Survival Kit Knives

rnpollard

rnpollard

Joined
Dec 10, 2000
Messages
554
I've been looking for the perfect Survival Kit Knife. Kinda like the Holy Grail... I just may have found a contender.

What I am looking for is something that can be used in all conditions. It must be versatile. Easily carried. Tough. Fairly inexpensive. I would like to have at least two, one to use and abuse and one to put in the kit. It has to have a lanyard hole. Great steel. Plain edge (easier to maintain)

I just picked up a Cold Steel Bird and Trout knife. It is a great little piece. About $25 - 30. One piece steel. Light as a feather. Long handle. Neat ring on the end also serves as a lanyard hole. Plastic neck sheath.

Really looks like it could be a winner.

I will abuse it for a while and let you know how it stands up. If it is like the other Cold Steel products I've used it should be a winner.

Has anyone seen or heard of a smaller version of the CS Bushman?

Thanks

Rick


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Please reply to: rnpollard@hotmail.com

Hoah! (Its an Army thing!)
 
For lightweight knives, I use:

Frosts Moras

Livesay Lil' Pecker or NRG

Cold Steel Bushman

For somethings a little beefier:

Camillus AF Survival knife

Camillus USMC knife

...And don't forget your SAK!!!

[This message has been edited by Squid (edited 05-15-2001).]

[This message has been edited by Squid (edited 05-15-2001).]
 
Inexpensive, easy to sharpen, tuff

Look at a commercial carbon steel buitcher knife. They resemble the knives that the Mountain men and pioneers took west. Simple, tuff cutting instruments. You will have to make your own sheath.

Cheers, Good luck.

ts

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Guns are for show. Knifes are for Pros.
 
For a survival kit knife I would go with a Victorinox large lock-blade SAK (for me it is the Locksmith).
I don't think you could find a more practical and useful survival knife (IMHO).

It has a file, a saw, a large locking blade, screwdrivers (flat and phillips), and even tweezers for splinters, thorns, and ticks (call me a wuss, but I would hate to remove a splinter with a machete).

Remember, I consider survival to be either staying alive until help arrives, or helping you hike back to civilization. The SAK would not be my first choice if you are pioneering an unsettled land or doing extended primitive camping.
 
Again time to bespeak the benefits of my favorites...the SAK Soldier and Huntsman. The Soldier, IMHO, is the most durable of the lot and has the best blade of the lot. The Huntsman has my personal favorite accessories, sans the magnifying glass, which include a great saw, scissors, a decent blade that's easily resharpened to hair popping sharpness, etc etc etc. 1SKS currently has both of these venerable survival classics on sale at $13.50 each + shipping.

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It's not the pace of life that concerns me, It's the sudden stop at the end.
 
These are all great choices. What I am looking for is a knife to go into a kit and stay there only to be used in emergencies. I have used SAKs in my kits before but wanted something in a fixed blade. I am looking for minimum size and weight and maximum versitility. Take a look at the Trout and Bird knife at www.coldsteel.com . It is an amazing little knife.

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Please reply to: rnpollard@hotmail.com

Hoah! (Its an Army thing!)
 
For this purpose, I keep a couple CRK&T Stiff KISS's around. I've been pretty happy with them although I'd prefer it if they were a little better steel...of course then they would have cost more and I wouldn't just keep them in my kits!

cj
 
You might want to look into a schrade sharpfinger. It's a dandy little blade--flat ground and full tang make it pretty solid too. I highly recommend it. I also am very fond of its stainless steel brother, the wolverine. I don't think they make these anymore but they can often be found at gun and knife shows.

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Hoodoo

I get some pleasure from finding a relentlessly peaceful use for a combative looking knife.
JKM
 
Yeah,
i like the stiff kiss,too.
great little knife,feels better in the hand if you wrap the handle though.got one in my kit,along with a coupla razor blades,and an opinel.

-MO.
 
My local brick and mortar shop just had a few mini bushmans in. Really handy looking and felt great. IMHO, the only major turn off is that logo on the blade. Makes the whole knife look cheap...well ok the knife is cheap to begin with...


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It hurts to be on the cutting edge.
 
I know the price is higher then what we are talking about but, I find the Busse Assult Shaker to be a great size knife to build a small survival kit around, this is a small kinfe that will perform well in meny different task + its a Busse!!

