My tools for the woods

I support the hatchet, 4-5 inch fixed blade, and SAK. I also like a multi tool myself (gerber or Leatherman). Lots of good ideas here. I wanted to add on sharpening with the Lansky-with todays modern steels it used to take me forever to get a bur with the standard stones. If I might make a suggestion, buy a course lansky diamond stone and get a burr on first one side and then the other. Then you can use the regular stones as normal. I think you will sharpen that Voyager (the only CS folder I like) up real quick. I greatly prefer the Spyderco Endura though. I also would encourage you buy a Norton double sided India stone and use some cheap kitchen knives and teach yourself how to sharpen free hand. It is very rewarding and with a little practice will take half the time of the Lansky.

There are a lot of GB fans here but I have yet to buy one. For my money I have bought recently the Wetterlings hatchet and the Gerber hatchet and I like them both.
 
a mora is more than adequate for a belt knife....talk to normark and he can whip you up a custom kydex sheath with a fire steel loop....if your l;ooking tostep it up a little you could try a mora 2000, you'd be hard pressed to find a knife easier to sharoen than a mora..the scandi grind sharpens up nice and easy, and is a dream to whittle with....I wish fallkniven made an f-1 style knife with a scandi grind. also as an alternative I've heard good things about the SOG fieldpup, and the buck vanguard but both are more pricey than a mora.
 
Thanks everybody, I am learning a LOT of info.

1. Nice gransfors- I want one but they are down the road for me. Some day, I will graduate to one.

Anybody know how to make a sheath for a tomahawk?

2. Thanks for the tip on the diamond stone for the lansky system to sharpen my voyager. I love the voyager, it isn't to military/fighting looking like the other cold steel folders. I loved that knife but after a year or so of hard cutting its not shaving sharp as it once was. A nice guy at the store where I bought it from sharpened it for me, but I would like to do it myself. I will look into that. I think GanderMountain has all the replacement stones for the lansky system. Once resharpened, it could stand by for my want of the TDI, the voyager is fast access, quick opening. So I don't have to get the TDI!!
Also, then I will have a second sharp folder, and won't need to get the featherlite, although I still am interested in it.

Oh, that is dissappointing about the featherlite. Can anyone give me a positive story about it? I will hold off my purchase for know, till I know its a good knife.

For the mora:

1. The model 2000 has a very wierd grind. Would that be best for a beginner? That is turning me off, and I think I want carbon steel.

2. I really like the looks of the craftsmen model in carbon steel. I went to normarks site, and found this sheath for 22 dollars but I don't know if it fits the craftsmen. http://www.mnsi.net/~nbtnoel/swak.jpg
will it fit the craftsmen http://www.ragweedforge.com/740.jpg

The dust is starting to settle.....

1. SAK trekker
2. ReSHARPENED Cold steel voyager- 4inch
3. Trail hawk- I will see how I like it. Could even just take the head- if I find it too bulky.
4. Gossman PSK- with sheath from a fellow member
5. Craftsmen mora with normark sheath


Wow, suddenly I will be carrying a lot of knives!:) The good thing is that I own the first 3 on the list.

I am still caring my Ka-bar folding hunters for my have a knife around in the city, everyday kind of stuff.

Thanks for the help, and all the helpful posts. I love the pictures, they seem to draw me in. Fine pieces of cutlery in those pics, keep them coming. Please continue to help me and answer my pesky questions. Thank you.

Scottman
 
For plodding about in the woods, I don't think you'd really need to carry the Voyager, the Mora would probably be plenty. Up to you though, I find that my Chris Reeve Shadow, Razor saw and my ATC VTAC are more than enough. Try a bunch of combinations and carry what's comfortable for you.
 
That's very wise of you to hold off on some of the blades! These are fun decisions to make, anyway.

I'd also recommend taking a few less blades with you into the woods, so as not to needlessly weigh yourself down. Maybe the folder/multi-tool, a good fixed blade, and a chopper? I think your SAK Trekker, hawk and a Mora would be a very excellent combo that would cover all your bases and perform enviably.

