDC is a small, thin, fixed blade scandi, and it goes everywhere with me. When I'm in the woods, I strap on a larger fixed blade belt knife that is appropriate for the tasks and terrain. If I'm on an extended outing, I'll bring an axe or a large chopper as well.
Click to expand...

But wouldn't the axe and the small knife be just fine and spare you the weight of the big chopper? Since, technically the axe would be performing that function?
On a long outing I mean.


I generally carry a Vic Farmer in my pocket, A becker BK-2 on my belt, a 14 inch bolo strapped to my pack, and a Silky 210 saw in my pack.
Click to expand...

But wouldn't it just be easier to carry the bolo (whatever that is, I'm guessing some type of machete), the vic farmer and the saw? Or does the BK2 serve as some kind of back-up?


I usually carry my old SAK Tinker in my pocket mostly out of habit, with a back-up in my pack and my RC5, BK9 or old RAT7 on my belt some place. Unless I just feel like playing with knives...and then God knows what I'll have with me!



Good answers. I appreciate you folks trying to help out an r-tard.
 
Which also begs the question... If you are carrying a 3"-6", what does your second 6"-9" blade do that your smaller one can't?

And don't say "it chops better"! Ok, it might, but marginally. If you really wanted to chop, you'd bring a machete or axe. A 9" blade doesn't chop so much better and easier than using different techniques to get through the same thing with a 3"-6" knife.

Same disclamer as OP, nothing against those that do, I just don't understand it personally.

For me, I usually carry a 3"-4" fixed blade, and a SAK in my FAK. Lol, that rhymes!
 
ditto ;)

Mentor said:
I don't carry two knives of the same size. My EDC is a small, thin, fixed blade scandi, and it goes everywhere with me. When I'm in the woods, I strap on a larger fixed blade belt knife that is appropriate for the tasks and terrain. If I'm on an extended outing, I'll bring an axe or a large chopper as well.

Possible reasons for carrying multiple similar knives might be:

  • Using one as a dedicated working knife and another as a 'clean' food prep knife (this is also relevant if you want to keep a close eye on the tools that come into contact with food when hiking / fishing in bear country)
  • Having two knives with different grinds for specialized tasks - perhaps convex or flat for regular work and a scandi for easy fuzz-stickery.
  • You're Bushman5 ;)

All the best,

- Mike
Click to expand...
 
A pocket knife and a chopper and then a 4 inch belt knife as backup. The 4 inch can be used for carving and such if I lose the pocket knife and also can be used to baton through wood if I lose the chopper.

Edit: Chopper being machete or hatchet that rides in the pack.
 
Which also begs the question... If you are carrying a 3"-6", what does your second 6"-9" blade do that your smaller one can't?
Click to expand...


Which is mostly what my question is, and why as asked this:

But what I can't figure out is, there are guys and gals--and forgive please if you fall into this category, because this isn't meant as an insult-- who will carry something like an ESEE6 (RC6), BK7 or 9, or anyother knife in the 6"-9" range...and then they'll go and carry something like an SAK OHT, ESEE 4 (RC4), or something else with a 3" inch or 4" blade AND an "incaseshit" knife. Why?
Click to expand...


But I will answer this question for you:


And don't say "it chops better"! Ok, it might, but marginally. If you really wanted to chop, you'd bring a machete or axe. A 9" blade doesn't chop so much better and easier than using different techniques to get through the same thing with a 3"-6" knife.
Click to expand...

It's a compromise. I get the use of a smaller knife with the ability to chop--yes, less effective than a machete or an axe, which were designed specifically for that task-- but the ability is there in case I need a pole of some kind in a hurry. Obviously I'm not going to try to fell a 6" diameter tree.
A BAK allows me to save space for other stuff because I don't have to carry an axe AND a small knife, plus a back-up. It doesn't encumber me as much as the length of a full-sized machete or the long handle of an axe.
Now, obviously situation dictates what I'd carry. If I were planning to do something like live in the wilderness for a long time--I'm talking "building a cabin" kind of time frame-- obviously I'd have an axe (or two) and a couple of different knives.

