One year survival blade

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pap218

Joined
Jan 9, 2011
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Hello,
I know that much, and even more has been said on this forum (to which i'm new) on survival blades. but I have never done what i'm planning on doing and have never needed something other than what I already have.And therefore: I ask.
So I am Planning a one year living in and around the wild, seeing as less cities as possible. I am going to be moving a lot and am looking for a good knife. sleeping will be in a camp or something of the sort obviously,
I'm from switzerland, and am going to be going through italy, to the balkans, and over to russia, ending up in mongolia or india, and then i will see. (if I even get there!)
I will be traveling by foot, bike, hitchhike,...
I have never needed anything bigger than my swiss army knife, the swiss soldier type, that has served me well on my many wild-life week expeditions within switzerland. I have recently got my hands on a Becker BK9, which (due to weight) I don't know if i'll be bringing yet.

I've been looking at the gerber LMF II model 1400 and the Cold Steel Pendleton Hunter. Which do you recommend (if any) in both case I bring, and the one I don't bring the BK9? (I always will have my swiss army knife.)
Should I be looking at something different?
Prices: up to 150 CHF, which in USD+shipping would be about 100-120$ (for the knife)

THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR ANY ADVICE.
 
That's quite an ambitious journey.

I would get a Mora and folding saw to start with. Check out Condor knives, if you want something stronger.
Weight should be one of your major concerns.
You might want to get a cheap axe/hatchet in the country that you're entering.
Big chances are that you might need to leave the knife and axe at the customs. Don't buy anything expensive and leave your BK9 at home.

Try here:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=692
 
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With all of the social unrest in some of the areas you may go through, if it were me, I'd stay away from anything that looks tactical or military. For me, that means no coated blades, first and foremost.

Yes, before anyone else says it, you can strip the coating from the blade.

A good general purpose hunting knife would serve all of your needs. For easy sharpening in the field, I'd look for something with a scandi or flat grind, in carbon steel.

Frosts of Sweden has many blades that would serve you well. I think that the Iisaki Scout Knife in either the 4.5" or 6" blade length would be ideal. It's very traditional looking and shouldn't raise any eyebrows. They are also brands that should be relatively easy for you to find locally, and easy to replace along the way should you lose it.
 
I can't really recommend a knife, because i have very little experience compared to some other on this forum, but that is one bad ass adventure your going on. Have fun, and be careful!
 
I'd skip the BK-9. Draws too much attention while travelling. I have the Pendleton. It is one of the most under-rated fixed blades out there. It can do almost everything my F1 does at less than half the price and in a smaller package. If I where going on a trip like you describe, I'd bring a Victorinox Soldier and a medium fixed like the Pendleton, Esee 4 or 6 , SRK, Fallkniven F1or S1 ( cost permitting), something along those lines. Big knives are great when you need them ; a pain to carry when you don't.

Edit: I just thought about the DPX H.E.S.T. This is no longer being made by Rowan, but there are still quite a few around. A highly recommended knife to bring to a journey like yours.
 
I'd go with the Fallkniven S1. Get the satin finish version with the zytel sheath. Or even the F1.

You may want to look into what the laws are on knife carry before you take the trip or purchase a knife.
 
ESEE 4, Fallkniven F1 or a BRKT Bravo 1 should all fit your needs. You could also go with a Bk-7 or Bk-2 if you want something cheaper.
 
thanks for all the advice...

the BK9 was originally supposed to be a foldable saw, but then I fell upon this one practically for free through friend and I found myself considering...

I am now more pending towards the pendleton, even though the iisakki is very tempting,
and i like that it's so cheap, I just wonder how it works, b/c I can't seem to find much information about it. apart from their finnish only website.
 
There's a survival school somewhere in the U.S. that issues Pendletons to their survival students, if that means anything. I could definately use one as a survival do-all knife. Does everything except chopping and large battoning which you can do usually without.
 
How about CS Master Hunter? I like my fixed blades to be at least 4" long so it's more convenient for kitchen / food prep duties. The full flat grind is also great for chopping food. It's stainless (non coated) so it doesn't look tactical, and the design of the entire knife is quite simple and non threatening. The Concealex (generic Kydex) sheath is light, durable, and non absorbent. USA price is about $80, so it's well within your budget.
 
