Hi i am new to the forum, i've browsed for information in the past but am really looking for some of your personal recommendations as to which style of large fixed blade you find most effective for chopping but also general use in the woods.
To give you an idea of the kind of usage the blade will see, i'll give some background about myself. In my free time i spend a lot of time on extended trips into the the backcountry, mostly using kayaks or canoes, as well as hiking and snowshoeing. I am a social worker in the city, but will soon be spending the majority of my time in the bush when i start working as a counselor for different wilderness therapy programs for troubled teens and adolescents around the country and up in canada. Depending on the program trips range from a week to more than a month at a time, with camp relocating almost daily, so ease of carry is a factor, but i am in good health and fitness so i can handle a heavier blade, and generally pack pretty light otherwise. Additionally as a wilderness EMT i will be spending extended time in the woods and will require a blade that can quickly and safely handle tasks required for clearing trails to access injured persons, and on the fly stretcher/litter construction.
The blades i currently carry in the woods are a Carbon V Cold Steel LTC from the late 90's, and an Ontario Survival Knife thats about 9 years old. Both are going strong and do their jobs well, however the LTC is not as good a chopper as i would like it to be, it just doesnt have the thickness. I like the Kukri style of blade because of the forward balance, size, and functionality, it can really serve most purposes pretty well. I mainly picked up the LTC as opposed to a traditional HI khuk, or even the cold steel gurkha because i needed something made with modern materials that would be more resilient to rust, since i do a lot of sea kayaking along isolated coasts and am constantly exposed to heavy amounts of salt in the air, the black finish on the LTC protects the steel. The kraton rubber handle lets me not worry about excessive moisture getting in a wood handle which could cause splitting problems.
So i am set for most tasks, however for heavy chopping in old growth forests and interior wilderness i generally bring an ax or hatchet in addition to these blades, sometimes a folding saw as well.
Now for your help! Since i will be spending much more time in the wilderness, and moving around a lot once out there, in addition to performing a wide range of utilitarian and everyday tasks, what would be the next step up from my Cold steel Kukri? I will hold onto that and use it where minimal wood chopping and blade protection are a concern, but soon i will require something heavy duty that i feel this blade, while awesome, just wont cut it as something to rely on for a month or more at a time. at this point i am thinking another heavier kukri style blade, maybe a traditional HI khuk.
So thanks for your time reading and any opinions you have to offer from your experience or expertise would be greatly welcomed and appreciated. I am specifically looking for general styles of large fixed blade (khuk, golok, bowie etc) , but if you have recommendations of a specific knife/ manufacturer you hold in high regard dont hesitate to let me know, i only wish to learn so i can best make an informed decision! thanks!
To give you an idea of the kind of usage the blade will see, i'll give some background about myself. In my free time i spend a lot of time on extended trips into the the backcountry, mostly using kayaks or canoes, as well as hiking and snowshoeing. I am a social worker in the city, but will soon be spending the majority of my time in the bush when i start working as a counselor for different wilderness therapy programs for troubled teens and adolescents around the country and up in canada. Depending on the program trips range from a week to more than a month at a time, with camp relocating almost daily, so ease of carry is a factor, but i am in good health and fitness so i can handle a heavier blade, and generally pack pretty light otherwise. Additionally as a wilderness EMT i will be spending extended time in the woods and will require a blade that can quickly and safely handle tasks required for clearing trails to access injured persons, and on the fly stretcher/litter construction.
The blades i currently carry in the woods are a Carbon V Cold Steel LTC from the late 90's, and an Ontario Survival Knife thats about 9 years old. Both are going strong and do their jobs well, however the LTC is not as good a chopper as i would like it to be, it just doesnt have the thickness. I like the Kukri style of blade because of the forward balance, size, and functionality, it can really serve most purposes pretty well. I mainly picked up the LTC as opposed to a traditional HI khuk, or even the cold steel gurkha because i needed something made with modern materials that would be more resilient to rust, since i do a lot of sea kayaking along isolated coasts and am constantly exposed to heavy amounts of salt in the air, the black finish on the LTC protects the steel. The kraton rubber handle lets me not worry about excessive moisture getting in a wood handle which could cause splitting problems.
So i am set for most tasks, however for heavy chopping in old growth forests and interior wilderness i generally bring an ax or hatchet in addition to these blades, sometimes a folding saw as well.
Now for your help! Since i will be spending much more time in the wilderness, and moving around a lot once out there, in addition to performing a wide range of utilitarian and everyday tasks, what would be the next step up from my Cold steel Kukri? I will hold onto that and use it where minimal wood chopping and blade protection are a concern, but soon i will require something heavy duty that i feel this blade, while awesome, just wont cut it as something to rely on for a month or more at a time. at this point i am thinking another heavier kukri style blade, maybe a traditional HI khuk.
So thanks for your time reading and any opinions you have to offer from your experience or expertise would be greatly welcomed and appreciated. I am specifically looking for general styles of large fixed blade (khuk, golok, bowie etc) , but if you have recommendations of a specific knife/ manufacturer you hold in high regard dont hesitate to let me know, i only wish to learn so i can best make an informed decision! thanks!