Thoughts on Two Knives for a Camping Trip

A

AfflictedAngel

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Feb 16, 2016
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I have been entertaining the idea of going on a little camping trip, and I wanted some recommendations on what to carry with me. I currently carry a Black FRN Spyderco cricket every day along with a Spyderco Sage 1 for anything heavier. I live in an urban area, so my only thoughts are on replacing my Sage with something with a longer blade, more specifically a Calypso or an Endura. But none of these will do in the woods.

i won't be going far into the wilderness. Just far enough that I hope to do some fishing, probably trout, and start a small fire. I wanted to have two knives with me that will be more suitable for these activities. Venturing into fixed blades here...

I was thinking about purchasing this Obake for cleaning fish, food prep, and light tasks. http://www.bladehq.com/item--CRKT-Burnley-Obake-Fixed-Blade--32056

As well as something a little heavier such as this Boker http://www.bladehq.com/item--Boker-Plus-Bushcraft-Next--32093

Other knives I were looking at were the CRKT http://www.bladehq.com/item--CRKT-Krein-Mossback-Bird-and-Trout--34399 or the Secret Agent Kershaw as a cheap spearpoint i could gut fish with for much cheaper as well as abuse cutting more finrous materials. Im stuck.

There will be no batoning, chopping, or anything crazy like that. Just light time in the woods with myself. Maybe an Esse 4 instead of the boker, and an endura or calypso for food prep and cleaning fish.

I know im all over the place, but I need help! Thanks guys.
 
The nylon wrap on the Obake is NOT suitable for food prep. Cleaning the blood and guts out of it will be nigh on impossible. You should get a knife with a solid non permeable handle that cleans easily and has a good grip when wet. I just use an inexpensive Mora with a plastic or hard rubber handle and stainless blade. I think the 546 is a good choice, although a simple Victorinox paring knife will work real well also.
 
For the tasks you described, I would like to recommend the Diskin Hunter. It would be an excellent food prep blade. I have not cleaned fish with mine so I can't speak to its use in that task but I don't see why it wouldn't serve you well as an all--rounder.
 
The Obake is not an outdoors knife. Its some pseudo-ninja thing. Terrible choice.

While I don't like scandi grinds, that Boker IS the size and style of fixed blade I would take on a "little camping trip."

Get that and a Victorinox Farmer, and you are hooked up.
 
I think the Boker looks pretty nice, and useful. The double edged thingy, not so much. And, daggers can get you in trouble some places.
 
Checked out the Boker Plus. Looks decent to me. If the 440C edge will hold to your satisfaction it looks like a good one.
 
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Buck camp knife is a nice choice for about 50 bucks.5160 steel.
 
Don't underestimate that sage 1 you already have. It is plenty sturdy enough for making some shavings to start a fire.

You could go with a combo like this to speed up fire prep, but it is not strictly necessary. A little tea candle or some commercial fire starters will also go a long way towards getting a fire going. It is OK to cheat!
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I assume you will not be relying of fire for warmth or doing primitive shelters or anything. If you are going out with a waterproof tent, warm sleeping bag and sleeping pad you really don't need much from your knife. That victorinox paring knife Bo T mentioned would be a good food prep buddy for your sage 1.
 
Really like the look of that Buck, looks handy and small enough for light carry and chores. Also look to Mora.
 
I think you are over thinking it a little. The CRKT Krein Mossback Bird and Trout will make a great fish cleaner. The Boker Plus Bushcraft 02BO298 can handle the rest of the camp chores, kindling, food prep and whatever else comes up.

Drop the Spyderco Sage 1 in your pocket and you'll have all you need.
 
How about a Mora Pro Flex for cleaning fish, food prep, etc? Inexpensive, thin, somewhat flexible blade, very light and fantastic cutting geometry.
 
gadunz said:
And as many cig lighters as practical.
Click to expand...

Totally!!!! Look, i like primitive stuff as much as the next guy, but you have to balance it with practicality. I went out in the woods after a few days of rain a couple months ago. Everything was soaked through, and there was no dead wood that wasn't nasty punky and soaked up like a sponge. There was no way to start a fire with feathersticks and ferro rod. So what did I do? I busted out the sterno canister I keep in my bag. For a little thing that weighs nothing, there ain't nuttin' like some jellied gasoline to get a fire going. The sterno and a simply bic lighter did the job. Piled twigs around the sterno so the heat could dry and ignite, and BAM! Fire! Wasn't long before I was putting 6" rounds on that bad boy.
 
19-3ben said:
Totally!!!! Look, i like primitive stuff as much as the next guy, but you have to balance it with practicality. I went out in the woods after a few days of rain a couple months ago. Everything was soaked through, and there was no dead wood that wasn't nasty punky and soaked up like a sponge. There was no way to start a fire with feathersticks and ferro rod. So what did I do? I busted out the sterno canister I keep in my bag. For a little thing that weighs nothing, there ain't nuttin' like some jellied gasoline to get a fire going. The sterno and a simply bic lighter did the job. Piled twigs around the sterno so the heat could dry and ignite, and BAM! Fire! Wasn't long before I was putting 6" rounds on that bad boy.
Click to expand...

Yeah. I use ferro rod and natural tinder to practice my skills and use knives. If I seriously need a fire I want a Bic and trioxane or Esbit fuel tabs.
 
Yep, always take a bic lighter with you.

As far as knives goes, I think your thoughts are just fine with the Boker. I'd skip the filet knife unless you are going to be doing a lot of fish prep and you don't need a fllet knife for trout. (I didn't look at that link.)

A fair sized folder is plenty for food prep especially with the Boker with you. Add a folding saw and your set. Have fun.

My regular woods ensemble is a Kabar Becker BK-15, large sak, and a folding saw. I have lots of fixed blade choices, so that varies. Sometimes take something like a Delica or Endura, but the sak does most everything I need. If you are into multi-tools, one of the small Leatherman's can be useful camping.
 
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