I'd take a Hatchet or Tomahawk, a SAK, and a good folder (buck 110, Spyderco Endura, Case Trapper), maybe a larger fixed blade if I had the space and could afford the weight. I can get any food preparation, firewood work, etc. done with those three items with absolutely no problems. The larger knife can be useful but I don't see it as an absolute necessity and might be frowned upon when traveling in populated areas.
 
hiwa said:
There's a survival school somewhere in the U.S. that issues Pendletons to their survival students, if that means anything. I could definately use one as a survival do-all knife. Does everything except chopping and large battoning which you can do usually without.
Click to expand...


That's exactly where I read about this knife. Alderleaf Wilderness College in Washington state. the only thing is I'm afraid it might be a little to short, meaning my swiss army knife has almost the same length blade, and I wouldn't want to bring two of the same thing. (which it obviously isn't, but you can imagine what i mean).


PS. the ESEE seam really great and all, but at least in switzerland they're all above my budget.
 
I think you should stick with folders if you plan on crossing so many borders. If you do want to carry a fixed blade, bring something you won't mind losing or getting confiscated, like a Mora knife. You will always be able to buy more knives in each country you visit.

Sounds like an awesome adventure, but it's going to take more than one year if you plan to get all the way to Mongolia from Switzerland.
 
Ok, I have a BK2, had an RC5, have RC4, 6, Junglas, F1, S1, A1, bravo 1 (there is more too...too many...damn knife addition!). I have used them all and more including a LMF II, Seal Pup Elite. If I had to pick one it would be between the A1 and S1. Handles are grippy, extremely comfortable, blade is stainless (I am in humid and wet condition from time to time, including snow...I like VG-10 alot). I have beat my A1 like no other knife I own...and it has the best edge to this date without a sharpen! The sheath at first I thought was garbage but now I absolutely love it. It is small and you can wrap a fair amount of paracord around it. It is also secure and can mount it in many ways. It is not bulky like my RC kydex sheath but I do like them as well. The edge is convex, easy to maintain and offers the best all-around performance. I like ESEE knives because of the warranty but what good is a warranty when you are out in the sticks? They do make awesome stuff. I am yet to break one...let alone any knife for that matter. But I find their stuff takes a back seat to my Fallknivens!

I would strongly stay away from the RC5 and BK2. I have used both a fair amount of time. As much as I love them both because of their thickness you trade off some task substantially. They dig, pry and baton well...the BK2 substantially out chopped my RC5 because of the three finger grip tech. They are also heavy. I do however prefer the BK2 to the RC5 because of the handle shape..chopping performance is better...but the BK2 does really need micarta as standard. I generally dont like coated blade either. So the RC5 and BK2 begin to look like hell the more you use them. They dont come in satin like the fallkniven!

If I had one complaint about my fallkniven is that the handles gets beat up...at least my first A1 did because I was new at using a knife and made mistakes...which banged up the handle a little. However it still works well...in fact no lose in use or comfort. Just looks a little beat. Micarta holds up better but isnt nearly as grippy...not to mention soft. Since I started at the knife thing I have learn I could have saved a ton of money! I would have gone with fallkniven exclusively after my first hand experience. I have chopped, curved, baton, and so on with all my knives and they seem to put all other to shame! Get one and used it, they are also balanced well. I like the fact that the weight is forward in my A1, during chopping it really helps! But also lets you know you are handling a knife. Just my 2 cents. Hope I helped
 
You should have a SAK (or leatherman), a small folder, and either a fixed blade or a large folder.

Small folder: I'd go with something like a Kershaw Junkyard Dog II, or a Skyline if the JYDII is little pricey.

Large folder/fixed blade: If you're able to keep a fixed blade in your pack, get a Ka Bar Kukri (recommending that one because it's so much cheaper than other similar blades). If a fixed blade is out of the question, then get yourself a Zero Tolerance 0200 (although it costs like 7x more).

Your trip sounds like a blast! I hope you have a great, safe time! And keep a blade on you!
 
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