Knife recommendation - My life may depend on it.

I recommend the Swamprat M6 or Ratmandu if you can nab one, but many replies here offer sound advice. Any of the makers here can hook you up good.:thumbup: Good luck with the AT....I've come very close many times to walking off the job and hitting the trail.
 
i've been backpacking for 10 or 15 years. i haven't hiked the AT, but i have done several multiple week hikes including the long trail in vermont. i personally hike with a small titanium neck knife. it is extremely light, easy to clean, and doesn't corrode. it is perfect for the small amount of food prep i use it for. i would definitely recommend it for a backpacking knife.
 
Many really good choices have been mentioned, but I would give great consideration to the weight issue. I don't know if it has been mentioned, but the Spyderco Temperance is a fairly decent 4 1/2 inch fixed blade, weighs in at a tad over 5 oz. It is a thinner blade so baton work would likely be out, but it would handle most everything else. VG-10 is a very good all-round steel, takes a killer edge, resharpens easily and is very corrosion resistant- something to consider in the often damp environs of the Appalachians. If batoning is an issue, I'd lean towards one of the swamprats or scrapyards- there are several listed almost daily that fall within your budget. If I were having to choose from the knives I have on hand, it would be a Master Hunter in an On/Scene kydex sheath (thanks Eric)- a good friend is using it on a remote hike right now on the Continental Divide.

I would also wish you well on your journey :thumbup: , I've never attempted anything close to that distance.
 
Everytime I read a thread like this it reminds me of how many great knives we have to choose from. Probably the reason I own so many of them.:D

Not my personal Bravo-1, but I have the same one. This was a pic I saved until having a chance to buy one just like it. As of last Fri, it's mine!
 
I'm currently deciding between the Bravo 1, Fallkniven F1, and Scrap Yard Street Scrapper 4. What do you think about the Street Scrapper 4. I'm looking seriously at the Street Scrapper 4 (http://www.scrapyardknives.com/knives.htm). It's got Busse INFI steel. It's not a drop point, really, but maybe that isn't going to matter from what I'm reading. What do you guys think about the Scrapper, etc?
 
Update: It seems the Street Scrapper 4 is a moot point, as it isn't currently available for sale through Scrap Yard. Perhaps one of the others. If I decide to go with a small folder in addition, are you guys thinking D2 Benchmades?
 
DARKHAVEN said:
I'm currently deciding between the Bravo 1, Fallkniven F1, and Scrap Yard Street Scrapper 4. What do you think about the Street Scrapper 4. I'm looking seriously at the Street Scrapper 4 (http://www.scrapyardknives.com/knives.htm). It's got Busse INFI steel. It's not a drop point, really, but maybe that isn't going to matter from what I'm reading. What do you guys think about the Scrapper, etc?
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The Fällkniven F1 is stainless - that's something you may want on a very extended hike, especially if you don't feel like spending much time on knife maintenance. Out of those three, I like the design of the F1 the most. The Street Scrapper has great steel no matter who you ask, but INFI isn't quite stainless. Also, the Scrapper has a choil that is absolutely and patently ridiculous on a knife that size, at least if you ask anyone accustomed to Scandinavian knives. All that choil does is waste blade length and make cutting more annoying since whatever you're cutting will "drop" in that choil notch if you're holding the knife by the handle and not using the choil. I'd go with the F1 out of those three. But any of those three knives would certainly work and would be very difficult to break, damn near impossible in fact as long as you don't abuse them.
 
Also, does anyone who's hiked the AT or just taken long hikes think I should be carrying a multitool like a Leatherman IN ADDITION to my main utility knife? Is there value to be had there, or would I not really use it that much?
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That's a tough call. Many of the Leatherman tools are very heavy and you may never need it. But if you do need it, it'll be really nice to have. For instance, repairing a stove or pack frame. I probably wouldn't bother, but if you do check out the Juice and Squirt models.

If you carried an ultra-light fixed blade and a mini Leatherman tool, you absolutely wouldn't need anything else.

I can't really add much more.
Good Luck,
-Bob
 
Esav Benyamin said:
OK, OK. A moment of honesty. I personally would take my Chris Reeve Sable III, which is a 4" fixed blade with a hollow handle.
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AHA! I knew it.... :D

I have similarly sized Busse, Swamprat and Scrapyard knives...all of which are excellent in this situation. [And I'd still take a SAK, too.]
 
