Suggestions for bug out bag blades?

My personal go-to blades are my BK9, BK15 and SAK (Vic Huntsman).

Does anyone here have a bug-out stash? I looked at some airtight plastic drums for sale recently and thought they might be a good way to stash stuff for future use on site.
 
YellowSwiss said:
My personal go-to blades are my BK9, BK15 and SAK (Vic Huntsman).

Does anyone here have a bug-out stash? I looked at some airtight plastic drums for sale recently and thought they might be a good way to stash stuff for future use on site.
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Good way to cache supplies in your BOL if it's in the woods.
 
A big thank you to the OP for asking the question in the first place. I am in charge of emergency prep for our church so I read all these comments with great interest. I also have posted the same question here on BF.com, myself and gotten similar answers. Google "Emergency Prep Knives" here on BF to find my thread.

Just a couple of years back Northern California had some issues with fires and very high winds. My wife and I did not lose our home but we were in the evacuation area and one step away from leaving. Needless to say, I paid close attention to what was happening in our community.

If you have widespread fires, expect a break down of cell phone communications, merchants point of sale computer systems and cash registers. In our case, many retailers just closed their doors until their systems were online again. Others were open but required cash payment instead of ATM or credit cards. Resources became a challenge for many because of this.

Having a bug out bag is a great idea but, it can be dead weight if not set up to meet the real needs of your family. Don't be surprised to see a "NO WEAPONS" sign on the door of your local rescue shelter. It does happen, I've seen it. They will consider your Mora fixed blade as a weapon. There is a good chance a Swiss Army knife in your pocket will be of more use than whatever fixed blade you choose. Personally, I would consider a written evacuation plan and five days of food and water a higher priority than getting a fixed blade knife.

If you are building bug out bags, consider a "get home bag" for your automobile and a bag for sheltering in place. Your "Bugging In" bag could include items such as lighting for your home and tarps to patch up broken windows and such. Just a thought.

With all of that said, I have to vote for the Mora because of weight. I also like others that have been suggested. Especially the Schrade 55. There is a great thread from its designer here on BF.

What do I have? A multi-tool and a Vic Pioneer are part of my EDC system in my Cherokee. Right now, my Bug Out Bag includes a RAT 1 in D2 steel and a Vic Spartan. There is no fixed blade in my BOB but, I do have a Benchmade 162 and a Ranger Knives Falcon from Ontario I could add. My wife's gear includes a small FB and a SAK Tinker.

Future plans possibly include a fixed blade in a Get home bag for the Jeep and another FB in the camping gear.
 
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Im gonna jump on the Mora bandwagon here. Theyre light, high quality blades at a low price. The sheaths are good too and theyre easy to sharpen.
 
I wouldn't own a knife that isn't full tang.

Small- and medium-sized fixed-blade knives, folders, and multi-tools all have their place, and I have several, but when it comes to a survival or emergency situation I want a big, tough, knife with at least an 8.5"-9.5" blade (not total length) and finger choil. A knife like this won't do everything as well as possible, but it will do everything, including wood chopping.

Being small, lightweight, and able to comfortably fit into a bug out bag aren't factors I would consider for a survival knife that my life, and others, may depend on.

That said, I would not by choice limit myself to only one knife. They are much too important and necessary to do that, especially in a survival or emergency situation.
 
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MtnHawk1 said:
I wouldn't own a knife that isn't full tang.

Small- and medium-sized fixed-blade knives, folders, and multi-tools all have their place, and I have several, but when it comes to a survival or emergency situation I want a big, tough, knife with at least an 8.5"-9.5" blade (not total length) and finger choil. A knife like this won't do everything as well as possible, but it will do everything, including wood chopping.

Being small, lightweight, and able to comfortably fit into a bug out bag aren't factors I would consider for a survival knife that my life, and others, may depend on.

That said, I would not by choice limit myself to only one knife. They are much too important and necessary to do that, especially in a survival or emergency situation.
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Two words: Skrama
 
MtnHawk1 said:
I wouldn't own a knife that isn't full tang.

Small- and medium-sized fixed-blade knives, folders, and multi-tools all have their place, and I have several, but when it comes to a survival or emergency situation I want a big, tough, knife with at least an 8.5"-9.5" blade (not total length) and finger choil. A knife like this won't do everything as well as possible, but it will do everything, including wood chopping.

Being small, lightweight, and able to comfortably fit into a bug out bag aren't factors I would consider for a survival knife that my life, and others, may depend on.

That said, I would not by choice limit myself to only one knife. They are much too important and necessary to do that, especially in a survival or emergency situation.
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Depends on the emergency situation. All emergency situations don't involve being Rambo. Try cleaning trimming your toe nails with the 8.5-9.5" knife? ;)
 
MtnHawk1 said:
I wouldn't own a knife that isn't full tang.

Being small, lightweight, and able to comfortably fit into a bug out bag aren't factors I would consider for a survival knife that my life, and others, may depend on.
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Hmm. I find that small, lightweight and comfortably fitting in a BOB are 3 of my main criteria when choosing such a knife.

