Knife you could rely on for survival

[katanas]

I did not clarify that my big knife is NEVER my only knife, especially when "way out there". Usually accompanied by a SAK Hunter and/or a good medium stockman.

 

[DracoKrys]

The problem is you backed everybody into the hypothetical corner that is the 'one knife only' survival situation; in real life everybody I know has more than one knife with them whenever they go out into the woods, because one knife cannot do every knife task at maximum efficiency.



I have carved hooks for noose-style traps using a 6"+ blade before, I have processed plenty of meat and vegetables with my 11" Becker (who *doesn't* own a chef's knife that's longer than 5"?), and it's a better bushwhacking machete/ax combo than either of those tools on their own. Check yourself before you dig yourself into a stereotyped hole, just because a knife is big doesn't mean a knife is somehow unable to perform certain tasks.

I carry a 4" Fiddleback Bushfinger and my 11" BK20, combine that with a Bahco Laplander and I can really process anything you need for a fire build. My BK20 can turn a dead tree into kindling faster than any other tool in my arsenal, try building a fire starting with a dead tree and you'll start to appreciate blades over 5" that can chop and baton. I also baton with my Bushfinger, but only the smaller sticks and twigs for precise and thin fire materials, the bigger blade is so much faster at wood prep it's not even a good comparison.



Yes, you are criticising [sic] the use of big knives, just read your prior posts.

Why start this thread and limit the options to one knife if you don't even think the idea of a big knife is a good one? Was your purpose to start an argument? That's what it seems like you're trying to do with your most recent posts.

I don't see how a big knife could be better at doing something a small knife can do and I can see that it was implied that you had to pick one knife I also did not specify it, the point was to identify what sort of knife they think would be ideal and could do everything they think a knife should be able to do. I also did not say that you could not have any other tools, sure as an axe. To me a big knife seems inefficient, and I have explained why, and I wouldn't buy one because of that reason. However I am very open to people explaining the advantages of a big knife over a small knife so I can make an informed decision. I am not set in my beliefs and also have no experience with big knives. Feel free to convince me, or don't, but I will continue to choose to believe that a smaller knife is better for what it would actually be needed for. I did not intend to start an argument but a conversation and discussion so I could learn about people's opinions. That's what I'm trying to do here, I am trying to learn. I may very well be wrong.

 

[Natlek]

I don't see how a big knife could be better at doing something a small knife can do and I can see that it was implied that you had to pick one knife I also did not specify it, the point was to identify what sort of knife they think would be ideal and could do everything they think a knife should be able to do. I also did not say that you could not have any other tools, sure as an axe. To me a big knife seems inefficient, and I have explained why, and I wouldn't buy one because of that reason. However I am very open to people explaining the advantages of a big knife over a small knife so I can make an informed decision. I am not set in my beliefs and also have no experience with big knives. Feel free to convince me, or don't, but I will continue to choose to believe that a smaller knife is better for what it would actually be needed for. I did not intend to start an argument but a conversation and discussion so I could learn about people's opinions. That's what I'm trying to do here, I am trying to learn. I may very well be wrong.

Look , to know what is best for you you must spend a loot of time out in wilderness . That way you will experience very different situations and you will see what kind of knife is best for you . Just make sure you always have ONE with you. Everything is better than anything ........

 

[DracoKrys]

Look , to know what is best for you you must spend a loot of time out in wilderness . That way you will experience very different situations and you will see what kind of knife is best for you . Just make sure you always have ONE with you. Everything is better than anything ........

Of course... I'd take a sharpened rock tied to a lead pipe if I had no other choice for a knife... I gotta have something

 

[KingMC]

I don't see how a big knife could be better at doing something a small knife can do and I can see that it was implied that you had to pick one knife I also did not specify it, the point was to identify what sort of knife they think would be ideal and could do everything they think a knife should be able to do.

Then get a big knife (I would recommend a Becker BK9) and take it by itself out into the woods, use it as your only knife for a trip, and then maybe you’ll realize that most ‘knife tasks’ are not size-specific and big knives are a lot more useable than you keep stating.

Your original post says ‘knife’ in the singular tense 3 times and does not leave any room to assume that you are looking for anything but a single knife that someone would choose for the many uses of a survival situation. If you intended for people to assume anything more from your post you needed to word it a lot better; 7 pages of people who got the same impression should let you know that pretty clearly.

 

[Natlek]

Of course... I'd take a sharpened rock tied to a lead pipe if I had no other choice for a knife... I gotta have something

Good thinking People escaped from prison by digging tunnels with spoon so most likely we will survive only with Victorinox

 

[Pilsner]

Then get a big knife (I would recommend a Becker BK9) and take it by itself out into the woods, use it as your only knife for a trip, and then maybe you’ll realize that most ‘knife tasks’ are not size-specific and big knives are a lot more useable than you keep stating.

