New Debate: A Which is better thread.

B

borrowed time

Joined
Dec 19, 2006
Messages
416
Now, we have seen all kinds of threads that talk of the "Best" Knife, Blade steel, and brand of knife to use for wilderness survival. This thread will ask:

"On Your larger sheath/fixed blade knife 5" and over, What type of knife tip is best in you opinion for; 1. typical lost-in the-wilderness survival situation, and 2. a military type SERE (Survival, Escape, Resistance, & Evasion) situation in hostile territory."

Keep in mind the differences in the situations. in a wilderness survival occurance there would be chopping, splitting, shelter building, carving, and maybe even processing anmimals. In a SERE event, you would be avoiding the enemy so there would be need to build shelters, you may have to cut wire, dig through a building wall (to get into an abandond blg unnoticed or to open a peep-hole to keep a look-out), digging for plants & roots for food, making small fire holes that cant be seen but can be cooked on, and also for cutting local foliage for cammo. The other thing you may use the knife for might be to take out a persuer quietly (this is akin to the many "zombie" sinarios that are posted everywhere, its hypothetical). I would think that Intimidation factor would be a plus in this catagory.

The condtions of the knife would be that it must be a fixed blade knife and 5 or more inches in length. Lets assume that you lost your pack with your multi blade wonder SAK you had with you and you only have the big sheath knife. The Following Knife Points are :

*Bowie Clip point
*Ka-bar style Clip point
*Drop point
*Spear Point
*Tanto

Just give a tip type for each situation with a little explination as to your thoughts on the matter. Lets have fun with this, thank you all! --Eric
 
Well I like the drop point on the ash-1 but I like the clip on the scrap yard yard hook.
Both would be my top pick for sere.

My grandpa did sere, he said it was alright until the "r".
He flew A-4 attack aircraft.
 
Im gonna day drop point as well. I like the drop point better, but in a real sere situation, I would take whatever I had or could get. I agree the drop point would excell at lots of tasks, as opposed to just a few.
 
In that situation, I am not so sure that the Cold Steel Recon Tanto would not be my first choice with the drop point a close second. My point would be the strength of the Tanto point for digging, prying and stabbing through different materials. I think the Tanto's get a bit of a bad rap around here. The Tanto has served me pretty well over the years. Slicing would be the weak point of this knife.

Before I get flamed, I would add that any of the above options in a knife of good quality would probably get you by.
 
I would opt for a spear or drop point tip...both are as tough as a tanto tip, but give you a little more versatility for typical knife chores. Something like the Cold Steel Recon Tanto would be more than sufficient, I've used one in the past and have seen several in action in Iraq; take out the advertising hype of the American Tanto, and it's a decent blade for several tasks, however I would just prefer a drop or spear point as that's what I've been using more often.

ROCK6
 
Spear points work well. Hori Horis use them, and they do dig dig!

I like the leuku pattern straight spine and big belly. It's not a needle like stabbing point, but it's strong and you can still drill well with it.
 
My first pick in either situation would be a drop point. My alternate would be a spear point. They're just the most useful, IMO.
 
Hunting knife or game prep, I like the drop point. The spearpoint is a good all around blade shape for an outdoor blade. The blade style I use on my Tusker and WTK is what I call a modified drop point. The point falls below a drop point but higher then a spearpoint. That is my personal choice.
Scott
 
I am currently building knives to go to Iraq. The request I get from the pilots I am building for is spear point tip, and double ground (edge on both sides). They are more concerned about FIGHTING with the knife than anything else. Building fires is out along with alot of the wilderness survival tactics we talk about here. Main thing they seemed to be concerned about is hiding and fighting.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top