If you could...which one?

Mongrel said:
I wonder sometime if there is a misconception as to what actually happens "in the woods".

I've been in the woods a few times over the years and I've never encountered roving bands of barbarians, been stuck inside a downed airplane or helicopter, or had to fight a bear with my 'bare hands'. Not that it couldn't happen (everything on the internet is fantasy afterall...), but what are the odds?

Most of what I've seen, read, and personally experienced involved a far greater degree of "small" woodcraft type stuff than has ever involved the fantasy scenario alluded to above. You are much more likely to need to skin a rabbit caught in a deadfall than you would be to defend against a lion. And if you really want to be honest about it-a sharpened oak or hickory pole about 8' long would be a far better weapon against either two legged or four legged aggressors than any folder would be in the hand. If you think about it, a SAK with that devil of a mini-saw could get you 90% there and the small blade could put the finishing touches on quite a spear. Add a little heat to harden it and you are good to go.

As I have gotten older my view of the 'knife' has changed in this respect from *being* the weapon to being a *tool to make the weapon*or other "tools". Everything from spears, bows & arrows, war-clubs, deadfalls, snares, bolo, fish\frog gigs, shelter, kindling, buzz sticks, leather craft, skinning, gutting, field surgery, (my fingers are getting numb so I'll have to stop...), is easily accomplished with a small quality knife IF you go about the task with common sense and a proper understanding of the limitations of the knife in your hand.

Most of what I've seen passed on or suggested as a 'camp', 'field', 'survival' or 'tactical' knife could actually be a handicap in accomplishing the tasks I've listed above.

But that's just an old dogs opinion...
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+1 all of the above and well said :thumbup:
 
I'm restricting this to the knives I currently own, since those are the only ones I've handled enough to be able to be confident about.

My first choice would be the Victorinox Farmer in my pocket. However, you decided to exclude SAK's, so my second choice would probably be my Spyderco D'Allara.

It's got a blade that's big enough (3.5") and durable enough for anything I expect to do, without being so big it becomes inconvenient. Although, I'd be okay with taking the Spyderco Salt 1 that's currently in my pocket, too, if I had to.

My experience has been that any decent quality folder is generally all you need when camping or in the wilderness. Experience and knowledge are what will make the real difference there, not what knife you have.
 
Buck 110. I did a lot of camping, hunting and hiking in years past. Believe it or not, the Buck 110 is the only knife that I used for about ten years of it. Never ran into a task that it wouldn't handle. I suspect that there are many other folder that would fill the bill as well.
 
That's easy, my SnG.
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If you are allowing multiple blade knives I would use the one I have used for hiking for years, my Demo Knife. If you are referring to a single blade folder I thing I would rely on my TwistMaster.

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I remember an article a several years ago in TK, where the author used a Benchmade AFCK as the only tool for several outdoors tasks, making a large shelter was the one I distinctly remember. There are only a hand full of folders that I usually select to take with me in the great outdoors...sure, I will also have a fixed blade and SAK, but the folder is used the most often for the smaller mundane chores and the reflex of grabbing it carries over from regular EDC use.

For this situation, I would want a little more size and that would probably push me from my Sebenza, HK/Benchmade 14205 or Ritter RSK-1 to the full size Benchmade Rukus. The smaller three are excellent when I have a larger fixed blade and SAK; love the spearpoints on the RSK-1 and 14205 and the construction of the Sebenza is bomb-proof.
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However, if there is only going to be "one", the Rukus is a stout folder, good lock and has a great blade profile. This would be my choice if I could only have one folder:
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Now, if I'm not being serious...another monster folder that actually does work pretty good at chopping and battoning and...how do you say it, "deanimation"?:D is the Cold Steel Raja:thumbup:

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ROCK6
 
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Jeez that's a monster! :eek:

Andy, I too love that 0500:

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that log used to be twice as long. It works well when used with a batton. A very common use of a bushcraft knife ;)

Oh and in the coming months Tom krein will put a superb new grind on it. :D.
 
