knife size

DaleW's post is on the money for sure! I mean, for survival, the top 7 priorities don't even involve a knife for me. I use knives a lot, but not for survival.

About the Mach~Axe- Tell Justin Moodino sent you:D
That particular prototype's specs are:

Ranger Mach~Axe No.3

Quick Specifications/Features:
Total length-18"
Total weight (machete)-20.6 oz/ 580gm
Sheath weight - N/A
Blade length-12.75"
Grip length-5.125"
Grip circumfrence-4"
Blade Material- 1095 Carbon Steel- Satin Finish (Other Steel By Request)
Blade thickness-.158"/4.5mm
Grind Pattern-Flat>Convex W/3mm bevel

Available Options:
Handle Pattern-C(Shown)- Linen Micarta
Satin or Coated Finish
Kydex/Cordura Sheath +$ TBA
http://www.imagometrics.com/GoBags/Machetes.htm
Cost (MSRP): $-TBA, Sales Source:http://www.rangerknives.com




sasha said:
Gday DaleW half way reading your post. I just had to walk away and laugh to my self. It is true what you say i got the same problem. Maybe one reason i dont realy own any large knives. Well i do have a very old Edge Mark 488. Its a 6" blade and fits me well. When ever i do go places i always end up using only my Mora. From all the reading on the forum i can see a reason to own a larger knife. So here im looking for something that works for me. Cause i dont use it much i want to keep the weight down. But i do agree with you Dale 100%. If not the net i would never would have known that i need a Larger blade. And like RunningBoar i also use simple cheaper knives. They never failed me yet i just know what i can do with them.

Moodino that does look like a great blade. How thick is it?? what steal do you use for it?? how much is it??

Sasha
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sasha said:
Gday DaleW half way reading your post. I just had to walk away and laugh to my self. It is true what you say i got the same problem.
Sasha
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Good on ya, Luv, but if you're going to go walkabout, and you want big and cheap, it's time for a machete!

"You call that a knife?"
"No, you wowser, it's a machete!"

With the creepy-crawly-critters and underbrush in Oz, you don't want to find yourself up a gum tree in the back of beyond, so I wouldn't blame you for wanting a little "reach." :D
 
Moodino, could you provide specs for your Mach-Axe #5?

I too really like the looks of that one!
 
I agree with you DaleW i like to go to the desert camping a small knife and a very long machete is the best combo in the desert. With all the thorns you better keep your distance. In the desert if i had to have only one blade it would be a machete.

sasha
 
Any Cal. said:
I have never used large fixed blades, but I really like machetes for chopping work. Yesterday I weighed my cutdown Corona at 15oz, if I remember right. It has about an 18" blade. I do not believe there is anything that weighs less than half again as much that will chop better than this or a similiar tool. YMMV. I am not sure exactly what a 20 oz(guess I better check some specs before I say that.) thick bladed knife does for a person exactly. I went out in the cold a couple weeks ago, walked for hours in the snow, stopped and built a fire, made lunch, and walked back home. If I needed to keep that fire going all night, I would have wanted a saw, or an axe, or a machete, but that 7" knife would have been waaaay down on the list. Different strokes I guess. I think I would rather have a machete and a mora than a large knife that outweighed the both of them.


Edited to add: BK-7 is 12.9oz. BK-9 is 18.25
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I have machetes, kukris, big knives and hatchets/hawks.

If I will be in a thick light vegetation location I go for a machete.

If I will be in strickly dense wooded areas with large timber then a hatchet or kukri works well. A big blade also works well here. all of these work better than a machete as the edges are much more durable.

in a multiple environment trek the big blade works best. The mid size blades don't go usually.

The small blades go with me all the time, either a pocket knife and small fixed blade combo or a leatherman small fixed blade combo.

when I use to live in the desert a big flat wide thick blade was best. It had enough reach for schrubery and cactus and it could be used to dig if need be. A kukri or big blade was perfect.

This blade selection is kinda pointless. I have known people who made it through everything they needed with a 4 inch or smaller blade and I know people that have made it through everything with a big blade. you need to be proficient with it.
 
