The axe for the north, the machete for the tropic, what for the desert?

What a great discussion! I would say a lighter machete or golok would be right up to it. I don't think the Condor Golok is too heavy, but I think that a lighter version (hint) would do nicely in the desert. The golok, with its chopping ability, slicing ability, and compact design would be a good choice. Either that or a heavily modified ontario 12". I'm wondering if, in the desert, the bk-3 tac-tool might be a great tool in lue of the shovel. The flat chisel edge could be used to pry and break apart wood to get scorpions, and it would move a hefty amount of dirt around. The cacti that I've worked with aren't that hard to cut open and I suspect that any succulent would fall victim to the BK-3s edge readily. But above all, a sharpened shovel may be the cats meow , though I haven't really used one exclusively. There isn't too much to do in the desert (I'm thinking of Moab in Utah for reference) that a 4" blade couldn't handle.
 
ummmm


ok , this is gunna be pic heavy a bit

in my experience , there is a LOT of variable in what canbe called desert

from dry open places like this :

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to kinda lightly timbered places like this

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to still places of near no rain but with enough fog off the coast to have some reasonablish vegetation

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there is a lot of variables

I carry a machete , and a folder , so far its all I have needed knife wise .
Yes , we do car camp , but hey , this is when we are crossing the country from east to west and back again , for the once or twice a year visit to see me brother .
 
I just recently visited the desert in Utah. A lot of twisted cedars there.Speaking only of the tools that I own , I think my estwing hatchett axe would be better than my Martindale machete. That twisted cedar looks like it might be tough to chop. My machete doesnt chop well.
 
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Gotta preface this with I live and work in the Sonoran. The one thing with a lot of desert woody shrub species (manzanita, mesquite, gambel's oak, etc.) is that they don't use extra water to nourish lesser branches. By definition, deserts are dry and fires are usually pretty easy to start. That means that dead, burnable, stuff is always pretty easy to harvest without chopping. Not to mention the scarcity of wood in many deserts in the first place. And from what I've been told, the idea of harvesting water from succulents is a myth. The "water" harvested from a barrel cactus would be so pulpy and bitter as to render it undrinkable. We've got a lot of chopping tools in the shop, and they just don't go out into the desert much. I always carry a small fixed blade, and that's always handy, but for strict survival I'd go with a small shovel. Or extra water if you're playing that game.
 
If your in the desert, you'd want to conserve energy and water, so Id take a folding saw, smaller machete, and a rat izula-ish neck knife. No ax, to effin heavy.

And a lot of water.
 
Thanks Arturo - I wondered what sort of machete I had. Bought it when needed to clear grass away from a shearing shed. The sharpened swedge allowed for slicing on both the outswing and back swing. And as it was a shearing shed there was a grinder to do the touch ups after banging it into the metal framing a time or two. The edge is fairly soft and conveniently rolled rather than chipping.

Over here the survival people explorers were on horseback, and believe it or not bullock drays. The main issue is the knife and in the south of OZ probably an axe and in the North (tropics) a bolo style machete. Though I think the aborigines may use the machete a lot on the inland areas as well due to its versatility(chopper knife shovel). But really here there is generally enough deadfall/small branches that chopping to make a fire is not necessary, or can relatively easily be broken or burned into pieces. I once came across somone who had carried a hatchet into a remote campsite and was hacking away - the universal feeling from all the other campers was that he was nuts.

Over here pretty much anyone going into a desert carries a spade - for digging thier cars out. I have had to use mine on occasions for that reason.

ArturoTostadoIII said:
It's an 18" Cold Steel Bowie but HornDog (I don't know if he goes by that here) put the convex edge and sharpened the swedge. A simple stropping was all it needed even after going through the tough as hell mesquite. I'm impressed by the blade but more impressed by Vic's work. Swings beautifully.
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Davyd said:
Though I think the aborigines may use the machete a lot on the inland areas as well due to its versatility(chopper knife shovel). But really here there is generally enough deadfall/small branches that chopping to make a fire is not necessary, or can relatively easily be broken or burned into pieces. I once came across somone who had carried a hatchet into a remote campsite and was hacking away - the universal feeling from all the other campers was that he was nuts.

Over here pretty much anyone going into a desert carries a spade - for digging thier cars out. I have had to use mine on occasions for that reason.
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I am of Aboriginal background , my people are the Barkentji mob , from around Wilcannia way , tho I spent a lot of time in the Kimberlies and inland northern WA and western NT with the Pitjinjarra people , and grew up with the Noongyar and Yamatji people . The only time I have seen people using a machete to dig , it was done by city people . digging is done with a digging stick , a cutting edge is just too valuable to abuse like that .

If you ask among the women anyway , they usually prefer a shortish crowbar , the shape and weight make them good digging tools , as well as decent weapons to use on each other .... another subject entirely tho . Im no expert in womens business tho and do not claim to be in anyway .

the most common knives I have seen used by desert people is a butcher knife for meat working , goanna , camel , roo whatever , a little folder / pen knife hi carbon blades are prized , for delicate carving and fine work .

