Phat Azzes and Small Blades.

[Tyrkon Lawson]

Even their little women lug that big heavy tool around. I guess their women are tougher than most american men who whine about big blades

Women can really be helpful carrying esentials so that you do not have to give up knife size.

 

[beefangusbeef]

So when's the next anorexic blade coming out?

 

[mymindisamob]

To me this topic is similar to one at work. I have a tool bag that weighs well into 100+ pounds. It is getting harder for me to carry, especially with the need for knee surgery. But, I get guys who say "Why do you need so many tools?" and "No wonder your knees are bad, your bag is too heavy." It's funny and irritating all in one. I make less trips back to the truck and guess who's bag they always go to for the tool they don't have?
If I ever consider the size of the blade I am going to carry, it sure isn't due to weight in carry, but in the repetitive use. I would love to have an FBM, the Fusion slabs are great for my ever waning hands. The shape is similar to the hammer handles I favor as well. I use the hammer I want for the job I'm doing. Try framing with a 10 oz. Titanium Stiletto, or tapping a Sassafras faceframe into place with a 22 oz. waffleface Dead Stick. It's comparable to whittling with an AK47 and notching timbers with a Skeleton Key.
Anyhow, Cobalt, thanks for yet another excellent point and topic. There is a lot to be said for staying fit anyhow.

 

[Cobalt]

Wouldn't surprise me at all if they are, Cobalt. My ang khola (I think its called) is the heaviest and thickest blade I own. My only point about weight is for truly long trips. If you have to carry two or four weeks worth of food on your back pretty much everything else is secondary and the benefits must be weighed. damnit, I made a pun. or irony. or something.

I can carry 70lbs all day but 80lbs starts to get rough pretty quick. But more likely than not, I'll save the weight elsewhere and keep a larger blade with me.

edit: I have taken trees down with a mora too. Small trees. In all honesty, I have no need to cut down large trees while hiking/camping. The only large trees I take are the non natives on the property around my nursery. And for that, I've got a chain saw if my arm starts getting tired!

I would not sacrifice 8 ounces more of blade for that amount in food. 3-4 weeks, you are likely to need to gather food or you can optimize what you are taking if you are not picky. If you are picky then maybe you have no business being out there. I will eat anything I need to eat if I have to.

 

[Moodino]

That is an excellent point!The part of your body that suffers is your knees so lightening up the gut region is big step forward!
Another point is that building muscle bulk in arms and legs is what all blade lovers need to do to prep for hauling the load!

Aight which of you bizatches complain about a heavy blade for treking and camping/backpacking when your azzes weigh 20 lbs or more than they should?

I don't complain about blade weight and have always carried big blades in my packs. 8 extra ounces just makes no difference to me when I can loose 10 pounds off my azz. So don't whine about blade weight when your weight is too high.

Tony G can relate right? How many times has Tony as well as myself heard someone complain about their 20 lb bike being too heavy and they go around riding with 30 extra pounds on their gut.

Let's see some pics of all of us to see how much extra weight we carry. Pic of you on a motorcyle or bike or something

 

[roughedges]

I would not sacrifice 8 ounces more of blade for that amount in food. 3-4 weeks, you are likely to need to gather food or you can optimize what you are taking if you are not picky. If you are picky then maybe you have no business being out there. I will eat anything I need to eat if I have to.

Thats a good point. AN extra 8oz of blade is more than worth its weight in food, in most environments. Mountaineering and desert travel are the only two I can think of where I'd rather have the food (or water, for the desert) than the blade.

I've lived for a week on saw palmetto hearts and a couple fish I managed to catch, was in heaven when I got to the shore and found some sea grapes. picky I am not.I think as much as its important to be fit enough to carry the weight its equally important that a guy tailors his load, and his knife, to the environment he's heading in to.

 

[Progunner]

With similar logic to the OP, I better put down my Pepper Shaker. Or, at least, I have the right to complain about its weight. I've never yet managed to get my weight up to anywhere close to normal for my height. I'm ~40 pounds underweight, and this is pretty close to the heaviest I've ever achieved.

