Size of fixed blade knife for hiking, survival

Indeed!I'm going to buy some nice fixed knife this year(for now I only have a KA-BAR and some Moras :) ) and I'm thinking about a M95 or a RAT RC-4.Hard choice... :D
 
Thanks for all of the reply's!!! Everyone provided some great insight.

I will likely carry a gerber hatchet and SOG Tomcat (also a veteran) with me as well.

Based on the posts I'm thinking closer to 5.5 - 6". I guess the other reason to go a little smaller is to not freak out park rangers, other campers, etc.

I like the idea of a walking stick with a pointy end : )
Anyone make something like that?
 
I'd answer differently for hiking and survival. One is want, the other is need.

IF you are indeed going to carry a hatchet, then you don't really need more than a 5" blade. A good rule of thumb (rule of palm?) is get a blade the same width as the pal of your hand, up to 1 inch bigger. That'll be the handiest size. It also doesn't help much as just about every bushcrafty knife falls in that size range.

IF, on the other hand, you want a survival knife -- i.e. you have no choice of circumstance, you only have the ONE knife, than a larger knife makes much more sense. There's just some bigger work, like shelter making, and batoning wood (for fire/getting to dry wood inside a piece of wood), that is just seriously easier with a larger tool.

But I always prefer the twosome of a big chopper (hatchet/machete/kukri) and a decent mid-size knife (preferably 4-5" long, fixed blade, although my Ka-Bar Mule would probably be fine).

Adding a good pocketknife like a SAK, Case jackknife, etc isn't necessary, but there's no reason not to. They are light enough and extremely useful -- I carry one every day, so I don't notice the weight.
 
mudriver said:
I like the idea of a walking stick with a pointy end : )
Anyone make something like that?
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Yeah, if anyone does, i'd love to see pics. I've been wanting one mainly because of the added balance and weight offsetting benefits, but I came across several rattlers this summer on or just off the trail and it'd sure be handy to always have something with a little reach available when dealing with those guys.... I'll start another thread later to see if people are using any good commercial ones (won't hijack your thread mudriver :))
 
rksoon said:
. . .I came across several rattlers this summer on or just off the trail and it'd sure be handy to always have something with a little reach available when dealing with those guys....
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339T.jpg

:cool:
 
Cpl Punishment said:
I'd answer differently for hiking and survival. One is want, the other is need.

IF you are indeed going to carry a hatchet, then you don't really need more than a 5" blade. A good rule of thumb (rule of palm?) is get a blade the same width as the pal of your hand, up to 1 inch bigger. That'll be the handiest size. It also doesn't help much as just about every bushcrafty knife falls in that size range.

IF, on the other hand, you want a survival knife -- i.e. you have no choice of circumstance, you only have the ONE knife, than a larger knife makes much more sense. There's just some bigger work, like shelter making, and batoning wood (for fire/getting to dry wood inside a piece of wood), that is just seriously easier with a larger tool.

But I always prefer the twosome of a big chopper (hatchet/machete/kukri) and a decent mid-size knife (preferably 4-5" long, fixed blade, although my Ka-Bar Mule would probably be fine).

Adding a good pocketknife like a SAK, Case jackknife, etc isn't necessary, but there's no reason not to. They are light enough and extremely useful -- I carry one every day, so I don't notice the weight.
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i recall ray mears saying something along those lines as well :)

like i said above, if its a trio you're carrying then go for the 5 range :P

perhaps you'd like some suggestions? :P

Fallkniven F1 and S1 come to mind,

Cold Steel SRK is 6 inch and a good blade IMO

of course theres always the budget Moras and Opinels :D

are you thinking of something tactical? or something more bushcrafty?

cheers
JC
 
I was thinking more tactical. I always preferred the Tanto blade - but they're not so good at skinning/cleaning animals. They do cut really well. I like the looks of the Fehrman, so I was leaning in that direction.
 
I have just about every Fehrman knife made...excellent blades and excellent guys to deal with...that said my last Chance..5.5 inch blade is my carry knife for the most part...will do big blade jobs while still being light in the hand and fairly agile to use.

But when going out with minimal gear, my Final Judgement and survival kit with a small pocket tool are my deep woods friends...

either way Fehrmans are a modified tanto and are surprisingly adept at dressing out animals of varied sizes...( deer...antelope...tried a bear once...even done a few rabbits)...although I now carry a peacemaker just for dress/skinning duty...

Chris
 
I agree with Fonly, that the Becker BK-7 is a fine knife. But I've come to like a knife that 7-8" overall, with a 3-4" convexed or scandi blade.
 
Personally, anything over 4" is too unwieldy for practical use to me.

You could pic up a 4" Mora for real cheap to see how you like a smaller blade, before spending a lot of money.
 
panzer075 said:
either way Fehrmans are a modified tanto and are surprisingly adept at dressing out animals of varied sizes...( deer...antelope...tried a bear once...even done a few rabbits)...although I now carry a peacemaker just for dress/skinning duty...

Chris
Click to expand...

How do you like your peacemaker?
 
love it....its an excellent companion knife...and not too bad by itself...
like the bearing block firestarter built into the handle also..
 
I would go with a Rat 3 or 4, or my favorite the Fallkniven F1. There are plenty of Moras, I prefer the carbon bladed ones.
 
mudriver said:
I was thinking more tactical. I always preferred the Tanto blade - but they're not so good at skinning/cleaning animals. They do cut really well. I like the looks of the Fehrman, so I was leaning in that direction.
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Want a "tactical" looking knife that's good at bushcraft? Check out the RC-4 from RAT Cutlery:
rc-4_image2.jpg


If you want bigger, the RC-6 may fit the bill:
rc6.jpg


Or wait for the RC-5 SERE, which will be thicker, not as much a slicer, but a real tank:
rc5-sere.jpg




*all photos from the RAT Cutlery site: http://www.ratcutlery.com/knives.htm
 
rksoon said:
My gf is adamantly opposed to my getting a gun, still working on it :)
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Guns are like women! Pretty to look at, feel good in the hand, fun to spend the day with and a comfort at night.
But if you get a bad one you will never be happy.
 
Personally I find anything over a 5 inch blade feels awkward for anything other than chopping/batonning.

I find the most comfort in something no greater than 4-5 inch blade for general use.
 
A longer blade is good for 2 things, battoning and possibly chopping.
I prefer to let my axe do those things, and use a 4-5 inch blade in my kit.
I would recommend the Ratmandu and the cold steel bushman as great longer blades, and the bushman can become a spear. I believe newer ones are made of inferior metal, however.

Kgd, is that a stripped RC4? I was thinking of putting a satin finish on mine.
 
I like to carry a folder for lighter work and if I were limited to just one fixed blade It would be a good quality knife with a 5-6 inch blade. I also almost always have a hatchet or Machete very near by when I am camping or hunting.
 
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