Full tang is nice, but not a necessity with a quality blade that is used properly.

The Buck 673 and 684 feature full tangs, but weigh in at under 3 ounces.

A 10 inch prybar just isn't something I'm willing to lug around in a bag.
 
Velitrius said:
Hmm. I find that small, lightweight and comfortably fitting in a BOB are 3 of my main criteria when choosing such a knife.

Full tang is nice, but not a necessity with a quality blade that is used properly.

The Buck 673 and 684 feature full tangs, but weigh in at under 3 ounces.

A 10 inch prybar just isn't something I'm willing to lug around in a bag.
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I wonder how many people actually do anything with their BOB gear other than have it sit in a corner. I doubt if most people ever even carry the thing around in their house to see if it's balanced and packed properly. Personally, I want some water in my bag so I have to consider ways to keep the weight down. If that means no full tang monster blade then so be it. I know that my wife will have a difficult time with a full-blown BOB on her back. Now that I have had some back problems, I probably am in the same boat.

They say your ideal BOB weight should be about 10% of your body weight. That's the goal. Based on the last time I was on a scale, my pack should weigh about 28 pounds (I know, too much information). Three gallons of water weighs just over 25 pounds. Combine that with the weight of a sturdy, well-made pack and I may have exceeded my ideal pack weight. The idea of a bug out bag can easily be dismissed unless you are willing to exceed your ideal weight. They also say that your bag should never exceed 20% of your body weight. How many of us can carry that much on our back without asking for problems? Better yet, how many can carry 10% without problems?
 
Henry Beige, what's the other word?

I've never handled or seen a Skrama but they get good reviews from the little I've read about them. Good price, too, especially when it includes a sheath.

Personally, though, I would much prefer a knife with a drop point, a rounded belly, and a finger choil. IMO, this would add a lot of versatility to a big knife that will probably be used for multiple purposes.

.22-rimfire, how do you know that you won't need a large knife in an emergency situation? Personally, I would rather have a large knife and not need it than to need a large knife and not have it. I'm not sure why Rambo and big knives came to be looked down on. If I were ever in a survival or emergency situation I'd definitely want both with me. Also, I doubt if cleaning and trimming my toenails would be a high priority in those situations.

Velitrius, based on the posts I read I didn't expect much agreement with what I wrote, but I thought a few might consider it and investigate further. Not questioning common assumptions is not a good survival strategy. By the way, knives shouldn't be used as prybars.
 
Velitrius said:
Hmm. I find that small, lightweight and comfortably fitting in a BOB are 3 of my main criteria when choosing such a knife.

Full tang is nice, but not a necessity with a quality blade that is used properly.

The Buck 673 and 684 feature full tangs, but weigh in at under 3 ounces.

A 10 inch prybar just isn't something I'm willing to lug around in a bag.
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Just got a a 673 in today, and I can say is definitely rather have it than a mora just because I don't like the scandi grind.
Too bad they're sold out and cost more than a mora.
 
sabre cat sabre cat It's funny, but I've never weighed my BOB. I simply strap in and it's either "Yea" or "Nay" on the weight. I'm going to weigh it up to see if I'm more man than mouse, but I'm old and beat up which means lighter = better.

And yes, I agree that most people won't do anything but stuff it full and hope there's enough crap in there. Weight is one thing, contents are another... but proper fit, appropriate adjustment and ride comfort are equally important to me.

M MtnHawk1 I use the word "prybar" in the parlance of BFC-speak referring to a thick and heavy knife as a "sharpened prybar".

Back in the day, the knife in my pack was a Cold Steel SRK. I love it and all, but switching to the Bucklite Max actually shaved over 5 ounces. Might not seem like a bunch of weight, but I shaved it off nonetheless.

Done the same with my bag. Used to have an old surplus pack that weighed more than my contents. I swapped it for a Sandpiper B.O.B that weighed 5 and a half pounds, and now I use a London Bridge bag that's even a couple pounds lighter than that.

Most of my gear is lighter than it used to be... I have a lighter flashlight, lighter multitool and lighter Bic Lighter than I used to have.

I don't question common assumptions, I eschew them.

Hickory n steel Hickory n steel the new 684 is still under a $20 bill at BHQ and KC and such.
 
Velitrius, I understand about the "prybar" term. Many people abuse their knives, especially big ones, and of course I had no idea in what context you were using the term. I don't consider my big knives to be either thick or heavy (I reprofile them if they have a thick factory edge) for what they are capable of doing, although compared to the small knives many people use I can see why one would think that.

I'm also all about saving weight that I have to carry, but many years of life experience taught me to use the right tool for the job. My life and safety, and that of others, was always far more important than cutting back on weight, bulk, quality, cost, or any other factor. A big knife can do so much more than a small knife that, for me anyway, a few more ounces and inches isn't even a consideration.
 
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so, MtnHawk1 - which knife IS in your BOB? I'm curious which one made the cut...
(in the size range you're talking, I'm half expecting the CPM HDFK or something similar, but that one's a 6.5" blade... so perhaps the medium chopper at 10"?)
 
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