Big blades , in my experience , were rare .

"blackfella" fires never really required firewood cut to length , when branches smash when you hit them together , or you just shove them in as they burn away . Hatchets are pretty common among the people who still do wood work , as big chisels more or less .

a ton of variables tho , there is no hard n fast rule that applies to any area really that I seen
 
G'day Myal

Myal said:
.....
"blackfella" fires never really required firewood cut to length , when branches smash when you hit them together , or you just shove them in as they burn away . Hatchets are pretty common among the people who still do wood work , as big chisels more or less .

a ton of variables tho , there is no hard n fast rule that applies to any area really that I seen
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Very well put :thumbup::thumbup:

It's all about what works :D



Kind regards
Mick
 
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Given the fact that we are already carrying a stout 4-7 inch class knife along with our personal survival kit, I would have to agree with the e-tool (genuine U.S. issue or other good reputable manufacturer), because it seems to me that the survivor will be most likely to be digging than chopping. Slicing, and splitting dead dry wood that was scrounged from your area will be most of your knife work. water aquisition, be it digging into a dry river bed, digging for melons and roots that contain moisture,or just digging a shelter is best acomplished whit a digging tool. Not to mention that a lot of the desert dwelling ceatures do live in borrows so the digging tool is also a food gathering device. just my cents. Al
 
High desert is much different, as a couple of folks have pointed out. Once you get up in the basin and range country, both water and cacti are hard to find.

Those "Cedars"( I just say that, since that what everyone around here calls them) mentioned all the time are Juniper and they ARE tough. Axe and hatchet are best. They have sand "grown" into them and eat up chainsaw blades like a bitch.

I mentioned once, that since I live in Utah, I don't carry an emergency fishing kit. In Utah, if you can find water with fish in it, there's someone there fishing... Probably even on Christmas day.

West from the center of Utah is basin and range east is what we refer to as Canyon Country. Those of you that have been to Moab, Blanding or the DE know what I'm talking about. Beautiful country, but you HAVE to know the territory.

This place is NOT like east of the Mississippi. Unless you know specific routes you are NOT gonna just walk to civilization.

Dominquez and Escalante (see Miera's Beareded Indian Map,) came here to find a more direct route to the Presidio at Monterry and the Carmel Mission... The direct route STILL dosen't exist.

Blade and fire for me is always a given... even when I go to church... don't laugh.

Priorities for me:

Water
Reliable transport
Water
Shelter
Water
Fire
Water

You get the idea. Of course, during the winter if you have fire you can just melt snow for water.

We have 4 real seasones here. Spring is ok but can be muddy. Fall is my favorite. Otherwise, it's summer Hot/COld, or winter cold/colder.

Remember a yearly (or evwn seaonal) "average" temps rarely tell the whole story.
 
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mwelch8404 said:
Those "Cedars"( I just say that, since that what everyone around here calls them) mentioned all the time are Juniper and they ARE tough. Axe and hatchet are best. They have sand "grown" into them and eat up chainsaw blades like a bitch.
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Part of the reason I like kukris so much, you've got a long knife/machete/hatchet in one tool.
 
It's the 'dog days of summer' here in Valencia County, NM. This is high desert, between 4,000 and 5,000 feet elevation. Two days ago, it was 98 degrees at four p.m. and 57 degrees at midnight, 41 degree drop in eight hours and most of that temp drop happens about two hours after sundown. Natives around here always keep a blanket or two or heavy jacket in their vehicles just in case of a lonely road breakdown at night. Sixties or lower temps can get damned cold quick if you're only wearing a t-shirt. Later in the fall, we'll be air conditioning during the day and heating at night when it goes from high 80s/low 90s in the afternoon to mid40s or even lower by midnight.
 
Davyd most of the knife selection used by people way out back is restricted by the people who are in the towns pretty much .

Example is when I was living near Halls Creek , West Au you could get one of 4 kinds of schrade fixed blade or of 6 very very expensive oldtimer folders . The general store had 2 or 3 kinds of victrinox meatworks type knife .

If you could get access to a ride to Fitzroy Crossing , you could pick up something like excalibur or other quality chinese junk .

I asked at the shop selling the folders , why they didnt get a bigger range , the answer was pretty blunt , to the effect of he wasnt going to be the one to arm the so and so natives , they were bad enough as it was .

what they carry is largely dictated by what they can afford , and can actually get their hands on .

The older men in town , if they have aknife , carry a small , usually very very old folder , the younger men just do without a knife , Ive seen them smash a bottle just to use a piece of glass to cut something .. instant knife I suppose . rip tops of soup cans the same , often enough the lid is folded in two , not evenly tho , and you have a semi circle knife good for a couple uses .
 
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