New guy, need your help

styx

styx

Joined
Apr 21, 2010
Messages
720
Hey people. I'm new here, and i'm new to fixed blade knives, especially for survival or camping usage.
This is due to facts being that up to recently when my friends and I went camping, we had a big ax and a bunch of small knives (one per person), so the only big fix blade that i had in my hands was a USMC ka-bar and that has over 15 years to it.
The reasons for this change is the following - I'm moving to a whole new area (another continent) and less than a month ago I had a hernia surgery probably because of my former job (can't do it any more because of it, plus the moving). So I'm looking to cut down in weight of what I carry because a 5 or 6 lbs ax isn't desirable.
Basically the knives I was shown were good, but not exactly what I was looking for. For the first few months I'll need a good all around knife, and later I do intend to expand my collection.

gundude73 said:
well you could have started your own thread, but i will try and help ya out :D
first off, welcome to bladeforums!
second, the ESEE5 is .25" thick and was designed for pilots to get out of their aircraft in an emergency situation, the ESEE4 is thinner and most would say a good knife for general use for camping, if you will be battoning wood or doing larger tasks the ESEE6 might be worth looking into.
Click to expand...

See this is puzzling a bit. what to get? It should be a "jack of all trades". Well I'll take one smaller blade, probably an Izula with me so maybe that helps you guys out.
One more question that i have is about the handles. I've hear/read that they take blood in fairly well, so any special ways to clean them?

Thanks in advance. Styx
 
well to add to my previous post i personally would get the ESEE6 and the izula, with that pair you would be hard pressed to find a job your couldn't do. but that is just me, i say you get what you want and would be happy with.
 
I'll be happy with knives that won't fail me. And by the looks of things, I'm searching in the right place. I'll definitively check ESEE6 out
 
you would have a fun time making these knives fail on you, and if you manage to, they have a no questions asked lifetime warranty.
 
welcome!

if you want a chopper to replace the ax, the lite machete would be a good choice, or a 9 dollar tramontina, with a little work. the 6 is a great blade, but not much of a chopper.

the linen micarta only absorbs in te first layer, hot water and dish soap cleans 'em right up.

i've had a couple hernia surgeries... not a lot of fun. been about a year since my last, and i'm back around 100% as far as lifting and such.
 
otis williams said:
welcome!

if you want a chopper to replace the ax, the lite machete would be a good choice, or a 9 dollar tramontina, with a little work. the 6 is a great blade, but not much of a chopper.

the linen micarta only absorbs in te first layer, hot water and dish soap cleans 'em right up.

i've had a couple hernia surgeries... not a lot of fun. been about a year since my last, and i'm back around 100% as far as lifting and such.
Click to expand...

I use my 6 to regularly chop wood when I do work around the yard...id handles it all just fine...it has an especially large appetite for scrub oak.
 
ESEE6 paired with the Izula would be an idea combo or even toss in a kershaw hand saw & SAK (swiss army knife, Victorinox) model:hiker or Rucksack or Farmer to boot
 
6 and an Izula should cover your bases well.
otherwise, pick up an Izula, ESEE3, or ESEE4 and a 12-14" machete if you're trying to keep costs & weight down.
which continent are you moving from/to?
 
Ok this was unexpected. you guys are fast, and for a forum of this size it's... whoa...
6 looks like sth that can handle everything. Well except one thing, but that's why I'll go camping in the first place.
I'm moving from Europe to North America.
And yes, hernia sucks! 1 year? That doesn't sound too good, but it beats the hell out of a more serious thing.
Thanks for the welcomes guys. And the help
 
they gave me six weeks off work, think i was back in four... the 6 can chop a bit, more than its size, and is great with a baton, but for bigger stuff, a machete would be quicker.
 
Im a fan of my rtak 2 or, obviously the new junglas which is coming soon. for me I want to have a big reliable knife, especially if your used to an axe. I have a cold steel srk 6 in. blade I used to use. Wanted something with more chopping power, so i went with a 10 in. blade. along with the rtak 2, I just ordered a esee rc-4 for the smaller more technical tasks. I LOVE my new set up, dont miss my 6 in. a bit
 
Welcome STYX!

If you are leaning more towards a chopper, I would go with the Junglas. If you want more of a general purpose camp knife that can do some lighter chopping, go with the ESEE-6.

Of course the Izula is a great choice for a general purpose every day carry.

I wish you the best on your knife decision & your move!
 
t-k-c said:
Welcome STYX!

If you are leaning more towards a chopper, I would go with the Junglas. If you want more of a general purpose camp knife that can do some lighter chopping, go with the ESEE-6.

