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Gossman Knives

Gossman Knives

Edged Toolmaker
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Apr 9, 2004
Messages
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Here's a question to satisfy my curiousity. What's the most important task or job you expect your knife to perform if you would end up in a bad way while out. Everyone lives in different enviroments, states and other countries so each persons situation is going to be different. Lets not make this a company, maker, brand is better then yours thread. There's really no need to mention which knife, just what you think would be then most important job or jobs it would perform to make life comfortable until you get back.
Scott
 
Well, in my area the only thing I REALLY need my knife for is FIGHTING WILD CATS!:D

No, seriously though, I knife isnt imperative, you could bet by fine with a folder in fact. It is however more efficient and more fun to have a fixed of any size to mess around with.

Up shot?

A fixed, folder and saw will take car of any needs that might arise, you would be more than better off with that set-up.
At least I would.
 
In the rule of three's, I want my knife help make SHELTER and FIRE. Blade long and Strong enough to cut skelter poles and SHARP enough to cut fuzz sticks for fire.
 
I need a knife for fine cutting tasks..... fire prep, cordage, food prep, trap making. I use my hawk for the big stuff.
 
Magnussen said:
I need a knife for fine cutting tasks..... fire prep, cordage, food prep, trap making. I use my hawk for the big stuff.
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+1 although it's usually a hatchet for me. Maybe that will change when I get my norse hawk that Magnussen's reviews convinced me to order.
 
i want my knife/knives to be able to be able to handle anything i need it to, other than standing on it..:o it need to be able to dress game, make shelter. help with fire building and keep me safe from any predators, if the need ever arises...
 
Based on where I live,

Fire prep, food prep, would be among the top two priorities IMO.

I feel shelter would be covered with either what I have on my person or a debris shelter.
 
being able to be batonned through limbs for wood gathering / shelter building.

Cut rope or light materials as well. A point usable enough for poking through materials or skin if food prep was needed. Basically any task associated with shelter or fire building.
 
In the Land of 10,000 Lakes, filleting fish for starters. Then I suppose food prep, shelter construction, fire making.
My knives are usually used for food prep when camping.
 
mtnfolk mike said:
i want my knife/knives to be able to be able to handle anything i need it to, other than standing on it..:o it need to be able to dress game, make shelter. help with fire building and keep me safe from any predators, if the need ever arises...
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EXACTLY!!!!!!:thumbup::thumbup:
 
Fire and shelter building, trap and food prep then tool making.

Pretty much it has to be strong enough for the first and still sharp enough for the last.

David
 
Doesn't anyone use tents or tarps? Shelter building is at the very bottom of my list, as is dressing out game (I don't hunt), building traps, etc.

I cut paracord, work with firewood, make tent pegs, and that's about it. That's why a knife like the Fallkniven F1 is as much knife as I'm likely to need. I am comforted that it can do pretty much any task referred to in this thread but my time outdoors isn't about using natural resources anymore than necessary. I'm out to enjoy the air and scenery and being away from others.
 
in the event of a bad turn of the tables, in my area i think the most important survival priority is fire.

as long as i have fire, i will be warm enough to survive. i can last at least a couple of days without food and water, but if i'm hypothermic i will be dead...

so if i have a knife that will help me keep a good hot fire going, then that's all i really need.

but i usually carry a folding saw and/or axe for keeping a fire going, and a smaller knife for whittling.
 
Gossman Knives said:
What's the most important task or job you expect your knife to perform if you would end up in a bad way while out.
Scott
Click to expand...

CSG said:
Doesn't anyone use tents or tarps? Shelter building is at the very bottom of my list, as is dressing out game (I don't hunt), building traps, etc.
Click to expand...

I believe you are missing the intent of Scott's question....

"In a bad way while out" means to me, "Toto, we're not in Kansas anymore", meaning this isn't in the middle of my typical backpacking trip. It means I lost my pack (I've seen this happen), burnt my tent down because I was to lazy to cook outside in rain (yep, saw this too), got lost without a viable shelter option, etc.

In the situations I might find myself, I'm either walking out, or defending in place until rescued (if injured). I want water, I want a fire, and I may want a shelter with a little more to it than a debris hut. Food acquisition or prep is a distant 3rd for me.
 
Sensible question deserves a sensible answer: It must cut a variety of substances, cloth to make ties or string if I have it, sticks to make shelter, hacking into stumps for dry wood or bugs to eat, also it may be that I need it to be able to dig a shallow pit or clear some dirt out from a rock overhang for an initial camp until the light clears enough for me to see/find a better shelter.
It should be strong enough to open up sea shells, sharp enough to skin birds and perform emergency surgery (probably splinter removal), and be robust enough to make other tools (sharp sticks for hunting, fishhooks, digging etc).
Finally it should be able to be sharpened easily, not snap when abused, be comfortable to use and carry.

Thats what I am after in a knife - although most often its only going to cut bread and apples!
 
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