SAK to the rescue...

Joined
Jul 28, 2003
Messages
2,790
A bear kills a man's wife and drags it into the bush while he slashes it with his Swiss Army Knife:

Man fights bear with Swiss Army knife


MISSINAIBI LAKE PROVINCIAL PARK, Ont. — Police and wildlife officials were on the hunt for a wounded black bear Wednesday after a woman was mauled to death and her husband injured as he tried to keep the animal from dragging his wife into the northern Ontario bush.

Campers have been ordered out of the back country of Missinaibi Lake Provincial Park, located about 80 kilometres north of Chapleau, Ont., as conservation officers equipped with a helicopter and a dog team scour the area.

Natural Resources officials said Marc Jordan of Cambridge, Ont., was armed with only a Swiss Army knife as he fought desperately to keep the predatory animal from dragging his fatally mauled wife, Jacqueline Perry, into the brush.

‘‘He fought back as hard as he could with the weapon he had at hand,’’ Jolanta Kowalski of the Ministry of Natural Resources said Wednesday. ‘‘But the bear was relentless in wanting to take her into the bush.’’

Jordan, 30, suffered lacerations while slashing the bear at least five times with the knife, police said. The computer specialist was flown to a hospital in Sudbury, Ont., where he was listed in serious but stable condition.

Perry, 30, was a family physician at a Cambridge hospital. Staff there were devastated after hearing of Tuesday’s attack, said the centre’s lead physician, Dr. Jeff Main.

‘‘Jacqueline represented vitality and youthfulness,’’ Main said. ‘‘It’s like losing a child. She was the youngest partner here.’’ Jordan and Perry were on a two-week holiday, camping and kayaking alone at a remote campsite when a black bear hunting for food attacked, said provincial police Const. Karen Farand.

In the frantic attempt to save his wife, Jordan carried her to their kayak and began to paddle to the nearest campsite, Farand said. He yelled for help and a 54-year-old man and his 30-year-old son from Pennsylvania, who were camping at a site, heard him. Jordan put his wife into their boat, which carried them all off in search of help.

About a kilometre away, they spotted and flagged down another boat, which carried a doctor from North Carolina and an off-duty police officer.

The doctor tried to treat Perry while the boat continued on to the park’s main office, about 10 kilometres away.

But by then Perry had succumbed to her injuries ‘‘and was obviously dead,’’ said Farand.
 
I would hardly call it a rescue. Feeble attempt? Yes. Rescue? No.
 
If he even had a Howling Rat with him that would have bettered his odds a bit. It's a wonder why people go camping alone with only an SAK.

I was just watching a documentary about bear attacks just now and it seems pepper spray will offer you better protection than any knife. I wonder why people don't carry 'em more often.
 
K.V. Collucci said:
I would hardly call it a rescue. Feeble attempt? Yes. Rescue? No.

For once I have to take issue with you, Mr. C. To engage a black bear - especially one demonstrably intent on homicide - with a SAK is an act of great bravery. I applaud this gentleman.

Point44 said:
It's a wonder why people go camping alone with only an SAK.

Because an SAK is all you need 99.9% of the time. To burden yourself with extra kit "just in case" is pointless. Where does it end? People have been hit by meteorites; does one wear a helmet "just in case"?

maximus otter
 
It depends on the area, how frequently bears are sighted-- their behavior, etc.

The probability of being struck by a meteorite is quite small. If I go hiking in an area frequented by large, possibly aggressive wildlife, I like an edged item slightly larger than a SAK. (Of course, if possible, I also like something that allows me to strike froma a distance.)

I do agree, however, that the effort was valiant.
 
maximus otter said:
For once I have to take issue with you, Mr. C. To engage a black bear - especially one demonstrably intent on homicide - with a SAK is an act of great bravery. I applaud this gentleman.

The area they were in was known to have a large population of bears. He should have taken the time to arm himself adequately prior to his foray into the woods. Yes, he exhibited bravery by attacking the bear with a SAK to save his wife but he demonstrated stupidity by not being well prepared. But by new means was it a rescue and by no means did he do any damage to that bear that would have changed the course of events. If he had a larger knife and pepper spray his wife might be alive today.
 
maximus otter said:
Because an SAK is all you need 99.9% of the time. To burden yourself with extra kit "just in case" is pointless. Where does it end? People have been hit by meteorites; does one wear a helmet "just in case"?

maximus otter

A walk through the park alright. Maybe a camping trip in the UK forest. But a 2 week trip camping and kayaking in a place where you know there are bears and all you have is an SAK is just plain unprepared. I thought it was common practice for kayakers and divers to carry a fixed blade all the time. Something might go wrong in the water and you won't have time to open an SAK.

Anyway, he was a brave man. But unprepared nonetheless.
 
maximus otter said:
"...bear pepper spray has been 87% effective in deterring aggressive bears whereas firearms have fared worse."
maximus otter

C'mon Max. Did you READ that link? As you of all people should know, CARRYING a firearm is only relevant when you have chosen the correct one for the job, AND are adequately trained.

