Minimalist camping without a fixed blade

[bdmicarta]

Depends on what you mean by "minimalist"?

I've been camping and backpacking a lot and very rarely used a knife for more than spreading peanut butter on bread. Whether using the car or the backpack I carried everything I needed. I might need a small knife to cut open a food package, otherwise had no need to chop down a forest, meaning risking a $200 knife to create $1 of firewood. This would be called "low impact" camping, maybe not "minimalist".

If you mean "minimalist" in that you are carrying nothing but the clothes on your back and a knife, I don't have a need to do that. Sounds like a TV show to me, if you know what I mean, and they don't even get the clothes on their back. But yes if you aren't carrying anything else with you, you better have at least one good and capable knife.

 

[Cobalt]

not sure which is more important, cigar or knife

This poor woman carrying a kid with a knife...she does not need it. Maybe a feather duster instead

This little amazon kid is obviously being trained poorly

knives rule

 

[Quiet]

Those people need to be careful. The weight of that blade could mean their lives out on the trail. Poor dears.

That poor Amazon lady, carrying that kid AND that fixed blade? Yeah, she's a goner for sure. If only she'd read a bunch of ultralight camping books.

 

[GREENJACKET]

I bet they didn't spend $180 on their knives either.

 

[BladeScout]

See post 144.
This threads has gone on a right old merry go round about. Most are reading from the same song sheet. Still think a high quality folder such as a Spyderco Military is preferable to an inexpensive Mora style.

Beyond a small knife for camping then to me the next step up isn't the utility/combat size but a specialist tool like a Skrama or Small Forest Axe. Something capable of doing a lot of work comfortably... and don't forget the saw:

Stop posting that Skrama - Im covered on the chopper front, but its just so nice. Ive been looking at it for a while on the Varusteleka site.

Ohh and BTW, I have a Glock shovel but have now been looking at the titanium one from Russia. He wants £54 and that aint bad. I hate you!

 

[GREENJACKET]

The titanium Special Forces Shovel from Russia is very well made. They handles are quite light weight too (I refinished mine bottom) but with some fettling can be replaced with a Cold Steel one (top). The cover they come in is fine, nothing great; they however fit the higher quality Cold Steel one perfectly. I have both the Titanium for carry and the mega heavy steel Cold Steel for throwing which it does just great!

I'm a mega fan of the Skrama if no one had noticed (I have nothing to do with the company at all). Did this earlier in the year, its on my review thread I think:

"I've just sent a carbon one off for jungle training with a friend. Next year I might know if it did well or if it ended up in the skip next to the boat house. One Skrama sacrificed as part of the service to our hobby. In truth there aren't many options for this size of cutting tool. Skrama: "thinking man's golock"."

Well this is the report that I got back from the Trooper (though he calls it a parang, it was a Skrama):

"'On a separate note the parang you gave me was phenomenal, the local iban were very impressed. It was by far the most effective and robust. Also it didn’t rust which was amazing.
I managed top student, partly to how good that blade is."

High praise indeed. I'm just glad it helped. Think I had dipped it in candle wax knowing where it was going.
For the price its a no brainer. They are a cutter rather than chopper as in axe chopper; work as well in the jungle now as as in the Northern Hemisphere. Very clever, feels like a much smaller knife when choked up.

Its a hobby this blade thing. When I'm working I use power tools, some with big engines.

 

[A.L.]

I am no wilderness expert but I occasionally like to try "folder only" and "big knife only" to see how difficult some tasks can get when you need to fix things in your camp site. That being said, folding knife is better than no knife.

 

[Cobalt]

I bet they didn't spend $180 on their knives either.

kid looks at greenjacket dumbfounded

 

[jackknife]

Cobalt, thank you for those photos!!!! Loved them. It brings a dollop of reality back to the thread with people in some very back country with large fixed blades.

Of course, they are not going above 'tree line' so there is a difference!

 

[jackknife]

Okay, I gotta ask the question that either hasn't come up or is like the gorilla in the room that nobody talks about.

Here goes; so a fixed blade knife is not needed above tree line. Okay, I get that. Nothing but rock up there, no sticks to burn, logs to baton, jungle to hack through, nada. You have your trusty little stove to heat food and drink. Great.

But…how are you getting to tree line? Are you trekking in from the the great sandy desert side? Are you being dropped in by helicopter? Or is Scotty equipped with the right coordinates to beam you up there?

You are not walking through any woods, forest, fields, swamp, jungle, sprawling metropolis or any kind of terrain that just may call for a fixed blade at any time for a ton of reasons?

Please tell me where this easily accessed tree line is so I go hike it with just a trusty peanut in my pocket.

