Millie goes bush

Ming65

Ming65

Joined
Sep 4, 2002
Messages
2,177
Hey Team,

Just got back from a 20 day walk in Central Australia - the Larapinta Trail. It was tough, isolated, starkly beautifull and may well have changed my life as these intense experiences invariably do.

The knife of choice, of course, was an S30V plain edged Military.

Millieonkitchenduty.jpg


It's an excellent kicthen/food prep knife. It rode the whole way in the outside right cargo pocket on my shorts and is light enough to forget it's even there.

Had a couple of experiences with other trekkers who gave the cliched 'what do you need a knife like that for' on first contact, who ended up borrowing it because their puny SAK blades were too short and then asked me where I got it from...

The Millie cut plenty of hootchie cord, was the main kitchen knife, carved a couple of walking sticks, spread peanut butter, shaved my ankles for taping (I have girly ankles) and a million other uses/abuses that I can't remember. I light swipe on a buck diamond stone that I brought with me and it was (literaly) shaving sharp again. S30V is an amazing steel.
 
Outstanding review. I gave one to a friend, and he loves that thing. He has the black blade.

I believe the S30V was made for the type of work you are talking about. Also, that hand filling size works for me in any type knife. Large enough to get something done, but not pulling your shorts down while you walk.

Can you comment on all your other gear and how well it held up? Would you use everything again, or are you looking for something different?

'what do you need a knife like that for'
Click to expand...

This is where we differ. Those people go w/o after breaking their stuff b/c they could never appreciate what I have invested in. :rolleyes: :D
 
Out of curiosity, what tasks could those people not accomplish with their SAKs?
 
Terry Newton said:
Can you comment on all your other gear and how well it held up? Would you use everything again, or are you looking for something different?
Click to expand...

Glad to Terry. As sson as I got back I spent nearly 1K on updating my stuff fo the next time.

Boots - Used Scarpa Trek Pro's and they held up well. My mate had a lighter pair of boots and they were falling apart by the end. This walk is very tough on feet and boots. I would perhaps even go for a heavier duty pair next time, probably the Scarpa SL's. (I am a Scarpa fan)

Bivvy Sack and Tarp - Would use a tent next time. It got to minus 5-8 deg C at night out there and I struggled to stay warm. The light pressure of the bivvy sack against my sleeping bag compressed the pile and created cold spots - this was despite me sleeping in thermals, inside a thermal polypro bag and with beannie and fleece jacket on.:eek: All of the experienced wakers out there were using good 3-seasn tents (I just got a MSR Hubba Hubba) and a down bag and saving the weight elsewehere.

MSR Stainless Pots - Bought a Snowpeak Titanium set which saves me a few hundred grams.

Clothing - Walked in Columbia Million Mile shorts and a cotton shirt during the day and just added a layer at night before bed. Have since switched to a breathable nylon shirt as it's just as cool but lighter and dries faster. Started with my faithfull Kangaroo leather hat which has been on most of my bush adventures in the last few years. With the high workrate of climbing it was too hot, so I switched to a Frillneck hat - kind of like a Lawrence of Arabia style shamag. These are excellent, versalitile and provide great protection against the harsh sun out there.

http://www.frillneck.com.au/

Gloves - definetly a must in the Aussie Outback - when you put your hand down to steady yourself on a climb/scamble, it's likely to be in spinifex.

Walking Poles - again, almost a must unless you have perfect knees, the agility of a mountain goat and are paying someone to carry your pack.

If I think of anything else significant I'll add it in.....


Actually Vivi - those people not being able to accomlish things with their SAK's is a slight exaggeration on my part:o . It's just that they asked to borrow the Millie more than a few times, usually for food prep, like cuttng up fruit and vegetables (we pigged out when we got to our caches)
 
Interesting info, thanks for sharing.

Was curious about the SAK part because I hear so many people here who swear by X tactical style knife, saying a SAK is not up to their demands. Personally, I've yet to encounter a task I put my knives to day to day that I'd be uncomfortable doing with a SAK. I've even done some light batoning with a Nylong Solo. I love my Manix as much as the next Spydie fan, but Victorinox is all too often understimented. :D
 
Yep - I'm pretty sure all we need in a knife isn't much more than a SAK soldier. But that isn't why we are here of course....
 
ming65 good to see a fellow western australian knife enthusiast . theres a big shortage of knife enthusiasts in australia , especially here in W.A. i`m in perth.
 