Oh, I'd also like to throw the Mora 510 into the pot, in competition with the Craftsman or M2K. It's an excellent blade and feels great in the hand. The 510 is my favorite Mora.

A bonus of waiting to purchase more fixed blades until after getting and using a Mora is that you'll have decided more completely what you do and don't want in a knife. (Or if you even feel that you need something else at all.)
 
Check this thread to see what a lot of other people carry.
Seems like everyone had a multitool/SAk, small fixed blade and chopper.
If you don't want one blade to do it all you can find some good ideas here. But keep it simple, I don't know if your just camping or backpacking but carrying more than 3 blades backpacking is like carrying 3 pairs of boots. You can only use one at a time. http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=483272
 
Blais, Please return the two Featherlites for refund, I hate ithe idea of your haveing knives you dislike so much.

Scottman, If you will send me your name and mailing addressz I will send you the feather lite from my own pocket, I lose one or two a year so it is pretty new. You decide if the knife is dog-poo or not, we sell thousands and get back very few. A. G.
 
A.G. Russell featherlite is a super knife. Dog Poo?? I have owned several of A. G. Russell's knives and every one of them was terrific. I have had owned his one handed knife for years, a texas toothpick, a wharncliff whittler, all have been great products. Dog Poo?? I don't think so.
 
A. G. Russell said:
Scottman, If you will send me your name and mailing addressz I will send you the feather lite from my own pocket, I lose one or two a year so it is pretty new. You decide if the knife is dog-poo or not, we sell thousands and get back very few. A. G.
Click to expand...

Now there's a man backing up a product.
I must say, I'm impressed. I think I may just go shopping for an A.G. Russell knife for myself.
Mr. Russell, I salute you sir.
 
No need, mine was given to my little brother for his collection and god knows where my dad's is. I appreciate the gesture and I apologize for the dog-poo comment. It wasn't meant to be taken personally.
 
Thanks again. I like the idea of a mora, trekker SAK, and hawk for carry.

I guess if I had the Normark sheath the mora would become more faster access, and the primary knife. I think I should be getting the mora and aftermarket sheath next.

Can anybody answer my question about the sheath for the craftsmen on my previous post?

Also, these knives are pretty small, and won't "weigh me down" if spread out. I also think I could put the extra knife (not the 3 primary) in my kit, in the woods bag.

A.G Russle, wow, I will hold off my purchase of the gossman psk for a couple of months, and take your gracious offer. I don't know if you want me to post my name and address here, or if I can somehow contact you in another way? I also need clearer terms on your offer. Are you letting me try out the knife and then pay you for it? Or something different? I have to say I am very impressed with your offer toward people who want to use your products.

Later,
Scottman
 
Scottman, if you click on AGs name in his post, you can contact him. Very gracious offer indeed.

Here are a couple of Normarks sheaths that I have. One for the 2000 and the other for the Frost Swedish army knife.

P1020752.jpg
 
Scottman said:
A.G Russell, wow, I will hold off my purchase of the gossman psk for a couple of months, and take your gracious offer. I don't know if you want me to post my name and address here, or if I can somehow contact you in another way? I also need clearer terms on your offer. Are you letting me try out the knife and then pay you for it? Or something different? I have to say I am very impressed with your offer toward people who want to use your products.

Later,
Scottman
Click to expand...

I think because he is a man of unsurpassed integrity and generosity he is giving you one of his own knives. You might even get some pocket lint in the deal as well. Lucky! :D
 
I don't know what you plan to do in the woods or how you plan to get there but your list contains alot of steel. How about just carrying one knife and learn to get the full benefit of it before adding a bunch more? A SAK trekker will likely do everything you need done. After all if you are backpacking and carrying your food and cooking on a stove then the knife will just open meal pouches. If you can build an open fire at this time of year it will be a small cooking fire made from dead wood right? You don't need a "trio" for most trips during the summer months unless you might be foraging or building fires for several nights. Now don't get me wrong, I'm as much a gear queer as the next guy, but too many tools are a bad thing when you are trying to learn new skills.

