Knives for bug out/get home bag?

G

Gideons

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Hey BF,

For those few don't know, Ontario had multiple tornado warnings last night. I was at the end of my work out last night when I got the emergency broadcast from the government of Canada about tornado warnings. I then went home and collected items to prepare for worse case scenarios. Due to how rare this type of weather is in Ontario, I don't have a bug out bag/get home bag pre-made. But it brought up something I hadn't put excessive amount of thought into before... what knive(s) would I put in my bug out bag/get home bag? Me personally, I have been debating the pros and cons of the super lightweight: set up (for example) benchmade buyout and esee-3/gryphon m10 vs the extremely robust: (for example) ZT 0301 and SwampRat Ratmandu/TRC M-1. Curious to hear your thoughts/philosphy on what knives(amd why) would you put in your bug out/get home bag.

Thanks,

Gideons
 
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There not in a bag but I keep a Kershaw blur, a leatherman wave and a sog seal pup elite in my car among other tools. so I guess those are my "get home blades".
 
Don't really have a bug out bag. But I keep a Condor Kumunga fixed blade in my pickup all the time now. There may be a machete in there as well, but it's buried at the moment. I do assemble a bug out bag of sorts when I head for the woods and mostly just add a fixed blade to my usual folders that I carry. The two fixed blades that are high on my list right now are the Bark River Wilderness Explorer (5.7" blade) and the small White River Backpacker Pro with about a 3" blade.
 
I would probably go with some sort of Leatherman multitool and an Esee 4.
 
I keep a backpack in my truck with a 3.5 fixed blade.
I also have a 6.5 bladed fixed and a machete in my truck.
 
Seeing as are in Ontario I suggest something from the Ontario SP line.
Makes sense right.:)
Whar else are you going to keep in the bag?
 
I keep a Spyderco Street, Recon 1, Leatherman Wave, Olight S1R and wrench/socket set in my car. Along with my S&W 642 with +P ammo just in case:)
 
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Gideons said:
Hey BF,

For those few don't know, Ontario had multiple tornado warnings last night. I was at the end of my work out last night when I got the emergency broadcast from the government of Canada about tornado warnings. I then went home and collected items to prepare for worse case scenarios. Due to how rare this type of weather is in Ontario, I don't have a bug out bag/get home bag pre-made. But it brought up something I hadn't put excessive amount of thought into before... what knive(s) do you put in your bug out bag/get home bag?

Thanks,

Gideons
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First and foremost. Get a Small First aid kit and some Aleve, Aspirin, Ibuprofen, and Acetaminaphen. Then as far as a knife goes I would suggest a Multi tool first and foremost followed by a small fixed blade moraknife 546 or companion. Stainless or carbon is your call. My knife choices are yours to make. I am just offering suggestions. Then 2 bic lighters. not cheap generics as they can fall apart. as far as food and other gear there is plenty of information online on building a bug out bag.
 
I keep a mora in the breakdown kit in the car, along with tools, booster cables, water, gloves, emergency blanket, fak, etc. That’s the closest I get to a bug in/out/home/mad-max bag.

I virtually never open that bag, so I wouldn’t want to put an expensive knife in there, essentially to never use.
 
Joshua1973 said:
Exactly. I found too oftern people place too much emphasis on guns and knives but lack a first aid kit or proper clothing.
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Bingo! I read threads like this and often have a vision (probably unfair) of someone soaked to the skin, shivering, close to the final stage of hypothermia, clutching a hand gun in one hand and a huge fixed blade knife in the other. :(

Meanwhile, a useless button compass lies close by, discarded on the sodden ground, as the sun sets for the very last time...

Not referring to anyone here particularly, but you see it a lot on the internet. Give me tarps or a tent, waterproofs, decent boots, lots of calories, water and a mess kit. First aid kit, as you say, is a very high priority. A compass, map and/or GPS is also quite sensible..!

We do live in an age of excellent, light weight kit. It is surprising how much you can fit into a decent sized ruck.
 
Right now I have a Swisstool Spirit and I think a Swamprat Jackmandu in mine, but it's really more my travel bag with some basic added contingency stuff in it than a dedicated get home bag. As others have pointed out, knives are just a small part of the overall kit for something like that.
 
Traditionally, it is some sort of fixed blade for a BOB but, I can see a need for some sort of folder, too. Maybe a SAK. It's got all the extra tools and people don't freak out when they see a SAK. It also does not weigh very much.

Years ago, Napa Valley was plagued with a huge series of storms and flooding became a big issue. Effectively, the city was cut in half by the Napa River. The Police had to order evacuations in the middle of the night. Many of the fleeing people ended up at the local high school gym. The city had a huge banner posted by the entrance, "No Weapons." A fixed blade knife was considered a weapon, just like a firearm.
 
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What they don't know won't hurt them. FedEx has a weapons sign as you enter one of their customer facilities. Don't know anyone who pays any attention to them.
 
sabre cat said:
Traditionally, it is some sort of fixed blade but I can see a need for some sort of folder, too. Maybe a SAK. It's got all the extra tools and people don't freak out when they see a SAK. It also does not weigh very much.

Years ago, Napa Valley was plagued with a huge series of storms and flooding became a big issue. Effectively, the city was cut in half by the Napa River. The Police had to order evacuations in the middle of the night. Many of the fleeing people ended up at the local high school gym. The city had a huge banner posted by the entrance, "No Weapons." A fixed blade knife was considered a weapon, just like a firearm.
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This is such an important point. I live in the heart of the largest city in Europe. If society really broke down, which in London would be nightmarish in the extreme, I would want to get my family out. Where people end up in humanitarian crises is often in camps and suchlike. I have family in remote areas and that is where we would head for. We have had dreadful flooding around the country in the past few years and, just as you describe, people end up on camp beds in schools and community centres. Hope the OP stays safe.
 
Pilsner said:
This ^

Knives are all very well, and of course we all love ‘em, but the other stuff is pretty crucial...
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Joshua1973 said:
Exactly. I found too oftern people place too much emphasis on guns and knives but lack a first aid kit or proper clothing.
Click to expand...

Pilsner said:
Bingo! I read threads like this and often have a vision (probably unfair) of someone soaked to the skin, shivering, close to the final stage of hypothermia, clutching a hand gun in one hand and a huge fixed blade knife in the other. :(

Meanwhile, a useless button compass lies close by, discarded on the sodden ground, as the sun sets for the very last time...

Not referring to anyone here particularly, but you see it a lot on the internet. Give me tarps or a tent, waterproofs, decent boots, lots of calories, water and a mess kit. First aid kit, as you say, is a very high priority. A compass, map and/or GPS is also quite sensible..!

We do live in an age of excellent, light weight kit. It is surprising how much you can fit into a decent sized ruck.
Click to expand...

This is a KNIFE forum... which is a very niche topic, and a place I go to discuss that specific tool. I know there are many different important items that go into a bug out bag, but I go to their respective community forums for those items. Just like I don't ask about knives on forums for watches, flashlights or computer programming etc.
 
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