If you were to have only one knife, then what weight???

A

abchopper

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Jan 15, 2008
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I hear alot of people asking if you were to only have one knife in say a backpackers, survival, grab and go bag (bug out bag) or emergency situation on what would it be and how long, but has anyone asked:

If you were to only have one knife, what weight would you like it to be??

I know that there are a lot of personal preferences like the longer bigger choppers like the BM or a Khukuri which I think are excellent choices. Theses are heavier and longer than something like a skinny Ash1, SJTAC or a BATAC which I think are also excellent choices. The smaller like the Rat3, BAD and BRKT Bravo 1 are very popular also.

A heavier knife has the advantage of being a better chopper for shelter building, slashing, bush clearing and possibly defensive against a large animal (not sure but it may be an option). A smaller knife has the obverse weight reduction so that it's easier and handier to carry. Easier to cut smaller objects, skinning, better at small utility tasks.

Multiple knifes would probably be the best. i.e. a big and a small one. But if it was just one you could take. Lighter would be nicer to carry but heaver is better for chopping.

What do you think is the ideal knife and it's weight would be??
 
Go as large as you can....in a survival situation the few ounces of difference of the weight of a knife WILL NOT make a difference.

Man up and pack at least a 9" blade.
 
I am not a survival expert, but...

A large knife can do small knife tasks, but not as well...
A small knife can't really do large knife tasks at all.

Personally, I'd look for something in the middle... Something that can chop, slash, clear, defend... Yet something you can really choke up on for smaller knife chores. I'm a fan of finger choils for this reason. A Busse of the Steel Heart or Fusion Steel Heart variety can do most things as also a SARsquatch or SFNO can... Or hopefully better, the inch longer NMSFNO which is the current Busse model. :thumbup:

JMHO! :)

PS... I know that you have the Q as a "one knife" scenario... But this is why I'm a fan of piggyback sheaths. This way, you can have the best of both... A big blade, and a small blade on the same sheath system... This Chuddy Bear rig built for some Swamp Rat blades also has room for a multi-tool, or whatever you want in the pouch. :)

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That's an interesting question because if I could only have one knife, it wouldn't be any of my "top" favorites. My favorite knives tend to be "best of breed" specialty blades, not general purpose -- an excellent chopper isn't going to be suitable for small, detailed work and vice versa. At the moment, if I could only have one, I'd probably select either a Scrap Yard S6 or a Swamp Rat RMD. Not Choppers, but either can be batoned to accomplish the work of a larger knife -- not small skinners, but capable of performing that job adequately. Both the S6 and the RMD are excellent general purpose knives.
 
I'm with Jason in packing a larger blade. I know you iron nut survival types may want a spork and some speedos but I tend to not be as knowledgable. Besides I also tend to worry about self defense and mainly of the two legged kind. Some of the Busse blades are 9" plus and weigh less than 2lbs and of course the build of the person carrying might factor in as well.
 
I have pondered this a lot and bought a lot of knives to check out which is best. The Khukri project aside as it is not yet available.....it would be one of my FSH's double cut and green linen standard handles. I just got a Busse Basic 9 and that would work just as well.....I went for the FSH because it is better steel....but only slightly.....if I could afford a SHBM which I have handled....I would go for that. That old design has the size and weight perfect for me. Jnphares has a great one in artic white which I would strip and use if it were mine...it's the only one I have handled but it was memorably sweet!
 
So what knife did Tarzan carry ? Did Edgar Rice Burroughs ever mention ? Seems like that was the classic survival knife. There's a marketing opportunity. ;)
 
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Well, I'm afraid I would go with nothing less than a Steel Heart (for me my ergo). I started with a Hell Razor in the field and it served me very well, but once I got my hands on the SH-E, there was no comparison. Doesn't weigh too much in consideration of its utility. I have added a smaller blade (usually my Skeleton Key) lately for really fine work, but that is unique to what I'm doing (archaeology), not a limitation of the SH-E.
 
If it's only one knife, it's going to be a relatively light fixed blade. Blade length 3.5 to 4 inches, thickness between 0.1" and 0.2". Something like this will do well with small precise work, and be sufficiently strong.

And with that one knife, I'd also bring a large axe. And that combo would handle all I would need to handle.
 
well, my choice for the moment would be the NM FMB, large, beat of a chopper, yet manage to do smal tasks as well. not with laser precision but way better then a survival situation requiers.
 
I generally consider the medium-large (7-10" of blade) do be the best do-all blade size. Not real good at the big end or little end, but can do both.
 
Hehehe, the Busse forum is the wrong place to ask that kinda stuff. We love our knives past the point of common sense. Every ounce makes a huge difference in backpacking and in a survival situation. Every ounce saved is less energy to exert, or more available room to pack things you truly need.
FBM? FSH? NMFBM? Truly if you take the survival situation to it's peak, you're going to expend a huge amount of very valuable energy if you intend on doing a lot of chopping. That would be unwise at best.
My perfect knife for just using? The SFNO man, I love it.
My perfect survival knife? Probably my Leatherman.
 
If I could only take one blade it would be a FFBM (whatever weight that may be). I'm not packing a gun and all my other kit is fairly light so a couple of ounces extra weight on my knife isn't going to break me.

The other thing about a big knife is if it breaks, which I doubt in the case of a Busse, I can probably salvage a smaller knife or two from it.
 
For me, it would be my Skinny Ash-1. Sadly it is the Busse I own at this time but I carry it everywhere I go horizontally in the small of the back in a Kydex sheath with parachute cord for belt loops. I really love the way this knife performs. I would like to get a skeleton key or game warden to go with it when funds allow.
 
For me it would be this particular HOFSH.. Most comfortable Steel Heart I have ever held. I have had at least 10 others to compare it to..

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