Mike, I think I know where your 40 extra pounds is.

 

[roppda]

You guys got something against thin knives? I still think the idea of a Fusion Anorexic Battle Mistress is a great idea. Let's get the most out of the strength of Infi, and get another wicked cool blade at the same time.

Yes, I can certainly stand to lose a few pounds, and I don't go on any long treks where a couple of ounces will make the difference between survival and...

However, I do know I would like a lighter/thinner version of the FBM as well as the two we have now.

 

[Cobalt]

You guys got something against thin knives? I still think the idea of a Fusion Anorexic Battle Mistress is a great idea. Let's get the most out of the strength of Infi, and get another wicked cool blade at the same time.

Yes, I can certainly stand to lose a few pounds, and I don't go on any long treks where a couple of ounces will make the difference between survival and...

However, I do know I would like a lighter/thinner version of the FBM as well as the two we have now.

Hey, I am all for a ZTBM style blade. But it has nothing to do with whining about carrying a little more weight in knife because it is too much. I can crap the extra weight that my FBM puts over a mora.

 

[roughedges]

I think I'd prefer a thinner fusion BM but then the only one I've had to try is the TM which is thinner to start with. It has nothing to do with weight; I just figure that a thinner blade in INFI steel will chop just as well as its thicker brothers and slice better to boot. That it would weigh less is incidental, to me, though positive.

And my daily carry is a fatty too. So go figure.

Who was whining, anyway? I guess I just don't understand where all this is coming from. Some people like fat blades, some like em thin and some think they both have their place. If I'm sensing hostility maybe its just because of all the other crap going on around bladeforums of late.

 

[Cobalt]

well if you head over to the survival forum here and at the other knifeforum you will see that most of the guys on there are infatuated with mora's and Puuko's. Anything big is scoffed at and laughed at.

But the latest was an FBM review the other day where the big complaint was the weight of the knife.

 

[KnifeAddictAK]

I always carry too much gear. But I have what I need and then some. But then again, I'm 6'2" and 147lbs. And yes, I eat like a horse but can't gain the weight. I will pack up to 4 or 5 knives and a gun or two with me.

I don't know if this is relevant, as I skimmed through the posts. But if this is a "Get in shape" thread, then I am starting to and thanks for a reminder.

 

[Cobalt]

I always carry too much gear. But I have what I need and then some. But then again, I'm 6'2" and 147lbs. And yes, I eat like a horse but can't gain the weight. I will pack up to 4 or 5 knives and a gun or two with me.

I don't know if this is relevant, as I skimmed through the posts. But if this is a "Get in shape" thread, then I am starting to and thanks for a reminder.

KAAK, you ever thought about getting into roadbike racing?? You would be perfect for that at your weight.

 

[David E]

I mean, lets face it, all you really NEED in the woods is something like a mora.

Says WHO ?

.

 

[roughedges]

Says WHO ?

.

ok. change "you" to "I" and I stand by my statement. Depending on what I am packing and where I am going, all I need in the woods is a small blade, can do anything that needs to be done with just that. from building a shelter to skinning an animal.

I like big knives. I carry one regularly. I enjoy carrying one when I go, well, pretty much anywhere. That doesn't mean I need one to survive or exist in comfort in the wild.

 

[Cobalt]

the question here is not small versus big. It is about complaining that a big knife is too much to carry when it is not. I am sure you could survive an extended trek in many environments with a small knife. In fact in the desert there is little need for a big knife except as a makeshift shovel.

However, in a jungle type environment a longer blade will do more than a short blade. A 10 inch blade may not be a machete but if you carry one blade a big one is better than a small one. In fact a 10 inch blade is similar to a short heavy machete and will do for getting through thick brush. I have used it for such. Of course my hand would get scratched up because of the shortness of the blade, but without itI never would have made it through some of the thick undergrowth.

Oh, and I would be able to gather wood and build a shelter at least 2-3 times faster than you with a mora. Fact not brag. more cutting surface means less shrpening as well.

