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In my office I have an Emerson Mach 1 and a Colt 45 Auto(which I'm licensed to Carry)
I spent 6 years in the Military Police and rarely go any place unarmed.
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SURVIVAL Question---FIXED vs FOLDER--Your opinion and WHY??
- Thread starter WILLIAM.M
- Start date
In my office I have an Emerson Mach 1 and a Colt 45 Auto(which I'm licensed to Carry)
I spent 6 years in the Military Police and rarely go any place unarmed.
As I spend much of my time in a city, the most possible survival type scenario would be to get trapped in my car, office or another place during a civil unrest or natural disaster situation. For this case I would prefer the humble Vic Huntsman that I keep in my briefcase.
Those scissors saw, can opener and tweezers are a godsend. I even like the corkscrew; you never know when you are going to get trapped in a wine cellar.
Best Regards.
Those scissors saw, can opener and tweezers are a godsend. I even like the corkscrew; you never know when you are going to get trapped in a wine cellar.
Best Regards.
shaving sharp
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Dr. Bill I think you know my answer.
NO, can't think of a situation. FIXED BLADE. Easier to keep clean, much less chance of failure. This is based on a fixed and folder that are about the same size blade. If you compare large fixed to a folder I think there is no comparison the large fixed hands down.
NO, can't think of a situation. FIXED BLADE. Easier to keep clean, much less chance of failure. This is based on a fixed and folder that are about the same size blade. If you compare large fixed to a folder I think there is no comparison the large fixed hands down.
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So I guess you think purchasing a membership outweighs intellectual contribution.....Hmmm, must be a GenX`er...
For clarity, the beating a deadhorse sign is used not for levity but to show dissatisfaction to the OP for bringing up a long standing and well trodden topic. It is usually used by established members to tell a newby that this has all been done before. When used by an established or a new member, it is still a rude thing to do. We try to keep a more open dialogue here. My post in response to your initial one was to let you know that your action was not acceptable.
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There are situations where I would choose a SAK or Multi-tool, but none I can think of where I would choose a folder with just blades.
Even with concealment I would rather have a small fixed blade like a remora or piggyback, or smidgen that I can slide into my shoe, under my foot, instead of a folder.
As for the "well the knife I carry would be my survival knife and it's a folder" answer. I carry a SAK EDC but the op specificaly said no SAK or multi-tool. I never carry just a single blade folder as my only knife.
Even with concealment I would rather have a small fixed blade like a remora or piggyback, or smidgen that I can slide into my shoe, under my foot, instead of a folder.
As for the "well the knife I carry would be my survival knife and it's a folder" answer. I carry a SAK EDC but the op specificaly said no SAK or multi-tool. I never carry just a single blade folder as my only knife.
What exactly defines a survival situation?
Every day I go out and about in my regular environment I want to survive. I carry folding knives unless I'm going out into the woods or something, the question was what sort of survival situation would you prefer a folder to a fixed bladed knife and all I've really seen in most people's responses is a fixed idea of what a survival situation is.
Survival situation where I would prefer to have a folding knife
1. A car crash, the folding knife is less likely to fly about in the car and hurt me, a fixed bladed knife unless it is in a sheath is a lot more dangerous in this situation in my opinion and if I need to cut my or another person's seatbelt to escape from the vehicle a folding knife will be quite useful.
2. Food preparation in a populated environment. Lets say my survival situation is that I need to cut up my steak, we can all agree that food is necessary to survive and if I'm in a restaurant with a lot of people around I'd rather use an opinel as opposed to a bk2. I'm a lot more likely to be able to complete the task and survive the situation with a folder.
3. Cutting tasks involved in my job, we can all agree that shelter is a necessary requirement for survival, I work at my job to provide shelter (much like some of you would think that you chop up trees and strap foliage to them to provide shelter) and my job has many tasks that require a cutting implement, removing shrinkwrap to unpackage material, opening boxes, cutting twine, cutting zip ties, re-cutting posterboards to the proper size to fit into their holders, etc. etc. For this survival situation of shelter procurement, I prefer a folding knife.
Every day I go out and about in my regular environment I want to survive. I carry folding knives unless I'm going out into the woods or something, the question was what sort of survival situation would you prefer a folder to a fixed bladed knife and all I've really seen in most people's responses is a fixed idea of what a survival situation is.
Survival situation where I would prefer to have a folding knife
1. A car crash, the folding knife is less likely to fly about in the car and hurt me, a fixed bladed knife unless it is in a sheath is a lot more dangerous in this situation in my opinion and if I need to cut my or another person's seatbelt to escape from the vehicle a folding knife will be quite useful.
2. Food preparation in a populated environment. Lets say my survival situation is that I need to cut up my steak, we can all agree that food is necessary to survive and if I'm in a restaurant with a lot of people around I'd rather use an opinel as opposed to a bk2. I'm a lot more likely to be able to complete the task and survive the situation with a folder.
3. Cutting tasks involved in my job, we can all agree that shelter is a necessary requirement for survival, I work at my job to provide shelter (much like some of you would think that you chop up trees and strap foliage to them to provide shelter) and my job has many tasks that require a cutting implement, removing shrinkwrap to unpackage material, opening boxes, cutting twine, cutting zip ties, re-cutting posterboards to the proper size to fit into their holders, etc. etc. For this survival situation of shelter procurement, I prefer a folding knife.
1066vik
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good guess!
