One year survival blade

As much as I'd like to encourage you to take the BK-9 (and it would be perfect for such a trip), I'd be very concerned about the look and size of the knife alarming the ... overly sensitive. A BK-2 might be a better choice - there's little or nothing you can't do with it and it looks far less scary, especially if you strip the blade.

Another alternative I've seen a few posters allude to would be a small fixed blade - Becker Necker or Escabar or Izula - and a non-scary tomahawk. Ron LaClair's ShrewHawk would be perfect, IMO. It is small and light enough to carry and doesn't look like you just stepped out of a bad western.

That's my ShrewHawk posing with the KaBar Kukri...

20100531_big_blades.jpg


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Beckerhead #42
 
Edwood7 said:
He works in the jungles mostly. You should look in to this one.
Utility knife by Winkler Knives II

P.S. Go whit the rubber handles.
Click to expand...

I never saw the Winkler Knives II knives.
Very interesting, I like some models a lot.
The rubber handles are from recycled material, how durable are they?
It seems to hold even in the jungle according to your friend.
Why did he take rubber above micarta in such a hot wet enviroment?
 
I personally like the HEST. Great knife, easy to sharpen, prybar at the end, bottle opener and you can store money/fishing line/small firesteel & dryer lint inside the grips.

I trust in RYP!
 
THe Mora 2000 looks perfect, but I am quite concerned about the partial tang part,
I was looking, and have been told to look, for a full tang knife.
suggetions for a mora with full tang, or even not Mora, but with the plastic handle?
very practical IMO.
 
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since you are already looking at cold steel, may I suggest something from their line of 4116 Krupp blades. Something like the finn bear or long hunter.As a primary or secondary blade I think they are ok for cutting stuff, especially since you mention weight as a concern.
 
The mora 2k is a excellent knife and I would have no worries about the tang, don't abuse it and you will be fine.

A mora2k and a hawk would be a great pair.
 
:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup: For almost any Mora.
It boggles my mind that anyone would risk losing 100$ plus knives with the way most customs just blatantly seize knives in Europe, with or without cause.
I would personally go for any of the more traditional wood handled Mora's, so as to avoid it being identified as a weapon and having it seized. If you want to go with a newer model I would try and get one with a red or likewise colored handle. Then have a quality sheath made for when your carrying it regularly and stow it in the factory sheath while in your pack and going through customs.
Also many countries (like Russia) consider any fixed blade knife with a guard a weapon, regardless of blade length. So if you get one of the newer ones you may want to grind off the hand guard. Pair the mora with a decent folding saw and your SAK and you will have a very efficient survival trio.
Have a safe trip and enjoy yourself, good luck!:D -Andrew
 
I think you would be highly likely to have any knife bigger than a SAK confiscated at least once at a borderpost. Might not even be illegal, the border agents might just take it because they can and they like the look of it. Did you watch the TV show made of Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman's trip? Border crossings are generally a nightmare.

If anything I would take a small hatchet like the Gransfors Mini. Far less threatening to most folks than a big knife and capable of handling practically any task that you might ask of it. And a SAK or Wenger like the One Hand Trekker/Military or something similar with a locking blade, can opener etc.

Also a good multi-tool!

Best of luck. :thumbup:
 
I have very much trust in the partial tangs of mora. I have used my 2000 very much in moosehunting and my 511s in working carpentary. Especially the 511 I have used without thinking to much about beng afraid to break them. Hitting them with the hammer using them to pry. Remember Im swedish and from ouer forestregions. It comes with the breastmilk to avoid to hard prying. For a knifeuser with a user head its seldom a problem breaking a knife and its almost everytime possible to work another way to avoid breaking the knife.

Bosse
 
The tang on the Mora 2000 is nearly full length. I'd have no worries about it causing any issues for you. I've abused my Mora Clippers pretty hard and had no issues with them. The Clipper is only 1/2 length tang.
 
The concern about customs officers / border guards confiscating your fancy fixed blade is valid. Now I think you should get a cheaper knife around US$ 30. Mora has the 2000 and Bushcraft models. Condor has Bushcraft and Bushlore models priced in the neighborhood. These are all fixed blade knives above 4". They are adequate to tackle most camp chores, yet they don't look that expensive or threatening, so there's less chance of them attracting attention.
 
Becker BK2 its as good as anything, anywhere, for less.

THe Gerber is junk, sorry to be so plain but it is, they are stout but wont hold an edge like the BK2 or ESEE 5.

If you want smaller, the ESEE 4 is nice, the BRKT Necker 2 is hell built for stout, razor sharp and carries super light.

Do yourself a favor before you go, get a leatherman Wave or Surge, to back up whatever you have.
 
Try Grohmann Knives, D.H. Russell Belt Knife Model #1, I got to use one in a passaround a long while back and it was an excellent knife, it's been used for over 50 years in the Hudson Bay area by their goides for over 50 years.

Accordin' to them the blades are available in High Carbon SS or Carbon Steel.

This pic is from their site.

no1big.jpg
 
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maybe a esee junglas?

big sturdy and good for chopping splitting... and take a kabar dozier for smaller and more precision work
 
T. Erdelyi said:
Try Grohmann Knives, D.H. Russell Belt Knife Model #1, I got to use one in a passaround a long while back and it was an excellent knife, it's been used for over 50 years in the Hudson Bay area by their goides for over 50 years.

Accordin' to them the blades are available in High Carbon SS or Carbon Steel.

This pic is from their site.

no1big.jpg
Click to expand...

I have the #3 boat knife, great knife. That, a good Swiss Army Knife, and a hatchet and you'll be all set. Make sure your swiss army knife has scissors, it might sound petty, but hangnails suck.
 
GWashington1732 said:
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.
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I would agree with this statement.

I think a good axe like the hunter model Gränsfors Bruks along with a Swiss Army Knife and a small folder would be good to go.

But you need to check customs as well. No issues with the SAK in any of the places you mentioned. And if flying and using checked in luggage probably no issues either. "Camping' style blades/axes as mentioned above will give less hassle and probably no issues, than if you have the tactical camo 9" bowie. I have travelled all around the world with multiple khukris, machetes, multi tools, and folders in my checked on bags with no issues. Only time I ever was questioned by customs if I had a knife was when I flew into Scotland and London.
 
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