Greetings, one and all. I’m relatively new to the forums and this is my first post.
I’m prior military, a former mountain guide, a Scout Master and I enjoy the outdoors all the way around. I’ve even taught survival for a short while but I still have a lot to learn.
I’m looking for a survival knife. I know there is no “The One Knife That Can Do It All.”
At least I haven’t found it. I have a large folder (Spyderco Military in CPM440V) and I like the convenience of it, and I’m considering getting the AG Russell Featherlite knife with FRN handles, ATS-34 steel and a kydex neck knife sheath. I have various SAKs but they don’t make the perfect one for me (I want a one-hand opening plain blade, a saw, a metal file, and a glow-in-the-dark handle with a high-pitch whistle and a high-intensity LED built into it, all with a higher quality steel. Wishful thinking, I know!). I always carry at least 2 pocket knives in the outdoors, along with a Leatherman P4 and scalpel blades in my survival kit. My survival equipment is one of the heaviest things I carry because I’ve put myself in too many hairy situations before and actually use these things.
I want it to build debris shelters, snares, use it to prepare food and for general camp chores. I want to be able to baton the knife to make kindling if I need to, but I want it to be relatively light and convenient (I’m an ultralight backpacker and alpinist). I know that an axe would be better for this, but they’re heavy (I’m looking at the GB Small Forest Axe and the Roselli Long Axe, and am leaning towards the latter.) I know that I could carry a saw, but saws are not multi-use (I have an Ultimate Survivor Pocket Chain Saw and a Sawvivor). Again, weight is always an issue for me.
This is what I’m looking for, so please tell me if I’m off.
I’m looking for a blade between 4” and 6” long. I know there are plenty of proponents of large blades like the RTAK, Battle Mistress, machetes, parangs and goloks (I’m eye-balling a BRKT golok right now with orange G-10 handles), but again weight is an issue and they’re much more difficult to carry.
I’m looking for a blade that is thicker than typical moras, which I find too thin for batoning. Great knives, but I want something heavier duty, even though that means heavier weight.
I like G-10 for scales (although I’ve never owned a knife with micarta handles as I’ve read that they can absorb moisture), and I like the idea of bright handles because without a knife I’m in trouble (plan on learning to knap but that’s a ways down on the list of skills to acquire).
I like low maintenance, so I usually buy stainless. Steels I own and like are ATS-34 and ATS-55 (Gerber EZ Out and Spyderco Dyad with carbon fibre handles), 154CM (Emerson Commander and MOD Scorpion neck knife), and 440C (multiple knives, as I find this to be a good all-around steel). I understand that VG-10 and BG-42 are supposed to be good, but I’ve never used them. I don’t have much experience with carbon and tool steels other than 1095 machetes. I understand that 01, A2, D2, and INFI are good but I don’t know the differences in them so am not knowledgeable enough to make informed decisions about them. This is obviously an area that I need the most help in, and the area that is probably in the most debate on these forums. I should also note that I’m crap at sharpening. I use a little pocket sharpener from Gerber or a Lansky sharpening system because I’m too inept at everything else. (SIGH!) Another skill set to learn.
Drop points seem to make the most sense to me. Clip points are supposed to be good also, but I fear that the thinner tip may make batonning more difficult. Any opinions on this? The Loveless drop point design seems most ideal to me, but knives shaped like Canadian belt knives (Grohmann #1SF Large Camper Knife or a DH Russell Canadian Belt Knife) seems like they would work well as an all-around knife but I’ve never handled one.
What grind? A flat ground seems best for my purposes, but I keep hearing convex grinds are good. Keep in mind that I suck at sharpening?
I know this is long, but any help that you can provide would be greatly appreciated. I’m sure I’ll have lots of questions and I’m sure this will be a long search.
Thanks in advance!
Kage
I’m prior military, a former mountain guide, a Scout Master and I enjoy the outdoors all the way around. I’ve even taught survival for a short while but I still have a lot to learn.
