need your input : survival/hog finisher!!

Runsalone

Runsalone

Joined
Oct 22, 2003
Messages
1,150
heres th simple version. Looking for new knife as backup for hog hunting/survival knife.
Right now Im leaning heavily towards the ontario Marine Raider Bowie, or possibly the cold steel LTC Kukri.

10 inch blade preferable, 100 dollars is about as high as I can go.
I have my father in laws spec plus machete (10 inch blade) on my desk now and I remember thinking" now that would be a good hog knife if only it had a point dangit!" The next day I discover the marine raider bowie.

I want this knife to chop fire wood, kill grizzlies, pilage cities and level buildings!
any suggestions!!!
 
My $0.02 of opinion:

For less than $100: Becker Knife & Tool BK-9 Combat Bowie, 9" blade, $60 online

For a bit over $100: Swamp Rat Camp Tramp in the black version, 7.5" very sturdy blade, $129 right here

While the Camp Tramp (CT) is both a bit shorter and more expensive than the BK-9, it offers more durability at the absolute limit. Whether you'll need the difference in durability between the BK-9 (which is a pretty robust knife in its own right) and the CT, only you can judge. I recommend CT simply because you seem to be specifying a pretty rigorous lifestyle for your knife and the CT will answer the call to whatever duty you give it. If it doesn't, Swamp Rat has a "if you break it, we replace it" warranty.

NOTE: The handle shapes are pretty different between these two knives, so be sure to handle both a Becker and a Swamp Rat before making your final decision on which one fits your hand better.

(edited to add) Alternative knife: You occasionally find Cold Steel Trailmaster (TM) bowie knives on sale in the For Sale forums here on BFC or elsewhere for about $100. It has even more point than the BK-9 (which has more point than the CT) and a very robust 5/16" thick, heavy-duty blade that will chop quite well (spine shots on the pigs?) and withstand thrusts through boar hide. The blade on the TM is 10" long Carbon V (basically same steel as Becker uses according to some postings here). The downside of the CS Trailmaster is the handle, which is a pretty non-ergonomic Kraton slab-sided stick that some folks like fine, others dislike as intensely. Again, as with any handle style, check it out closely before laying your cash down to insure that it is a handle shape you can live with.

I just checked my Cold Steel Special Projects Christmas Sale catalog and it shows the TM factory seconds (cosmetic blemishes, not functionally or structurally critical flaws) for $80 until January 31, 2004.
 
You must run dogs eh? All the old timey hog hunters in our area run dogs and when they got the boar cornered, they reach in and slit their throats. They pretty much use what you're describing. A nice 9-12" blade, thick at the back and razor sharp.

I guess those that own the Ontario SP series of knives like them ok, but for 80.00 or so, you can have the Ontario RTAK with 1095 steel, linen micarta handle and cordura sheath. The Cold Steel Carbon V is supposed to be similar to, if not the exact steel that Camillus uses on their Becker series of knives and the BK-9 is a nice blade too.
 
Originally posted by longbow50
You must run dogs eh?


No sir no dogs here. I dont beleive in hunting big game with dogs, no offence to them that do, I pass no judgement, it just dosent seem right to me personally.
No , the reason for the big honkin knife is that right now we can only use small game weapons to hunt them. So if I get charged after dumping three rounds of #4 bird shot into a 300lbs hog, I can at least antagonize him while he chews my legs off.

Anybody want to go??? LOL
Click to expand...
 
:p Heck yeah, I'll go. But, I'd have to bring my small game 47# longbow with small game head tipped arrows and small game coon quiver, lol. I'll bring my Becker blade (BK-7) to tickle em while you're messin round and pizzin em off.:D

Here in Kalifornika, they are considered big game cause they get up to 1500# or so for the big ol' ferral hogs. The Russians get up to about 300# or so, but the best eatin ones are 200# and less. Me, I'm an old fart, so I kill em around 100# or so.
 
Originally posted by Runsalone
Originally posted by longbow50
You must run dogs eh?


No sir no dogs here. I dont beleive in hunting big game with dogs, no offence to them that do, I pass no judgement, it just dosent seem right to me personally.
No , the reason for the big honkin knife is that right now we can only use small game weapons to hunt them. So if I get charged after dumping three rounds of #4 bird shot into a 300lbs hog, I can at least antagonize him while he chews my legs off.

Anybody want to go??? LOL
Click to expand...

Bird shot? You can't use center fire or slugs? Or buck shot?
Click to expand...
 
Bird shot for hogs? Edited to add: I am not one of those folks who think hogs should be hunted with cannons, but I have more respect for a hog (from an animal cruelty standpoint) than to worry it to death with shallow wounds caused by birdshot. My response was much longer, but after my rant was over, I cut most of it out. I just hope you take your shots at very close range, so some of the pellets have a chance of reaching vital areas. BTW, I have never seen a hog hit by birdshot, but I have seen birdshot wounds on humans.
 
Guys, the RTAK and Becker knives are wide in the handle and too thin in the blade to trust for taking out a big hog IMO. I'd definately go with a Spec Plus but it would be the Frontiersman, blade about 1/4 thick and shaped to be used for quick thrusts and slashes. The handle is still kind of thick but you can sand it down and it still gives a little so you can get a sure grip. The best part is you can get 2 for about 100.00 bucks.
There's also the Ka Bar Cutlass style machete which I have now( it replaced an RTAK and BK9)that is really a good choice and you can find them on Ebay for about 38.00 a piece.
 
