Large Wilderness Survival Blade

S

semperfidelis

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May 28, 2012
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I am getting ready to purchase a large wilderness survival blade and I wanted some advice on the knives I am considering. It is a toss up between the Ontario SP 50, Ontario Rtak-II, and the Buck Hoodlum. I want to us the knife mainly for splitting wood, and de limbing branches, and would also like it to be capable of some smaller tasks for when I go camping/backpacking. I plan on using a folding saw and a pocket chainsaw in my carry system to make logs for splitting, so the chopping capabilities of the knife I chose is not that important to me. Weight is not an issue, although I think I would rather have a heavier knife would be better, and I dont want to spend alot of money. If anyone as any advice or personal experience with any of these knives, or would recomend a different knife I would really appreciate it. Thanks.
 
By a Himalayan Imports 20ounce kukri. I bought one for about $80 and have never looked back. Cleared forest and split wood. They are designed for exactly what your describing. Try to get 15inch models, bigger is too big and tires you out quicker.
 
I have considered getting a kukri but it seems like that is a knife meant more for chopping wood, that splitting wood because of its angled blade shape. My main objective for this knife is splitting wood, with the ability to do other task as well, which I dont think I will be able to do with a kukri.
 
Well I will throw my 2 cents in.I have large custom knives that I use for those task and more. As far as bang for your buck you can not go wrong with an ESEE Junglas or a Becker BK 9.Like I said my preference is with custom made knives.I do own a couple of ESEE knives and they are made very well and have one of the best warranties in the business!

Semper Fi Brother!
 
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I have a 10inch Khukuri which is perfect for splitting wood. Any of the above suggestions will do the job I'm sure, but don't think that the angle on the kuk makes it less suited to splitting short logs because in my experience the kuk performs extremely well at this task
(great for chopping too though;))
 
For the purposes you listed, I'd get an Ontario Marine Raider. Nutnfancy gives a very favorable review on it and this because it will do everything you want to do in the wilderness. I don't know that the Buck Hoodlum can be trusted for relentless pounding on wood, plus it's an expensive knife. It would be an excellent self defense knife, and it's strong. But some have raised questions about its heat treat.

The Marine Raider has a lot of weight for things like wood splitting and de-limbing. It's cheaper than the Hoodlum and it's more durable. I'd also consider many of the Ka-Bars like the Large Heavy Bowie (also reviewed by Nutnfancy on YouTube). The RTAK 2 is a gorgeous knife and it will also do everything you want. They're going to be my next knife purchases, but they're heavy, too, and a bit more expensive than the Marine Raider.

The Marine Raider is 27 ounces. The RTAK 2 is a bit more. Another knife you probably should consider for some of your outings is the Cold Steel Rajah II, the largest, strongest kick-ass folding knife on the market. It's easy to tout and I think it's every bit as strong as many fixed-blade knives. It's got a great grip and one of the reasons I recommend it is because there are so many different ways to choke up on the knife depending on the type of work you have in mind, Great for defense, too. And it's reasonably priced.

Again, the 1) Ka-Bar Large Heavy Bowie, the 2) Ontario Marine Raider, 3) RTAK II or the 4) Cold Steel Rajah 2. You can't go wrong with any of them. Yes, you can go with the Buck Hoodlum, but if you pound that blade much it might break at the point of the notch. Even if that happened, you could probably continue to baton with the remaining blade, plus you could use the upper portion as a small knife for detail work. Still, it's a pretty expensive knife and pounding on it just doesn't make sense for that kind of steel.

.
 
Scrapyard knives sykco 911. Best bang for your buck for your criteria. The sr101/52100 steel takes an amazing edge, holds it exceptional well, and holds up better than anything I've found to hard use. The Swamprat Rodent 9 would be another step up.

However do not discount a true Kukri. I carried and used my HIGH M43 Kukri as my primary survival tool over a several year long period of survival living, using it even to build a couple trappers cabins and dozens of other shelters. It worked great with a baton for splitting plus a whole lot more.
 
I think I am going to take the leap and try a kukri, the ontario kukri looks like a good bang for your buck. I know there are several other out there but how can I go wrong with $40. I would love to have the CS Gurka kukri, but that is alot of money, Kukri House Kukri seems like another good alternative, but I like American made products. I take back what I said about them initially, I did some more research on them, and it seems like a great knife after all. Thanks you all for your help
 
Look at the Svord Von Temspke bowie. Great YouTube reviews on it. keepm sharp
 
Another vote for the Junglas, it's an excellent tool, almost perfect for what you are describing. Can't go wrong with the BK9 either, although the clip point makes slightly less efficient for batoning.
 
Here's what I use:


p1010659p.jpg

BlackJack HALO Attack, Single Quillian Guard and Border Patrol style handle.




Big Mike
 
If you can use 'just' a 5" blade... okay, a 5" x .25" 1095 blade, get a BK-2. Stout - and takes a beating. Need something longer? My Buck Hoodlum has been a keeper thus far. Too useful to beat on, too. You'd be AMAZed at the prices I got ON my examples of each.

Stainz
 
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semperfidelis said:
If anyone as any advice or personal experience with any of these knives, or would recomend a different knife I would really appreciate it. Thanks.
Click to expand...

Semperfidelis,

All three of the knives you mentioned are good choices with lots of online reviews to help you choose. I would add a few similar knives to the list as well.

Smaller: (7" blade)
CS Recon Scout
BK7 (Combat Utility)

Medium/Large:
CS Trail Master
BK9 (Combat Bowie)
Junglas

Large:
CS Gurkha Kukri
Ka-Bar Kukri Machete
Traditional Nepalese BAS kukri
 
wow, a blackjack halo 14 splitting wood? damn....himilayan imports 18 in ak. cheaper than Cold steel--i love my ghurkas-- but imho himimp is just as good if not better. Watch the torture tests on you tube dude, theyll drop your jaw 4 sure Semper Fi...thanks for your service and sacrifice 4 all of us---mark
 
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From these three choices, Ontario SP 50, Ontario Rtak-II, and the Buck Hoodlum, I give the nod to the Ontario SP 50. They are all going to do the work you described. The reason this one is the "best" of the three is because I have seen failures of the Hoodlum (because of the notch) and the Rtak-ll seems to be hardened a little too hard which has led to reports of chipping. The Ontario SP 50 is also priced the lowest. I have only read and seen good things about the Ontario SP 50. My buddy and I had a chop off/battoning test and my Cold steel Kukri machete lasted as long as the test and just needed a short stropping session to regain its super sharp edge. The CS machete was also very light to carry in the park which left weight for other creature comforts like twinkies! I do own expensive choppers like the Dogfather but I also realize it is overkill for the tasks I ask of it. So, I recommend you invest in a quality mora for small tasks and a quality machete like the ESSE light machete for the larger jobs. YMMV.

Unklfranco
 
I own a SP2, SP8, SP10, SP17, SP47, SP Kukri. They are ALL excellent blades. Made in the USA. I have batoned numerous times with them all, and chopped with them all and done small tasks with the SP2 & SP17. I do not have a bad one in the bunch. I would trust my life to any of them. I would prefer the SP51 over the SP50, but thats just me. I like sabre grinds over full flat grinds. I feel they are a little stronger for hard use, like i give mine. NOTE: I do NOT throw my knives.
 
I would get a hatchet of equal weight

"mainly for splitting wood, and de limbing branches, and would also like it to be capable of some smaller tasks for when I go camping/backpacking"

The opportunity cost for a general purpose knife to do the "small" tasks is very very low.
 
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