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I'll take point
 
A while ago I saw some stores closing out the Cold Steel Twistmasters (Opinel type lock) for under $20. They have a palm-filling handle, Carbon V blade, and nice cordura pouch. Some even offer a corrosion-resistant black epoxy powder coat finish. Pretty sturdy for the price.

DPD.
 
There are a lot of knives that would fit this bill. Personally I go with something very light and cheap, specifically a WEDGE II that cost what maybe $10? I don't remember. This knife goes into my jump kit, the survival kit I am most likely to grab if I have to abandon my car and move off somewhere. I'll likely already have one or two folders already on me, one of which will be a SAK with a saw. That takes care of some of what would otherwise require a heavier chopping tool. If I know I'm going out with naught but a pack, I will likely have a better fixed blade on my belt already, etc.

I am also conscious of the fact that my jump kit may one day be stolen (say if my car is broken into or stolen), and I don't want my best most expensive stuff in it.

 
For a survival tin, I'd go for a penknife. Forgotten the model but SAK/Victorinox has the two blade very slim one. The survival tin concept is that it should be small enough to carry always and as a last resort back up for all your normal kit that is stuffed in your pockets and day sack, which would include your main knife.

You wanted a knife for all conditions; well that is to me is the one you can guarantee to have on you. As I really ever bother carrying a tin, I at least have a SAK Huntsman or worst still just a two blade penknife. Though I feel completely undressed without some form of knife on me at all times. All said and done there is no excuse not to carry at least a penknife. So, folowing my own arguement then my vote is with a penknife as anything more you will leave at home sometime. Just get the carrying penknife habit - its good for you. Anything more is a bonus and is for work/play, which is a whole new ball game.

Al Mar once produced the Fisher ?? which was an ultra slim lock blade. Wish I had bought one at the time (still would if I could find one). That tiny Frost neck knife might do.

Just my angle to your question.
 
the cs bird&trout is cool but i'd wnat a better handle for a'survival knife'. good slicing but thats it ,dosen't give you what a beltknife should over a folder -strength if you torque the blade and comfort/stornger grip (that's just my opinion. ) not great either when its slippery with blood or greasy or sweat

SAKs ( =Swisse army knife ?) are great. Beltknife is ideal. in my wallet "last resort" I have a sewing kit ( needels &thread) and X-acto blade taped betwen 2 cards.

martin
 
I'm quite fond of my Sebertool MK4. Very small and everything locks well. Pity it's not got a can opener though and it can be a bit dicey getting the blade open (the thumb nick is a bit near the hinge and doesn't give quite enough leverage).

Mark
 
I have one of the mew mini bushmans. sweet knife!!

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Big-Target>>>>>"I may look like a crook and a ruffian. But witness,O Moon, the splender of my heart."-----(Kantaro of Ina)
 
For a fixed blade I like my WSI Ranger (thank you MDP) it stores very flat in the kit once you remove the belt clip from the back of the sheath. My TOPS CAT 201 is also a good choice. The now out of production REKAT Utility is nice (thinner too).

Inside my mini-kit I have a very small Spyderco (don't know the model) which I got as a premium for a magazine subscription. That little combo blade is just enough for cleaning fish, opening food pouches, or other non-violent chores around camp. This is an absolute last ditch use knife, since I usually travel with at least one fixed blade on my belt and my SAK in my pocket.

One other suggestion for a flat store in a tin knife is the Spydercard. Not much of a point on it but it will cut like no tomorrow and I have even filleted fish with it.

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Where no law exists there still must be justice- Dan Mahoney
 
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by BMWGS80:
Inexpensive, easy to sharpen, tuff

Look at a commercial carbon steel buitcher knife. They resemble the knives that the Mountain men and pioneers took west. Simple, tuff cutting instruments. You will have to make your own sheath.

Cheers, Good luck.


ts

</font>
Click to expand...
If you can still find one (I still have a few in stock) the out-of-production Cold Steel Hudson Bay Butcher was exactly the above, in Carbon V, and has a (cheap) sheath with it. It is a copy of the I. Wilson Sheffield blades traded by HBC in the 1700's and is a very good (and inexpensive) utility knife.
To go with it you need a light tomahawk (outworks a hatchet 5 to 1) with hammer poll and, for sure, a Leatherman (the folding toolbox). TWO HAWKS
http://www.mcn.net/~twohawks



[This message has been edited by Two Hawks (edited 05-23-2001).]
 
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