OTOH, and stepping slightly away from the original question, my personal favorite "lone survival tool" is a small shovel.
either the mil surp fixed length handle (swede, soviet, CS Thrower), the commercial D-handle models that cost under $10 at most hardware or lumber stores, or the German folding style with pick on the backside and nearly bulletproof folding mechanism. (though that steps away from the "no multi-tools" scenario)
these can be sharpened to a chisel edge along one side for chopping, will dig a foxhole-sized shelter, make a snow shelter, cut down and strip saplings, portion out firewood, make shavings for kindling, etc... while not the most precision cutting tool, it can be used to make other camping/survival gear or even be used as a grilling surface for cooking. They're also generally a known length (1/2 meter for mil surp, 2 feet for commercial) and therefore can be used as a rough measuring tool.
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Splitting hairs but good lateral thinking. OP: define "survival situation", because really one could go on in paragraphs just defining different situations.
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JK Knives
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There is no situation where I would choose a folder over a fixed blade. That said, I would choose a smaller fixed blade, something with a blade around 3", and at least 1/8" thick. That`s still big enough to do heavy work, but small enough to carry in a pocket if concealment is an issue. Even though this is a hypothetical question, in reality this is what I do carry in the outdoors at all times.
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:thumbup:
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And you're assuming they won't help. IME when S goes wrong people tend to work together and not the opposite as you state. Think earthquake or flood.
Your question is an over simplification of a complex issue. What people carry is more about convenience and what makes sense and not a perceived hypothetical survival situation. You're also assuming that it is going to make a lick of difference in the outcome of a survival situation when picking one over the other. In most survival situations what knife the person did or did not bring has very little to do with that persons survival. I can tell you that in most survival situations that I envision, a knife isn't even in the top 5 of things I'd want on me. A jacket, tarp, pot and fire starter are just a few of the things I would make sure to grab before even thinking about a knife. And that's assuming nice weather. An axe or chopper would be on my in bad weather and there again it makes more sense to me to have a folder.
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only thing a folder really does better is allow for concealed carry. A fixed blade in contrast, is stronger, and in a survival situation, I'd want every edge I could get. (pardon the pun)
Answer for me is always going to be a fixed blade.
........and I'll have a folder along of some sort, probably a SAK Trekker.
Answer for me is always going to be a fixed blade.
........and I'll have a folder along of some sort, probably a SAK Trekker.
Mistwalker
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I don't see ANY situation where I would rather have a folder, only situations where I am more likely to...so therefor studying with one is a good idea for me.
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That's not fair Dr. Bill...if I only get one blade, you only get one round for that .45
I think that's the end-state of the discussion. I remember assisting on one of my son's Boy Scout trips. We were stationed in Texas and the Scout leadership was pretty sorry...if it wasn't for my job and Iraq deployment, I would have taken it over. Anyways, we did a little camping trip and they made several comments about "no fixed blades"...even for the leaders. I could understand their concern for safety as all they did for the weekly meets was arts and crafts (nothing close to another Boy Scout group we've been involved with). Well, I followed the rules and they were a little pissy about me pulling out an Extreme Ratio RAO and "fixed" the blade...I just had to make my point and then show them how really "unsafe" a non-locking folder can be if you don't learn how to handle folders properly.
I also remember a good Tactical Knives (I think) article where a guy use a Benchmade AFCK to do a bunch of "survival" tasks including building a pretty robust debris hut. A well-made folder is a very capable tool...you do have to understand the inherent weakness of a folding knife, but technique can make a big difference. Just because I only have a folder in a bad situation doesn't make consider giving up because I don't have my favorite fixed blade survival knife...
ROCK6
stabman
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Well, let's see...
I have a bunch of posts and paid the money for a Gold membership, so I guess I get to say that you are being insufferably rude and annoying.:thumbdn:
A question that I have asked myself. I would definitely take a fixed in the 7-9" inch range if that was all I could have. There is no comparison between the simplicity and strength of a fixed vs a folder although the ER RAO has done well bridging the gap.
Over the past 2 years I have learned the NC laws and learned that regardless of whether a fixed or folder, 3" is the limit to blade length for carry. I have picked up several 3" fixed and carry one on my belt on a daily basis. I do not feel any more uncomfortable carrying the fixed over the folder in this size range. It is not the "one" that I would choose if limited to only one, but it is always with me.
In the end I would be perfectly happy with a Randall 16 w/o ST.
Over the past 2 years I have learned the NC laws and learned that regardless of whether a fixed or folder, 3" is the limit to blade length for carry. I have picked up several 3" fixed and carry one on my belt on a daily basis. I do not feel any more uncomfortable carrying the fixed over the folder in this size range. It is not the "one" that I would choose if limited to only one, but it is always with me.
In the end I would be perfectly happy with a Randall 16 w/o ST.
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It would have been easier to answer this question if you would have mentioned ^this primary motive in your OP. I am guessing that you would like to see more fellow knife nuts toting fixed blades into the woods with more frequency. Nothing wrong with that, it just wasn't clear.
Your original post ignores any existence of a "pre-survival situation" reality. You allow us to choose something from thin air, when really it would have been up to us to be prepared in the first place -and the decision would have already been made.
Having said that, there are plenty of times when I do choose to carry only a folder in the wilderness. For example, If I am going on a day hike in a place I am very familiar with then I may not have a problem carrying only a stockman, a SAK, or a single bladed folder. These things start out planned, and my plan may only require a folder. In this scenario, it is convenient and the odds are most likely in my favor since I planned it that way.
If a short day hike were to become a "survival situation," then I wouldn't have the option to choose a magically appearing fixed blade -but If it were possible, then I would definitely want the capabilities of the fixed blade at that point in time.
In examining my choices, I would have to admit that they are not the best. It would be more prudent of me to always carry a fixed blade, however I do not always carry one.
There has to be a balance between convenience and preparedness, and sometimes the fixed blade must bow down to convenience. As history shows, anything can happen and those favoring convenience may find regret in their choices should Murphy's law give em the boot.