Stories of knife breaks=dead

Since the old saying, "Dead men tell no tales", is self-evidently true; its going to be pretty hard to explain in all case why people may have died in the wilderness. Its like asking "how many soldier have died in battle because their gun misfired?" We'll never know.

It seems more relevant to consider how many people have saved themselves while using a knife. I'm sure we'd all grant that we'd rather have an intact knife than a broken one.
 
I don't think the statistics to support the inquiry exist. The statistics do not exist because they've never been observed from that perspective. If you take the inverse of Pitdogs first post in this thread with anecdotes of those who lived, you'll have your answer. Knives can save lives. When people die in emergencies, it's not because they didn't have a knife, it's because they had hypothermia or were trapped under a vehicle or boulder. A knife sure would have helped, but it isn't the whole battle. It's a tool, just as fire is, just as matches are. The OP's question is valid, but the answer just isn't supported by the type of data that you're looking for, it's more subtle.

When it comes to survival, I like to think my knife will last YEARS in the event it comes to that. I think the driving force behind Dr. Bill's post is that same basic philosophy. A sharp blade would probably serve anyone for a couple days, but I like to think my trusty beauties will last DECADES.
 
You all just missed a most brillant long comment. Apparently it was soo loong I lost my "Login" and I could not post it. This has happened before. Oh, well. The last line was something like "If someone is going to die from a broken knife, it wont be me".
 
Yorkshire Boy said:
OK Dr Bill got me thinking about stuff from this thread http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=756302

It didn't seem fair to clutter up his questioner thread.

The logic of I wouldn't trust my life to ..... because it's not a full tang.
I've read this many tens of times over the last few years.

"People die when their knife breaks"

Can anybody come up with any historical wilderness stories where somebody died because their knife broke?
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Smart ass like you would find an answer in the forum:rolleyes:
With the NET, everybody lost interest in books....Let me suggest a good read & after you read that, tell me how you like a MORA.....:D

IMG_2931-1.jpg
 
pitdog said:
Google Mora's breaking and you will find that they very rarely break at the handle junction but usually break about 2/3rds down the blade. This doesn't leave ya with much material to set into a piece of wood, even supposing that you would then have the dexterity or even the moral to try and improvise it.
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If it breaks 2/3 down the blade, you still have a knife, just a shorter one. :)
 
I think that feeling safer, do to a tool is a real phenomenon.
I myself have so many tools (many work required, but many not) in my Jeep that you cant fit another person. I leave the house with a SAK Farmer in my pocket. A Camelback with a Mora, Puukko and a CS Bushman, plus my PSK, which has 2 small multi tools in it. In the Back of the Jeep, I have a nice Plumb Cruiser Axe. I keep extra shoes and clothes, ....Even a roll of Toilet Paper.
To say that I like feeling prepared is an understatement.

But I also feel that knowledge, to use all those tools is the ONLY thing thats important, at the end of the day.
I am also working on upgrading my EDC ( in the car) chopper, I am just waiting on a sheath. SO, I never just carry a mora...although I would still bet my ass on one.. (I just got a CS SanMai Recon Scout thats gonna ride shotgun in the Jeep)
 
XMP said:
Since the old saying, "Dead men tell no tales", is self-evidently true; its going to be pretty hard to explain in all case why people may have died in the wilderness. Its like asking "how many soldier have died in battle because their gun misfired?" We'll never know.

It seems more relevant to consider how many people have saved themselves while using a knife. I'm sure we'd all grant that we'd rather have an intact knife than a broken one.
Click to expand...

You are right, on both counts.:thumbup:
 
John G said:
It might be worth sacrificing a dollar store cheapie (or even a Mora) to find out.
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I was batoning it through a very gnarly section of Gorse. It has amazed with its performance up until then and I knew I was pushing the knife too hard. I just wanted to see how far it would go.
I have faith in the Mora, but would opt for one of the Craftline range with their thicker blade:
http://img5.imageshack.us/i/dscf0124h.jpg/
 
Funny, I wanted to post a very similar question once, but knowing it would turn out just like this thread, I didn't.

Good post Yorkshire boy, too bad you weren't able to come up with a real answer. Perhaps you should start yelling at people for not answering exactly how you want them too...
 
those who died in the wilderness because their tools and/or skills failed them were historically never heard from again! :eek:

taking locator beacons and video cameras into the wild is a fairly recent occurrence.

and when things decide to not go according to plan, gear breaks and your skills are challenged, some people improvise, adapt and overcome while others curl up and die.

IIRC the guy who amputated his own arm after getting it stuck under a boulder had a generic multitool with a dull blade! :eek:
 
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