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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
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Show me your WELL USED, trusted woods combo!
- Thread starter AntDog
- Start date
I have three woods combos, depending on scale-of-task.
-My goto wilderness expedition kit is a 7" Finnish leuku and 4" puukko, both Scandi ground and gang-sheathed in deep leather. They will get me through anything.
-For shorter backpacking forays I usually belt up a Camillus USMC I've had since the 60's with a TOPS CSAR-T Liason in Kydex attached to the USMC leather sheath. Plenty for most trips.
-For just regular "camping" I use a 12" hand forgedl khukuri with a Ka-Bar Acheron replacing the karda blade. Great for major firewood, shelter...then cuttin' the cheese and working that pesky seal off before we unscrew the wine.
Are they my only blades at the time? No. I'll also carry a folder, usually either my HEST 2.0 or a Grayman. I can also supplement everything with my 16" bolo lashed to my pack in overhead draw or carried in a shoulder rig if I feel it necessary.
-My goto wilderness expedition kit is a 7" Finnish leuku and 4" puukko, both Scandi ground and gang-sheathed in deep leather. They will get me through anything.
-For shorter backpacking forays I usually belt up a Camillus USMC I've had since the 60's with a TOPS CSAR-T Liason in Kydex attached to the USMC leather sheath. Plenty for most trips.
-For just regular "camping" I use a 12" hand forgedl khukuri with a Ka-Bar Acheron replacing the karda blade. Great for major firewood, shelter...then cuttin' the cheese and working that pesky seal off before we unscrew the wine.
Are they my only blades at the time? No. I'll also carry a folder, usually either my HEST 2.0 or a Grayman. I can also supplement everything with my 16" bolo lashed to my pack in overhead draw or carried in a shoulder rig if I feel it necessary.
:thumbup:
- Joined
- Apr 3, 2001
- Messages
- 27,082
Neeman,
We have similar issues in New England. IME, I can't separate the considerations of a "woods knife" and the considerations of cooking/fire.
When hiking in the high peaks, "woods" devolves to "krumhotlz" which is roughly spruce, fir and birch stunted by the constant winds. Just below the krumholtz line it is thick, impassible boreal.
Krumholtz by Pinnah, on FlickrFire making and shelter making here is just not feasible. Still, some people attempt it and the result is horrible looking damage and fire rings. This was just off of a summit (Garfield).
Stupid knife use by Pinnah, on FlickrThis is the remains of somebodies saw and knife play. It was left right next to an unremediated fire ring and ash pit, all within site of the summit. Our high peaks just can't sustain harvest and ash deposit.
My solution for going up high is to stick to stoves, like this Svea, which has fired up every time (down to -15F) and has never been field repaired (I replaced the wick after 22 years of service). Does this make it "bad ass" I wonder?
Svea 123 by Pinnah, on FlickrOn low land trips, wood harvesting and impact are still major issues, particularly on public lands. Over harvest of wood (among other things) has led to the USFS to close off traditional camp sites as "restricted use areas". And if you bushwack along streams, you will find common use fire rings in abundance.
Like you, I'm having great luck with twig stoves and it's become a standard part of my XC ski touring kit.
Hot Chocolate by Pinnah, on FlickrThese really minimize wood harvesting needs and ash production problem to a minimum. While they don't work well up in the high boreal/krumholtz/alpine zone in New England, I think they make good sense in our lower hard woods. An added benefit is that the effort to process wood drops considerably and with it, the need to carry heavy wood processing tools. 90% of the time, I can feed my Emberlit in the wet snowy winter with only stuff harvested and processed by hand, no cutting tools needed. Still, on long XC trips, I'll carry this combo (the Mora HD will probably displace the old Schrade this year).
Winter fire tools by Pinnah, on FlickrIn moderate to cool temps with a fit partner where miles over hard ground are the goal, I'll go much lighter both stove and knife-wise. I'm super impressed with the BatchStovez BS 1.0 stove...
BatchStovez 1.0 by Pinnah, on Flickr... which packs up nicely in a tall pot with a windscreen. Just enough for boiled water based cooking for 2 people and super efficient and light.
Stanley Windscreen by Pinnah, on FlickrChouinard said, "Speed is safety" and with this stove, I can cut weight down quite a lot. No need even for the Opinel, really. The PS4 Squirt is all that is needed (gear repair & first aid).
Different regions have different "woods". Different considerations.
Abandon!! Heck no. It's a keeper for sure.
When my son was 13, he made me this sheath for it (Tandy kit).
