Outdoor knife advice

Louky

Louky

Joined
Apr 21, 2003
Messages
511
What are, for you, the characteristics required for a knife in a forest aera survival situation ? (blade lenght, handle, sheath) Any model suggestion ?

I know there are a lot of outdoor specialists on the forum, and I'm not very familiar with knife use in this kind of situation...

Thank in advance for your advice ! ;)
 
A very good knife for your stated need would be the BK&T Cc/U-7.
 
hi

you might get more replies to this on the survival and outdoor forum in tactics and training.

An excellent combo in forest areas is something like a fallkniven A1 or other medium sized heavy duty fixed blade and a medium sized axe possibly with a pocket wire saw too. this combo will deal with most things the normal traveller will come across in a forest
 
There are quite a few different schools of thought on the forest area survival knife question. Some go with small knife & axe, others will say 7-9 inch knife that's heavy enough to use as a chopper. The BKT CU 7 as recommended by fudo is a good idea, if you wanted something a little bigger BKT also makes a similar knife with a 9" blade. You could probably get more feed back by posting in the "Wilderness Survival" forum (Tactics & Training). BTW your English is a lot better than my French. :D
crawfordew
 
The “knife” I would want the most in a survival situation in the woods is a full sized multitool with a wood saw (a SAK will do, but the wood saw is must, since the saw allows cutting poles for shelters, hiking sticks, making trap triggers, etc.). My personal favorite multitool is the Victorinox Swisstool, although I sometimes carry a Victorinox SAK such as the Ranger or the locking blade Hunter model instead.

When I am in the woods I carry a drop point hunting knife with a 3-5” blade, since such a knife is ideal for cleaning most fish and game as well as making an excellent camp food prep/ utility knife. Knives of this size are not good for prying or chopping but they cut much better than most heavy duty “survival” knives and they are sturdier than just about any folder. My favorite knife in this category is the Spyderco Moran FB02 drop point. I often carry this Moran as a neck knife (with the Tek-Lok attachment removed) when canoeing or hiking with a pack.

Some sort of axe or hatchet is also a great “survival” tool for wooded areas, provided you know how to use one safely. Often I carry a Japanese folding pruning saw (mine is made by Corona) instead of a hatchet, since I find the saw to be safer and generally more efficient for cutting wood. The saws are lighter too.




- Frank
 
Depends on whether you mean:

what I'd consider to be a true survival type 'thing' (not necessarily a knife) - say where you were to be dropped into a zone for however long and could only take ONE item; OR

the closest thing to an 'all-rounder' type knife for use in the Outdoors, where you were at liberty to take other items along.

The former isn't very likely is it?

In the latter situation, I'd suggest a fixed blade of about 4-5" in length, in a really well-made Kydex/Concealex sheath. You'll turn to that knife more often than anything else, when hunting, fishing, camping etc. The tendency is to think you need more blade length than you really do, incidentally. At the same time though, no one knife will do it all.

I'd suggest a Dozier - Straight Hunter, Pro Guides Knife (my choice), or Wilderness. One of those three, depending on which end (or in the middle) of my notional scale you'd be inclined to be on. In any case, those are serious knives - top of the line. Oh and with a Wilderness sheath (different thing from the knife yes) (not shown on the web-site I think).

http://www.dozierknives.com/
 
I realize an impact cutting tool is a very important device (per example, I never consider to carry an axe...). If I understand, in addition to this kind of tool, a medium sized fixed blade is needed, but a large knife (like a kukri) can be an alternative for the two...

Thanks for your advices.;)
 
This is just my opinion, but a Khukuri from Himalayan Imports is one of the best outdoor woodsy tools anyone could ask for!:D That is generally the tool that I carry in the woods. I always have a Mini-mag/Leatherman combo on my hip and a very good 3"-5 1/2" folder in my pocket, so those are always with me. Then when going into the woods I pick which of my Khukuris would be best for what I want to do that day. I do love those Khukuris. The Khuk itself can replace an hatchet or ax, and a machete, and theymake a great draw knife in the wilds. The Karda (small knife) in the sheath is also great for those small knife chores where the khuk is really too large. YMMV
 
Louky, the axe that you've picked would do just
fine. The shape will allow fine work as well as
heavy chopping. Just be sure to include a small
pocket knife the little stuff.
 
I'm like Linus on Peanuts. One of my security blankets I just don't feel right without is a khukuri.

( you couldn't guess? )
 
A friend of mine owns a Cold Steel kukri (do you know other brand which offers this kind of knife ?). Anyway, I'm going to buy the Roselli axe, simply because I like the design :D. My friend and me are plaining to go camping a week-end the next month, so I will trying the two...
 
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