Mongrel said:
I wonder sometime if there is a misconception as to what actually happens "in the woods"...
...But that's just an old dogs opinion...
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As an old dog to another...

A Queen 4 1/4 Cattle King Stockman in D2 with three very usable different blades
 
I have actually thought about this one, and my first reaction was to say my Extrema Ratio Fulcrum II, because you just cant get tougher. After thinking about it though I have decided that it would be one of my Stockmans or whittler patterns. Through the years growing up in Michigan and camping for many summers in a tent. I only used a fixed blade once. However I used a stockman every day and there is nothing like whittling in the early morning with a cup of coffee at your side, listening to the world come alive around you. Surviver is great, but I never found myself in a situation where I was fighting for my life in a woodland abundant with food and natural shelter. I knew many people who would go up north for the purpose of getting lost. Now that is a vacation.
 
I agree with Mongrel, Neeman, and UDTJIM. What you take is not as important as having the knowledge to use what you have. Keep it simple: Buck 110 is a favorite, but now I'd go with a Harsey LoneWolf T-2 or even the bigger T-3:


Given the choice, I'd rather have a 4"-5" fixed blade. Again, keep it simple.

R
 

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Andrew Colglazier said:
I would choose the MUDD, because it is a tough, handy folder. It has a 4" blade, and I won't have to worry about breaking it, or having it fail on me.

It would be completely at home at camp, or on the work site. If you want to carry a tiny peanut, that's fine, but if I'm only allowed one folder to take with me, I'll take a nice strong one, thank you, and no apologies.

Andy
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Good Man, I second that...ZT0300DW goes with me.
 
Limiting it to the knives I own, my first choice would be my 440C Gerber Parabellum. My second choice is a tie between one of my Buck 110's or my G10 Spyderco Byrd Cara-Cara.
 
Another vote for the Large Cold Steel Twistmaster with the spear blade and the Carbon V steel, this sucker will take down a 4" tree like a hatchet, has a grip that works securely in any weather conditions, the FRN one piece handle is lighter than any other handle with a blade that size.

I split firewod batoning the blade, made dinner with it and still kept a shavin' sharp edge, when it finally needed attention , afew swipes on my medium diamond hone brought the edge back up.

For 30 days in the wilderness I'd recommend it, if my stay were to be of an undetermined amount of time my choice would be different but for thirty days and the original price you could beat the heck outta the Twistmaster and throw it away with no regrets.
 
T. Erdelyi said:
Another vote for the Large Cold Steel Twistmaster with the spear blade and the Carbon V steel, this sucker will take down a 4" tree like a hatchet, has a grip that works securely in any weather conditions, the FRN one piece handle is lighter than any other handle with a blade that size.

I split firewod batoning the blade, made dinner with it and still kept a shavin' sharp edge, when it finally needed attention , afew swipes on my medium diamond hone brought the edge back up.

For 30 days in the wilderness I'd recommend it, if my stay were to be of an undetermined amount of time my choice would be different but for thirty days and the original price you could beat the heck outta the Twistmaster and throw it away with no regrets.
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I'd love to get a twistmaster.

Andy
 
I think I would take my large Sebenza. There are a lot of good choices though. Kevin :thumbup:
 
I would probably go with the Kershaw MUDD - my only complaint with this knife is it's just to big for a EDU - not a problem for a woods knife - would sand down the sharp edges on the scales before I hit the woods.
Second choice would be the original G&G Hawk MUDD - and a pretty good argument could be made for this knife instead of it's bigger half brother. The great clip design is pretty important for a single knife you are going to depend on - personally I've lost way more knives than I've broken - the HAWK-MUDD clip is simply brilliant in terms of retention and ease of deployment. .This is at least as tough a knife as it's Kershaw sibling.
Buck Alpha Hunter folder. These vary a lot in terms of the lock up - but the good ones are very rugged knives and should give much more than 30 days of hard use.
 
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