Let's see some Survival knife concepts !

pitdog · Jun 14, 2009

I posted this on the W&SS forum as well but thought it would be good to see on here as well !

I know most of us on here have gone all Bushcrafty on here and venture out with our Scandi's, Nessmuks and Kepharts but when I hear the term Survival knife I still picture something a little larger and more robust.
To me a Survival knife is a tool that can do it all to get you by, this could include Chopping branches to make your shelter, battoning through wet logs to get to the dry inners, hacking through a dead deer carcass to see if any can be salvaged, smashing up nuts or shell fish....you get the idea !!!

Anyway I thought it might be fun to see some designs of what you envisage when it comes to a Survival knife, to me it would still be a knife that is practical to carry with you, sure a 1/4" thick 10" long bladed monster would hack through those branches at double speed but who would really hike with that hanging from your waist ( maybe some of you do ? ), so my scenario is that you have somehow become seperated from your backpack which contained your Axe and other equipment and all your left with is your trusty Survival knife that hangs from your belt !!!

Let's see some ideas, here is one of mine.......

rooikat · Jun 15, 2009

Here's mine!

JK Knives · Jun 15, 2009

rooikat said:
Here's mine!

Got the drawing today :thumbup:

Mentor · Jun 15, 2009

Here's an odd design for you:

I envision a blade length of 5.5-7", and an overall length around 11". The handle would have thick, rounded scales. The blade stock would be 3/16, carbon steel. The first 2" of the blade (maybe a bit more) would be scandi ground, for wood work, and particularly fuzz sticks and draw cuts. The rest of the blade would be flat ground, for chopping and all-around versatility. I'm not sure how the scandi-flat grind transition would work out, or if it would be practical at all. But I think it's a neat idea! My rationale is that I do a lot of work with a 3" scandi, and the portion of my larger knives that sees the most use is the part between the middle and the tip of the blade. This knife would try to cram it all into one survival-oriented package.

All the best,

- Mike

PB Wilson · Jun 15, 2009

It might be worth making a few sparks to find out. Cool idea. It reminds me of the machete mods I've seen on WS&S a while back.

pitdog · Jun 15, 2009

Mentor said:
Here's an odd design for you:

I envision a blade length of 5.5-7", and an overall length around 11". The handle would have thick, rounded scales. The blade stock would be 3/16, carbon steel. The first 2" of the blade (maybe a bit more) would be scandi ground, for wood work, and particularly fuzz sticks and draw cuts. The rest of the blade would be flat ground, for chopping and all-around versatility. I'm not sure how the scandi-flat grind transition would work out, or if it would be practical at all. But I think it's a neat idea! My rationale is that I do a lot of work with a 3" scandi, and the portion of my larger knives that sees the most use is the part between the middle and the tip of the blade. This knife would try to cram it all into one survival-oriented package.

All the best,

- Mike

Thats's exactly the kinda thing I was hoping this thread would bring out !
I really like that idea and think it would quite well !!!!:thumbup:

rooikat · Jun 16, 2009

That's a pretty cool design.

Mentor · Jun 18, 2009

Thanks guys,

Here's an update on the design. I don't have a large knife with this handle shape yet, so I thought I would give it a whirl.

All the best,

- Mike

C Bryant · Jun 19, 2009

I like the updated desgin Mentor....not 100% sure how well it would cut at the union of the scandi and the flat grind...but I like the concept. I think you are on to something cool.

Here is on I am quite fond of, it was one of my anniversary knife contest submissions. Though I thin I would change the handle contour to being pear shaped.

pitdog · Jun 19, 2009

Hey Mike your duel grind idea inspired me for this one, I picture it used in a jungle environment but can't see why it wouldn't be usefull in forest environments as well !

JK Knives · Jun 19, 2009

I`m going to try that "double" grind on some scrap steel I have to see how it works out.

Mentor · Jun 19, 2009

Very, very cool, Pit.

I like the unusual blade-handle angle. That thing looks like a crazy chopper.

It sort of reminds me of one of my all-time favourite knives, the Grohmann No. 4 (below, in back), only with some major tweaking.

All the best,

Mike

Edited to add: That's great, John! Let us know how the dual grind thing turns out. I'd be particularly interested to hear about what happens when you slice something starting with the scandi portion and move to the flat grind. Does it bind? Also, is it reasonable to bring the scandi grind all the way to the edge, or does it make more sense to recess it a bit like you see in Pit's sketch or on Tracker-type knives? I hope this experiment works out!

pitdog · Jun 19, 2009

C Bryant said:
I like the updated desgin Mentor....not 100% sure how well it would cut at the union of the scandi and the flat grind...but I like the concept. I think you are on to something cool.

Here is on I am quite fond of, it was one of my anniversary knife contest submissions. Though I thin I would change the handle contour to being pear shaped.

This was actually the one I thought should have won the contest !!!