Most Efficient Number of Knives to Carry, Maximum Potential, Minimum Waste

Marion David Poff

Marion David Poff

Joined
Oct 8, 1998
Messages
5,403
Good Day,

What are the knives that you would carry to get everything done in the woods without unneccesarily weighting yourself down?

I know we like to have as many knives on us as possible, we are knife afficiandos. But, realistically we are probably not going to carry every knife we own with us.

Ron Hood carries a Large Knife, a Small Knife and an Axe. I think????

I can see myself with a Large Knife (18-20 inches overall -Bolo, Barong, Bowie), a Small Knife (9-11 inches overall -MEUK, TOPS Shadow Hunter, RBD Paradigm), a Personal/City/Neck/Bird and Trout Knife (6-8 inches overall- Livesay/Wicked Little Pecker, Blade Neck, Marble's style Bird and Trout), and an Axe. Oh and a multitool/SAK for all the tools in it, which could replace the neck knife in a minimalist situation.

The Large Knife can do it all to a certain degree.

The Small Knife has a full grip for comfort and will all the stuff that a Large Knife cannot do conveniently, except those tasks best suited to....

The Neck knife, which by nature of it's size, can accomplish all the really fine stuff.

And an Axe? Well, it is for all the massive jobs in an arboreal wilderness.

So that is my vision, what is yours?

What purpose do Medium Knives fulfil?

I might add a Machete.....

What other issues are there??????

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Marion David Poff aka Eye mdpoff@hotmail.com
Coeur D'Alene, ID
http://www.geocities.com/mdpoff

An interesting business oppurtunity... http://www.geocities.com/selouss

"We will either find a way, or make one." Hannibal, 210 B.C.
 
For a person like myself in an urban/suburban environment, four knives is okay if a couple of them are really small. I always have a Leatherman Micra and a Spyderco Ladybug on my keychain. I often carry the Spyderench in my briefcase and a medium size folder like the Native or whatever I feel that day clipped to my pocket.
 
These are the other places where I have posted this same question.....

http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum18/HTML/000254.html

http://pub2.ezboard.com/flivesayknivesknife.showMessage?topicID=101.topic

http://pub2.ezboard.com/frtaknivesgear.showMessage?topicID=50.topic

http://pub1.ezboard.com/fhoodlumsbladeware.showMessage?topicID=175.topic

http://www.knifeforums.com/ubb/Forum19/HTML/000004.html

http://pub1.ezboard.com/ffaqandmisccomments.showMessage?topicID=13.topic

http://www.griffithknives.com/board/?topic=topic1&msg=197

http://www.huntamerica.com/ubb/Forum40/HTML/000039.html

http://pub2.ezboard.com/frtasurvival.showMessage?topicID=37.topic

http://pub1.ezboard.com/fhoodlumswelcometothehoodlums.showMessage?topicID=432.topic

http://www.knifeforums.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/001869.html

http://www.knifeforums.com/ubb/Forum13/HTML/000271.html

http://www.gold-corner.com/forums/kaknives/7.html

And I was going to post this at Tactical Forums too, but their registration process tkaes quite awhile.....



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Marion David Poff aka Eye mdpoff@hotmail.com
Coeur D'Alene, ID
http://www.geocities.com/mdpoff

An interesting business oppurtunity... http://www.geocities.com/selouss

"We will either find a way, or make one." Hannibal, 210 B.C.
 
Well in many a third world country native people survive every day with a machete (sp?). What makes you think you need more than that for a week in the woods? Realistically I think you will be just fine with less: a SAK for general backpacking use or a 4-5 inch fixed blade at the most. Keep it simple, light and sharp. Who wants to hike 10 or so miles a day while carrying a hatchet and a bowie knife ?

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An eye for an eye leaves everyone blind.
 
Marion, I'd say two knives. In an urban environment, you can leave one in the house or car as a back up but in a pinch you could carry it along with the smaller. A survival situation is quite obvious.

The larger knife can do it all though I reserve it for the harsher chores. I would prefer the smaller to be legal (urban) or medium size, as many small knives on your person doesn't seem practical. I would not put any on my keychain IMHO.
 
It really depends on what you are planning to do and in what part of the world. Here in North Carolina most short hiking/camping trip tasks could be accomplished with a 4-8 inch blade fixed blade and a multi-tool or SAK.

For an extended stay a good hatchet or machete might make shelter building and firewood gathering easier.
 
Hello,

Well for myself I am going to Carry a
MEUK-1 Talonite Blade, when i get the chance to make myself one!!!

And I also carry a 10 inch COMBAT PATROL BOWIE full flat ground 5160 zone hardened
1/4 inch stock, black Canvas micarta handled
Blade in the wilderness.

These two knives together do any and everything in the Deep Woods that i would ever need to do!!

