How Large Are Ya Prepared To Carry ?

I keep my RC-6 in my EDC bag at all times except when flying. I use the bag for hikes as well as day-to-day. It's come in handy at a few family bonfires for batoning up some logs that were a bit on the thick side to burn well. :)
 
I always have a 9"-10" bowie or short machete. I started hiking last year after moving to NH. I took several dayhikes and a few overnights this year. I always had a big blade with me. For fun! Why not. It's an extra pound. My overnights were two days and around 28 miles on average with a mountain ascent. My dayhikes averaged about 12 miles.
 
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I'm of the school the less you carry, the more knife you need. Shelter building,Firewood cutting/splitting,trap production are all faster and easier with a bigger knife. Day hikes and minimalist trips usually find me packing a 7-9 inch blade.
Allan
 
OAL 9-10" works for me, maybe even 12" OAL; but I'll often go afield with a 3" blade without a second thought.

In different terrain, I'd gladly hump a 24" machete though.
 
For me, it is weight that matters much more than length. I will carry a 12 inch Tram but anything heavier is a truck knife. I will carry a five inch Bog Dog. About 9 5/8 long oal.
 
I tend to carry a 5" fixed blade high on a belt easily most of the time. I will carry my BK-7 on my belt when I'm out and about most of the day. If I'm wanting my big BK-9 or BK-1 I carry in or on my pack unless I'm wanting to go "light." If I go "light" I put them on my belt on the weak side or far back on my strong side so it's out of the way and I let it hang loose so it is easy to get out of the way such as sitting.
 
mtnfolk mike said:
i rarely carry a knife with a blade bigger than 4 in.. that's what works best for me..
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I usually only carry a knife with a 3" blade Mike and that's what works for me but in all honesty I have never found myself in a survival scenario.
If say an injury forced me to spend a night or two outside in Winter would I then have the same regard for my 3" blade ?
I recently made a shelter and used my TOPS Tracker, I'd have hated to have done the same using my 3" blade. I realise that it is possible to make a shelter without using a blade at all but sometimes it is easier and faster if we have one. I have also split wood to get to the dry inner using my 3" blade but obviously I'm a little limited on the diameter of the wood I can use.

All I'm trying to do is get people thinking, maybe it's worth lugging the little extra size and weight just in case the worse should happen ?
 
udtjim said:
For me, it is weight that matters much more than length. I will carry a 12 inch Tram but anything heavier is a truck knife. I will carry a five inch Bog Dog. About 9 5/8 long oal.
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Weight is the killer for me, as well. I don't always get to keep the knives I make myself forever, but among the ones I've enjoyed most are a 5.5 inch blade (10.25 OAL) full tang leuku pattern bushcrafter in 3/32 with an ipe handle, a traditional style through tang leuku in 1/8 with a 7.5 inch blade at 11.5 or so OAL, and a 6 inch modern seax in 1/8 with an OAL of 11.5 inches. All are light enough for hiking, and doubled with my necker or one of my EDC blades (all under 4 inches in blade length)

For through hiking or woodbumming I might have different choices depending on environment....
 
I always carry my Wildlife Hatchet, the weight is so minimal you'd need OCD to be bothered by it. But it's carried in the bag, not on the belt. Main reason is that I never know when I'll see that perfect sapling with a bow hiding in there, and even when it doesn't get used its no problem. Compared to the 2-4 Litres of water I carry it's no problem.

However, I think there are far more important skill sets that should come well before needing a blade. Navigation and knowing when to turn back are the two biggest, followed closely by good clothing and knowing the weather. Doing these, the only reason you'd find yourself stuck is in the event of an injury, in which case a sleeping bag and a tarp are much more welcome. How can you collect firewood with a broken ankle? But this is a knife forum... and we all love our toys! So carry whatever you like, I know I will.
 
Keep in mind I ALWAYS have a SAK (Farmer or Huntsman) and a folder (Spyderco Caly 3 or CS Med Voyager or equivalent) in my pockets.

Knowing that, on day hikes on established, well travelled trails, I'll carry usually a Swamp Rat Bandicoot ~ 3.5 edge, 9 inch overall, or a Fehrman Peace Maker, about the same dimensions. If I'm going well into the mountains, then I add a larger knife, CS Trailmaster, Busse SH-E, or something like that.
 
My two long blades, which are really only used for batoning in my area, are fairly light. I have a 12 Ontario machete, and a Laconico with a 8" blade. That thing splits some wood. I have been keeping one of those in my pack, and either my Koster Bushcraft or NWA Sierra Scout on my hip.

I have a bad habit of bringing way to many blades though.
 
I always have an RC4 when day hiking, and lately a Bark River Kephart along with it (also 4"), because its new and I'm experimenting with it to see how much I like it. I tend to add a larger knife (usually a Busse SFNO with 7" blade) or a Gransfors Bruks Hatchet when the weather gets colder. I see the need for constructing a shelter quickly increasing in late fall and winter.

(Sorry I'm not sure about OAL on these).
 
ive carried a SYCO SOD at 6" and a SwampRat M9....but usually i just belt the bravo1 on...its a beast!
 
I carry my Fallkniven A1 on long hikes, while hunting, fishing..day hikes...you need to find somthing thats comfortable, somthing you really like, somthing you WILL use..and carry it every single time you go out into the wilderness.

If i go out into the bush i carry my A1 , my buck 110 folder and my leatherman charge TTi.

If i am just going around town, or to work, etc i carry my spyderco paramilitary and my streamlight stylus pro.
 
In or attached to my pack 14"(HHFSH) down from 16"(CGFBM) and on my belt a Koster Bushcrafter.
 
I likw to carry knives with 6'' blades,overall lenght round 10''.But I don't mind carrying something larger - like a big chopper,small axe,kukri or a machete. :)
 
When out, no matter the intended duration of my time out, I almost always carry this infamous rig:
Quickdraw01.jpg


It carries a Himalayan Imports R-10 (10.25" OAL, 5" blade) and a 20" CAK (20" OAL, 14.25" blade).

The longest thing I've carried is this monster (one in the middle):
TigerBUG.jpg


Vechawk Tiger BUG, 27" OAL.

I tend to agree with the school of thought that a camping/hiking trip can turn into a survival situation quickly, and you should have enough blade/tool to make a shelter and fire QUICKLY.

IMO weight isn't an excuse for not being prepared. An 18" or so machete is very usable in most areas, and weighs very little. In the far north, and trapper-size axe (24-26") weighs a couple pounds and works great.
 
I usually carry about a 3" blade. For backpacking and hiking, I don't really care for anything heavier than about 4 oz. I'll use bigger knives if car camping or working in the field/woods.
 
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