Ming,

With all that additional high tech gear, you will rule yourself out of the "Burke and Wills - Aussie Bush Bashers Award" ( ABBA for short ).

Can't go wrong with a Milli out in the scrub, light weight with loads of blade. BTW - Nice pic, gotta love that red dirt. Hope that onion didn't bring a tear or two to your eye.
 
Heck, peanut butter spreading duties alone should be enough to "justify" a bigger, wider knife. I would be irritated if all I had to spread my peanut butter was the puny blade on an SAK.
 
I have quite a few SAK's myself. I love knives far too much. :rolleyes: :D

The only problem I have with SAK's in general are the short blades, and the lack of a lock on most models.

I have found that I will use the sheeps foot style quite a bit, but the drop point in that length or shorter is a waste of metal to me. Funny how one's preference can do that sort of thing.

Many now have locks, but I have yet to find a model that I like with a lock. I am looking for one with NO serrations.

If you have any further pics I would love to see them.

Thanks again.
 
In regards to knife choice I guess we should consider that this was a genuine wilderness trek and not to be taken casually. We had to plan carefully as a mistake with water or a badly sprained ankle in the wrong place and death was a real possibility - not highly probable but a possibility all the same. Every piece of gear we took was carefully considered. We couldn't be too indulgent with what we took (although the party that met and walked the last 4 days with us did bring a 2l cask of wine:D )

Despite my above comment about not strictly needing a larger knife, I was still inclined to take the Military and was glad I did.

Some extra photos at Terry's request, including a collage describing the terrain.

Larapintaterrainsmaller.jpg


Mountainghostgumsmaller.jpg


SonderfromBrinkley.jpg


ps: G'day Sirgalant - always good to welcome a fellow Sandgroper. There's a few others here, including Stockman, the burner of boats and BlueyM, a much respected Vietnam vet - good blokes all and we'll eventually get together for a beer one day:)

ps2: Mods - I'm putting a link to this in Wilderness and Survival for those over there who may be interested.
 
Very beautiful. Perhaps one day I will get to see that.

A Paramilitary a larger knife? I guess it is all relative. :)

Thanks again.
 
Terry Newton said:
I have quite a few SAK's myself. I love knives far too much. :rolleyes: :D

The only problem I have with SAK's in general are the short blades, and the lack of a lock on most models.

I have found that I will use the sheeps foot style quite a bit, but the drop point in that length or shorter is a waste of metal to me. Funny how one's preference can do that sort of thing.

Many now have locks, but I have yet to find a model that I like with a lock. I am looking for one with NO serrations.

If you have any further pics I would love to see them.

Thanks again.
Click to expand...


I believe the rucksak has what you're looking for.

Thanks for the additional pictures. Not trying to imply anything by the SAK comments. I find myself bringing bigger knives too sometimes, mainly just because I like experiencing using them out in the woods. SAKs get the job done 99.5% of the time for me, but variety is nice. Fun to take out a Manix, Buck 110 or a Mora sometimes. Find myself using Opinels a lot too because of the comfortable handles....really like the feel of wood.
 
Most the photos I see on the forum are of knives laying on a desk or some other surface in the house.:rolleyes: Nice to see some real photos from the field.

Congrats on your adventure!:thumbup:
 
A couple more shots.

LookingwestfromBrinkley.jpg


Birthdaywaterholesmall.jpg


ps: Understood Vivi:) :thumbup: I feel the same. A large locking SAK or Opinel would do as well probably, but my Millie would sulk if I left it behind:D
 
Great thread. I am a big fan of Spyderco knives, but like Vivi, I also love the SAKs. If I were trekking this route, I'd carry both the mini-manix and a One Hand Trekker by Victorinox. Unfortunately, I'm not a minimalist.

Enjoyed the pics and the discussion.

Thanks Ming65.

:)
 
i`ve got a one handed opening trailmaster . closest thing to a spyderco that victorinox make in me opinion
 
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