Your original post says ‘knife’ in the singular tense 3 times and does not leave any room to assume that you are looking for anything but a single knife that someone would choose for the many uses of a survival situation. If you intended for people to assume anything more from your post you needed to word it a lot better; 7 pages of people who got the same impression should let you know that pretty clearly.

A BK9 is an excellent example of a useful big knife. I’ve used it for days at a time, camping wild with minimal gear. With a good edge it is no issue to carve with it. Great knife.

Here’s my pimped BK9:

That having been said, I’d prefer an axe, folding saw and a decent fixed blade, 4-6”. But yes, with a BK9 I would be completely at home, so to speak.

 

[DracoKrys]

Then get a big knife (I would recommend a Becker BK9) and take it by itself out into the woods, use it as your only knife for a trip, and then maybe you’ll realize that most ‘knife tasks’ are not size-specific and big knives are a lot more useable than you keep stating.

Your original post says ‘knife’ in the singular tense 3 times and does not leave any room to assume that you are looking for anything but a single knife that someone would choose for the many uses of a survival situation. If you intended for people to assume anything more from your post you needed to word it a lot better; 7 pages of people who got the same impression should let you know that pretty clearly.

I was aware of this when writing it but it wasn't my purpose to see what the different knives people would bring for every possible contingency, when they have a knife that could do everything they could realistically need to use a knife for. I was looking to see if people had a do-everything "jack of all trades, master of none" survival knife. Many people have been able to choose one, and some have also picked a small folder/sak as well, which makes sense, I would too, but I'm pretty sure most people would prefer even a bigger folder than just a sak, after all an SAK is somewhat limited in its use as a knife beyond simple cutting tasks and whatever tools it features. Perhaps I am wrong in the belief that a big knife is limited in its use as a knife, but still unless I learn about how much better a big knife is compared to a little knife I would still personally choose a smaller knife (even under the circumstance that they can perform every task just as well as each other) for the simple fact that more than anything else, a smaller knife is lighter.

 

[GB940Rookie]

Now I am relatively new and inexperienced with knives, but people keep making statements like this and it baffles me. And it's simply not true. A big knife is horrible for carving or any sort of delicate work, it can't process food, and it is heavy waste of space for what is essentially a poorly designed axe/bushwacker. Can someone please explain to me how a big blade (imo even 6" is really too large for anything you'll ever need) is better than a 3-5 inch blade?

I think some of it has to do with what a person is comfortable with.
I’ve carried a 6 1/2 to 7 1/2” fixed by far the most when in the woods. I can’t remember ever saying that I wished I had a smaller knife, but I do remember on some occasions wishing I had a larger blade when carrying something smaller.

Last year I went to the deer lease with my brother. When we went out to check cameras and feeders, he saw me with my RC6 (6 1/2” blade). Smirking just a little, he asked why I was carrying such a big knife. He had a 3” drop point fixed strapped to his belt. I told him that they were handy in the woods and left it at that. Within the next hour and a half he ask to borrow my RC6 three times. When we got back to camp, he ordered an ESEE 6.

I’ve done minimalist camping for four decades. Built traps and shelters. Processed birds, squirrels, hogs and everything in between all with large blades.

I’ll take a 6” fixed over a 3” any time in a wilderness setting where extensive work is required. At the end of the day, I feel that I expend more energy using a smaller blade. Also, it should be noted that I have quite large hands(XL-XXL) and larger knives are more comfortable when doing extensive work, which is what you would doing in a survival type setting.

But, in all fairness, that just one man’s experience and opinion.

 

[Pilsner]

I was aware of this when writing it but it wasn't my purpose to see what the different knives people would bring for every possible contingency, when they have a knife that could do everything they could realistically need to use a knife for. I was looking to see if people had a do-everything "jack of all trades, master of none" survival knife. Many people have been able to choose one, and some have also picked a small folder/sak as well, which makes sense, I would too, but I'm pretty sure most people would prefer even a bigger folder than just a sak, after all an SAK is somewhat limited in its use as a knife beyond simple cutting tasks and whatever tools it features. Perhaps I am wrong in the belief that a big knife is limited in its use as a knife, but still unless I learn about how much better a big knife is compared to a little knife I would still personally choose a smaller knife (even under the circumstance that they can perform every task just as well as each other) for the simple fact that more than anything else, a smaller knife is lighter.

