Hi to all - I'm new to this forum and would appreciate any suggestioins on selecting a blade. Recently, I've become interested in putting together several survival kits: one for camping, another for travel, one for the "back pocket" and so on. I wonder if anyone has had any experience using a folder under really extreme conditions: cutting steel cable, cutting through a car door, or....? What I would like to find is a folder small enough to be comfortably carried on my person and also small enough to fit in an emergency kit. Any suggestions are most welcome and my thanks in advance!
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"Ideal" Survival Folder?
- Thread starter maury
- Start date
maury
Welcome to the forums. I'm not here long either but allow me to pass along a little tip I've picked up: try the "Search" function, type in "survival folder" (or any fascimile thereof for whatever you might be interested in) in various fora, e.g. wilderness and survival, blade discussion, etc. There's a ton of threads on exactly this question, I think there's one going on right now in W&S. You'll get more info than you know what to do with. You'll find lots of brand/model suggestions plus the philosphy side of the topic (the best knife is: big or small or fixed or folding or the one you have on you when you need it) There's also several "survival kit" threads running. You came to the right place for this kind of stuff! Dig in and enjoy!
Welcome to the forums. I'm not here long either but allow me to pass along a little tip I've picked up: try the "Search" function, type in "survival folder" (or any fascimile thereof for whatever you might be interested in) in various fora, e.g. wilderness and survival, blade discussion, etc. There's a ton of threads on exactly this question, I think there's one going on right now in W&S. You'll get more info than you know what to do with. You'll find lots of brand/model suggestions plus the philosphy side of the topic (the best knife is: big or small or fixed or folding or the one you have on you when you need it) There's also several "survival kit" threads running. You came to the right place for this kind of stuff! Dig in and enjoy!
Esav Benyamin
MidniteSuperMod
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maury, tortoise is right about using "search". Don't feel overwhelmed -- if you check out what's been written, you can follow the current answers better, too. but there is a lot out there!
Don't forget to read the FAQ. That's the best background on what a knife is, how it's made, what it's made of.
A couple of places to check out on survival and survival knives ...
Read some of this forum, and you'll have a better idea of what questions to ask: Wilderness & Survival Skills http://www.bladeforums.com/cgi/forumdisplay.cgi?action=topics&number=18&SUBMIT=Go
Lots of companies and especially custom makers will provide you with tough, well-designed knives. Read some of this forum for examples, since their knives are good. But they're not the only ones!
Round Eye Knife & Tool Forum http://www.bladeforums.com/cgi/forumdisplay.cgi?action=topics&number=22&SUBMIT=Go
Don't forget to read the FAQ. That's the best background on what a knife is, how it's made, what it's made of.
A couple of places to check out on survival and survival knives ...
Read some of this forum, and you'll have a better idea of what questions to ask: Wilderness & Survival Skills http://www.bladeforums.com/cgi/forumdisplay.cgi?action=topics&number=18&SUBMIT=Go
Lots of companies and especially custom makers will provide you with tough, well-designed knives. Read some of this forum for examples, since their knives are good. But they're not the only ones!
Round Eye Knife & Tool Forum http://www.bladeforums.com/cgi/forumdisplay.cgi?action=topics&number=22&SUBMIT=Go
Does it <em>have</em> to be folder for some specific reason? Otherwise, for the same or even less weight and not much more in size you'll get something clearly stronger if you choose a fixed blade knife.
Example: <a href="http://www.canit.se/%7Egriffon/knives/fallkniven/fallkniven_wm1.html">WM1</a> with kydex belt sheath is 122 g, alone it's 70 so with the neck sheath it comes to 95 g and it's 175 mm overall with a 70 mm blade. A <a href="http://www.canit.se/%7Egriffon/knives/bm/pinnacle.html">Pinnacle</a> is 125 g and 120 mm closed with a 92 mm blade. (There are other knives in these general classes you might like better.)
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Urban Fredriksson
www.canit.se/%7Egriffon/
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An SAK is the best survival knife around?
Whoa, I think I'll go get one. You never know when that corkscrew, and ivory toothpick might save your life!
Whoa, I think I'll go get one. You never know when that corkscrew, and ivory toothpick might save your life!
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Welcome to the forums. You may want to ask in the survival forum under tactics and training.
I will name a few of my favorites:
Al Mar SERE 2000
Spyderco Wegner
Spyderco Military
Microtech LCC
Microtech SOCOM Elite
Benchmade Axis Lock
REKAT Carnivore
All are extremely tough in my experience, some are more carriable than others.
