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The Elitist's War on Bushcraft: Part II !!! SERRATIONS!!!
- Thread starter Sam Wilson
- Start date
I think another key is survival vs bushcraft. To me survival means throw a knife in the kit and hope you never needed. If you do need it, most likely it is going to be for less than a week. Bushcraft is more of a way of life and the knife selected may get used to one degree or another every day for years. It also will get used for more and different task than a survival knife would. Could I live with a serated blade while trying to survive? Sure. Heck, I've posted pictures of spoons carved with a 1/4 think 5" blade that was sarated right where you don't want serations. I went through the exercise just to see how hard it would be should I ever need to do it for real. What did I learn? I learned it is way easier to make spoons with a traditional Buck Stockman folder that cost $15 at Walmart.
I own a bunch of knives and I've been looking for a grail blade for a number of years. I lost track of how many knives I've bought and put through the paces only to give them away because they simply didn't make the cut. I'm sure the number of knives given away has to be well over 100. They include knives from all price ranges, styles, and materials. I hate to say it but so far the closest fixed blade I've found is my $15 Mora Companion. I'm currently testing a BK 17 and it is scoring pretty high, but it's not perfect. I'm also spending a bunch of time looking for the best bushcraft folder. Today I'll put in more time with the last four Bucks, five Case, a Outdoors Edge, some Gerbers, good and fake Shrades, a couple of Benchmades, and about 20 one off folders I bought this year. I was thinking about adding a spydie but my research is showing a bunch of failures with many of their blades when tasked. I'll likely throw a ZT in the mix to see how it holds up. Bottom line is, of all the knives I still own the only knives than never see the light of day all have serations. Probably time to kick them out the door to make room for a couple more than might make the grade.
I own a bunch of knives and I've been looking for a grail blade for a number of years. I lost track of how many knives I've bought and put through the paces only to give them away because they simply didn't make the cut. I'm sure the number of knives given away has to be well over 100. They include knives from all price ranges, styles, and materials. I hate to say it but so far the closest fixed blade I've found is my $15 Mora Companion. I'm currently testing a BK 17 and it is scoring pretty high, but it's not perfect. I'm also spending a bunch of time looking for the best bushcraft folder. Today I'll put in more time with the last four Bucks, five Case, a Outdoors Edge, some Gerbers, good and fake Shrades, a couple of Benchmades, and about 20 one off folders I bought this year. I was thinking about adding a spydie but my research is showing a bunch of failures with many of their blades when tasked. I'll likely throw a ZT in the mix to see how it holds up. Bottom line is, of all the knives I still own the only knives than never see the light of day all have serations. Probably time to kick them out the door to make room for a couple more than might make the grade.
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Please do NOT post the whole thing here.Read my earlier posts in this thread.
Understood I did read the Earlier post, PM's are Just that PM's. Just thought I would join and offer since it/I was brought up
Moving on... Im digging up some Serrated action Pics if thats Cool
Sam Wilson
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
- Joined
- Sep 3, 2012
- Messages
- 3,066
It was my pleasure. That was the whole point of these videos, as I posted multiple times earlier in the thread, just to show that you can use pretty much whatever you want. Never claimed to be a guru, and even stated in the videos that the skills demonstrated were very rudimentary. But if you can perform those tasks with a given blade, it's probably going to serve you just fine. I also had a Gerber Gator partially serrated folder, it was a heck of a knife. Nice clip point. Truth be told, I often prefer a lockback to a liner lock, they're very stout, and the lock bar is apt to move less on you. Also wanted to say I enjoy your content, and respect your skills quite a bit, IA Woodsman. Thanks for posting.
Sam Wilson
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
- Joined
- Sep 3, 2012
- Messages
- 3,066
I would also add that from all that I've spoken with him, AIG has nothing but respect for you, IA Woodsman, so I don't think any of those comments were aimed at you or your style of teaching. He can speak for himself, but just wanted to throw that in there. Again, appreciate your skills, and especially that you put all that out there for free. Thumbs up.
I bought the series when they came out, used the sharp finger one time and retired it. The way the ground them you ended up losing most of your blade. They look cook but are not very functional. I do have a few other Schrades and Uncles they I enjoy using from time to time. Some of them are just worth too much money now that Schrade went under and people are buying up all they can find.Two early Schrade Sharpfingers? I guess you do recognize a decent knife when you see one!
The early Gators had pretty soft steel and it was hard to keep them sharp. I had a few I used to process deer, but gave up on them. The newer Gerbers seem to be much better and will make it through processing a deer without needing touched up. Cool looking knife design and a great handle.
Codger_64
Moderator
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2004
- Messages
- 62,324
A matter of personal preference I suppose. I bought my first one circa 1974-75 and still have it. And about twenty more. That original one is as good as when it was new. And I use it to process deer every year. At least two and sometimes more.
I switched to a Schrade liner lock with a little longer blade and used it for pretty much everything for years and years. I cut up fish with it and took deer from the field to freezer with that little knife. I still have it and I'm still looking for something that works as good. I retired it only because I didn't want to misplace it or break it. Far too many good memories with that blade.
One of those sharpfingers was found metal detecting in a Hobo Camp the other came in a Big box of of old carbon Knives I was gifted I gave one to OLJ and the other one gets a little use here...I know a Survival Instructor for the AF that swears by em for popping Deer sternums...neither one is Serrated tho lol
I think popping sternums is a carry over from way before my time and is also regional. I processed a pile of deer and never one popped a sternum or a pelvic bone...Couldn't figure out why one would even want to since there are much easier ways to go about task in those areas. Maybe the more you do the more efficient you try to become??? In the end it would take me less than 15 minutes to process a deer and have itin the freezer, all boneless, with my pocket knife.
Nope, I only own four with teeth now and they haven't been out of the drawer since I tested them. I threw away a Gerber folder that had teeth. It was so bad I just could do that to someone...Meaning give it away. I haven't figure out what I'm going to do with the fixed blades that have serations yet. Thinking about selling them on the bay just to get something out of them.
