Serious but small survival package!

That SASS is very impressive. If you could grind out the central section of a Becker, youd have a pretty sizeable compartment that (I dont think!) would affect the overall strength of the knife. The only difference is that the grips would be slightly less secure, held on with two rather than three bolts.
 
IMHO, one reason that many people have a poor perception of the hollow handle knives is that the ones seen most often by most people are not the high end knives by the mentioned makers, but the cheap asian/Middle Eastern junk that you see everywhere for $5-10. Very seldom will one of the high end knives be seen by most people.

Movie prop knives are another reason. Thrust into the genre of fantasy knives whether deservedly or not, the "fighting knives" with sawbacks and hollow handles are not taken seriously as users.

The idea of keeping a few "McGuyver" pieces in a knife handle is not new, as several have pointed out. Neither is the idea of keeping tools etc. in a rifle stock or under the buttplate or in the patchbox. I personally don't care for the type of knife, but I certainly see that some do. I have my own preferences and appreciate being allowed to use and own what I like without having to justify it to anyone.

Be careful of storing any meds, even over the counter ones in your knife handle... or kit for that matter. Unlabeled pills of whatever ilk can cause an interested LEO to give you grief. Particularly prescription meds. Sure, you can eventually prove what they are and that you lawfully posess them. But it would be a hassle getting it done.

Codger
 
Codger_64 said:
Be careful of storing any meds, even over the counter ones in your knife handle... or kit for that matter. Unlabeled pills of whatever ilk can cause an interested LEO to give you grief. Particularly prescription meds. Sure, you can eventually prove what they are and that you lawfully posess them. But it would be a hassle getting it done.
Click to expand...

An interesting point and worth remembering for traveling, too. Many of us get used to parcelling out meds into a pillbox with daily divisions. That's OK for convenience at home, but if you're flying somewhere you might be better off taking the vials with the prescription labels. When I travel, I have my doctor give me new presciptions to keep with me in case anything happens to the meds themselves.
 
What an entertaining thread!
Now on topic, I made this knife in '86 when I was working in machine shops. I was really unimpressed with the knives on the market and did not have the bucks for a high end, so made my own.
We hade some O1, I think, and I milled flat a 1.250" rnd bar to .250 then gave it a clip point. I attached it to the hollow handle with 2 set screws tapped a little off so they wedged the blade in tight. The cap has an o-ring and is water tight.
This was my go-to for 10-15 yrs. it has chopped saplings, hacked through the rib cage and gutted,skinned and butchered more then a few deer. It has filleted fish. This thing never failed. it has a chip in the edge from some of the rib chopping though.
So I have put this thing through a lot of use and abuse and know first hand I can depend on this hollow handle SK.

I am not sure what is in the handle, (it is packed in the BOB now) but I do know there are paper MRE matches cut in half with the striker, some small hooks line wieghts, and thread. It has a whet stone pouch on the sheath.

I don't carry it hunting in the woods anymore, a Bucklite folder guts fine and wieghs less.
IMG_0416.jpg


hope this pic posts, have had difficulty b4
 
Don Rearic you are the man. Glad to see your still telling it like it is. Kudos.

Its been a long time since I posted here (under the name Vermonster). Last post I made was about a Chris Reeve Aviator. Do a search and see how that thread turned out.

I see this Skammer guy getting called out on quite a few post, but its funny because he never answers the real questions to show he know what he is talking about.

Anyway,
I believe in the hollow handle concept and have for a long time now. I have been able to test and use quite a few over the years. I recently acquired a nice one from the Martin Brothers. Mine is the MCEII, full matte finish, D2 blade. It's a copy of Jimmy Lile's Sly2.....Yes a copy of a Rambo knife:-)

I find that it is built to really take punishment. The saw works ok...not great but good enough.

The handle comes wrapped with cord. I put another layer of Dacron cord over it. There is not too much room in the handle because it is filled with the tang of the knife. The Martins put the tang in about 1.5-2 inches in the handle. There is plenty of room for a nice mini kit though.

Inside the handle is
One mini-light stick
3 Life Boat matches w/striker
4 very powerful pain killers (they can be quartered)
small needle and thread
compass
tinder
scalpel blade
small fishing kit

Please don't call me Rambo.

How come no one says to us that like and use HH knives,

"Your a Capt. George Ingraham Wannabee"
 
Watching folks who fish regularly -- in known waters - come up empty time after time, I wonder if the space devoted to fishing tackle might be better used for more fire and water stuff, unless you are a killer angler.
 
