Stout backpacking knife

I am going back and forth on the scrapyard 911 and buck hoodlum, because they're both relatively lite, yet capable. Just worried about the hoodlums notch, and the known stress fractures it has caused
 
You would be much better served with the 911. You'll thank me when you get a grip on that comfy handle. Zero hot spots. Amazing steel. Go for it.
 
Chop house or Trash II would be good also. I had a Rodent 9 and very much did not care for it. Grind was way to thick for my liking, thinking 911 might be same (maybe not). Also didn't like bottom guard. 3/16 Chophouse is a great knife, I bet the Trash II will be also. Not all 1/4 Busse have bad grinds but imo Rodent 9 and 7 do. My BGASH is 1/4 and the grind is great imo.


I would never buy a Hoodlum. Destined to break, Buck probably has good warranty though.

BK20 is about as stout\ slicey/useable as you can get. Maybe hard to get though. BK9 is also great.

Busse BWM is my favorite wood processing knife. Probably "knife" in general.
 
Yeah, go with the SYCO 911. Given that you've already talked about the batonning and splitting and chopping you want to do, I just get a little squeamish about that notch in the Hoodlum. The SYCO is a real tank, from what I can tell.

Zieg
 
oldmanron said:
The Camillus Bushcrafter is made in Idaho.
Click to expand...

I have heard rumors that the Camillus Bushcrafter was actually produced by TOPS. Someone else has rumored that they were made by Rowen. But then again rumors are just rumors and nothing more.

So just out of curiosity do you have any verifiable proof of who manufactures the Camillus Bushcrafter?
 
pinnah said:
rodriguez7 said:
But I like knives, and good gear.
Click to expand...
Me too!

What kind of stove you carrying? I've been a die hard Svea 123 for decades. Mine is going strong after 30 years of several times a year use, including winters most years. But on my summer trips I've pretty much converted to alcohol as the stoves are just so light and easy to use. I'm digging my Batchstovez 2.0 a whole lot.

What kind of tarp you carrying? I gave up full tents years ago. My Megamid knock off is dying so I've gone to a smaller foot print pup tent style tarp/tent. Really the only way to go, imo, even in black fly season. The weight savings is just so huge.

This is all sounding nutty, isn't it... "good gear" depends on teh goals. Goals may be different and that's ok. I generally want to cover ground. I count weight in ounces. Some count grams. Others pounds.
Click to expand...

Yup. I just recently converted (reverted?) to the Svea 123 for winter white gas after using an MSR Whisperlite Internationale 600 for a couple of decades. My son now has the Whisperlite and it's still going strong. Otherwise I use a Trangia alcohol burner after losing the last Pepsi can alcohol stove I made (it's out in the garage somewhere, I'm sure). My son otherwise uses a Pocket Rocket canister stove.

The other big three:
-shelter is an old Aussie Hootchie S-59 shelter (tarp) with a 2.5'X6' piece of pre-washed Tyvek for a ground cloth and five lightweight aluminum 8" MSR Groundhog stakes.
-bag is either a NF The Cat's Meow 20°, a Marmot Nanowave 35°, or a poncho liner (all with a Thermarest NeoAir air pad) depending on season/location.
-pack is either an Osprey Kestrel 48 or and Osprey Sratus 24 depending on locale and season.

I too count weight in ounces.
 
buckfynn said:
I have heard rumors that the Camillus Bushcrafter was actually produced by TOPS. Someone else has rumored that they were made by Rowen. But then again rumors are just rumors and nothing more.

So just out of curiosity do you have any verifiable proof of who manufactures the Camillus Bushcrafter?
Click to expand...

Hi Buckyfynn,

Yup ... here ya go ... I asked them and got a prompt reply on June 8th

Dear Mr. *******,

Thank you for reaching out to us regarding the Camillas Bushcrafter.

If you are referring to the knife in the video, this is not a knife designed or manufactured by TOPS Knives.