DaleW said:
BUT, the idea that you are only safe and well equipped for survival unless you have a big heavy knife just doesn't add up.
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The smaller knife advocates always seem to gravitate to this concept. Nobody (that I know) who advocates a larger knife says this. Nobody. This is a straw man. I feel that my chances for survival are MUCH better with a larger knife, I can perform many of the survival tasks that I need to do MUCH more efficiently and quickly. And yes, I have a lot of "woods time". And I also carry smaller knives.

The bottom line is to take what you want. What works well for some doesn't work well for others. But don't assume that people with larger blades are uninformed. That's starting to become a theme on this and other forums.
 
I think it may even be more simple.

Those who carry machetes and hatchets don't advocate having nor needing a big knife, and whay should they?

I think it best to accept each other's preferences and understand them.
 
Been watching from the sidelines so far, but now I'm getting confused. I'm seeing high praise for machetes, and disdain for "big knives", often in the same post by the same person.

Ain't a machete a big knife??

What is the general definition of "big knife" being used in this thread that makes it less desireable than a machete?
 
the possum said:
Been watching from the sidelines so far, but now I'm getting confused. I'm seeing high praise for machetes, and disdain for "big knives", often in the same post by the same person.

Ain't a machete a big knife??

What is the general definition of "big knife" being used in this thread that makes it less desireable than a machete?
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I might be that guy:rolleyes:
I was talking about specific big knives.

If given the chance, as I have said many times, I will take 3 knives including a machete. If not given a choice and I had to take only one knife it would NOT be a big knife. IMO finer cutting and precision cutting are more important than chopping. 90% of what I use a knife for, a big knife, to include a machete, is almost worthless. Chris
 
it's funny you mention that because over the years almost every thread started has been a "why do you need a big knife" thread. And these threads are usually started by the small knife group. I guess it's the old adage "let me convince you why your wrong" I like small knives, and they are easier to carry, but I know that a large blade is infinitely more useful in nearly any environment except an OFFICE.

Someone stated that every professional they know has not needed a large knife. Well, I can tell you that some of the best profesionals carry large blades. In fact "the FRONTIER BLADE" was a large massive 14 inch long 1/4 inch thick blade that we discussed in another thread here just recently. But I guess those frontier trekers 150 years ago did not know what they were doing as they had wallmarts in every town to get supplies didn't they:D
 
OK Cobalt,

I will play for a minute, what precisely is the big blade infinitely more useful for besides chopping, I have admitted my ignorance, so school me. Chris
 
runningboar said:
OK Cobalt,

I will play for a minute, what precisely is the big blade infinitely more useful for besides chopping, I have admitted my ignorance, so school me. Chris
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I think it is you who needs to school the rest of us as it is your side that is always trying to force the issue and initiating threads like this.

if you read my response to Any Cal you will see that I wrote that if you are proficient with your tool that is all that matters regardless of size.

But to answer your question here goes:

In heavy woods my big knife can do anything your little knife can, that is necessary.

My big knife can make short work of building a shelter your little knife cannot.

More cutting edge means longer lasting edge.

In thick bush or brush I can wack my way through and have done so many times, you cannot.

I can use it to dig better if need be.

I can use it to turn over rocks keeping my hands away from possible danger under a rock. Stick will work if available, but don't have to count on it.

fire wood reasons same as shelter

Defense, knives are like teeth and the bigger ones tend to make a better impression on predators 2 legged or 4. Fact, as I have experienced this.

There is much more, but just off the cuff that is it.

Durability is another one. Big thick knives tend to be much more durable than a small knife, obviously. There are notable exceptions to that rule as in the Becker Campanion and certain Busse knives and others in that style, but I consider those small big knives as they are built like a big knife and carry the heft of one.

I have several packs. I have very light day pack in which I carry a big knife and a leatherman plus several other necessary items. When I go extended I take those tools with me an also take along a pocket chain saw and hatchet or khkuri if needed. But if I need to save weight, my big blade always goes.


your turn......:)
 
A couple of years ago our oldest son, John, was in Costa Rica for buisiness for serveral months. He arrainged for us to fly down to visit him and go on a rain forest trip, camping for five days. It was great to see the diversity of life and nature.

