Survival Knife Description ?

pitdog said:
Can you give me a link to this " Nick's Knife " !
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Pitdog, it's the NWA forum knife that's on a sticky on the front page of W&S. It looks like Nick will be making them until early next year, I'm not sure if there will be another order set-up or not. I've been away from the forum for a couple months finishing up school so I don't know what's going on around here.

If nothing else, I may contact Nick to have one made for my son and maybe a larger knife for myself. This is an awesome knife (in my opinion), the only thing that comes close is a Bark River Bravo-1 or my dad's "customized" WWII Cattaraugus 225Q.
 
kr1,

Great pics and thanks for posting the link!! I've got pics on the card but haven't gotten the on the forum yet, haven't had the time to figure out how.
 
pitdog said:
Please don't just list brands but also give details of blade length, grind type and steel etc, maybe even suggesting how your current favourite could be improved upon !!!:thumbup:
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A 3 to 4 inch Scandi grind, stainless steel, comfortable handle for carving, extremely secure sheath system - basically this knife:



Some might find the lack of a lanyard or a guard to be a detraction. If I didn't have a saw or hatchet, I'd want a knife I could chop with like a Valiant golok:

 
My survival knife would have;
differentially tempered carbon steel blade
5-6" blade, 4 3/4- 5" handle
4-5mm blade stock
full, tapered tang, skeletonized to save weight
distal tapered dropped point blade, flat ground with a convex edge
flat edge with medium belly and a pointy point
a forefinger guard of some sort
a lanyard hole
brazed and pinned nickle silver or brass bolster
G10 or micarta handle
That Nick's knife is pretty damn close
 
I have a sheath that has a pocket for a L-man supertool. My next sheath will have an additional attachment for a fire starter.
 
If I want to carry a bigger knife, its usually the Ontario Spec Plus Marine knife. If a smaller knife fills my need, its the CS Master Hunter in Carbon Five. For a really big knife I have two that I favor, the Outcast from Kershaw in D2 or the KOA Alaskan trail/camo knife also in D2. Just One? The Ontario.
 
I keep my BK-7 in the truck,which is housed in a spec-ops sheath with a SAK & fire starting kit in the sheath large pocket. It may not be perfect knife for everyone but it fits my needs as my survival knife,can take abuse if needed, thick/stout, generous blade length ,1095 steel ,razor sharp and easily re-sharpen in any location/situation. very reliable knife with histiory of being strong & reliable and does not break the bank. It may get swapped out as soon as I receive my NWA knives ,I ordered a Pair. 1. safe queen and the other to use & abuse as my EDC in truck,it will become my go to knife,until then BK-7 !
 
texastonydobbs said:
I keep my BK-7 in the truck,which is housed in a spec-ops sheath with a SAK & fire starting kit in the sheath large pocket. It may not be perfect knife for everyone but it fits my needs as my survival knife,can take abuse if needed, thick/stout, generous blade length ,1095 steel ,razor sharp and easily re-sharpen in any location/situation. very reliable knife with histiory of being strong & reliable and does not break the bank. It may get swapped out as soon as I receive my NWA knives ,I ordered a Pair. 1. safe queen and the other to use & abuse as my EDC in truck,it will become my go to knife,until then BK-7 !
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I have a Becker Brute BK1. I really like that knife. It still comes with me on camping trips but thats only because the NWA knife isn't much of a chopper. It does everything else including battoning but its too light to be a good chopper IMHO. If I don't need a chopper then just the NWA knife comes with me. The NWA knife always comes with me. I suspect your going to love that knife.

KR
 
RescueRiley said:
koyote.... thyat is a nice blade good work... my survival knife rigt now is a vic farmer... I've been using it almost exclusively for about a month and have doen alot with it...during the winter I plan on doing a comoprehensive review on it....If I'm going out into the bush I'll also bring a 12 inch ontario camp machete... (does all the heavy work) and fits neatly and inconspiculously lashed to the bottom of my maxpedition devildog buttpack.
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I'm working on a 6 inch blade version with a bit more handle length and a good index finger cutout. I've got 2 rough forged out, one is definitely in the "hunter thrower" camp with a 1/4 spine on the butt and a full length distal, the other is a bit lighter.

Even this little one is sturdy, you can hammer on the spine all day. And while the handle is deceptively simple and flat, it's really pretty comfortable to use (I tried with 550 and it wasn't half as comfortable as the narrower and "stickier" deerskin)

Now, that thing has been my constant companion the past 3 weeks since I forged it, and I've used it to hack up manzanita and oak on the mountain, cook food, and do whatever I need a knife for in general construction.