:rolleyes:
 
Shaldag: A gun or a large knife is cumbersome to carry on a hiking trip. It's heavy and useless. A SAK and a saw or hatchet would work much better. Sure, we might carry large knives because we like them, but for most they're just heavy and impractical if you're only using for neccessity (we knife people tend to cut for fun). The pepper spray would have been a good idea.
 
Point44 said:
A walk through the park alright. Maybe a camping trip in the UK forest. But a 2 week trip camping and kayaking in a place where you know there are bears and all you have is an SAK is just plain unprepared.

My understanding is that the really serious long-distance hikers tend to carry small SAKs, and no other blades. The probability of needing one is low enough that, to them, the weight is wasted. To you or me, a good sized fixed blade and maybe a large caliber handgun would be worth the burden. To them it isn't. We al draw the "preparedness" line in different places. If it was just a matter of "prepared" vs "unprepared", we'd all forego the SAK for a BAR. :D
 
The whole idea of 'ultra long distance hikers' more commonly refered to as 'ultra-light' is barely prepared. Just getting by with the minimum. They don't think they need to be prepared for whatever. It literally bites them in the butt sometimes. :p


It sounds to me like he went to a gun fight with a sharpened pencil. Woefully underprepared. He gambled and lost.

I admire him for sacrificing himself to try to save his wife's life, but maybe the sacrifice should have been in carrying a bit more weight.
 
I cannot contemplate calling myself even slightly prepared if all I had was a SAK while camping. And I've been hiking and camping my whole life.

I carry MUCH more than a SAK as my edc. I've got a German army issue SAK on my key ring.

Do people know what size a SAK is?
Remember, if the extra few ounces of weight is enough to break your back, you shouldn't be hiking to begin with, you're too fragile for such an activity.
 
maximus otter said:
I think that carrying a blade with the intention of using it against a bear is to display unwarranted optimism!

"...bear pepper spray has been 87% effective in deterring aggressive bears whereas firearms have fared worse."

I have to wonder how many of these firearms were of relatively small caliber and how many of the individuals carrying them were skilled with them.

I wouldn't expect to take down a bear with a .22LR or without knowing how to shoot well.

The advantage of spray is that you can just spray it in the general area of the bear's face. A firearm has to hit vital organs or you really can't count on it.
 
NeedleRemorse said:
Shaldag: A gun or a large knife is cumbersome to carry on a hiking trip. It's heavy and useless. A SAK and a saw or hatchet would work much better. Sure, we might carry large knives because we like them, but for most they're just heavy and impractical if you're only using for neccessity (we knife people tend to cut for fun). The pepper spray would have been a good idea.

Amen.

maximus otter
 
Wow.....how "light" of a load are you folks used to that less than three pounds makes that big a deal? There was a time not too long ago where when I went "camping" it was with close to/about 130lbs of gear while covering up to 20 or so miles a day sometimes. A large knife and/or a handgun were the least of my concerns and on me at all times. The handgun was required, but my knife was always a treasured tool and source of entertainment. Spoiled, if ya ask me.
Maybe invest in a pack mule? Being responsible is being prepared. My safety is much more important than being "burdened" by an extra couple of pounds.
But then I never really got into "camping" in my living room either. Your mileage may vary.
 
Well, I've done my share of hiking, camping, and climbing.
I am a little obsessive/compulsive, and I like to save my weight loads for important things.

For example, a flask of whisky.

For example, I don't go out into the woods without a good sheath knife. The maximum blade length that I carry is 5 inches (I leave the big, honkin' bowie at home.) This has served to build shelter and/or splint on more than one occasion.

If I am going into country frequented by large animals, I do carry a large pistol for protection (if legal). I have not had to use it yet, but that is one of the last things that I would leave behind.

The mountains of Montana (I am not talking about National Parks) are great places to hike. You can catch all the food you want out of the streams, assuming you like things like trout and salmon. However, you will be competing with bears for their food supply, and some of them may take a dislike to you. The extra weight is worthwhile for me.
 
Taking a large fixed as a planned way to deal with bears is completly stupid. Unless you choose heavy loads (read .44 mag), and even in that case, a handgun is actually pretty dangerous: may not stop the bear but will get it very pissed off. The only recommanded way to deal with bears, is avoid them, try to get away, and in case forced into confrontation: mild determent (pepper spray, flares, electric fences) backed with ready to shoot hunting rifle (at least .308w) or shotgun loaded with special "kind of hollow point" slugs.
 
shaldag said:
The mountains of Montana (I am not talking about National Parks) are great places to hike. You can catch all the food you want out of the streams, assuming you like things like trout and salmon. However, you will be competing with bears for their food supply, and some of them may take a dislike to you. The extra weight is worthwhile for me.
My wife is from Polson (I lived there for awhile when I came off Active) Did lots of hiking at Glacier and near Swan Lake. Truly "Big Sky" country and one of the finest places on earth.
Picture141.jpg

Picture150.jpg

Picture138.jpg
 
Back
Top