survival knife for john muir trail

brendog10 said:
Thanks guys for all the advice . I have pretty much abandoned the idea of bringing any of the three choices I listed before , and I purchased a victorinox camper to take along . I do feel that if nothing else bringing a fixed blade will give me some extra piece of mind though , so I am looking in to some of your lightwieght suggestions.
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I carry a Vic Camper in the woods- it's a good knife. Go with a Mora. They are inexpensive, only about $10 and very decent quality. They are sheeple friendly and lightweight- yet durable enough for the design to be the standard in Sweden- well- forever.

I have one of these Clippers:
http://www.eknifeworks.com/webapp/e...earchText=mora&Search=1&Mode=Text&SKU=FS860MG
and I ordered one of these the other day:
http://www.eknifeworks.com/webapp/e...earchText=mora&Search=1&Mode=Text&SKU=FS760MG

Right now, Smokey Mountain is running a free Shipping deal--> you may want to consider buying one of those from them. You can't beat that deal:D
 
One interesting observation I'm compelled to make as a result of this excellent thread.
If so many of us agree that for reasons of weight on a longish trek, the Mora + SAK or Mora + Saw are the ideal mix, exactly what are the OTHER big arse blades for ?
Scarry question huh? I mean I own my share of big blades, a couple I designed myself, and yet I'd pass on them in favor of a $12.00 Mora! LOL !
Looks like the Swedes know what they're doing in that respect.
 
Moodino said:
One interesting observation I'm compelled to make as a result of this excellent thread.
If so many of us agree that for reasons of weight on a longish trek, the Mora + SAK or Mora + Saw are the ideal mix, exactly what are the OTHER big arse blades for ?
Scarry question huh? I mean I own my share of big blades, a couple I designed myself, and yet I'd pass on them in favor of a $12.00 Mora! LOL !
Looks like the Swedes know what they're doing in that respect.
Click to expand...

I have a full tang Ontario in the 3.75" edged range- a lot heavier than a Mora, that I like carrying in the woods even more. But then again, I don't generally do treks this long, and I'm not into lightweight hiking/ camping. Plus it's only a few ounces anyways.......I know this guy wants light, and I presume cheap yet quality---> Mora's are exactly that. And, they take a wicked edge. It's all a matter of personal preference in the end of the day. :cool:
 
Moodino said:
One interesting observation I'm compelled to make as a result of this excellent thread.
If so many of us agree that for reasons of weight on a longish trek, the Mora + SAK or Mora + Saw are the ideal mix, exactly what are the OTHER big arse blades for ?
Scarry question huh? I mean I own my share of big blades, a couple I designed myself, and yet I'd pass on them in favor of a $12.00 Mora! LOL !
Looks like the Swedes know what they're doing in that respect.
Click to expand...

:D:D:D:D You're right. It moved me to put a few of my big blades on Ebay.

It's not always what you really need but more of what you WANT:) Knife collecting is a hobby after all.
 
Moodino said:
One interesting observation I'm compelled to make as a result of this excellent thread.
If so many of us agree that for reasons of weight on a longish trek, the Mora + SAK or Mora + Saw are the ideal mix, exactly what are the OTHER big arse blades for ?
Scarry question huh? I mean I own my share of big blades, a couple I designed myself, and yet I'd pass on them in favor of a $12.00 Mora! LOL !
Looks like the Swedes know what they're doing in that respect.
Click to expand...

If you think about it a sharpened piece of flint would get the job done ;). Many people swear by the Mora and for the price they seem like a decent knife but personally I'd rather carry and use something of a little higher quality and thicker stock, especially on a multi day or week trip. It all comes down to personal preference though and its exactly that variety of both cutlery and preferences that make this an interesting community.
 
..or personal STAMINA... which I aint got no more :rolleyes:
mp510 said:
I have a full tang Ontario in the 3.75" edged range- a lot heavier than a Mora, that I like carrying in the woods even more. But then again, I don't generally do treks this long, and I'm not into lightweight hiking/ camping. Plus it's only a few ounces anyways.......I know this guy wants light, and I presume cheap yet quality---> Mora's are exactly that. And, they take a wicked edge. It's all a matter of personal preference in the end of the day. :cool:
Click to expand...
 
I guess the point I was diplomatically trying to make is that so many bigger and better than Mora knives are marketed as the solution to our outdoor survival needs when they may actually hinder outdoor survival on a long trek. Kinda like trying to survive $4/Gallon gasoline prices with a 9MPG SUV ;)
 
The forest service workers I talked to insisted that you cannot run a gasoline chainsaw in a wilderness. Only axes and handsaws.
 
Erasmus said:
The forest service workers I talked to insisted that you cannot run a gasoline chainsaw in a wilderness. Only axes and handsaws.
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brendog,

You might want have your buddy bring his check book incase there's a fine. :D

Enjoy your trip! :thumbup:
 
If you decide to get the kabar go for the smaller version...they are lighter in weight and may not get in your way plus still give you piece of mind. I would have to agree on the swiss army knife plus mora combo good value and are both proven in the field. another option is the Buck Woodsman-light small and good value as well plus American made and easy to find. Good luck with your trip have fun and be safe! Don't forget to get pics and post them up when you get back!
 
Moodino said:
One interesting observation I'm compelled to make as a result of this excellent thread.
If so many of us agree that for reasons of weight on a longish trek, the Mora + SAK or Mora + Saw are the ideal mix, exactly what are the OTHER big arse blades for ?
Scarry question huh? I mean I own my share of big blades, a couple I designed myself, and yet I'd pass on them in favor of a $12.00 Mora! LOL !
Looks like the Swedes know what they're doing in that respect.
Click to expand...

Very exellent question. Some may not like the answer.
 
I have backpacked thousands of miles in different seasons.

A SAK with an awl, can opener, sissors, and a couple of blades is all I ever used.
I also carried a Bucklite folder, and later substituted a small Opinel, which is better for cooking, and easier to sharpen, and lighter.

Remember you are carrying everything you need.
Your backpack and all the gear is your survival.
You are already a walking house, pitch your tent and get into your sleeping bag, so you are not going to need to build an emergency shelter.
You are carrying food, and spare emergency food, so you are not going to need to trap or hunt or skin.
I presume you will be carrying a stove and fuel, so you will not be needing to build fires.
And if you do, you will be using dry breakable twigs or small branches, or you will score a branch with a small blade and snap the branch.

No cans or bottles, just too heavy, so what is the can opener for?
On the SAK so it is ok.

You are carrying everything on your back.
You want to enjoy yourself.
Go as light as possible.

You will find the SAK is all you use.
 
In all sentences that contain "you are" substitute, "you are planning to."
Some consideration should be given to The Great God Murphy.
 
Thomas Linton said:
In all sentences that contain "you are" substitute, "you are planning to."
Some consideration should be given to The Great God Murphy.
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Good training, planning, and knowledge of how to use your equipment mitigates.

Run the what if senarios, and a SAK still works.
 
TAH said:
For what it's worth, Colin Fletcher, author of The Complete Walker and one of the most capable and experienced backpackers of our time, only carried a SAK. :)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colin_Fletcher
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He also liked to backpack buck neekid.

John Muir backpacked with a single wool blanket to sleep in (fire/sweep ashes/lay on warm ground etc.)

I have no argument with your solution. Just do the calculation.

Not a big challenege to think up a scenario where a SAK -- any SAK -- is totally inadequate. (Yes, you can whittle down that tree with a SAK, but will your food and water last two weeks?) Question is, how likely?
 
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