Questions for people who do the big knife thing.

As one who has many big blades, as well as hatchets, machetes and axes; I can attest to the fact the a big knife handles many tasks, and have served me well in the field.





"If you're not living on the edge, …you're taking up too much space."

Big Mike
 
Medium chopping, medium prying, most small, and large knife things, lighter then most axe's, because of the steels will hold a sharper edge longer, slices better, better for killing and cleaning, longer cutting edge, can be used under water, and if you are really good, will deflect bullets.
 
For me, less pendulam action on the Crowell-Barker swing, so less chance of it going through my shin bone. ;)
 
I have lots of Big knives but they get used very little because the ax gets the bigger work and I find little reason to chop small stuff. I do use then once in a while to trim bigger green branches for walking sticks.
 
YOu look really SCARY whilst traipsing through the park
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Tell me about it, i was once hiking the Johnson canyon (Banff Canada), and whenever someone would pass us, the would look at my SYD Yard guard (7 inches of blade, in sheath) look up fast and quicken there pace. Because everyone knows that Serial killers enjoy a good hike...

There really is no advantage over an axe, but they are fun to play with and i guess, In a survival situation, it would be a lot easier to loose a camp axe, Mine is usually tied to my bag, Than a knife on your belt. IMO

And maybe large animal defense, as highly inefficient as knife would be, a bigger one might do that little more damage needed to scare off the animal. (this is hypothetical of course, the best defense for animals in a good sturdy rifle/pistol)

I just like having a big knife...

Let me throw in my two cents....

Regardless of what people convince you of regarding the advantages (or lack thereof) of a big knife, you just plain need an FBM. Everyone does. Some just might not realize it. Yet.

Stay sharp,
desmobob
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And that is priceless, and true.
Just need to convince the wife...

Gilles.
 
The Work Crew:

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mostly, I prefer the 12in H.I. A.K., 9 inch blade.

l-r: 15 in AK, 12 in AK, "Sarge" 4 in, and 1 3/4 in karda.
 
j_d said:
I think if you look at history and cultures today that are in "out of the way" places you will find that most carry a large blade.
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You are probably on to something here. I got to hang out with some Masai in Kenya, and they all favored a big (12-14") knife, in the Congo the machete was popular. In South America I understand the machete is king. Parang and golok are still poplar in the far east. Leuku in Finland.

Across cultures and climates the big knife is a valued tool.

(Of course I rarely carry anything more than 4-5".)
 
desmobob said:
Let me throw in my two cents....

Regardless of what people convince you of regarding the advantages (or lack thereof) of a big knife, you just plain need an FBM. Everyone does. Some just might not realize it. Yet. ;)

Stay sharp,
desmobob
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Yep, he drank the Kool-Aid, too. :p :thumbup:;)

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I like the feel of the hefty blades. It can do a lot of things good, while only a couple things great. A little knife can do a lot of things great, but not much good when it comes to bigger tasks like falling trees, or batoning wood.
 
i think that the SAK use has to do with the issue of do you have a knife , the sak with a saw blade will do a tremendous numbeer of survival tasks, it is easily carried, can be attached to your body, so that you will have it with you when you need it and this is the issue, the large blade is cumbersome aqnd heavy and you might elect not to carry such weight.

this is the reason for the sak with a sawblade, or the multitool as being a compact survival tool that will do a lot of jobs, maybe not as fast as the axe or large chopper will but then again you will have it in your pocket unlike a machete or BM.

alex
 
Thomas Linton said:
What is a "big" knife to you, BMB? It's a word with no set meaning. What, for example is "big" to someone who thinks a SAK is the "best all around survival knife"?

Why is a SAK the "best all around survival knife" in Mr. Hood's opinion, crossada? Corkscrew?
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Ron designed the TOPS anaconda with 9 1/2" blade and the Fehrman hoodhunter with 10 1/2" blade so i figure that is what he calls a chopper.

you would have to ask Ron Hood about the sak but if you have ever seen any of the woodsmaster series he puts that rucksack to good use.
 
I think Ron Hood started out with one of the early Battle Mistresses and went on from there. He definitely knows what a big knife is.

I think he likes the SAK, as mentioned, because of the versatility (specifically the Rucksack model).

I believe he's (yet another) proponent of the big blade/small blade combo. Seems to be the standard for primitive living from the beginning of man. Only modern man has the illusion of "one knife".

To this day, Nepalis have the small kniofe (karda) with their kukris.

Jeff Randall said the predominant tools of South American jungle dwellers is a machete and small, thin knife that wouldn't look out of place in the kitchen.
 
I don't like to put all my eggs into one basket. I also like the versatility of several different tools. I try to walk several times a week. When I get out, I spend part of my time gathering wood. For me a Gerber pocket ax, a SAK huntsman and a Buck 110 are a good combination. I use the hatchet to chop large limbs down to a reasonable size and then finish them off with the saw on the SAK. I can also baton the hatchet to split logs and use it like an ulu to create tinder. The SAK blades are great for fine work. The back of the saw is a great fire steel striker. When I want to dig, pry, scrape, chisel or hammer, I use my hatchet. It also works as a fire tong, or I can use it to shape some wood into a fire tong.

I carry my Buck 110 because I like the way it looks and feels. I also feel funny without it. It makes the best fuzz sticks. However, I use my hatchet the most, the SAK next and the Buck 110 the least.
 
I cover all bases by having a motherrucking large blade, a medium fixed blade, several small fixed blades and a bunch of folders, as well as axes and tomahawks.

axe good! biggy fixed good! medium fixed good! small fixed good! folders good! lots of knives and axes and tomahawks = good!
 
I have done very well for 60 plus years without a Busse. In fact I never heard of a Busse until I joined BF. Nothing against them but I don't need one and really don't even want one of the larger ones. This is just to make it clear that many knives will handle big knife jobs. Even if Busse owners don't realize it.:D
 
To me a thick blade say 3/16 or thicker and seven inch long or longer is a big knife. JMO
 
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