And a large Knife if Ground properly, and balanced right is a dream to carry in the woodline.

not many people Camp or explore the woods like i do ,,i carry a minimal amount of weight anyway. and let my Cutlery provide the Shelter, Ect,,,,ect,,, so this way i save on equipment,,,Tents,,,sleeping bags,,ect...

my .02
take care,

Allen Blade
 
I'd probably go with three knives.
First: Largest. Used mainly as a weapon.
Second: Medium. (4 inches or so). Mainly used for the everyday uses for a knife in the woods.
Third: Small knife, either a boot or neck knives...probably a neck knife, boot knives can get uncomfortable unless you've got a good sheath...which i don't have any xp in, so i can't say for sure. This would be a backup, 'just in case' knife...that i would never take out unless it was necessary, and the others were gone.
Compared to what i usually have with me, hiking, camping, or whatnot, that would be pretty light
wink.gif
.

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"I wouldn't mind you being inside my head if you weren't clearly so crazy."

"I do not conform according to your opinion."
 
I have done quite well with just one knife, so I'd echo Lynn's comments. I've carried a Dozier Yukon Pro Skinner for several years, and one more than one week-long hiking/hunting trip I've used it to dress & prepare game for meals, as well as build lean-to's for nightly shelter. It would serve any knife function I can imagine as well as any knife, and better than most.

I almost always carry a pocket knife of some kind (small SAK, mini-AFCK, Umfaan) as a back-up knife in case I lose my primary blade. Just a habit I've had for years.

I don't find the need to do a lot of chopping... most of the time adequate fire wood may be obtained by merely scouring the area for limbs, twigs, etc. Limbs can be reduced to a more managable size by using leverage (feet, etc.) to break them.

I often add a Leatherman SuperTool to my belt if I think I'll need any of the non-knife tools, so in those cases I carry two tools/knives.

I suppose in more tropical climates (I'm from/in Michigan) I'd take along my Ontario machete. If I planned on an extended trip/expedition, I might bring along a small axe (I'm really eyeing the Roselli model).

My preference is to travel as lightly and as simply as I can.

AJ
 
My preference would be for two knives:

Large knife: Himalayan Imports or Gurkha House 18 inch khukuri with a WWII type blade - excellent for chopping, slicing, digging, self-defense, etc.

Small knife: 7 inch karda(looks something like a finnish puukko)

Above set comes with a scabbard that houses all of the above along with a chakma(burnisher) for touching both up.

Harry
 
Ditto Granite's logic.

Unless you are in a jungle and need a machete, the MOST EFFICIENT number of knives is, of course, ONE. (Or two, if a multi-tool counts as a knife.)

A good 4"-5" fixed blade will do just fine. It can effectively split wood and de-limb small branches. If you really feel the need to take down something bigger, then a Pocket Chainsaw will do nearly everything a big knife, blade saw, or axe can do -- and do it faster, more effectively, and with less energy. Plus it weighs only a few ounces and literally fits in your pocket.

As for the notion that a bigger knife can "do it all": have you ever tried to dress small game or fillet a fish with a khukuri or 1/4" thick bowie? (Or carve a spoon out of wood, whittle tent stakes, etc?) If not, you might want to get some practice before you rely on it for your "survival"...

.02 at most --
Glen

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Y2K complacent
 
I'd take three knives: one large with about 8in blade, one smaller 4.5in blade and a SAK. I would also take a small axe for firewood. In some circumstances large knife and axe are alternative but quite seldom.

If I wanted to have a little fun too I'd take three large knives two smaller, SAK and multitool. If I wanted to have serious fun I'd take ALL my knives and a bearer.
 
Well, given that I have a desk job and am not involved in any extended outdoors/survival activities I've never needed more than two folders of small to medium size.

The first is usually a small multiblade (Classic sized Victorinox Mini-Champ II or Case medium CV Stockman) for quick and/or sheeple friendly tasks and for extreme control ... try cutting a plastic wristband off of your two year old's wrist with a Sifu or Military and see where that gets you.

The second is usually a 3" to 4" bladed one-hand folder that *rarely* sees any use - some kitchen work and package opening mainly. This will range from a Spyderco Dragonfly up to a Benchmade Axis-Lock.

Realistically, the most efficient (for me) would be just the small multi-blade. I'd trade off one handed opening for less bulk and weight.

This is, of course, when I outfit myself for "office survival". :-)


Now, for outdoors survival scenarios I'm not much of an expert. I'd *guess* a 7 to 10 inch bladed bowie-style knife for shelter building, firewood collecting and lite digging. Possibly as a weapon too, but I'd rather have a firearm. Then comes a 3 to 4.5 inch bladed knife for food prep and more refined cutting tasks. That should pretty much do it. For mechanical tasks and as a backup I'd throw a third knife into the, probably a fully loaded SAK or multi-tool.


Jon

[This message has been edited by Ghecko (edited 01-05-2000).]
 
If you're backpacking up around timberline, and the only cooking fire you'll have is your ultralight gas stove, you may be able to get by with a multi-tool or Swiss Army type knife. You're unlikely to need a weapon, but your walking stick could double as a quarterstaff in a pinch.