I can't believe we are discussing what to bring on the Appalachian Trail and no one has mentioned the Fehrman Thru-Hiker. I think it really fits the bill, smaller, lightwieght but not wimpy. I'm bringing mine and a SAK hiking in Glacier National Park in three weeks.

http://www.fehrmanknives.com/knives.htm
 
You will have to oil it good before you go. Mine developed some rust on the cutting edge after a sweaty day on my belt, but since oiling, it's been fine.

You could baton that little guy with a lead pipe if you wanted to.
 
Having hiked a reasonable portion of the AT (WV, MD, and PA sections) I will reiterate that you don't need a big fixed blade. I take a couple to play with when I go hiking on the AT, but If I was through hiking...
I think I would take my BRKT Journeyman or Snowy River and my Leatherman Wave. Both BRKTs are hidden tang knives, but both are still tough enough to stake your life on should you need to.

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David
 
Esav Benyamin said:
You will have to oil it good before you go. Mine developed some rust on the cutting edge after a sweaty day on my belt, but since oiling, it's been fine.

You could baton that little guy with a lead pipe if you wanted to.
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Good idea. I was thinking I would run my chapstick along the bare edges after use on the trail.

I'm gonna beat the horse about carrying alot of steel on the trail for those who suggest a big chopper, a small knife, a multi-tool, etc. I carried a Boye Cobalt fixed blade and a Leatherman Wave 40+ miles across Isle Royale and all I can say is what overkill that was. I barely used the multi-tool knife and never touched the fixed blade, and it probably came in at 1.5 lbs. Caught some nervous looks and comments about my fixed blade from some cute granola-girls hiking thru also, even though I thought it looked rather benign. If you insist on bringing something bigger, keep it in your pack, it makes people edgy. Once you mull over the weight/actual usage factor, you'll wish you left it at home.
 
Unless you're carrying a lot of machinery, a mistake in itself, a SAK beats a multitool for weight reduction and gives up nothing in function. You can get big-knife use out of a smaller knife if you bring one of the thicker stock like Fallkniven or even Bark River for batoning, and not lose slicing ability.
 
znode said:
If you want a small indestructible fixed-blade that excels at all tasks, look to the Fallkniven F1. This is a forum favorite for a functional, main-duty fixed blade.



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Fallkniven F1, 3.8", VG10 steel, $100.


If you need to chop, bring a light hatchet instead, and not have something that looks weaponlike.
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My recommendation exactly.
 
Never did like using my utility knives for food prep.

A separate kitchen knife does not add that much to the load.
About a 4" stainless blade, plastic handle.
You probably have one in your kitchen that will work.
 
I have done parts of the AT and have backpacked in other areas of the country and hands down the fixed blade that I take into the woods is the F1. Yes it is a little heavier than most ultralight people would want but I also know that it should be able to handle anything that I can throw at it. When I go I take a a folder attached to my shoulder strap (Used to be a AFCK, until lost-completely unrelated, now a BG42 CF Millie-super light and razor sharp). F1 attached to the compression straps on my pack and a leatherman in the pack I figure with that combination I should be able to handle anything that comes my way. Just my 2 cents. You will find that most thru hikers on the AT (and backpackers in general) know everything there is to know about all the gear they carry except knives.
In truth most get through with far less superior knives than most of us use as beaters. Honestly a cheaper combo may be a CS Bushman (with a good sheath) and an Endura. Yes there is a great deal of value in having a leatherman- pliers (a must- fixing just about anything), file (toenails-seriously, sharpening...), screwdrivers (scraping, torqueing on objects for homemade repairs...) If you don't want to carry a full size check out a mini version. LM used to make a version called the Mini that had fold out handles. It is discontinued but an invaluable little tool.

Oh and BTW you won't ever meet a thru hiker with a hatchet. Campers will, backcountry off the trail types might, but thru hikers on established trails won't. Meaningless weight. When thru hiking most people don't build a fire. They cook on a stove and don't waste precious hiking time on setting up a camp with a fire. If you absolutely want something for firewood many would carry a hand saw, sven saw or pocket chainsaw. You should be able to hit a lot of shelters on the way and miles are your main concern.
 
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