My Son's Sheath by Pinnah, on Flickr
I keep an organizer bag of backcountry essential in a fanny pack in the back of my car. The same essentials kit goes with me on day hikes (over kill), backpacking trips and XC trips. I just toss the kit into whatever pack I'm using and am good to go on the basics.
The Mora is smaller, lighter and less precious to me. It's less versatile than the H-15 but does a better job with wood. Like choosing your favorite dog. Hard to do and unfair. The Mora is stored in the essentials kit. The H-15 is in the kitchen drawer where it sees more use.
When my son was 13, he made me this sheath for it (Tandy kit).
My Son's Sheath by Pinnah, on FlickrI keep an organizer bag of backcountry essential in a fanny pack in the back of my car. The same essentials kit goes with me on day hikes (over kill), backpacking trips and XC trips. I just toss the kit into whatever pack I'm using and am good to go on the basics.
The Mora is smaller, lighter and less precious to me. It's less versatile than the H-15 but does a better job with wood. Like choosing your favorite dog. Hard to do and unfair. The Mora is stored in the essentials kit. The H-15 is in the kitchen drawer where it sees more use.
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- Apr 3, 2001
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- 27,082
I'll tell you what..... Why don't you guys go start a backpacking/white gas stove thread..... So I can fill it full of pictures of big woods blades.
Staaaaaahp.
I've asked you nicely, even said please several times. If you can't or won't contribute to the topic at hand, kindly cease and desist.
Staaaaaahp.
I've asked you nicely, even said please several times. If you can't or won't contribute to the topic at hand, kindly cease and desist.
Suggest you change your thread title from "woods combo" to something like "WELL USED large choppers".
Your "woods" and other people's "woods" aren't the same.
Your original post...
My "woods combo". The "big knife" is on top. The "small knife" is on the bottom.
Outdoor Carry by Pinnah, on Flickr
If your intention was to ask about something different than well used woods combos with both a large knife and small knife, I suggest you clarify/edit your original post.
Your "woods" and other people's "woods" aren't the same.
Your original post...
My "woods combo". The "big knife" is on top. The "small knife" is on the bottom.
Outdoor Carry by Pinnah, on FlickrIf your intention was to ask about something different than well used woods combos with both a large knife and small knife, I suggest you clarify/edit your original post.
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- Joined
- Apr 3, 2001
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The thread is about well used, trusted woods combos. Half of the combo is a large knife. The other half is a small one. You seem to only have a problem with the large ones.
No need to change my thread title. I need you to stop posting in it.
If you have no problem with what other people carry, or what they do, why are you still here? You clearly despise large blades and people chopping wood. I get it. I don't care.
Edited to add: your small knife is not a knife, and your large knife isn't large. I understand your agenda. You posted here to show us your way of doing things. To basically tell everyone posting pics of their combos that they're backwoods mall ninjas, and then back handedly state "but whatever makes you happy!" Ok, whatever.
Now, if anyone would like to post pics of their well used big knife/small knife combo, I would be much obliged!
No need to change my thread title. I need you to stop posting in it.
If you have no problem with what other people carry, or what they do, why are you still here? You clearly despise large blades and people chopping wood. I get it. I don't care.
Edited to add: your small knife is not a knife, and your large knife isn't large. I understand your agenda. You posted here to show us your way of doing things. To basically tell everyone posting pics of their combos that they're backwoods mall ninjas, and then back handedly state "but whatever makes you happy!" Ok, whatever.
Now, if anyone would like to post pics of their well used big knife/small knife combo, I would be much obliged!
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- Apr 3, 2001
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This one is slowly working it's way into my rotation as the small knife in my combo:
I love the blade shape, and the handles are very comfortable. Plus the green stands out if I ever put it down... I did that once, but found it quick.
By the way, it has been well used. It just doesn't show wear that much!
I love the blade shape, and the handles are very comfortable. Plus the green stands out if I ever put it down... I did that once, but found it quick.
By the way, it has been well used. It just doesn't show wear that much!
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Grampas old deer knife and zt 350 is always a good combo for me. I do need to find a new sheath for the kinfolk though.
Could you say more about the Kinfolk? What's the blade length? Looks to be about 5"?
From the top: My grandfather's unbranded hunting knife (just over 6", 3 notches on handle), my Schrade-Walden H-15 (5", since filed to drop point) and a modified Case 316-5 (on loan, currently).
fixed blades by Pinnah, on FlickrAntDog, perhaps you can give us a minimum length for your "big knives" category?
