Selecting best length for survival fixed blade.

[Jsega51]

How many calories are you going to expend cleaning a squirrel with a 14” knife that weighs 2 pounds?

A knife isn’t necessary to clean a squirrel, their skin is surprisingly easy to peel off.

 

[Bob Denman]

Well I’m sure I’d be doing more fine cutting tasks than I would be cutting down trees. I wouldn’t exactly be building a log cabin… maybe I make a lean-to with some branches and call it a day.

I have a little bit of experience with these things...
A lean-to absolutely has to be closed in on three sides. It also helps to retain heat; if you close off the opening as much as possible. Put your fire at the opening, cut pine boughs to get off the ground (and build your roof and walls!).
You might just survive...

But it wouldn't be my first choice for a shelter...

 

[King of the Cheese]

A knife isn’t necessary to clean a squirrel, their skin is surprisingly easy to peel off.

Not my point. My point is, knives are more often used for fine to medium tasks, not so often for chopping down trees.

Everyone likes to fantasize about building log cabins with their fixed blade but it just isn’t practical. You don’t need to chop down a tree to survive in the wilderness.

 

[King of the Cheese]

I have a little bit of experience with these things...
A lean-to absolutely has to be closed in on three sides. It also helps to retain heat; if you close off the opening as much as possible. Put your fire at the opening, cut pine boughs to get off the ground (and build your roof and walls!).
You might just survive...

This guy gets it. No log cabins necessary.

 

[shinyedges]

A knife isn’t necessary to clean a squirrel, their skin is surprisingly easy to peel off.

Already tried splainin that lol

 

[Jsega51]

Not my point. My point is, knives are more often used for fine to medium tasks, not so often for chopping down trees.

In a survival situation, all your preconceived notions are thrown out the window. That’s what you’re not seeing. It doesn’t matter what knife you have, you have to use it for everything.

Your choice isn’t wrong. My choice isn’t wrong. No one’s choice is wrong, yet here you are as expected pointing out situations just to go against peoples choices.

 

[shinyedges]

Not my point. My point is, knives are more often used for fine to medium tasks, not so often for chopping down trees.

Everyone likes to fantasize about building log cabins with their fixed blade but it just isn’t practical. You don’t need to chop down a tree to survive in the wilderness.

What fine task is in your mind that need be done in "survival" that a larger knife won't do?

Life or death spoon carving?

 

[King of the Cheese]

Already tried splainin that lol

How are you going to catch the squirrel? Going to throw the 14” knife at one?

 

[Jsega51]

Already tried splainin that lol

Repetition sometimes gets the point across.

Sometimes.

 

[King of the Cheese]

In a survival situation, all your preconceived notions are thrown out the window. That’s what you’re not seeing. It doesn’t matter what knife you have, you have to use it for everything.

Your choice isn’t wrong. My choice isn’t wrong. No one’s choice is wrong, yet here you are as expected pointing out situations just to go against peoples choices.

In what survival scenario would I need to chop down several trees? Talk about a waste of energy.

 

[King of the Cheese]

What fine task is in your mind that need be done in "survival" that a larger knife won't do?

Life or death spoon carving?

Better than “life or death timber production”. I’m not setting up a saw mill here.

 

[Jsega51]

In what survival scenario would I need to chop down several trees? Talk about a waste of energy.

You making a long term shelter out of the sticks you find on the ground?

 

[King of the Cheese]

You making a long term shelter out of the sticks you find on the ground?

Branches. I don’t need a 14” knife to cut branches.

 

[shinyedges]

If we are talking about a knife in the woods, somewhere in north america, is it winter? Do you need a night long lasting fire to survive? Going after dead standing wood is much easier with a larger knife.

This question is so open ended. Knife in death valley? Knife in rural alaska? Winter, summer, spring in the north (flooding from snow melt), I could go on and on. My knife choice would change a bit depending on scenerio.

Like I said, wooded north america I'd go 8" to 13". We aren't talking about "surviving" a 3 hour hike to the road, right?

Weeks or months? I'll stick with my choice.

 

[Bob Denman]

In a survival situation: you live or die; with your choices.
I'd rather err on the side of "larger"...
You get to make your own choices...

 

[Jsega51]

Branches. I don’t need a 14” knife to cut branches.

But it would work for many others correct? Do you see how you just want to argue?

 

[King of the Cheese]

If we are talking about a knife in the woods, somewhere in north america, is it winter? Do you need a night long lasting fire to survive? Going after dead standing wood is much easier with a larger knife.

This question is so open ended. Knife in death valley? Knife in rural alaska? Winter, summer, spring in the north (flooding from snow melt), I could go on and on. My knife choice would change a bit depending on scenerio.

Like I said, wooded north america I'd go 8" to 13". We aren't talking about "surviving" a 3 hour hike to the road, right?

Weeks or months? I'll stick with my choice.

Okay you want a scenario? Here you go:

Your plane crashes in the most remote part of the Everglades at 2am in the middle of summer. Alligators are closing in and the mosquitoes are on the attack. Cotton mouths, pythons, etc. You have no light save for the full moon.

What do you do? Why do you do??

 

[King of the Cheese]

But it would work for many others correct? Do you see how you just want to argue?

Don’t be ironic. Many of you came here to comment for the purpose of arguing. Don’t clutch your pearls when someone fires back.

 

[Boru13]

Well I’m sure I’d be doing more fine cutting tasks than I would be cutting down trees. I wouldn’t exactly be building a log cabin… maybe I make a lean-to with some branches and call it a day.

What kind of fine cutting tasks do see yourself performing where your 1/8" thick LT Wright GNS prevails in a survival scenario?

Also, a lean-to with some branches isn't going to cut it for an extended time... especially if we're talking about a colder climate.

Your original post.

What length of blade would you MOST prefer for use in a survival scenario? You’re about to pack up and embark on a journey to the wilderness where you will need to live for an extended time (several weeks or more). You are able to choose ONE knife to take with you, which is a fixed blade. No axe, no hatchet, no other edged tool or weapon. Just your knife.

 

[coolbreezy37]

This is my usual set up for going out in the woods. Sometimes it varies. I usually carry 5 things:
1). Large caliber Revolver
2). Large knife (minimum 7”)
3). Harley Davidson zippo lighter (sometimes w/ cigarettes)
4). Compass
5). Main item (fishing pole and gear, bow or long gun)