I hope you like your CS Trail Hawk. I don't much care for mine. I cut the handle down and wrapped it but I still don't find much use for it compared to a hatchet. Wetterlings are well made and relatively cheap.

A.G. way to step up to the plate! Well Done.
 
Scottman said:
Thanks again. I like the idea of a mora, trekker SAK, and hawk for carry.

I guess if I had the Normark sheath the mora would become more faster access, and the primary knife. I think I should be getting the mora and aftermarket sheath next.

Can anybody answer my question about the sheath for the craftsmen on my previous post?

Also, these knives are pretty small, and won't "weigh me down" if spread out. I also think I could put the extra knife (not the 3 primary) in my kit, in the woods bag.

A.G Russle, wow, I will hold off my purchase of the gossman psk for a couple of months, and take your gracious offer. I don't know if you want me to post my name and address here, or if I can somehow contact you in another way? I also need clearer terms on your offer. Are you letting me try out the knife and then pay you for it? Or something different? I have to say I am very impressed with your offer toward people who want to use your products.

Later,
Scottman
Click to expand...

my email is agr@agr3.com
 
Scottman-I do not own one but I handled an AG Russell Deerhunter at the Blade Show. I thought I would mention it since you have his catalogue. It is definately on my to buy list and it even comes with a good sheath.

http://www.agrussell.com/knives/by_...es/a_g_russell_deer_hunter_with_d2_blade.html.

I would splurge and get the D2 myself.

AG Russell- Well done sir. You have stood up to the image that I have always held of you from my readings in cutlery literature. While some might not like the features of a particular knife I have never seen or heard of anything of yours being substandard. Thank you for setting an example for the industry.
 
Thank you Mr. Russell, I clicked on your name (A.G. Russell)and sent my address. Thank you, very much.

I agree on carrying a lot of blades might be overkill. But OWNING a lot of blades and using the ones that work best for you is not.

I am trying to get into "survival camping". There was a really good article in the last issue of the Backwoodsman. I want to try it more often.

My "survival trips aren't that heavy duty, and I was always 500 yards from the car if something happened.

Trip 1. 2 days in winter, had my estwing axe and some basic supplies. Nalgene water bottle and 2 ramon noodles, and 1 hersey bar. Made a lean to with my tarp and fire wall to reflect the heat. Made a mattress with plant matterial. Had a blanket. Took a duffel bag, I felt overloaded with supplies.

Trip 2. Took my cold steel shovel out and my Ka-bar folding hunter. For an overnighter. The clothes on my back and my two tools was all I had, no sleeping bag. It got down past 30 degrees. I made a sort of debris shelter, and I survived the night. The shovel cleanly downed a good thick sapling/small tree for the ridge pole. Used the Kabar to I did have pretty good clothes though, so nothing to brag about. Mors says that your clothes are the first line of defense agaisnt he elements, and in a sense are your primary shelter.

So, this is why I want to try new blades. To see what works best for me, so I can carry them on my trips. To see thier strenths, practice makiing fuzz sticks, mend the fire, and start to learn woodcraft.

I love the outdoors:)

The picts of the mora sheaths, the "army knife" looks to be the same as the craftsmen. IS that true?

Thankyou to all members who are helping me and posting. VERY MUCH appreciated.

Later,
Scottman
 
Hi Scottman-

Are you referring to Longbow's pic? The blade on the bottom with the uni-color green handle is actually a little different than the Craftsman. That blade is a little bit thinner and is not laminated (it's all stainless). I have both and both are good blades, but I seem to prefer the Craftsman.

The one above it is the Mora 2000, which you could find more info about by searching here. They are also for sale at Ragweed Forge and cost a bit more than the other Moras (I don't yet own one).

Good luck in your search!

-Spooky
 
Scottman said:
Thank you Mr. Russell, I clicked on your name (A.G. Russell)and sent my address. Thank you, very much. Later,
Scottman
Click to expand...

Scottman,

If you sent it to me at agr@agr3.com then I threw it out with the junk mail. be sure and put knives or knife in the subject line so I catch it. I have not even been looking at what the computer deems to be junk. I will the rest of the day.
thanks,

A. G.
 
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