It really does depend upon your skill set, I’m afraid.

For some, a 4” blade is just fine, a Fällkniven F1 for example. But you would need to know what you were doing. The earlier suggestion of a Mora combined with a SAK Farmer, or any SAK with a wood saw, is excellent, but requires basic competency. Hence the ill informed jeering from the gallery.

 

[KingMC]

I was aware of this when writing it but it wasn't my purpose...

We aren’t mind-readers, don’t ask one question when you really wanted to ask a different question, ask the question for which you want answers.

 

[DracoKrys]

I think some of it has to do with what a person is comfortable with.
I’ve carried a 6 1/2 to 7 1/2” fixed by far the most when in the woods. I can’t remember ever saying that I wished I had a smaller knife, but I do remember on some occasions wishing I had a larger blade when carrying something smaller.

Last year I went to the deer lease with my brother. When we went out to check cameras and feeders, he saw me with my RC6 (6 1/2” blade). Smirking just a little, he asked why I was carrying such a big knife. He had a 3” drop point fixed strapped to his belt. I told him that they were handy in the woods and left it at that. Within the next hour and a half he ask to borrow my RC6 three times. When we got back to camp, he ordered an ESEE 6.

I’ve done minimalist camping for four decades. Built traps and shelters. Processed birds, squirrels, hogs and everything in between all with large blades.

I’ll take a 6” fixed over a 3” any time in a wilderness setting where extensive work is required. At the end of the day, I feel that I expend more energy using a smaller blade. Also, it should be noted that I have quite large hands(XL-XXL) and larger knives are more comfortable when doing extensive work, which is what you would doing in a survival type setting.

But, in all fairness, that just one man’s experience and opinion.

That's totally fair enough. I can understand that, and I understand it works for you. When I speak of big knives, I must admit I do think people are talking about machetes that can chop wood, and when they say that "big knives" such as machetes which is one of many big knives, can be better knife than a small one, then I don't really get it. But after reading about why you have that preference and how it is for you to use it, now I am more inclined to think that larger knives can be as useful. Although I do believe your brother may have preferred your knife because 3 inches is way too small for an outdoor knife.

 

[DracoKrys]

We aren’t mind-readers, don’t ask one question when you really wanted to ask a different question, ask the question for which you want answers.

You're not, but I have mostly gotten the kind of answers I'm looking for. If someone would have said they would have brought something like a Spyderco Dragonfly, I would have been sceptical of that too, not understanding their reasons for wanting to bring such a knife which unbeknownst to me may work out to be an excellent outdoors knife that does everything they want and need it to do. Again, I have mostly gotten the kind of answers I was looking for in response to my original query.

 

[KingMC]

You're not, but I have mostly gotten the kind of answers I'm looking for. If someone would have said they would have brought something like a Spyderco Dragonfly, I would have been sceptical of that too, not understanding their reasons for wanting to bring such a knife which unbeknownst to me may work out to be an excellent outdoors knife that does everything they want and need it to do. Again, I have mostly gotten the kind of answers I was looking for in response to my original query.

You say you've gotten the answers you were looking for and that that's all you wanted from the thread, yet you keep making broad generalizations about the knives people are taking into potential survival situations as if you intend to start an argument.

You first dissed large knives out of nowhere...

Now I am relatively new and inexperienced with knives, but people keep making statements like this and it baffles me. And it's simply not true. A big knife is horrible for carving or any sort of delicate work, it can't process food, and it is heavy waste of space for what is essentially a poorly designed axe/bushwacker.

I don't see how a big knife could be better at doing something a small knife can do... To me a big knife seems inefficient... and I wouldn't buy one because of that reason.

even though you admit you haven't attained any experience with them with which you've based your biases.

I am not set in my beliefs and also have no experience with big knives.

You say you are open to people convincing you otherwise, but in the next sentence you admit that you really aren't open at all.

However I am very open to people explaining the advantages of a big knife over a small knife so I can make an informed decision. Feel free to convince me, or don't, but I will continue to choose to believe that a smaller knife is better for what it would actually be needed for.

You explain that you didn't intend to start an argument...

I did not intend to start an argument but a conversation and discussion so I could learn about people's opinions.

...but then you decide that you need to make sure to point out that Swiss Army Knives and knives 3" or less are mostly pointless, essentially throwing more fuel onto the argument you started.

I'm pretty sure most people would prefer even a bigger folder than just a sak, after all an SAK is somewhat limited in its use as a knife beyond simple cutting tasks and whatever tools it features.

Although I do believe your brother may have preferred your knife because 3 inches is way too small for an outdoor knife.