 

[roughedges]

I'm with you 100% on that one. if I can only choose one edged tool its going to be a big knife, every time.

I never did understand the weight issue as it relates to the thread where it first came up. The only time I see weight as a consideration is when the weight of all my gear needs to be considered. WHen you're trying to shave 5 or 10 lbs off a heavy pack a few ounces here and there really does make a difference. In those circumstances, I think its fine to weigh the benefits and the drawbacks of every piece of gear you're gonna bring, including the blade, and decide from there.

Myself, I usually end up carrying 3 or 4 different knives anytime I'm in the woods. so much for planning and wise packing! I've known guys who would cut the handles on their toothbrushes in half and one guy who would take it one step further and drill holes in what was left of the thing. Thats crazy IMO. As crazy as saying that the FBM is too heavy for a dayhike!

 

[Tony G]

Yes,

Some racer chick was here a few nights ago telling me about her new Scott bike that when all built up is just over 14 lbs.

I looked at her and pointed to my 23 lb steel bike that I use to train on and said "Well for me it doesn't make any difference because I'm more over weight than that bike weighs."

I have to hunt for a fat photo.

TG

Aight which of you bizatches complain about a heavy blade for treking and camping/backpacking when your azzes weigh 20 lbs or more than they should?

I don't complain about blade weight and have always carried big blades in my packs. 8 extra ounces just makes no difference to me when I can loose 10 pounds off my azz. So don't whine about blade weight when your weight is too high.

Tony G can relate right? How many times has Tony as well as myself heard someone complain about their 20 lb bike being too heavy and they go around riding with 30 extra pounds on their gut.

Let's see some pics of all of us to see how much extra weight we carry. Pic of you on a motorcyle or bike or something

 

[Hogwash]

All I will say is how much is enough?

With two FBM's and a Dog Father on the way, what will they do that my (much lighter) Battle Rat can't?

You can even go smaller than a Battle Rat without giving up too much.

Is a 99.99% knife worth carrying around 8 oz more than a 99.9% knife?

When a Busse owner steps in to the wilderness they are looking for an excuse to chop stuff up.

When a "survivalist" steps in to the wilderness they are looking for any way to avoid using their equipment because it's intended for "survival".

You don't have to be one or the other, just choose a knife to suit your mood.

 

[Cobalt]

All I will say is how much is enough?

With two FBM's and a Dog Father on the way, what will they do that my (much lighter) Battle Rat can't?

You can even go smaller than a Battle Rat without giving up too much.

BattleRat, Steelheart, CampTramp, Rattweiler, etc are all fine, as are smaller 6inch and 4 inch blades if they work for you. Battlerat is not available any more

Is a 99.99% knife worth carrying around 8 oz more than a 99.9% knife?

Huh? I'd rather carry the extra knife weight.

When a Busse owner steps in to the wilderness they are looking for an excuse to chop stuff up.

So what your saying is that us on this forum are just not survivalists right? Pretty big statement. I would say your statement is incorrect, absolutely. Chriss Janowski believed in a large blade and he was one of the top survivalists around. What does Randall recommend, RTAK (10 inch blade). What does Hood recommend? Oh, wait how about a 10 inch anaconda. I guess none of them are real survivalists and I guess that everyone on this forum just does nothing. I could go on with a who's who list of large knife users who are survivalists in the world. I could also go ahead and add that the std frontier blade was 8 inches long. Some where much longer. Real survivalists carry hard use equipment that will survive.

When a "survivalist" steps in to the wilderness they are looking for any way to avoid using their equipment because it's intended for "survival"..

I disagree with this, but the only condition that this would be true in would be in an emergency where you were cought off guard. If you are prepared you will use your equipment otherwise why bring it A big knife can do everything a small knife can do a small knife cannot do half the stuff a big knife can do.

Again, we have gone off topic,

A Baja Bug is all you need for 90% of all you will do, but a Rubicon Jeep with std detroit lockers will take you anywhere you need to go. Costs more, weighs more but you are not likely to get stuck.