Here's an example of a traditional Arctic Circle answer, from Lappland: http://www.chaicutlery.com/iisakki/5629.jpg http://www.chaicutlery.com/iisakki/5629-sheath.jpg
I have no personal experience herding reindeer up about the Arctic Circle, but it's one combination that seems to work for some folks who spend a lot of time outside in the cold.

In a recent Backpacker magazine, the hard-core primitive survival instructor in the cover article uses a $10 lightweight 4" carbon steel knife in a cheap plastic sheath, hung around his neck by a cord and possibly held together by the electrician's tape that attaches the fire starting kit to the sheath.



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- JKM
www.chaicutlery.com
AKTI Member # SA00001
 
As usual, Eye has posted a topic near and dear to my heart. When hiking/camping I carry the following:
1. Busse Basic #7
2. Lynn Griffith Patrolman
3. Spyderco Wegner
4. Leatherman Wave

Perhaps, PERHAPS, I could get by without one of these, but geez, I'd sure hate to have to choose! I figure with these four I can tackle about any chore/situation which comes up. I swap the Patrolman for Lynn's Tracker sometimes, or sometimes leave the Busse at home and take both Griffiths. Sometimes the Wegner is replaced with the Rookie, but (I'm rambling again) these four are my usual carry.
Paul
PS-I may add the REKAT Utility neck knife when it arrives, as long as it's comfortable while carrying a full pack.
 
Originally posted by James Mattis:
In a recent Backpacker magazine, the hard-core primitive survival instructor in the cover article uses a $10 lightweight 4" carbon steel knife in a cheap plastic sheath, hung around his neck by a cord and possibly held together by the electrician's tape that attaches the fire starting kit to the sheath.
Click to expand...

Ahhhh.... another <u>Backpacker</u> reader, perhaps?
I normally carry two knives on my backpacking trips. My Buck Vanguard, and my Victorinox Climber knife. Sometimes I'll add a Buck 112 or 500. But the Vanguard does the bulk of the work, from kindling to cutting food to hammering in tent stakes.

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"Absolute safety is for those who don't have the balls to live in the real world."
 
Storyville :

have you ever tried to dress small game or fillet a fish with a khukuri or 1/4" thick bowie
Click to expand...

Yes, I have it with my 22" AK, the BM does this much easier though. I have also cleaned trout and such with a full sized axe.

Back to Marion's question. Well what is the most gear I would want. Starting off with heavy wood tools, I would have two large felling axes, with two different bit grinds for hard and soft wood. Add to that a light forest/limbing axe, a large splitting maul, a small hunter's axe and carpenters axe. As for saws I would want a large and small bucksaw and a couple of replacement blades on hand.

Now is all of this necessary, of course not. But in an ideal situation for me to get the most out of my physical effort that is what I would want. I discussed this with my father last week and limited the tools to axes and saws. He grew up doing wood cutting as it was the primary heat source. All he used was a felling axe (hard wood bit) and a large bucksaw. That did all the cutting. Now it takes an extreme effort to do precise work with a large felling axe (the heads are very heavy) as well as they are very difficult to split wood with because they bind readily. The outcome of this is simple - he is fairly strong. Same reasoning/result with Bucksaws.

Back to knives, awhile ago I spent a few hours in the woods doing all manner of cutting and chopping trying to decide what would be better for me to have a Busse BM or my 18 AK. It was not a clear choice. The AK would easily fell wood much faster and with less strain than the BM, but the BM would handle low impact work better. However that is only because I don't have the necessary wrist/forearm strength to work at that level with the AK (but if I did the BM would again make a performance leap). Bottom line with me at 100% I would chose the AK as its primary focus is the "emergency" part of survival which can need to be done in a fixed time frame.

This however brings up something I think is often overlooked. If you get injured very large blades can easily become impossible to use. A few months ago my thumb was a bit out. I could not notice it with normal everyday work but when I attempted to do some wood chopping my performance was at about 50% of normal and the shock quickly generated pain and I stopped because I didn't want to aggravate the condition. For heavy wood cutting saws are much easier to use as they are low impact. You can even use them to fell wood, it is awkward but it can be done. Even a small 1" buck saw will take down a 6 to 8" tree very quickly.

Back to blades again. How about machetes, well I would want a 1/16" one for light brush and a 3/16" one for heavier wood. Note that these are fairly narrow in the scope of work though. They will bind readily on woods (the 1/16" one probably breaking apart). A BM while being harder to use fatigue wise on brush can handle hard chopping much better.

The latter being probably the most important point. Different enviroments require different types of work, and how you handle each obviously depends strongly on your personal ability. In order to make the best decision possible spend time in the area (or simulate it if you can't) and very important use your blades in areas they are not primarily intended for. It might be that they are usable, while not optimum, but it might be that they are so poor that you would get frustrated very quickly and wish you had another blade.

By the way Marion, you have done an excellent job of starting many interesting threads as of late.

-Cliff

[This message has been edited by Cliff Stamp (edited 01-11-2000).]
 
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