Still, I haven't tossed out my SAK. I've had an SAK no matter what else I'm carrying for the past ... well, since the gulf or slightly before, call it 18 years. The last few years I've been completely and hopelessly sold on the lockblade Outrider model (and someday I'll finish the new scales with room for a pen, stickpin, and spare scissor spring)
 
Pitdog,

Mine would be carbon steel, 4" or 4.5" long, good sheath with multiple carry options (leather or Kydex), good belly and choil for choking up. Full size handle with removable slabs (micarta or G10).
Flat spine, 3/16 thick, fulltang.

My "survival knife" comes close to the Ontario TAK-1....... :D
But again..........I'm still looking for the perfect one..... :D

CZ
 
cz75b said:
Pitdog,

Mine would be carbon steel, 4" or 4.5" long, good sheath with multiple carry options (leather or Kydex), good belly and choil for choking up. Full size handle with removable slabs (micarta or G10).
Flat spine, 3/16 thick, fulltang.

My "survival knife" comes close to the Ontario TAK-1....... :D
But again..........I'm still looking for the perfect one..... :D

CZ
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Yup, I have to agree with ya the TAK does seem to tick nearly all the boxes, my son actually has one on order so I will be checking that out !!!;)
 
Does everyone think the steel is real critical or do you think the performance is mainly down to the blade shape and grind ?
 
I don't think the steel is as critical as long as the HT and temper are good. IMO, the spearpoint is the most useful blade shape for an outdoor knife. Grind thickness and geometry depends on the use of the knife. Choppers and large camp knives can get away with a thicker profile then a smaller blade used for fine work. Spine thickness would also depend on the blade's main purpose. I run my edges between 0.010 and 0.015 depending on the use of the knife.
Scott
 
This set up is all i need and is on my person everytime I head outdoors.

Bark River Bravo1, Leatherman Blast and Ontario SP8. The SP8 may be replaced with a tomahawk that I will be receiving on monday.

bravo_trio2.jpg
 
I carry more than one knife, personally two knives one big and one small.
When I don't bring the big knife I bring the tomahawk With me.
If I should decide between a big and a small knife or just one blade,
Certainly I taken the big knife because, A big knife can do the jobs of a small knife but a small knife cant do the job of a big one.
For example bravo1,overlander,rat3,ecc...On survival situations short bladed knife is not long enough to create much useful force and does not have enough weight at the right place to be effective on chopping battoning!
You must always carry your knife with you; you never know when yuo'll need it. This means tha your knife must be convenient size to be carried without becoming a drag, and must also be capable of carrying out all those basic camp chores as open tins,hammering tent pegs,catting string and so on.And if you become stranded or have to go to ground it will to do the job of a small axe as well, so must be strong.
Generally speaking, a fixed blade is the better option as it is stronger and more rugged.
I Believe that most professionals carry two knives.
The survival knife you will have to use is the one you have with you --- whether it is "best" for the job or not. This reality suggests learning the capabilities of the knives you will likely have with you -- not to mention carrying the most appropriate knife your budget/skills/preferences/rules allow.
-- so that if you find yourself in a situation where you don't have a knife, you don't rely on it as a crutch. Any statement like this is a "general rule" and as we all know, exceptions apply!
Trail master,Steel eagle for me Both with some Change :thumbup:
 
I think that the type of steel is less important than hardness/grind type/edge angle/stock thickness/balance. All contemporary steels are pretty awesome generally speaking, but with any material, knowing its properties will dictate how you will make a good tool from it in my opinion.
 
I would take my Martindale golok as the proto type for a perfect survival knife.

Then I would have it custom reproduced in 3/16" thick 1095 or 5160 with tan micarta. That would be my ideal survival knife.

my second choice would be the RD-9.
 
I have to agree with kurodrago on the two knife thing. When I'm in the woods I carry three knives plus a Leatherman tool. I always have my EDC folder regardless, a small 3+ inch fixed blade, I have two in this range and carry at least one of them, and medium sized knife in the 5 to 6 inch range. I'm hoping to upgrade to a large knife in the 7 to 8 inch range when I can afford to. I find the small fixed blade good for most camp work and the larger knife handles what the smaller blade can't around camp such as splitting and chopping. The other advantage of the large chopper is for clearing trail, something the medium knife I own does very poorly.
 
A good locking folder and/or SAK, usually my Gerber Compact Sportsman on my belt, and, if out in the "hinterlands", one of my "choppers"...probably my Ken Moore hand-forged bolo knife (forged from an old horseshoe rasp, with sheephorn handles).

Ron
 
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