Just One Knife

Basic 8 for the win…. very lightweight, good cutting geometry, great balance & mass distribution and plenty of stock thickness to not be broken by hand. It would be about perfect for me if choilless with a more aggressive drop point & swedge grind…. ;)

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Well, as for weight, how many people in here couldn't stand to loose a few pounds? So instead of sacrificing gear weight, why not stop eating that extra slice of pizza and that extra beer to drop those oh so critical ounces you complain about in a knife?(not directed at anyone, just generalization) Heck, I need to loose about 20 lbs. It's like the road cyclists wanting to get the lightest bike as possible, but don't look to themselves to save that weight. Oh, those poor little tiny Ghurkas carrying those huge Khukuris. They never complain do they.
 
Cobalt said:
Well, as for weight, how many people in here couldn't stand to loose a few pounds? So instead of sacrificing gear weight, why not stop eating that extra slice of pizza and that extra beer to drop those oh so critical ounces you complain about in a knife?(not directed at anyone, just generalization) Heck, I need to loose about 20 lbs. It's like the road cyclists wanting to get the lightest bike as possible, but don't look to themselves to save that weight. Oh, those poor little tiny Ghurkas carrying those huge Khukuris. They never complain do they.
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All things being equal and operating on the assumption we are all in good physical condition, I think we all could agree that when traveling on foot for longer distances lighter is pretty much the best case scenario.
 
Red Angel Dragnet said:
All things being equal and operating on the assumption we are all in good physical condition, I think we all could agree that when traveling on foot for longer distances lighter is pretty much the best case scenario.
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I was on my way up to Scotland some years ago, on a train, to start backpacking the Pennine Way route (about 250miles). In the same carriage were a couple of other hikers, discussing (read boasting) about how light they had made their loads. You know... cutting toothbrushes in half, using a plastic fork instead of steel (this was pre-titanium gear), that sort of thing. I was half dozing and deliberately stayed that way so as not to be dragged into conversation...

...my sack weighed in at around 75 pounds, for a four-ish week trip. Climbing gear, tent, geology tools, big camera, a knife or two(!) etc.

I had certainly lost weight by the time I got home, and my leg muscles were like tree trunks!

There's something comforting about a good weight of steel against my side that I will happily put up with.

Each to his own though.
 
Cobalt said:
Well, as for weight, how many people in here couldn't stand to loose a few pounds? So instead of sacrificing gear weight, why not stop eating that extra slice of pizza and that extra beer to drop those oh so critical ounces you complain about in a knife?(not directed at anyone, just generalization) Heck, I need to loose about 20 lbs. It's like the road cyclists wanting to get the lightest bike as possible, but don't look to themselves to save that weight. Oh, those poor little tiny Ghurkas carrying those huge Khukuris. They never complain do they.
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Something very often over looked when people complain about the weight of tools!!!!
 
foxyrick said:
There's something comforting about a good weight of steel against my side that I will happily put up with.

Each to his own though.
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Fair enough, just consider though that a 250 mile journey spread out over 30 days equals just over 8 miles per day on average. If you double or triple the amount of miles per day, I can all but guarantee you would have ditched any items you could at some point.
 
Red Angel Dragnet said:
How many miles a day were you averaging? How long did it take to complete the journey?

Don't get me wrong I like to be well equipped also, but at a certain point weight really does matter.
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Including getting lost (well, wandering for the hell of it really) and deliberatly going off-piste for some points of interest, around 300 miles total in 30 days if I recall correctly. It was a long time ago. Not all of those days were travelling though, and my longest walk was around 20 miles in a day when there was nothing interesting to look at.

I'm only a shorty (5'8, hence probably why I find the HHFSH better than a FBM) but built like a brick lavatory, or so I've been told.

I agree with your point, to a degree, but even amongst the 'light-weight' hikers I've bumped into (usually knocking them over) on the hills here, most of them could stand to lose weight themselves before shaving down their toothbrushes. Me, most certainly!
 
Have to go with a midsize for carrrying with me all over the hills without being too bulky or weight but big enough to be used as a spear, weapon, batoning through limbs for shelter and firewood. Id choose a saber ground sfno. With a close 2nd to .25 fusion steel heart
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Red Angel Dragnet said:
All things being equal and operating on the assumption we are all in good physical condition, I think we all could agree that when traveling on foot for longer distances lighter is pretty much the best case scenario.
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I would not make assumption 1. But I agree on the latter, I just think a case can be made for where you need to lighten up. A large wide blade of 7-10 inches can chop, pry, baton, and dig, as well as do small duties. How many items did you just remove from your pack. A hatchet, a shovel, a prybar and a small knife.
 
Busse---SFNO, SH-e, B-7 or B-8
SRKW---Original Ratweiler, Chopweiler or R7
SY-------711
 
B-11. It can handle just about anything thrown at it; worked great for Dave Canterbury when he and Cody Lundin were on "Hippo Island;)".
 
Small knife might be better at cleaning small game than a big knife, but a big knife is gonna be a lot more useful at shelter building... which is a much bigger concern in most regions.
 
Tom Kanik said:
B-11. It can handle just about anything thrown at it; worked great for Dave Canterbury when he and Cody Lundin were on "Hippo Island;)".
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I was thinking of exactly that episode as I read the op.

Have to agree with Red Angel Dragnet's synopsis of the Basic 8 above, though. :thumbup:
 
NMSFNO would be a great choice -- does it all and great balance and feel in-hand. I also like the SJTAC (maybe too light for chopping) and Basic 8. ASHBM is my favorite chopper but that's not what the OP is asking.
 
Maybe it is my Marine mentality and carrying heavy loads, but a tool that can save your life is worth the little extra weight. Me personally, a multi tool, pocket folder for finer detail work, my RMJ/Bawidamann Ragnarok hawk and a fixed blade. For me the hardest part, deciding which fix blade to take!
 
It all depends on the place you will be in as well. If you are hiking and packing in the desert, a big knife is pretty much useless except as a weapon. I would just carry a small knife. In the jungle, a machete style blade is supreme. In Northern forests a small forest axe or large heavy blade are preferred. So it really comes down to where you will be. But in all these scenarios, a large blade can act as a short machete, a small axe and a small knife. So it is the one tool that can cover all scenarios.
 
I have never seen anyone on the trail with a big knife. I hear many people talk about it.... just never seen it.. Hunting camps sure. I have thought about throwing a Nalgene in the bushes before. Water gets freaking heavy. Almost everyone I know carries a saw.
 
One Knife?...Of the knives I own?... I could make due easily with many other makes and models I own, but if you pinned me down to taking only one, it would be...

A Swamp Rat Battle Rat or Busse Basic 10LE.


You can't go wrong with a Res-C handled Kin-Blade!


If you haven't picked one up yet, this knife could be everything you'll ever need...(Check out the last few pages of this thread to see some user pics and video!!!)

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1136397-The-Busse-Combat-Limited-Edition-Basic-8
 
Skrapmetal said:
That is available right now? 1311.

But... y'know... B13...
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I have a 1311 I love it but it rust very quickly (here in Florida) and a little more weight would help. Was cutting down some branches yesterday using the 1311 and the ASBM. I can see how the ASBM is a better chopper. Although it gets you tire quicker. I love the rep c handle. The B13olo would be awesome
 
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