Best regards,

Customer Service Support

<image001.jpg>

TOPS Knives
"One Life...One Knife"
For new releases:
Follow us on FaceBook – Instagram – Twitter


P.O. Box 86
Ucon, ID 83454
(208) 542-0113
Hours: Monday-Friday 7:30 am - 3:30 pm MST



From: OLDMANRON
Sent: Saturday, June 04, 2016 11:58 PM
To: admin
Subject: Enquiry from 'Contact Us' form submitted

TOPS Knives Form Page Result "Contact Us"
Store group: TOPS Knives
Store name: Default Store View
IP: 0.0.0.0
Date: Jun 4, 2016 11:57:48 PM

Contact Information

First Name
OLD MAN

Last Name
RON

Email Address
xxxxxxxxxx

Phone Number
XXXXXXXXXX

State / Province / Region
AB

Country
Canada

Inquiry

Department
Other

Message Subject
Camillus Bushcrafter

Message
Hi Guys, I recently read that the Camillus Bushcrafter is made in Idaho. I do not know if it is proper protocol for me to ask this (or if it is proper protocol for you to reply) but I was wondering if the TOPS company is/was involved in any way with its design and/or production. In addition to the Idaho connection, many of the knife's features (the steel, the no-frills Micarta, the Scandi grind, the primo leather sheath, the guarantee) are similar to some TOPS knives. Please forgive my ignorance if my question is out-of-line in any way. It seems like a nice little knife and is now readily available in Canada at the dozens of Canadian Tire stores that dot the landscape of The Great White North. Thanks! Oldman Ron
 
Last edited:
I would take a serious look at the knifemakers sales forum for fixed blades here. You can find some pretty awesome ones! I have a 3V slimline machete being made right now. Great price and custom. I already have a really nice one and a smaller fixed blade that came with it. They go through A LOT of punishment!! Fantastic knives!
 
And Yes! A 9" er will be a lot better at chopping. I know it looks very close but that 2" extra makes a big differance. Insert joke here ........
 
What you really need is a hatchet/ micro axe. If you hang a 1-1/4 lb hatchet head on a 20" handle you end up with a small axe , which I think makes better use of the weight that's to heavy for a 14-16" handle. Knives can dear brush and stuff, but what else can they really do that an axe won't do just as good or better ( an axe isn't gonna be much less of a fine carver than a large cumbersome knife is )
 
leghog said:
Yup. I just recently converted (reverted?) to the Svea 123 for winter white gas after using an MSR Whisperlite Internationale 600 for a couple of decades. My son now has the Whisperlite and it's still going strong. Otherwise I use a Trangia alcohol burner after losing the last Pepsi can alcohol stove I made (it's out in the garage somewhere, I'm sure). My son otherwise uses a Pocket Rocket canister stove.
Click to expand...

I had the great fun of co-leading a 4 day/3 night trip through the Pemi Wilderness in NH 2 weekends ago for my son's youth group. My co-leader, an energetic 20 something, went bug eyed when he saw my "relic" stove and compared it to his UL canister stove. He had quite a different look on his face the first night when that canister stove refused to light on the first night. And yet another look (that of appreciation) by the last day as I had shown him the priming ritual and he mastered it and the Svea dutifully lit up for him...

...every...


...single...


...time,

just as it has for me for the past 30 years. Just ordered one for my daughter. Like I'm going to give her an MSR? As if.


Oh.. as for knives, I carried a Mora Companion and was pretty over knifed, even though I almost had to use the Emberlit on the last day as I hadn't counted on burning the Svea every meal. The Emberlit is justifying it's ounces again and really, there's just no need for more knife than the Companion.
 
For a heavy-ish knife on the trail I like my Kabar combat/utility knife with Kraton handle. It's not full tang and I don't abuse it, but for the light chopping I do (probably lighter than what you're looking for...) it serves me well. I am strongly considering an Ontario Ranger or a RAT-7 though because I'd like something full tang. Anybody have thoughts on the RAT?
 
pinnah said:
leghog said:
Yup. I just recently converted (reverted?) to the Svea 123 for winter white gas after using an MSR Whisperlite Internationale 600 for a couple of decades. My son now has the Whisperlite and it's still going strong. Otherwise I use a Trangia alcohol burner after losing the last Pepsi can alcohol stove I made (it's out in the garage somewhere, I'm sure). My son otherwise uses a Pocket Rocket canister stove.
Click to expand...
I had the great fun of co-leading a 4 day/3 night trip through the Pemi Wilderness in NH 2 weekends ago for my son's youth group. My co-leader, an energetic 20 something, went bug eyed when he saw my "relic" stove and compared it to his UL canister stove. He had quite a different look on his face the first night when that canister stove refused to light on the first night. And yet another look (that of appreciation) by the last day as I had shown him the priming ritual and he mastered it and the Svea dutifully lit up for him...

...every...


...single...


...time,

just as it has for me for the past 30 years. Just ordered one for my daughter. Like I'm going to give her an MSR? As if.
Click to expand...
The MSR Whiperlite is an excellent stove.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top