How many people still like big knives for survival?

In a waterproof neck pouch I carry an Altoids size PSK and a Juice KF4. I'm certain I can make-do with that tiny blade and saw in an absolute survival situation, and I have in fact been separated from my pack, belt, and pockets! in a potential survival situation. So the last-ditch kit and small knife stay on my neck. Haven't been separated from that yet.

On my belt will be the largest blade the terrain will require. In the high desert, this may be only a 3 1/2" fixed blade. In other situations, my Kukri. BUT, SURVIVAL... my neck pouch and Juice!
 
I wish I had discovered this sooner. Lots of neat ideas, guys. I LOVE to carry a big knife every day out in the fields. (my 21" long Bowie, now my 18" long spear point Bowie, working on a 24" long Bowie) I freely admit that my opinion is highly biased. ;) I've skinned about a dozen squirrels with this knife, and it was every bit as fast as a smaller knife. Maybe it took me an extra 3 seconds to manuver the big blade while slicing the skin, but that time was recovered threefold by simply chopping off the feet and head rather than searching for joints. Also, I've found it's easier to move the squirrel, rather than the blade.

Here's some reasons why I carry this Bowie rather than a hatchet/small ax. The Bowie chops big wood BETTER than a hatchet of similar length. The Bowie clears smaller limbs and brush far better than any hatchet, due to its quickness and cutting edge length. The Bowie can be used for finer slicing far easier. The hatchet only has 3 or 4 inches of cutting edge, compared to 25 inches for the Bowie. (the clip and spine are sharpened with a stouter edge about 10" long for rougher work) When I kill an animal with my Bowie, I can make a hole 2" wide and 16" deep, or simply remove the head of anything deer size on down with one swing. With the small ax/hatchet, I can make a wound 3" wide and maybe 4" deep, and that's all. I guess I'd still carry an axe if I wanted to cut some serious timber, but that's about the last thing I'd ever do. I don't need to chop down a 250 year old white oak to make a shelter. I'd make it from saplings that are better cut by the quick Bowie. There is not any need to chop firewood around here. It's already laying everywhere from years of tonadoes knocking tree tops off, in addition to natual deadfalls. If I anticipated being stranded somewhere for any length of time, a knife would be far better for carving a bow and arrows and making traps; just as important as shelter.
 
Well Count Me For a Large and a Small !! Large is a Bolo of 15 inch Blade , Small of 3 inch Blade !! The "Bolo" is the Stuff in my Opinion !! I Can Cut Fair to Large Wood , Skin the Wood for a Mat, Build a Fire / Shelter , Hunt Via the Knife or Bow , I Just Wish More People Thought About True You in the Wilderness !! A Real good way to Get Back to the "Nature " aspect Many people Miss !! Those Who See this Big Knife on Me Usually Think the Same as if it was a Sword!! Holly Cow Why Such a Big Knife ?? I Tell them that the Knife is All I Need to Live in the Wild !! Usually for a Few Week's of Hunting Season !!:) :p Dat's a Knife


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http://www.pinoyknife.com
 
Count me in also,Fehrman final judgement for my large knife and my sak camper or fieldmaster for my small knife,also I sometimes carry my Livesay Air Assault for a small fixed blade.Also my Fehrman Final Judgement cuts just as good as my smaller blades,It is my favorite fixed blade.
 
In an earlier post, someone said an axe out chops any knife. This is not always the case. It depends on each knife and axe compared. The POS hardware store hatchet most people own will not out chop a big Busse, MMHW, bolo, kukri, etc. Even my CS Recon Scout performs better than a standard Estwing hatchet. But, when you start using axes of equal quality, then a better comparison can be made, and the hatchet may be better. Like all other knife related things, it usually comes down to edge geometry, grind, heat treat, weight, sharpness, etc. To simply say one is better is just not acurate. Another reason I carry both/all.
 
Originally posted by Jim Craig
In an earlier post, someone said an axe out chops any knife. This is not always the case.
Click to expand...

Axe not hatchet. You can sometimes replace a hatchet with a knife (or better a golok) but I don't think you can do that with an axe. The two handed grip alone gives it a huge advantage.

Ben
 
Jim,

I was the one that posted earier about a hatchet or an axe can out chop a knife. I use the Gransfors Mini Belt Hatchet, Wildlife Hatchet or the Small Forrest Axe. You get what you pay for. I agree with you, if you use a cheap axe made by a manufacturer that does not know what they are doing, a knife may out cut an axe. I just do not think there are knives of equal weight that can out cut the Gransfors line of hatchets and axes.

When I mean equal weight, add the knife sheath into the weight also, since it's part of the weight you will be carrying.

BTW, I do like large knives!
 
While I like carrying bigger knives, I always have at least one smaller to complement them.

I am also starting to get very interested in Gransfors, and will probably be getting one soon to see what I've been missing.... :D
 
I agree. When hunting or camping I always have a large bladed knife on me. I love to carry the Colt Pathfinder or one of the Ontario knives. However, I also carry a neck knife (CRKT or the Cold Steel Spike) as well as a folder in my pocket. The guys I hunt with think I over do it a bit. But I have different uses for each blade.

Happy survival!
Sweet Henry :)
 
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