Traditional knives for an "unplanned overnighter" in the woods

The spine isn't quite sharp enough. Besides, I'm already used to having a slipjoint in my pocket. Might as well carry one for redundancy.
 
As an aside, Scott Gossman and Colin Ashmore, a member on BFC, showed me how to do a one stick fire. I did it with a large chopper and my swisstool saw blade. So, I'm going to try the saw on my Remington R4 camp knife and my Victorinox farmer. Worked great with the swisstool. However, I've never seen the utility in the saw blade on these knives, but, then again, I've never used it more than a couple times.
 
dma1965 said:
If I had to choose one knife to take with me into the woods, it would be a SAK Swisschamp, hands down. Here is a video by Survival Instructor Richard Lonewolf, where he talks about building entire Indian villages using only a "Victorinox" as he calls his favorite knife.

[video=youtube;YTJTNqsHQvs]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTJTNqsHQvs[/video]
Click to expand...

Thank you for the video!!!!!
 
Been there done that, entirely by accident and overnight at freezing temperatures. My SAK was not so useful (dry twigs, branches and limbs pull free and break without use of a knife) but very much more handy were two on-hand Bic lighters. I say two Bics only because the first fell out of my pocket in the dark and couldn't be found without light from the second. Continuous fire overnight did keep me from freezing up and also forced me to keep moving to seek firewood. Forget the romantics of 'which fashionable knife' to bring (they all work) and concentrate more on not leaving home unprepared. Dry, warm and spare clothes stowed away in a carry pack that you have with you are worth their weight in gold if this ever happens to you. Fancy knife is a 'wannabee' thrill/frill but a pack with essentials inside is going to be the difference between living and dying.
 
I say bring the knives you typically carry while hiking, hunting, camping, make it realistic don't add any special knives for this occasion.

For me when I go camping I have my Vic Huntsman II and maybe one other on me. If I am hiking I probably have that in my backpack and spare clothes if the weather changes and an EDC in my pocket along with the normal food/water.
 
Nice idea, we should try to enjoy what we do, not be experts or the dreaded 'perfect' in these things.

Moreover, it's always fascinating to brood over what knives/gear to take with you even if it's just a walk down the road to the shops.

Well, I'd take a carbon Puukko. A locking Laguiole in Sandvik. A three blade knife such as a Queen in D2 with bone handles, Whittler or their No.9 Large Stockman.

Why? Puukko is great for woodcraft, making firesticks etc. Not heavy, dangler sheath very practical, WOOD handle. The Laguiole is the best slicer, great for food prep so the stainless blade won't be any bother, hygenic too...HORN handle. The Queen 3 blade, compact, 3 useful blades for any task you fancy D2 retains its edge and BONE handles. 3 styles: fixed, locking,multi-blade. 3 handle choices. 5 different blade shapes. Not too bad eh?
 
I would bring one of my tiny hatchets, a 4 or 5 inch fb thin enough to cut with (Mora, Buck 118 Personal, or Western Mark I navy flat-ground), my big SAK with saw, and a stockman.

[And maybe a big Bowie, in case of bears. And some bigger axes. My truck is right there, right? Maybe a spear...]

Sounds like fun: enjoy and learn!
 
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Dan, first off, have a GREAT time!!!

It's an interesting question that opens up a large number of cultural and technical questions about being outside. No single right answer.

I approach all outdoor trips, even hunting trips, with a backpacking mind set. I always carry the following "essentials" and seek to minimize my impact. So, I don't "bushcraft".
http://home.comcast.net/~pinnah/DirtbagPinner/essentials-list.txt

This is my knife and tool carry.


Outdoor Carry by Pinnah, on Flickr

For hunting, I had a hunting knife.

The Opinel N9 or N10 will stand up to a day's worth of batoning if needed. More so than a Buck lockback.

I find saws useful for making fires and I like the Silky saw for that. But it generally only goes on ski tours where the skis add the ability to get deep in the woods very fast. In general, it's hard weight to justify.

If getting stuck overnight is a real option and you're not carrying a gas or alcohol stove, wood stoves like the Emberlit are easy to use and very efficient. Much easier to keep going as it minimizes harvesting needs.

Knowledge is better and lighter than multiple knives. I like the books by Chris Townsend a LOT.
 
Sounds like a blast. I have a good bit of experience with this type stuff. I grew up in scouts and every year or so my brother and I would go stay in the woods with nothing but a knife, a fire steel, a few things in our pockets (snare wire/fishing line, compass, and as we got older a flask). Most of the time I just had a buck 112 on me, never carried a fixed blade, occasionally a multi tool. I am of the mindset less is more in these situations. Instead of multiple knives I would pick a good sturdy one or two blade folder like a Buck 110 or sod buster and a multi tool, even just a victorinox would be fine. You would be surprised what that can do. In all my years of impromptu overnighters in the woods I never once had to baton wood or use a knife like the Becker guys seem to do on a daily basis. The past few times I went hunting I just carried an opinel no.8. Despite what the wilderness commandos seem to be preaching know you really don't need all the "stuff".

Just remember we are all learning all the time and enjoy it. It seems intimidating but it really is simple stuff. Have fun!
 
So I wonder which way to go; prepared like you should or a bit underprepared so they can teach you something about what is like to need to improvise etc.
That said if you go out hunting even in a back field by your house or the wilderness there are some basic things you need.
As far as a knife goes I know we love to carry around multiple knives but that may be excessive especially when in reality you need that pocket/belt space for more variety of tools. If you don't have a pack this is even more the case.
I think either way a modest fixed blade and a SAK or Multitool with a saw with do a lot. If I were to add anything it might be a small GB axe like the Wilderness axe.

Keep in mind that cutting tools are only one part of being ready. Add some combustion (Bics are great, Ferros are a great addition with little weight), cordage of some kind, a cover maybe a tarp or space blanket. You should always have a compass and also the map if possible. After that a container you can collect and boil water. A 32oz WM Kleen Kanteen is great for this.

For me the hard choice is SAK Farmer or a Leatherman model that has a saw.
 
The lost hunter approach puts me in the mindset for a Buck 110, A 2 blade GEC #23 and the swiss champ I keep in my small kit. I have to admit that I'm not firekit centered on my hunting/hiking bag.

The 'overnight camping' adds my BRKT Aurora to the mix. Mostly for firewood processing.
 
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