How Long and Thick is ENOUGH?????

I used to like at least a 6inch blade and thick as possible but now after some training I am fine with a 4-5 inch fixed blade of .165ish.
 
I'm pretty comfortable with a 4" blade that is 3/16"...and what I consider my minimum when planning an outing:

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I can go with a thinner blade as long as it's full tang.

ROCK6
 
I would say 4" blade, 5/16" thick would be minimum (3/16" maybe better). Here is my choice

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3/16" thick O-1 differently Ht'd to 60 RC at the edge
9" OAL 4" edge length (stock NWA photo but I have one just like it)

or a BRKT Bravo 1 (you know what that one looks like, look at previous post).
 
For me it has a lot to do with what the knife is made of more than the size or thickness.

I would feel safe with the knife on the right, the mighty rat tail at 3 3/4" long and 3/16" thick.
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Yet I would not feel safe with the knife on the left. It's actually larger with more handle space, but I don't trust 154cm even with the absolute best heat treat possible. I've seen to many chipped blades in that steel, and too little "flex before it breaks" warning for the user. I've used the rat tail for fire building and it's a GIANT pain in the butt trying to break down large hunks of wood with it, but it manages.

I found this knife to be the best knife for wood shaving and carving out of anything I've used so far, and I'd actually feel safer with it than the swamp rat harry carry shown above in 154cm because I know what happens to it when you push it to far, it bends and takes a set. I know that it would take less striking force to become damaged than the harry carry, but I know exactly how much force I'm allowed.

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Give me a knife in s30v and I won't feel safe with it no matter how thick you make it because I simply don't trust s30v. Give me a knife in INFI (or A2 heat treated for toughness) and I'll feel safe with it down to 1/8".
 
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man I miss the rat tail...


I think 3 3/4" is my limit for length. anything shorter than that is just to difficult to work with trying to break down wood. an example of how minimizing unused space can effect edge length on a knife:

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I would trust the 1/8" thick cultellus shown above not to break on me, but I would have a harder time trying to split wood to get to the dry parts if it was raining than i would with the rat tail.
 
Given just one blade and no axe or belt knife, I'm confident my SFNO would do everything I need and not fail me even in extreme cold.
 
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If we're talking minimum size, I guess I'd say my BK-11. I'm not going to be chopping down any big trees with it ( but lumberjacking wouldn't be at the top of my survival to-do list anyway ) but it's enough for reasonable sized fires and trap making and so forth.

Becker_BK-11_Fathers_Day_2010.jpg
 
Thickness minimum = 3mm
Length minimum = 2.5-3 inches

I regularly have 3 "short" knives on me when taking 8-10 day wilderness trips:

  • Dozier Yukon Pro Skinner
  • CRK (the smaller than the small Sebenza that is no longer being made... have carried so long I have forgotten the name :D)
  • SAK Classic (love those tweezers and scissors)
I use my knives for cutting, slicing, picking splinters, processing game/food, etc. I have never felt the need to chop wood with a knife. I have never felt the need to baton with a knife. There are other, safer ways to reduce wood down to a carry-able/burn-able/build-able size, especially in survival situations where one cannot injure oneself (or may already be injured).

Grew up learning how to hunt/camp/fish/bushcraft from my Native American Grandfather and Father. They had the wisdom of over 50 years of woods experience by the time they began teaching me. I have since added over 40 years of experience of my own. Your mileage may vary of course. To each their own. That's what makes this all so fun. ;)

Be well. Do good.

AJ
 
The "best one blade" posts come from those trying to use a knife as an axe. For those who LIVED in the woods without the Internet thin blades were enough when paired up with an ax. Living in the woods involves slicing, chopping, carving, and sawing; the old guys had the right tools for the job.

For me 1/8" is fine for food prep and most slicing jobs. No more than 3/16" if I just carry 1 knife. Preferred blade length is 4" and I feel a bit uncomfortable if I have 3" or less unless I carry a larger blade. A 9" blade is only needed if a hatchet or saw is not carried.

I like Moras a lot for wood use but prefer a flat grind for food use. A Green River 6" carbon butcher knife is an excellent food knife as 20 years on mine can attest to.
 
3/32 min thickness and at a 3 inch minimum blade length. But I like 1/8th and 4" even better. I don't feel under knifed with just a Mora.

Brandon
 
I'd feel absolutely comfortable with a 3 3/4" long x 0.154 thk blade, A2 steel Bark River Gunny. This is mine in Desert Ironwood.

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Very capable all around knife.
 
Michael Morris Pocket Filer or Gossman PSK. Both have around a 2.25 - 2.50 inch blade.

On a separate note with all the research that William.M is doing I am dying to see what this information is leading to -- another collaboration with Bill Siegle?

-Stan
 
stanley_white said:
Michael Morris Pocket Filer or Gossman PSK. Both have around a 2.25 - 2.50 inch blade.

On a separate note with all the research that William.M is doing I am dying to see what this information is leading to -- another collaboration with Bill Siegle?

-Stan
Click to expand...

I wish

Just seeing what people like and accept as enough
 
how long and thick to me, depends on the task. When afield, you can't always bring every knife you own, so there are going to be compromises made.
These are some of the ones I select from when planning a trip to the woods. They range from 7 inches long, down to less than two, and from .28 thick to about three eighths.
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