Looking for a few good and BIG camp knife

not2sharp

not2sharp

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Modern camping has evolved from the days when only self sufficient folks dare go into the woods. Today, I can usually do most if not all of my camp chores with only my moderately sized stockman. Hunting, building shelters, and feeding large camp fires are unfortunately fading quickly. But, I still like the big camp knives. Knives with blades that dwarf my Randall mod 14, and have cross sections more attuned to a chopping than cutting.

Fortunately, these knives are still plentiful. Which are your favorites?
 
Cold Steel Trailmaster.Good for all those camp chores and then shave before bed.
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have a"knife"day
 
My Gurkha House Khukuri (Service Number 1 model). I've used it to feed the fire, cut up the veggies for dinner and to clear out the downed tree limbs and brush in my back yard after last years hurricane. It also did a heck of a job on a pipe section from my lawn sprinkler that got in the way somehow
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Blackdog

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The GH Forum Photo Galleries & The Bowie Design Gallery
 
I second the kukri. They are AWESOME at any chopping chore put infront of them. Great for building shelters too! I'm a little scared to shave with one yet! It has something to do with putting a kukri so close to my neck I think...
 
I vote for the Coldsteel Trailmaster Carbon V as well. The freaking monster rusts like crazy, though.
 
My vote goes to the Marble's Trailmaker. Take your pick of either a 7" or 10" blade. Nothing better than a broad bladed, convex ground monster to take on the wild. And with the leather handle, the thing just looks like it was made for the woods.

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It's only a mistake if you fail to learn from it!
 
I've used a carbon V Trailmaster as my primary camp knife for years. Fabulous knife, much discussed on this forum. Yes, it does rust very easily. Actually, it will pit overnight. But I must say I think that Busse has surpassed Cold Steel. I only have two: Battlemistress and Steelheart II. They are both absolutely incredible. Busse has a forum here but Jerry is too much of a gentleman to be happy about too many comparisons to his knives there: he knows that in terms of performance the Busses make most everything else look pretty anemic. Not to worry, there has been alot of testing and anaylsis done on previous threads that shows just how good these knives are.
You might also consider the work of George Tichbourne, a Canuck. Toughest monsters in 440C that make you appreciate how good that metal can be with the right heat treat and design. Tests have shown his work to be very superior in terms of performance too.His work is an incredible bargain, in my opinion. Anyway, those are 3 or 4 from me. Knives Illustrated did a test of a bunch of camp knives a while back, including Fisk, Marshall, Hayes, Tichbourne a custom Kukri and others. It was great. I wonder how the Busses would have done?
 
i hate to use a shameless plug, but i really enjoy making large camp knives. There are photos of 2 on my newly created site. I also work to customer spec etc.....
www.lameyknives.com

Thanks,Matt
 
I was going to mention Matt Lamey also.

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Dennis Bible
 
Try a Becker Knife and Tool Magnum. They are currently out of production, but Camillus is bringing them back soon. Great chopper.
 
I'll second the Cold Steel Trailmaster, it's a tough cookie. If I didn't have one already I'd look into the paragraph below.

But back to that shameless plug, Matt Lamey is a maker on the rise and I'd say you couldn't go wrong with one of his BIG Camp knives, I had the chance to see one of his earlier knives and it was very good and now he has gotten even better, as attested by several other folk. Matt was going to try and use me for sheath work but I've shied away from fixed bladed knives and he is using Kenny Rowe who makes Awesome sheaths! So you get the best of both worlds.

(This post brought to you by G2, who is in no way affilliated or connected with Matt Lamey and has not received any compensation for this post, it's just plain facts man!)
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G2

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"The Road to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions!"
Take the time to read your Bible Now, don't be left behind...


G2 LeatherWorks

[This message has been edited by Gary W. Graley (edited 03-07-2000).]
 
Good choices so far. How do you feel about camp knives by:

Entrek USA
Greco Knives
Tom Mayo
or
Edmund Davidson

 
The RTAK 10" survival knife looks pretty good to me.

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"Be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." Matt. 10:16
 
Livesay's large knives are outstanding camp knives and priced right

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The thorn stands to defend the Rose, yet it is peaceful and does not seek conflict
 
Matt,
I have to tell you that you make some beautiful and functional knives! The Camp Bowie is definately on my must have list. You also have an excellent web site. Great pictures and very easy to navigate. I only hope that by the time I can afford your knives, that you haven't been priced out of the market.
Not2sharp, I have to second the RTAK suggestion. Newt is king of the "working man's" knife. $157.50 including shipping, for a micarta handled, Kydex sheathed, 10" survival knife.
You just don't get more bang for your buck than that. I don't know why he doesn't get more press. Probably because he works in 1095 and doesn't worry about making his knives look pretty. 1095 is a time tested, and with the proper heat treat, an excellent steel. At his price and quality, I will take "vanilla" steel any day of the week.

Take care, (AND a big knife)
Jim
 
I just bought a Cold Steel Trail Master(stainless version)and it is awesom.True to their word it is sharp out of the box
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Jerry Busse originally designed this knife with Ron Hood in mind. Ron's idea was different though, which led to the "Hood" knife design. So I ended up with Jerry's original piece.

This Busse custom is the only one in existence. I put a trailmaster in for scale. Both are very tough and make excellent camp knives.
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=278826&a=2104244&p=17123840&Sequence=0

[This message has been edited by tatsu (edited 03-08-2000).]

[This message has been edited by tatsu (edited 03-08-2000).]

[This message has been edited by tatsu (edited 03-08-2000).]
 
Wow!

Busse Knives has only been mentioned once so far. And, no one has brought up Walter Brend.

What a big change from a few months ago. Wonder what happened?
 
I must also vote for the Khukuri, I have A 15" Ang Khola from Himilayan Imports and I use it for what you described above and it works GREAT! But I guess the one that works best is the one you like and can afford.

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