Multi Knife Systems

TheWambo

TheWambo

Joined
Apr 21, 2012
Messages
1,138
I'm working on a video on the concepts of carrying different sized blades in the field. I could have sworn there was a thread on this but I can't find it for the life of me. Anyway my system usually boils down to a large blade (knife or axe) and a smaller blade (5 inches or less). I know a lot of people have a similar setup and even a 3 (or more) knife system. so long story long, I was wondering if you guys would either point me in the right direction of a thread with this info or...Let me know what you usually carry and why?

I used to carry my 14 and a hatchet (I rotate through about 10 different ones) then my 16, 14, and a hatchet (which I found to be redundant with the 14 and 16) and now I'm working with my 16 and a 9. (The 16 is a little more user friendly than the 14 and I'm trying to improve my large knife technique with the 9) I have also considered adding a 13 into the mix as a backup knife if my 16 (or 14 if I take it instead) goes down for some reason.

Again if this info has already been covered I apologize if not, have fun showboating :D
 
If I were going into the woods for a few days, I'd bring my tomahawk, my BK5, and my swiss army knife or my stainless Victorinox multi-tool. If weight was really an issue, it would be my tomahawk head and my BK11. I could make due with those two.
 
The three I usually have on me out in the woods:

Ft Turner Buck Tomahawk
Large Becker (usually BK-5 but sometimes I'll be in the mood for the BK-9HH or BK-7)
BK-11
 
Wolf_1989 said:
The three I usually have on me out in the woods:

Ft Turner Buck Tomahawk
Large Becker (usually BK-5 but sometimes I'll be in the mood for the BK-9HH or BK-7)
BK-11
Click to expand...

Interesting, do you find the combination of a large camp knife and a hawk practical? (not hating on your system at all, I've done similar on many occasion)
 
I carry a BK9 or SP50 ( know not BK&T, but it is my backup). I have gotten to the point where I can do all I need with the BK9. I seriously don't get why some guys have the 2 knife combo, it isn't needed. When I am feeling lazy and I don't wan't to carry a lot, I take my BK7 along.
 
I certainly do find it practical. Tomahawk for chopping and large knife for use as a machete. Small knife for detailed work. It covers everything.
 
Wolf_1989 said:
I certainly do find it practical. Tomahawk for chopping and large knife for use as a machete. Small knife for detailed work. It covers everything.
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I can understand the axe/small knife concept. I guess it would be a preference. I have spent a lot of time in the woods around my place gathering wood and chopping wood for tests and garden use (yes it is legal and I usually use dead wood). I have always gone to my larger blades, never an axe or hatchet. I can take a BK9 and know it will work for ALL my tasks and well, it won't fail me. I only take a secondary knife if for some reason the first one breaks on me. I usually hike in or bike in and out so an axe is a bit out of the question. But whatever works for you all is cool too...
 
What part of Europe are you in?

I think I could have a good time in those deep forests of Eastern Europe and Russia.
 
europeanoutdoorsman said:
I carry a BK9 or SP50 ( know not BK&T, but it is my backup). I have gotten to the point where I can do all I need with the BK9. I seriously don't get why some guys have the 2 knife combo, it isn't needed. When I am feeling lazy and I don't wan't to carry a lot, I take my BK7 along.
Click to expand...

Not limiting it to Beckers, I just know we have a pretty decent bunch of outdoorsmen and women (are we at two or three now? :D ), I personally carry two knives, because I like having the dexterity of a smaller blade as well as the power of a large knife or hatchet when I need it. Plus if one or the other gets lost or damaged at least I have one back up.
 
The weight of small knives is so close to being negligible that I personally find it hard not to bring one. Unless I were packed VERY heavy on other things (which I never have been), I couldn't see leaving it behind. They are so useful.

My own personally approach is of efficiency in the field. If I can do something with a small knife twice as fast as I could with a large knife, it's worth packing a few extra ounces.
 
My pick would be either [BK14 + KaBar Kukri] or [BK2 + Opinel/Mora/SAK]

Some combination like this..
 
Wolf_1989 said:
What part of Europe are you in?

I think I could have a good time in those deep forests of Eastern Europe and Russia.
Click to expand...

I am in Eastern Slovakia near Ukraine and Hungary. The forests are calm and quiet because most of the people and trying to stay warm with vodka. :)

The biggest issue in the woods here are the wild boars. They get like 500 lbs and they are very aggressive. That is why we need K9-Handler's Becker pig sticker! :)

Personally, I love all my blades to be weight forward. I guess Ethan designed his knives that way and so even something as weight forward and heavy as the BK9 feels good to me. Plus, check out Jerry Fisk's talks on sharpening and then you can get the Beckers (and other knives) sharp enough to "shave a baby" ... :D
 
I have a Victorinox SwissTool that is always on me. I keep it shaving sharp, it has a blade, scissors, a saw, a file, an awl, and a small chisel, all of which have their uses in the woods.

When I'm going to the woods, I'll strap on my BK-16, and drop a folding saw in my pack. Those two tools enable me to provide firewood for myself. If I know I'll have a larger project, for example a large fire, or some shelter building, I like to swap the saw for an axe, such as the Gränsfors Small Forest Axe. In the winter, I like to keep it with me whatever the plan is. Going through 2" thick branches in 2 swings does have its advantages and is way less energy consuming than using a saw or a large knife.
 
europeanoutdoorsman said:
I am in Eastern Slovakia near Ukraine and Hungary. The forests are calm and quiet because most of the people and trying to stay warm with vodka. :)

The biggest issue in the woods here are the wild boars. They get like 500 lbs and they are very aggressive. That is why we need K9-Handler's Becker pig sticker! :)

Personally, I love all my blades to be weight forward. I guess Ethan designed his knives that way and so even something as weight forward and heavy as the BK9 feels good to me. Plus, check out Jerry Fisk's talks on sharpening and then you can get the Beckers (and other knives) sharp enough to "shave a baby" ... :D
Click to expand...

I've love to hunt one of those big pigs:cool:
 
I've hunted them in eastern Texas but we got piggies only weighing about 200 lbs or so. That's not quite as big as a 500 lb soviet superpig.
 
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