You can't have it both ways, you can't say that you're just looking for suggestions when you keep trying to shoot those suggestion down as bad or pointless.

 

[stabman]

Smashblade would do.

https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/behold-smashblade-variant-one.1520101/

 

[GB940Rookie]

Although I do believe your brother may have preferred your knife because 3 inches is way too small for an outdoor knife.

You did say earlier that a 3-5” blade was sufficient. That’s where I was coming from. I understand what you’re meaning though.
It’s good to ask questions and debate. That’s part of the reason we’re all here I suspect.

 

[91bravo]

If I had to ONLY have one knife, it would be the king, the Combat Bowie bk9. It's large enough to chop, split, baton and handles more like a knife, rather than a dedicated chopper or machete. It's big enough to process large cuts of meat off game, yet small enough to make fine curls for firestarting. You use a big knife just like you would a little knife, only on a bigger scale. Whatever you can do with a small knife, you can do bigger with a big knife.

Throw rain in there for instance. You'll have a fire going MUCH faster with a bigger knife. Once again, I can't emphasize enough, it all boils down to what you are most comfortable and proficient with. Whatever you have the most confidence in, is what you will use. There's no right or wrong answer here, if your gear works out for you, then great! And nobody out there is going to persuade you any different. Axe, saw, sword, big, little, pink, paisley? It matters not as long as you're happy with it.

With that being said, long live the king!

 

[DracoKrys]

You say you've gotten the answers you were looking for and that that's all you wanted from the thread, yet you keep making broad generalizations about the knives people are taking into potential survival situations as if you intend to start an argument.

You first dissed large knives out of nowhere...



even though you admit you haven't attained any experience with them with which you've based your biases.



You say you are open to people convincing you otherwise, but in the next sentence you admit that you really aren't open at all.



You explain that you didn't intend to start an argument...



...but then you decide that you need to make sure to point out that Swiss Army Knives and knives 3" or less are mostly pointless, essentially throwing more fuel onto the argument you started.




You can't have it both ways, you can't say that you're just looking for suggestions when you keep trying to shoot those suggestion down as bad or pointless.

Holy heck dude you do know how to keep the argument going geez. I made the mistake of assuming the definition of a big knife without asking what your definition was, I had an idea in my head of what y'all meant by a big knife that was probably wrong, when there are knives of all shapes and sizes that are good and bad. We all have our biases, opinions, preconceptions and false notions that we love to throw at each other in a normal debate. Now can you stop dissecting and analysing all of my posts because this thread is becoming unpleasant. I am very new to this forum and to knives so if you could cut me some slack that would be nice. The primary intention was to learn and I'm aware being challenged is part of the learning process but this argument has become somewhat tedious and I don't wish to continue it. Overall I've had a lot of great answers but this thread has become somewhat derailed.

 

[DracoKrys]

If I had to ONLY have one knife, it would be the king, the Combat Bowie bk9. It's large enough to chop, split, baton and handles more like a knife, rather than a dedicated chopper or machete. It's big enough to process large cuts of meat off game, yet small enough to make fine curls for firestarting. You use a big knife just like you would a little knife, only on a bigger scale. Whatever you can do with a small knife, you can do bigger with a big knife.

Throw rain in there for instance. You'll have a fire going MUCH faster with a bigger knife. Once again, I can't emphasize enough, it all boils down to what you are most comfortable and proficient with. Whatever you have the most confidence in, is what you will use. There's no right or wrong answer here, if your gear works out for you, then great! And nobody out there is going to persuade you any different. Axe, saw, sword, big, little, pink, paisley? It matters not as long as you're happy with it.

With that being said, long live the king!

You're absolutely right, it is a matter of person preferences and I have generalised and assumed too much. Personally, that knife looks an inch or two longer than something I'd be comfortable handling or carrying, but I cannot doubt it's practicality as a large knife, or its capabilities, it looks like a good knife. What brand/model is that exactly, as I am not familiar with it?

 

[DracoKrys]

You did say earlier that a 3-5” blade was sufficient. That’s where I was coming from. I understand what you’re meaning though.
It’s good to ask questions and debate. That’s part of the reason we’re all here I suspect.

I did indeed say that and I was basing that opinion on the fact that many bushcrafting knives and average to large folders are in that range, but something exactly 3 inches or under like my SAK I wouldn't feel very comfortable bringing without a larger knife, and 5 inches or a bit over would be my ideal length for a fixed blade. I base that off the fact that I only have average sized hands and don't intend on using my blade very hard, i.e chopping and splitting wood, and I don't want it to be heavy. And I think it is fair and safe to say larger knives tend to be heavier and better for more hard use activities.