Kev,
I have been following your threads for a long time. I started reading all of the threads on "survival" knives for the last three years. I tought wilderness survival to scouts for 32 years and it never involved anything more than a scout slip joint knife. So here is my amature opinion. (I have bought every thing from a dozen Moras, to 20 BRKT, 20 Busse's, and some knives that are thick enough to serve as splitting wedges. I almost bought your Fox River when you sold it to change to the Wilderness Fox River).
There is no one right answer just as there is no one knife for all uses. One of my friends uses a Busse steel heart that "thick" to open cars, locked houses, chop down trees, etc on a regular daily basis (He is head of the Skamania Co. Emer. Command Center and an active SAR.) He went thru several K-bars, a Camp Tramp and a Ratweiler before he found one tough enough. I recently found my perfect fire starting knife. It is a BRKT Mini-canadian. I carry a Bravo-1 or Wet Recon or RMD for wood gathering. For me the criteria is 1) it must be very sharp and cut, 2) It can not break, 3) It must be small enough that I will carry it. It helps if I like the knife. I also like guards. I live in the Washington Rain Forests, so I like BRKT 12C27, but also like alot of others. I do not like really thin or thick knives. My 0.17" Fox River and 0.187" RMD are close to perfect for 4-6" knives. 10" knives need to be 0.25" +. Why have a big knife with no weight to chop. Ah. Wait a minute, I love my new BRKT Golok and it is 0.187". I have broken three knives. The whole blade thickness question is a function of the steel and it's geometry also.
As my wife says, I talk too much, but its fun.
I truly enjoy repeat threads because new ideas creep in.
Ron Athay
i agree with this.
with todays technology knives are capable of more than before.i think it is sensible to have a both thin and thick knife and use accordingly.
i really think that it is common sense and whether in favor of thick or thin i wonder as to peoples real reasoning when they are avid of only one over the other.
i think it is more of a statement as to their style of woodsmanship.
old school vs. new school
i think that it is sensible to look at the advantages of both with an open mind.
people say "if i need to chop wood i'll take an axe"
and "if i need to pry something i'll take a pry bar"
well what if i could have a pry bar that also has a sharp edge.wouldnt that make it that much more useful.especially if i'm not in the woods camping,i'm in iraq trying to gain access to a door by prying it open one second and cutting nylon straping the next......why carry the weight of two tools when i can take one.
sure i take an axe.i love my 20inch GB but i can split a big log fast and safer with FFFBM or DFLE.
now someone will say i dont know how to use an axe but that isnt true.it is what works for me.just like if i use ceramics instead of a stone it doesn mean i cant sharpen a knife either.
a large fixed blade will also chop as well as a hatchet and also serve as a cutting instrument better plus you have that much more edge in the length.
its common sense their is use for both thick and thin.i think when people get too much one way into the thin vs. thick its honestly not about the blade thickness at all and more about them expressing their social charactaristics and views concerning their wilderness/survival beliefs and views like" i am a better woodsmen because i can survive with a thinner blade",especially when they are experienced outdoors men.
next should be the debate on "thinner" or "thicker" calibers.
real woodsmen dont need a heavier caliber.
not all knives are made for fine delicate work because not all work is fine and delicate.when i need fine and delicate i use a dozier k2 but that knife wouldnt last ten minuets in certain environments where a knife is still needed.
for the last time.it is common sense and anything past that is goes beyond thick vs. thin.not to mention what ever happened to personal preference.
just because one person likes something and it works for them it doesnt make it fact and for them to believe that,no matter their level of experience borders grandiosity.
i'm not on either side of this debate.
i have and use 1/8 and 3/8 blades regularly and i dont worry or care about what others use.i worry and care about works best for me.