 

[BladeScout]

The titanium Special Forces Shovel from Russia is very well made. They handles are quite light weight too (I refinished mine bottom) but with some fettling can be replaced with a Cold Steel one (top). The cover they come in is fine, nothing great; they however fit the higher quality Cold Steel one perfectly. I have both the Titanium for carry and the mega heavy steel Cold Steel for throwing which it does just great!

Makes sense swapping the handles for obvious reasons when looking at the pic.

 

[BladeScout]

They are a cutter rather than chopper as in axe chopper; work as well in the jungle now as as in the Northern Hemisphere. Very clever, feels like a much smaller knife when choked up.

I should have stated, when I mentioned chopper, that the chopper, I had made, is not a big heavy chopper in the sense of some, we see here on the forum.

I am loath to use the words 'light weight' and 'minimalistic' in this thread, LOL, but none the less its a smaller chopper much the same size as the bigger Skrama but heavier; its for light weight work but due to the weight will easily chop medium limbs etc.

 

[Kataphraktos]

Clothes... optional? Sure, until you need them or want them as the young female hikers you meet on the trail call 911 to get you arrested for indecent exposure.

He mentioned a skill set instead of carrying clothes. I understood that meant making your own cloths and not going commando. [emoji14]

Again, with the right skill set the "young female hikers you meet on the trail" won't call the cops even if you're going commando. Extra degree-of-difficulty skill points if you avoid arrest while going commando but carrying that Skrama.

 

[Cobalt]

Cobalt, thank you for those photos!!!! Loved them. It brings a dollop of reality back to the thread with people in some very back country with large fixed blades.

Of course, they are not going above 'tree line' so there is a difference!

I don't think there is an above tree line where they live, lol....

 

[unimogbert]

But…how are you getting to tree line? Are you trekking in from the the great sandy desert side? Are you being dropped in by helicopter? Or is Scotty equipped with the right coordinates to beam you up there?

Colorado - Jeep trail up to treeline. Get out and hike. (such as Baker Pass in the NeverSummers)

Though I prefer the short forest areas just below treeline.
Only thing my fixed blade ever did for me while doing lots of backpacking is dig catholes.
Those plastic orange trowels don't work very well among rocks.

 

[GREENJACKET]

BladeScout, a bit like Znapschatz then. Definitely room for this scale of cutter/chopper in anyones blade armoury before going to an axe.

Cobalt, no the lads is looking at the sun shining from your arse, and wondering how much shit you can get into it.

Its a joke, joke taken too. We have all said carry what you like. I live in the modern world, do modern sports, and live at a high standard of living. Think you do too. Its a hobby.
How big a hole do you want to dig youself?

Its a hobby, do as you like. I think most people on here are intelligent enough to know where the different views are coming from. They will make their own minds up, and do what suits them.

 

[Jens Schuetz]

Again, with the right skill set the "young female hikers you meet on the trail" won't call the cops even if you're going commando. Extra degree-of-difficulty skill points if you avoid arrest while going commando but carrying that Skrama.

Lol
Just picturing a clothless guy trying to hide behind a bush and then realising the space is already taken by another one without clothes.

 

[GREENJACKET]

Think its called spooning!

 

[Cobalt]

BladeScout, a bit like Znapschatz then. Definitely room for this scale of cutter/chopper in anyones blade armoury before going to an axe.

Cobalt, no the lads is looking at the sun shining from your arse, and wondering how much shit you can get into it.

Its a joke, joke taken too. We have all said carry what you like. I live in the modern world, do modern sports, and live at a high standard of living. Think you do too. Its a hobby.
How big a hole do you want to dig youself?

Its a hobby, do as you like. I think most people on here are intelligent enough to know where the different views are coming from. They will make their own minds up, and do what suits them.

Sorry, that kids on my side. See the knife. If he was on your side he would have a feather duster. (just kidding, jeez, don't get so worked up )

But it isn't like the knife isn't one of the oldest tools, is it. Oh, look an ancient egyptian flint knife

 

[GREENJACKET]

I don't, and not.

My children were allowed to use sharp knives as soon as they showed enough responsibility and had the dexterity to do so. Given instruction and first aid course to go with it.

I used to nap flint when very young. I got ok at it but nothing special. Flint is really sharp, if brittle; frustrating to work with or what. Fine on fish and game. Want to cut a tree down with no tools, use a fire around the base.
The neighbours forester taught me my forestry skills and how to snare and fish. Lofty Wiseman my military survival, and a friend and I taught Ray Mears how to shoot before he was famous. Don't know Bear Gryls at all but endured the same interrogation course he went through. I'm older so was no more than a Cold War Warrior. I'm not groovy on heights unless with skis on. I've done a lot of hunting and shooting.
But my interest on the outdoors remains strong, and the knives always an enjoyable hobby. Seen some changes over the years in fashions and taste. Haven't blogged here for a while but remember when Cliff Stamp first signed up.

Just happy my children have taken to it all too.

I really have to go and get some work done.