I’m looking for a survival knife. I know there is no “The One Knife That Can Do It All.”
At least I haven’t found it. I have a large folder (Spyderco Military in CPM440V) and I like the convenience of it, and I’m considering getting the AG Russell Featherlite knife with FRN handles, ATS-34 steel and a kydex neck knife sheath. I have various SAKs but they don’t make the perfect one for me (I want a one-hand opening plain blade, a saw, a metal file, and a glow-in-the-dark handle with a high-pitch whistle and a high-intensity LED built into it, all with a higher quality steel. Wishful thinking, I know!). I always carry at least 2 pocket knives in the outdoors, along with a Leatherman P4 and scalpel blades in my survival kit. My survival equipment is one of the heaviest things I carry because I’ve put myself in too many hairy situations before and actually use these things.
I want it to build debris shelters, snares, use it to prepare food and for general camp chores. I want to be able to baton the knife to make kindling if I need to, but I want it to be relatively light and convenient (I’m an ultralight backpacker and alpinist). I know that an axe would be better for this, but they’re heavy (I’m looking at the GB Small Forest Axe and the Roselli Long Axe, and am leaning towards the latter.) I know that I could carry a saw, but saws are not multi-use (I have an Ultimate Survivor Pocket Chain Saw and a Sawvivor). Again, weight is always an issue for me.
This is what I’m looking for, so please tell me if I’m off.
I’m looking for a blade between 4” and 6” long. I know there are plenty of proponents of large blades like the RTAK, Battle Mistress, machetes, parangs and goloks (I’m eye-balling a BRKT golok right now with orange G-10 handles), but again weight is an issue and they’re much more difficult to carry.
I’m looking for a blade that is thicker than typical moras, which I find too thin for batoning. Great knives, but I want something heavier duty, even though that means heavier weight.
I like G-10 for scales (although I’ve never owned a knife with micarta handles as I’ve read that they can absorb moisture), and I like the idea of bright handles because without a knife I’m in trouble (plan on learning to knap but that’s a ways down on the list of skills to acquire).
I like low maintenance, so I usually buy stainless. Steels I own and like are ATS-34 and ATS-55 (Gerber EZ Out and Spyderco Dyad with carbon fibre handles), 154CM (Emerson Commander and MOD Scorpion neck knife), and 440C (multiple knives, as I find this to be a good all-around steel). I understand that VG-10 and BG-42 are supposed to be good, but I’ve never used them. I don’t have much experience with carbon and tool steels other than 1095 machetes. I understand that 01, A2, D2, and INFI are good but I don’t know the differences in them so am not knowledgeable enough to make informed decisions about them. This is obviously an area that I need the most help in, and the area that is probably in the most debate on these forums. I should also note that I’m crap at sharpening. I use a little pocket sharpener from Gerber or a Lansky sharpening system because I’m too inept at everything else. (SIGH!) Another skill set to learn.
Drop points seem to make the most sense to me. Clip points are supposed to be good also, but I fear that the thinner tip may make batonning more difficult. Any opinions on this? The Loveless drop point design seems most ideal to me, but knives shaped like Canadian belt knives (Grohmann #1SF Large Camper Knife or a DH Russell Canadian Belt Knife) seems like they would work well as an all-around knife but I’ve never handled one.
What grind? A flat ground seems best for my purposes, but I keep hearing convex grinds are good. Keep in mind that I suck at sharpening?
I know this is long, but any help that you can provide would be greatly appreciated. I’m sure I’ll have lots of questions and I’m sure this will be a long search.
Thanks in advance!
Kage
here is a pict. 
It's definitely sturdy enough for the uses you describe, and comfortable enough that I've used it for hours just whittling and goofing around, with nary a cramp or blister. (I questioned whether it was too big for general utility use when I got it, I proved myself wrong.) Not too big or heavy on the belt, either. The sheath is butt-ugly IMO but it's very secure. It's available in high carbon steel, or in AUS-8 stainless. 