Of course the Izula is a great choice for a general purpose every day carry.

I wish you the best on your knife decision & your move!
Click to expand...

I would agree with this. If you plan on using the larger knife primarily as a chopper, the Junglas is probably the way to go.

I was first looking for a general use knife. The 4 is a great knife for everything from finer work to light batoning. It isn't heavy and can do a lot of tasks well. I have batoned with mine and it worked very well.

You just need to decide what your primary uses with be.

Cutting and food prep, I'd go ESEE-3

Cutting food prep and light batoning, I'd go ESEE-4

Larger jobs and light chopping, I'd go 6.

Primarily a chopper, I'd go Junglas.
 
hi and welcome to the forum,

for general camp chores and spliting wood for fires, i use the esee6 it can do light chopping and spliting gathered wood, i use the esee3 for food prep and pretty much anything else. that combo works really well for me in the woods.

it also depends on the area your going to be camping in, for much of north america the 6 is plenty of knife. the junglas while a great knife and i want one as soon as i can get it may be overkill for you. think short sword.

ask and learn all you can this is a good group with alot of experiance.

take care
cricket
 
I'd go with the ESEE 6, or better yet, for a great all-around knife, check out the BRKT Bravo 2. Sturdy enough for chopping and other wood work. You can use it for food stuff too. Leave the fine carving to your Izzy. Plus, any handle you want, a convex edge (easier to maintain for some) and a fantastic warranty. (If you don't like the ramp they'll remove it for you.)

BarkRiverBravo2_GreenCanvasMicarta_174d.jpg
 
dangreco said:
I'd go with the ESEE 6, or better yet, for a great all-around knife, check out the BRKT Bravo 2. Sturdy enough for chopping and other wood work. You can use it for food stuff too. Leave the fine carving to your Izzy. Plus, any handle you want, a convex edge (easier to maintain for some) and a fantastic warranty. (If you don't like the ramp they'll remove it for you.)

BarkRiverBravo2_GreenCanvasMicarta_174d.jpg
Click to expand...

while i think the bravo 2 is an awesome knife....it costs almost twice as much as the esee 6....but if money is not an issue....go for it
 
styx said:
Hey people. I'm new here, and i'm new to fixed blade knives, especially for survival or camping usage.
This is due to facts being that up to recently when my friends and I went camping, we had a big ax and a bunch of small knives (one per person), so the only big fix blade that i had in my hands was a USMC ka-bar and that has over 15 years to it.
The reasons for this change is the following - I'm moving to a whole new area (another continent) and less than a month ago I had a hernia surgery probably because of my former job (can't do it any more because of it, plus the moving). So I'm looking to cut down in weight of what I carry because a 5 or 6 lbs ax isn't desirable.
Basically the knives I was shown were good, but not exactly what I was looking for. For the first few months I'll need a good all around knife, and later I do intend to expand my collection.



See this is puzzling a bit. what to get? It should be a "jack of all trades". Well I'll take one smaller blade, probably an Izula with me so maybe that helps you guys out.
One more question that i have is about the handles. I've hear/read that they take blood in fairly well, so any special ways to clean them?

Thanks in advance. Styx
Click to expand...

The RC5. If you're the kind of guy that will carry a Kabar for 15 years, and you're looking for another "one knife'' to be 100% reliant, than the RC5 is a superb candidate. Many people here will claim they don't like the RC5's performance due to its thickness, but if you maintain a good edge, the RC5 will perform just as well as the rest of them. What it supposedly lacks in performance it definately makes up for in reliability, useable size, etc. I really can't explain what this knife has over the RC4 or RC6 (I've used both) but this knife and I definately clicked. It's short enough that it still retains superb point control and the balance and fit are just great. I don't care what anyone else says, the RC5 is THE knife (especially if you will be carrying a smaller slicer for finer tasks). Other knives you should consider are Condors, the Rodan, Kumunga, Hudson Bay, Inca knife etc. They're very inexpensive and although their fit and finish isn't as ideal as the RATs they are still just as capable. I got a bolo machete from them the other day and it came with a hairsplitting polished edge. Beckers are also great, the BK2 and BK7/9. I'd also suggest a frontier style tomahawk from HB Forge or Cold Steel (made by American Tomahawk Company) They are lightweight and offer superb control, durability and very easy maintenance. There are so many applications for them, as they are an axe with a knife edge. They're great for anything from slicing and dicing up to felling trees and self defense.
 
Welcome to the forum! Honestly you couldn't go wrong with a 3,4,5 or 6! I'll add the Junglas to the list once it's available...
 
I think a machete, folding saw and izula would do everything you could possibly want. Machetes can be quite light too.
 
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