Yeah forsure the blade length is 5.5 inches, over all length 9.75, inches stacked leather handle. Don't know how old it is and grampa isn't around to awnser questions. I do know that it was one of his favorite knives and it has skinned it's fair share of deer.
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Could you say more about the Kinfolk? What's the blade length? Looks to be about 5"?
From the top: My grandfather's unbranded hunting knife (just over 6", 3 notches on handle), my Schrade-Walden H-15 (5", since filed to drop point) and a modified Case 316-5 (on loan, currently).
AntDog, perhaps you can give us a minimum length for your "big knives" category?
Nice! I really dig those old Schrades. And thanks for playing along man. I sincerely appreciate it!
If you had to guess, what company do you think made your grandfather's knife? It looks similar to a few I've seen, but I just can't place it.
As far as the big knives go, ohhh, I dunno. 4" - 5" plus? I personally consider 5" plus in the larger knife category. A lot of people I know consider anything bigger than 3 1/2" or so a large blade though.
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More big knives!
The Esee 5 is new to me. I had one previously but sold it as it seem too impractical to own. Well to heck with impractical! I bought another very well used one off the exchange, stripped the coating, sanded it down, forced a patina in an attempted tiger striped patern, and dyed the scales a darker green. First time I ever did any of those things. Just need to sharpen it back up and put it to use...doing what? I don't know...
The Esee 6 has seen significant time camping and day hiking. Love this knife!
Newly added to the user rotation is the SOG TigerShark S.M.C.A with Japanese SK5 steel.
Between the Junglas, Bravo II, & TigerShark I should be good on big knives for awhile.
Next is not really a woods knife, but it is well used. This is my SOG Seal Knife. I call it my downstairs knife. This thing has been used for a number of tasks. The more mundane would be yard work and kitchen prep. The more exotic would be using it to poke holes in a clogged street drain in front of my house during one of our many random summer downpours. That Lanyard comes in handy when plunging the knife into a foot of rushing water (or bad guys I guess). The most important task the Seal Team does (besides accompanying actual Seals in battle I assume) is clearing clogs out of the freaking ice maker. About every 4 months the damn thing will back up and not be able to spit out any ice. The long, pike like profile of the Seal Knife works perfect for poking at ice in the back of a freezer.
Now, what about the little part of the combo you may ask? Other than what I originally posted above, is what did serious work for me during my first 3 years of knife addiction. The SOG Flash II. I know, people love to hate on this knife and company, with some good reasons. That said, this guy did 3 long years of service EVERYDAY! It was the small knife I had when carrying the SOG Seal team to eliminate branches, clogged storm drains, and ice monsters. It was a back up on many a camping trip when the Esee 6 was my main knife. Heck, it is what got me into knives.
The Esee 5 is new to me. I had one previously but sold it as it seem too impractical to own. Well to heck with impractical! I bought another very well used one off the exchange, stripped the coating, sanded it down, forced a patina in an attempted tiger striped patern, and dyed the scales a darker green. First time I ever did any of those things. Just need to sharpen it back up and put it to use...doing what? I don't know...
The Esee 6 has seen significant time camping and day hiking. Love this knife!
Newly added to the user rotation is the SOG TigerShark S.M.C.A with Japanese SK5 steel.
Between the Junglas, Bravo II, & TigerShark I should be good on big knives for awhile.
Next is not really a woods knife, but it is well used. This is my SOG Seal Knife. I call it my downstairs knife. This thing has been used for a number of tasks. The more mundane would be yard work and kitchen prep. The more exotic would be using it to poke holes in a clogged street drain in front of my house during one of our many random summer downpours. That Lanyard comes in handy when plunging the knife into a foot of rushing water (or bad guys I guess). The most important task the Seal Team does (besides accompanying actual Seals in battle I assume) is clearing clogs out of the freaking ice maker. About every 4 months the damn thing will back up and not be able to spit out any ice. The long, pike like profile of the Seal Knife works perfect for poking at ice in the back of a freezer.
Now, what about the little part of the combo you may ask? Other than what I originally posted above, is what did serious work for me during my first 3 years of knife addiction. The SOG Flash II. I know, people love to hate on this knife and company, with some good reasons. That said, this guy did 3 long years of service EVERYDAY! It was the small knife I had when carrying the SOG Seal team to eliminate branches, clogged storm drains, and ice monsters. It was a back up on many a camping trip when the Esee 6 was my main knife. Heck, it is what got me into knives.