All the guides, wonderfull people, carried two tools every day, a small machete about 10 to 12 inches, and a Swiss army Knife. There was a longer machete for the guide who was in the front of our group, but all the others used the small machete for EVERYTHING. Each night they sliced up vegtables and fruit and meat for cooking dinner with the small machetes, and the sak's were used for small cutting jobs like making baskets out of palm leaves, small repairs to gear, and opening some cans and bottles that were brought in by mule.

Since that trip I've taken sort of the same slant, carrying a sak and a traditional pocket knife, and a small machete. Usually an Ontario or Martindale, but I also like my 12 inch Tramontina.

The pocket knife and small machete seems to take care of alot of things.

Later, around San Jose, there were alot of sak's in black pouches on belts. The sak seemed to be the most popular knife aside from the small machete even in the city.
 
jackknife said:
A couple of years ago our oldest son, John, was in Costa Rica for buisiness for serveral months. He arrainged for us to fly down to visit him and go on a rain forest trip, camping for five days. It was great to see the diversity of life and nature.

All the guides, wonderfull people, carried two tools every day, a small machete about 10 to 12 inches, and a Swiss army Knife. There was a longer machete for the guide who was in the front of our group, but all the others used the small machete for EVERYTHING. Each night they sliced up vegtables and fruit and meat for cooking dinner with the small machetes, and the sak's were used for small cutting jobs like making baskets out of palm leaves, small repairs to gear, and opening some cans and bottles that were brought in by mule.

Since that trip I've taken sort of the same slant, carrying a sak and a traditional pocket knife, and a small machete. Usually an Ontario or Martindale, but I also like my 12 inch Tramontina.

The pocket knife and small machete seems to take care of alot of things.

Later, around San Jose, there were alot of sak's in black pouches on belts. The sak seemed to be the most popular knife aside from the small machete even in the city.
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Oh, so now you want to make this a small machete versus big machete thread huh?:D

I do like the 12 inch tramontina as well. It's actually my favorite machete. I have often considered making a custom 12 inch machete out of S7 because of it.

the really small knife coupled with a big knife really works well if you can do both and there is almost no reasn why you cannot. If you loose the small knife you still have a knife.
 
Cobalt said:
your turn......:)
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Everything you said is true

I could reply that all of the things you mentioned, besides turning over rocks :confused: I can do with my small knife, plus a whole lot of precision cutting that you can't come close to, however I won't change your mind, just as you won't change mine, so it is really pointless. Enjoy your big knives, I will enjoy my small knives and we will both be happy. Chris
 
runningboar said:
Everything you said is true

I could reply that all of the things you mentioned, besides turning over rocks :confused: I can do with my small knife,
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I know you cannot chop with it to make fire wood or shelters. You can do both but it will take you much longer, much much longer.

You also cannot wack your way through heavy brush or jungle with a small knife.

I can make my big knife as sharp as a razor and have done it. I had an 8 inch blade that shaved arm hair better than my razor.


runningboar said:
plus a whole lot of precision cutting that you can't come close to, however I won't change your mind, just as you won't change mine, so it is really pointless. Enjoy your short swords and relish in their manliness and power, I will enjoy my little petite slivers of razor blade and we will both be happy. Chris
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Manliness and power? See what I mean, it always comes down to petty comments like this. Chriss I do not fault you for carrying small. If it works for you great. A small blade does not work solely for me. I carry one, but it is not the only one.
 
Truly I am very sorry to have upset your delicate sensibilities, I have edited my thread, if that wording doesn't suit you let me know. As I said I can't change your mind and you can't change mine. Chris
 
runningboar said:
Truly I am very sorry to have upset your delicate sensiblities, I have edited my thread, if that wording doesn't suit you let me know. As I said I can't change your mind and you can't change mine. Chris
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LOL, you don't know me well enough, but your passive agressive behavior is funny and absolutely not offensive to me in any way. You manage to throw in a dig with every post. It's actually very funny. Don't stop. I would rather you not edit anything because I surely won't. What I say stands. You have said nothing wrong but I obviously struck a nerve with my big knife preference.

But I guess you have to force everyone to think small. Please keep it to the women in your life.:D
 
Someone go to Nepal and tell the entire country they've been wrong for 500 years. No more khukuris!
 
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