Stupid question.

[bladefoolish]

Okay guys, what exactly is a "camp" knife used for? I know that it's usually some heavy duty, big-ass knife, and I even have several knives that would fall into that category, but when I take on of them along, I hardly ever use them for anything. Most of my chopping chores are done with a hatchet; the majority of my cutting needs (including cooking) are done with a folder; and just bout everything else can be done better with a 4"-5" sheath knife. The only times that a larger knife has come in handy has been the relative few times I've had to clear out some undergrowth.

So . . . what do you guys use yours for?

 

[Kbrasmodeler]

Actually, I think you will find that, aside from the Busse Hogs, most here will agree that the best camp knife is between 3 and 5 inches long. It is used for cutting food, preparing fuzzy sticks, general fire making, prepping shelters, etc. A large chopper is not always needed. What a lot of people have been saying is that your larger knife is almost interchangable with your axe or hatchet. Anyway, those are my thoughts.


Next...

 

[hollowdweller]

I love a khukuri or camp knife for trail clearing in my woods. However for actual camping I'm more into the small handy knives:thumbup:

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

I think that "camp knives" are sort of for folks who don't plan on carrying a machete or hatchet, but want something that can still chop. Often times they are rather large, but typically not beyond the length often found in chef's knives.

 

[Joezilla]

where is that popcorn smiley....

 

[bladefoolish]

I think that "camp knives" are sort of for folks who don't plan on carrying a machete or hatchet, but want something that can still chop. Often times they are rather large, but typically not beyond the length often found in chef's knives.

People go camping without a hatchet?

 

[adaman04]

Not a stupid question at all because, as you see, there are different opinions.

Some consider a camp knife to be a midsized fixed blade for general camp chores. Maybe like a hefty 4” knife.

Others consider it to be a knife that stays around camp and can be used for light chopping and splitting wood, but is too big to be carried around much.

 

[Shotgun]

I have a differing opinion to what a "camp knife" is compared to other people. Just like you I think a camp knife is a 3-5 inch fixed blade knife. I was surprised when we did the camp knife challenge that most of the knives didn't fall into this category.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

People go camping without a hatchet?

I do! I go with a machete, or an axe...or both! Hatchets actually scare the crap out of me. More likely to take a big chunk out of me if I slip up and do something stupid. Hasn't happened yet--knock on wood. I know they're perfectly safe if used properly--and yes, I know how--but they just aren't for me. Usually.

 

[bladefoolish]

Not a stupid question at all because, as you see, there are different opinions.

Some consider a camp knife to be a midsized fixed blade for general camp chores. Maybe like a hefty 4” knife.

Others consider it to be a knife that stays around camp and can be used for light chopping and splitting wood, but is too big to be carried around much.

I've always thought of a "camp" knife as a large, semi-chopper that stays in camp for chores -- although I've rarely found much for one to do. I would call the smaller, 4" type knife a "camping" knife, but, hey, that's just me.

I like chopping with hatchets because they seem to cut/break large pieces of firewood into smaller pieces easier. If I have to cut through something like a log or a tree (rare) I like a bow saw.

 

[bladefoolish]

I think that "camp knives" are sort of for folks who don't plan on carrying a machete or hatchet, but want something that can still chop. Often times they are rather large, but typically not beyond the length often found in chef's knives.

I haven't used it yet, but one knife I'm curious about how it works is a Bark River golok with an 8" blade.

 

[bladefoolish]

where is that popcorn smiley....

Hey, at least I didn't dis' Swiss Army Knives again.

 

[August West]

I watched a show "Jeff Corwin's Extreme Cuisine" in thailand. An old man used a razor sharp barong type knife for everything, it looked like about a 10 or 12" blade with some heft judging by the way it went through the bamboo. I watched him prepare an entire meal, vegatables, fish and herbs, and steamed the entire dish in a section of bamboo. He used that knife like it grew out of his fore arm, opened my eyes. Chris

 

[hollowdweller]

where is that popcorn smiley....

:thumbup:

 

[Jeff Clark]

What I actually use around camp is a food prep knife. I like the size of the Buck Pathfinder and it is easy to clean up. I like some length around the camp table. http://www.buckknives.com/index.cfm?event=product.detail&productID=3041

 

[batosai117]

To me a dedicated camp knife is just a sheath knife with a blade in the 3" to 5" range. It's small enough to be worked with, but has enough blade to split wood if needed. To me it should do just about everything except chop. Fillet a fish, cut meat, vegetation, split small pieces of wood, make tools, whittle, etc...All the things you do when you camp.

I use a Gerber Big Rock for this, to me it is the perfect size and thickness. It doesn't have wonder steel, but it does it's job. Plus, my folders (which are my personal preference) have the super steel just in case

 

[Echo4v]

If you're not sure, look at this thread. I would say this is a fair representation of what most of us expect a camp knife to do and you will notice that the hugomongous (yes that's a word, I said it so it's a word) knife didn't necessarily do the best job. Although it was a cool freaking knife.


http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=687445

Hope this helps
David

 

[TheGame]

A camp knife, in my opinion is something around 4-6 inches, not any longer. If I want something to do it all, I don't really consider that a camp knife, as a camp knife, to me, doesn't have to bring down trees, all it has to do is maybe baton branches a little smaller. If I want to chop, I bring a chopper.

 

[kycolonel]

Some interesting perspectives here. I always viewed a camp knife as a large do all blade good for everything from chopping wood, butchering and prepping food, to self defense. The Hudson Bay camp knife is what comes to mind as typical for this type of blade.

 

[udtjim]

It depends 100 percent on what kind of camping that you do. For me the constant is food prep. I often don't use a fire because to many areas in the summer don't allow fires. If I need wood, I have a hatchet and a saw in my camping stuff. What I usually need is a SAK and a fillet knife. A Mora 2000 would fit my needs very well as a all around camp knife.