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Dennis Bible
I will name a few of my favorites:
Al Mar SERE 2000
Spyderco Wegner
Spyderco Military
Microtech LCC
Microtech SOCOM Elite
Benchmade Axis Lock
REKAT Carnivore
All are extremely tough in my experience, some are more carriable than others.
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Dennis Bible
- Joined
- Jul 2, 1999
- Messages
- 1,347
I am going to have to agree with those that have recommended a SAK. The saw that comes in most SAK's is nothing short of amazing!!! NO knife can handle all of the tasks that you might face but the more tools that you have at your disposal, the better. No matter how good your needle is, you can't sew without thread. My point being, sometimes you NEED more than just a blade.
Some SAK's have a magnifying lense, a compass, a watch a flashlight. The options are almost endless.
Now, if you plan on having other little tools with you(such as a multitool) and still want a seperate knife to be your main utility "blade" well then that is a different story.
As far as a strong as an ox, inexpensive easy to clean folding knife that can be used to hammer, pry etc. in a pinch, I would recommend the Benchmade 750 Pinnicle. I don't care how much stronger any other lock might be, if it is not easy to clean out dirt, gunk, blood etc, it is useless as a "survival" knife. I think the BM Pinnicle wins this one. If not the BM, then look for another frame lock folder. Just my opinion. Take care.
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Louis Buccellato
http://www.themartialway.com
Knives, Weapons and equipment. Best prices anywhere.
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"only the paranoid will survive"
[This message has been edited by TheMartialWay (edited 09-25-2000).]
Some SAK's have a magnifying lense, a compass, a watch a flashlight. The options are almost endless.
Now, if you plan on having other little tools with you(such as a multitool) and still want a seperate knife to be your main utility "blade" well then that is a different story.
As far as a strong as an ox, inexpensive easy to clean folding knife that can be used to hammer, pry etc. in a pinch, I would recommend the Benchmade 750 Pinnicle. I don't care how much stronger any other lock might be, if it is not easy to clean out dirt, gunk, blood etc, it is useless as a "survival" knife. I think the BM Pinnicle wins this one. If not the BM, then look for another frame lock folder. Just my opinion. Take care.
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Louis Buccellato
http://www.themartialway.com
Knives, Weapons and equipment. Best prices anywhere.
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"only the paranoid will survive"
[This message has been edited by TheMartialWay (edited 09-25-2000).]
Old Knife Guy
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I would add one proviso. The very nature of 'survival' in this context is that of a 'short term' scenario. I think the daily grind (no pun intended) of cutting paper, banging on car doors, and moisture, probably takes a greater toll on a knife. If I thought my survival was really at stake, I'd use my knife for 'trade bait' to get a taxi ride outta that area. Right now there are dozens of 154-CM, G-10, titanium liner 'tactical' knives. I'd use any of them for true survival.--OKG
If you plan on collecting knives...then go with whatever you want and fine interesting, and find favorable research on.
If, however, you just want a few knives for certain specialized tasks...here you go.
Fixed: Busse Basic #5
Folder: Large--Rekat Pioneer or Carnivore
Small--BM 705 Axis
Any Swiss Army knife by Wenger
Neck: Livesay Bow Hunting Buddy in
Custom Green Handle
With these...short of clearing a field, you should be FINE.
Steve in NYC
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What we do today in life...echoes in eternity...
Every man dies...not every man lives...
If, however, you just want a few knives for certain specialized tasks...here you go.
Fixed: Busse Basic #5
Folder: Large--Rekat Pioneer or Carnivore
Small--BM 705 Axis
Any Swiss Army knife by Wenger
Neck: Livesay Bow Hunting Buddy in
Custom Green Handle
With these...short of clearing a field, you should be FINE.
Steve in NYC
------------------
What we do today in life...echoes in eternity...
Every man dies...not every man lives...
- Joined
- Aug 8, 1999
- Messages
- 5,094
If you get an SAK, get one of the large locking models. Some of the things you describe doing would be dangerous without a locking blade. The REKAT Carnivore Cub is an ultra sturdy knife as is the BM 720. A Spyderco Rescue Jr. is also a great utility folder for heavy cutting.
Check out the website www.equiped.org. Doug Ritter has a ton of information on survival equipment and lists of kits of various sizes. By the way, I, too, believe you can not go wrong with a SAK.
Around the acreage and going to town, I carry a CRKT m16-04. When camping or hunting in the sticks, I carry my SAK Camper and a hatchet in case my "cool" knife doesn't make the grade. Reality seems to define usefulness rather quickly when you're down and out, and shaving arm hair doesn't seem that important when you're cold and hungry.