I keep a fishing kit, even though very small and you can always use the line for other purposes if need be. I would rather drop in a line with several baited hooks and hope for the best than try and snare a squirrel.
 
Thomas Linton said:
Watching folks who fish regularly -- in known waters - come up empty time after time, I wonder if the space devoted to fishing tackle might be better used for more fire and water stuff, unless you are a killer angler.
Click to expand...

This is my position, I don't bother unless I have a dedicated pole (not part of a 'survival' setup). There are other ways, usually, to procure fish and other small game if needed.
 
Most traps for small game have an element of cruelty to them so it should come as no shock that several small Eagle Claw fish hooks would come in quite handy in a small, minimalist kit.

Then you have the fishing line, I have given up on monofilament in all survival kits. I just use braided line now.

Then comes the small splitshot sinkers. They don't even really take up enough space to warrant concern.

As for real fishing and tackle not pulling double-duty, if you really think you will be lost in an area where you can catch some fish, a small assortment of life-like lures along with the aforementioned Eagle Claws won't take up much room at all. I use a small grasshopper, an ant and several small fly-fishing flies as well.
 
I'm a fairly mediocre fisherman, but I've yet to come up with nothing. Nothing that I was willing to eat or that was legal to take, sure. But I don't think I can recall a time where I didn't at least hook a couple fish. Worms are plentiful where I live (salamanders and frogs too) and I've never had a problem catching anything with them. Food probably isn't my first priority but for the amount of space and weight that some fishing line and a couple hooks take up it seems worthwhile enough to include them.
 
Here is another of my favorite knives:
http://www.izhmash.ru/eng/product/hun-kni.shtml

It comes with a fishing bobbin that is set to fish (kind of nice if your hands were cold). The awl, the saw blade and the harpoon blade lock into the sheath for use (they really lock!). When I got mine the edge needed work, but it's great knife...
 
MIKE MACINTOSH said:
Here is a link to a knife that I have coveted since I was a boy and still hope to own some day
http://www.nordicknives.com/RandallGAL1.php?productmodelid=R17 a variation on the hollowed out handle Becker. Randall #17 Astro,Designed and carried by the Mercury Astronauts for survival use in case space capsule came down in some remote area
Click to expand...

I feel certain that one of the many creative makers on this forum could make you a comparable (superior?) blade for much cheaper than $530.
 
Has anyone here put one of those peanut lighters/spy capsule lighters in their hollow handled knives?
I have a couple of those lighters and they seem to work well and unlike my Zippos (which i do love) they have an o-ring seal that prevents them from drying out.
In case you haven't seen one of these lighters they are here (and at other sites)
https://edcdepot.com/merchantmanager/product_info.php?cPath=9&products_id=174

I always wanted a Chris Reeves Mountaineer but its out of my price range.
Just out of curiosity what are the dimensions of the Reeves knife's internal storage space?
 
Hey SpookyPistolero
I totaly agree with you there are some very talented makers on this forum. Even if one was willing to make a copy of the Astro it still wouldn't be one.it would be somthing like riding a BMW instead of the Harley you've always wanted. Nice bike but not a Harley.when you buy a Randall you dont just buy a knife you also buy a small piece of history you pay the price and get a quality knife that your grand kids will use long after your gone. when I hit the LOTTO I'll add the Astro Model to my collection :D
 
Some thread....

I dunno why people are so down on poor old John Rambo... First Blood is one of my all-time favourite flicks, hell it probably got me into knives in the first place :D Can't say much for the rest of the series though... same goes for Rocky, first one was great, the rest.... :barf:

I have one hollow handle knife, and yes it is a CRK. I bought it because Chris is my home boy. He grew up in my home town and naturally, we're pretty proud of his accomplishments. As a knife nut, I felt obliged to own at least one CRK, and when he was out here some time back on a visit, I was able to pick one up from the man himself. Unfortunately, we didn't get to hang as he was out on a day trip, but his folks are two of the nicest people you could ever meet.

That said, I would feel pretty well equipped if my Project I was the only knife I had along. I only keep matches in mine, purely as a back-up, because it doesn't seem right not to have something in there.

I honestly can't see how the handle design would be a problem, unless your hands are real soft like a ladies. Which seems unlikely in this crowd of manly men.

Only kidding fellas..... :D
 
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