For general woodsbumming utility and possible "Oh Shit!" situations I like a knife that gives me certain features. Obviously I'll compromise efficiency, but that's part of travelling as light as possible but still being prepared.

Which is why I sing the praises of the RC5 on a daily basis.
 
KEmSAT-Survival said:
But wouldn't it just be easier to carry the bolo (whatever that is, I'm guessing some type of machete), the vic farmer and the saw? Or does the BK2 serve as some kind of back-up?
Click to expand...

You're right: the bolo is a type of machete. I don't always carry it, depending on where I'm going. In my AO I don't really need an axe of hatchet (though I like to play with them on occasion), so the bolo serves all my chopping needs.

The BK-2 is always with me — not as a backup, but as my primary tool. It's just large and heavy enough to work as a decent chopper, yet it works really well for food prep, trap making, etc., too. I hear some folks say "oh, but it's so thick," like that's necessarily a bad thing. A really sharp — and mine are really sharp — BK-2 is a really, really versatile tool. I've used it so much that it's become an extension of my hand. In other words, I'm truly familiar with it: there's a lot to be said for that. It'll cut feather sticks with the best of them, or baton through a locomotive. Get one. Try it. You might like it.

The Silky saw? Well, that doesn't need much explaining.

The SAK? I wouldn't leave home without it in the city or the country. It's a really versatile tool, but I hardly ever use it when I'm out in the boonies. For cutting, even for fairly fine work, I use the BK-2. The SAK saw? Well, since I carry a Silky saw, I really don't need the SAK saw most of the time. I don't usually need the bottle opener or can opener, either. What I do break out from time to time is the awl: great tool. No, the SAK Farmer is really my backup.

Do I absolutely, positively need all of them? No, I could get along without them if I had too (learned to knap flint when I was young), but I like them, so I always carry them. If I lived in the North, I might carry a different mix of tools, but in my AO, these work fine.
 
I just like playing with different knives. Something different goes with me everytime, depends on my mood and what I'm into at the time. Do I feel modern materials, traditional, early american, etc...
I also like to experiment on how different tools do different (or the same) job.
 
KEmSAT-Survival said:
But wouldn't the axe and the small knife be just fine and spare you the weight of the big chopper? Since, technically the axe would be performing that function?
On a long outing I mean.
Click to expand...

I never carry a chopper and an axe on the same outing. Doesn't make sense to me.

The most you'll see me lugging around (outside of the stuff in my PSK) is my EDC, a belt knife, and an axe (or chopper).

And no, the axe and the small knife would not be just fine - for me. When I am snowshoeing off-trail or maintaining my hiking trails, I often use my belt knife to quickly chop small-to-medium-sized branches from fallen or standing dead trees. This is easy to do with the belt knife, as it has some heft. I can't chop with my little scandi, so it would require more work to do that. Taking the axe out of my pack requires more time (as does putting it back), and it is not as nimble as my belt knife.

When I get to camp, I tend to use my belt knife to prep and maintain a fire (on weekend outings, I won't even bring an axe). My EDC is used for food prep at the same time. This keeps me from having to wash my knife as I switch back and forth between tasks.

Could all of these tasks be accomplished with a very sharp axe OR a decent belt knife? Of course. Would it be as easy? I don't think so. And the added weight that comes with carrying a belt knife is negligible.

Finally, I think there's something to be said about the enjoyment that comes with using custom-made cutting tools during an outing. Serious multi-day trips are hard to come by (as opposed to all-day snowshoe trips or hikes, which take place every weekend!), and I like to use them as an opportunity to get out and use some of my cutlery. Carrying an armful of knives is not something I do, but neither is going bare-bones minimalist.

All the best,

- Mike

PS I feel nekkid when hiking without a decent belt knife.
 
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