Knife recommendations for Alaska wilderness camping

Jakeboy

Jakeboy

Joined
Feb 12, 2011
Messages
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Three buddies and myself are planning on riding our motorcycles to AK next summer and was wondering if any of you guys had any specific recommendations/experience of what would work the best for camping in the wilderness up there. I want to keep the load down, as we're going to be packing a lot of stuff and a trip like this will require a good bit of planning, saving and acquiring of gear (better sleeping bag, bear spray, etc.). I want to keep costs for all this stuff under control, but if there's something in the way of an Alaskan knife that's preferred, I'd appreciate hearing about it.

This will be the trip of a lifetime, so I want to make sure I cover the knife aspect as best as possible. I've got a Buck Vantage Pro folder for the pocket that I'll carry on me at all times.

Thanks for any replies!!
 
A sharp knife will work in Alaska. If you've gone camping before then expect the same things here.
 
You're riding your motorcycle from Florida to Alaska?! I'd make sure I had the MOST comfortable seat and cushion the priority! :) Seriously though, in addition to the folder, I'd take a good quality fixed blade for camp use. A large caliber pistol couldn't hurt either...
 
Yep, everything from machetes to SAKs, pepper spray is just seasoning. In all seriousness whatever knife you have will be fine, more important will be a cell phone that can handle you wrecking and no one is gonna think you're weird carrying a pistol.
 
+1 on the BK 2. Or an ESEE 4. If you want something bigger BK 7 or ESEE Junglas. BK 2 is probably my favorite all-purpose survival knife.
 
I doubt you can bring a pistol through canada. And I would suggest the bk2 with an aftermarket sheath to avoid the dulling affect that drives me
Crazy
 
stevekolt said:
You're riding your motorcycle from Florida to Alaska?! I'd make sure I had the MOST comfortable seat and cushion the priority! :) Seriously though, in addition to the folder, I'd take a good quality fixed blade for camp use. A large caliber pistol couldn't hurt either...
Click to expand...

I'm figuring 6-8 weeks on the road. Lots to see up and back. I'm going to find an FFL to ship my 629 to in AK (from Seattle) and then ship it back down the same way to skip Canada. We're all planning on doing it this way.

We'll make arrangements for tires and changes in Fairbanks for the return ride. We usually pull oil changes in auto parts store parking lots, buying a cheapo drain pan and funnel, disposing of the oil for recycling right there and give the pan and funnel to a store customer.

This will be my "mule".

 
nice bike!!! sounds like a fantastic adventure, I would take a Esse 6 and your folder. cant wait to see the pics!!
 
Have you checked out the possibility of transporting a rifle or shotgun through Canada? I think NEF makes a Handi-rifle in 30-06 and there are a lot of single barrel 12 Ga shotguns out there < $100. They are a little heavier than your 629 but they break down for transport and they hit a lot harder than your 629.
I'd opt for the longest fixed blade you can legally transport and use for your trip (check knife laws).
 
He's not concerned with the weight or size of the firearm. He simply cannot bring it with him into Canada. Heck, even a knife is risky especially on a motorcycle. I would keep my fixed blade and even a folder packed away at all times and not risk finding out the hard way that some Canadian city doesn't allow folding knives of any kind. Bear spray is a good idea. I just talked to a waitress last night somewhere in the South Western part of Wyoming. Her neighbor was out hunting Elk and was charged by a Grizzly (so she say's he say's) so he shot and killed the Grizzly. He got the elk too. He did six months in Jail for it. So while you need to defend yourselves if you decide to camp out in the woods of Alaska, you should be mindful of the possible consequences. Be careful with what is on you during border crossings as well. Carry bear spray and also a bear proof canister. If you pull off the road to camp, make sure you treat it as if you were in the back country. Alaska is big and wild. Properly store your food in the container and suspend it from a tree. It's not hard and doesn't take long. I'd take a big knife. It doesn't get bigger or wilder than Alaska. It's where those big Busse Combat monsters were meant to play. The forest fauna is more spread out (compared to Northern Florida where a machete may be handy). A fillet knife if you plan to fish along the way. Your Vantage pro is fine. Bring fire tinder, even if you like to find or make your own tinder. I prefer finding my own, but when out camping with friends I bring a turkey baster to suck gas out of the fuel tank to squirt on my fire wood. Not very outdoorsy, but fast and effective. If they ask about it at the border, tell them it's for enemas. ;)
 
There should be no problem getting any knife suitable for camping (no autos, balis, or "knuckle" knives) into Canada. The firearms would be the problem. Shipping to an FFL is the best idea.
 
Sounds like a fantastic adventure. How much time are you planning on? If you're going to be in Alaska in the summer then you should have a good fixed blade and a folding saw. If you're going in the winter time.....good luck :D
 
Id recommend a gossman tusker in a blade lenght
Of your choice !... Scott has told of a guy who skinned
A whole alaskan brown bear with one of his psk models
Hope this helps

Frank
 
As mentioned, the only federal laws specific to fixed blades are knuckle guards and possibly double edges, on the other hand folders are a matter of officer's discretion. Centrifugal opening can be accomplished on virtually any folder, so I would just carry something you can afford to lose, and a slip joint.
 
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