Hogs are considered trespass livestock as they are not native. On private property in most southern states there is no limit, season, etc. You can hunt or trap them year round.

As far as a "small game weapon...", I have popped many a hog between the eyes with a .22.
 
"but I have more respect for a hog (from an animal cruelty standpoint) than to worry it to death with shallow wounds caused by birdshot. "

I certainly hope you are not accusing me of animal cruelty, as I would take most serious personal offense to this. I consider all animals to be brothers and sisters, and no I AM NOT A BROWN JR. GROUPIE! Perhaps if you had known the situation you would have not had to go off on a rant at all.

I have the utmost respect and admiration for the animals I hunt, and non game species. They are our greatest teachers/

Here in Ga. on the W.M.A.s you can only use small game weapons as I mentioned before. The hunt I was on this weekend that sparked this post was with three other guys, we divided into two man teams.

I personally was carring a 22mag. rifle which Im sure we can mostly agree will dispatch a hog quite cleanly, I was backed up by a man with a .50 caliber muzzeloader.

I have hunted with a shotgun with bird shot #4 or #2 because those are the rules. I used the shotgun more as a precaution against a charge for myself and my partner who again, had a 1-shot .50cal.

In short if I could hunt with buckshot\3 1/2 inch mag. loads I would or maybe an 30.06, but I cant.

Perhaps we should ask more questions before we impune others hunting ethics. Or perhaps this explaination still does not satisfy your peace of mind.

This is not meant as a attack or rant by any means , just a defense of integrity that I truly feel is there.
 
Today I bought a Kabar kukri at a gun show I think I like it very much so far. I cut up a little fire wood with it tonight and it chops like hell! I looks alot like the cold steel LTC kukri, and Kabar is a name I know and trust so far so I thought Id give her a try, anybody got any experience with this knife????


Also I got to handle a Becker BK-9 I was VERY impressed (not so much with the sheath) I see what everyone has been saying about the ultra comfortable yet a bit slippery handle. I probably would have gotten it but I found the kukri and I felt that fit the particular bill a bit better.

If I wanted just a nicely rounded survival/utility knife I would have had no regrets spending the money on the becker!!


By thr way this is my first experience with the kukri style of blade, are there any quirks I should be aware of. Ill try to post a link of it.http://www.tomarskabars.com/files/L1249.jpg
 
Runsalone, as I posted before I have the Cutlass/bolo style Ka Bar and it is an awesome piece of gear. I don't believe I'd use a kukri to dispatch a hog but to each his own, don't get me wrong it would do the job of chopping into the throat area but I would prefer a stab into said area, a quick in out, to get the job done.
 
Rant edited. I really don't care what you use on hogs. They are animals and not endangered. I really just found the choice of birdshot odd for someone of the brother/sister with animal and no dogs type. The Trailmaster is a good choice. You need something that can be a sticker as well as a cutter, and a guard is nice too.
 
Runsalone, I hold a similar connection with our relatives that you do. I understand your feelings on the subject and know that you hunt in an ethical and honorable way.

Don't have any experience with the Kabar Khukuri, but do have a little experience with the Nepali style of Khukuri. If yours is anywhere near as good a blade as mine, you'll be plenty happy with it. Here's a couple pics of mine. Not the best photos, but the first shows the stock blade and the second what little bit of modifications I've done to it.

071829.jpg


083293.jpg
 
Originally posted by Suerte
Rant edited. I really don't care what you use on hogs. They are animals and not endangered. I really just found the choice of birdshot odd for someone of the brother/sister with animal and no dogs type. The Trailmaster is a good choice. You need something that can be a sticker as well as a cutter, and a guard is nice too.
Click to expand...


That wasnt aimed at you bud. That wasnt AIMED at anybody I was just trying to defend the ammo I had to choose. People feel very strongly about the treatment of animals, and I believe none care genuinly about them quite like a hunter does, so I understand if someone gets their shorts in a wad when they think someone might be doing something lame that could injure an animal uselessly .
I was really just trying to clear that up a bit for that other guy.

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone.!!

Fred A-- how I missed the part about the Kabar-I dont know! Glad to hear they are pretty good tools. As for the stabbing/slashing, I think I may have that base covered as well, but some practice on a hay bale or something may prove useful, due to the different blade profile than Im used to. I think the Kabar version is less aggressively angled than a regular kukri, its more of a bolo kukri I suppose( if thats the right terminology):confused:

Maybe Ill get to use it a bit more here pretty soon on some different tasks and ill post up about any progress!
 
Longbow 50: Thanks for the vote of confidence! Those are pretty nice looking blades you got there! I like the para cord wrapped handel on the bottom one.

Fred A- I got the kukri style, but I held the other one and I liked it also The kukri just seemed to fit me better and it was very pleasingly different for me. I do need to practice with it a bit! Having a hard time finding the sweet spot, it feels like the whole foward portion. Maybe Ill get the other style also so I have a serious varietyt of kick-A$$ tools!:D
 
The original Kabar is a great knife. Good 1095 carbon steel and a total solid package. The knife will cost you 60 bucks. The extra 40 bucks should cover the copay for your insurance at the hospital after you tangle with a 300 lb. pig with a knife and no dogs.

Seriously though, with hog hunting, you're 10% hunter and 90% meat processor. It might be worth it to consider a knife that can handle not only the hunt, but the field dressing, cleaning and quartering as well....

Tim
 
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