ultimate survival knife?

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bigcountry73

Joined
Feb 18, 2003
Messages
133
I was wondering if you guys can give me some advice. I spend alot of time hunting, camping, and fishing in the Adirondacks in upstate New York. All this time a spend in the wilderness and I am not satisfied with my knives. I was wondering what you guys would consider the "perfect" wilderness survival knives. Your help is greatly appreciated.
 
Be prepared to hear everything from a plain old SAK, to the highest doller whiz bang knife money can buy. Here's a few that I would bet my life on:
Custom: Rinaldi Armageddon, Bill Siegle blades.
Semi-custom: TOPS Anaconda, any large Busse or Swamp Rat, Chris Reeve Proj. 1, MMHW (any blade)
Factory: Cold Steel Trailmaster or Recon Scout, or SRK. Ontario RTAK (excellent knife for the money IMHO) A good ol' Kabar.
There are many others that have great reputations that I don't have personal experience with.
The best knife is completely subjective. Your best bet is to handle several different types of knives. You want something strong, with good steel, that holds a good edge and is relatively easy to sharpen. A comfortable handle and a tough sheath are also top priorities.
 
tknife said it best!

I use Swamp Rat and Busse for production/semi production and for custom, Jensen Elite here in Aus...

I like the ease of sharpening that allows me more time using and abusing...

But, you will always need a multi tool and/or SAK of some description! Without doubt.

If you are asking for recomendations, I would say Busse, if the budget can not stretch it, then go a swamp rat in my opinion. There are other good knives out there like the BK&T series, but I dislike the handles. Whatever decision you make, handle the knife(s) first if you can! Always makes the choice easier...

good luck!
 
Aw shoot, I forgot about the Beckers! Excellent knives, but as gundy said, I don't really like the handles either. Bill Siegle makes Micarta replacements that look to be 100 times better, and give a great knife an excellent, almost custom grip!
 
My vote goes to Fehrman,
My final judgement has done everything from cleaning out game to chopping wood for fire,to making fuzz sticks out of a couple Q-tips.Since I've had this blade all the rest OF my big blades just sit in the cabinet.
 
I posted this on the general forum also. For the past month I have been carrying a Becker BK-7 with a SAK trailmaster, fire kit, allen wrench (to take the handles apart to get at other goodies inside)in the sheath pocket and 30' of para cord around the sheath. This combo has handled everything so far. The more I use the BK-7 the more I like it and trust it. The knife is easy to sharpen and maintain. I have used it in wet weather and have not had any rust so far. The SAK trailmaster is a good knife with a locking blade and a saw good for cleaning and preparing game.



Dean
 
I am off to see what a SAK Trailmaster is like! Sounds like I may need one...:)
 
I am off to see what a SAK Trailmaster is like! Sounds like I may need one...
Click to expand...

Gundy - you need one. EVERYBODY needs one. Coupled with the fixed blade of your choice, the Trailmaster is (for me) the perfect folder/toolset combination.
 
Hi BigCountry73,

Welcome to Bladeforums. It’s good to see another Adirondack outdoorsman. I spend quite a bit of time around Essex and Hamilton County. It’s a great place, as long as the black flies don’t eat you alive. ;)

I’ve tried a few different large knives in the Adirondacks, but they never seemed like a very good fit. They were too large and heavy to live with during the hot and humid weather, or too small to be of much use. I’ve since taken to using a 3-piece approach, which has worked out very well. The first piece is a good small axe or hatchet. You’ll probably hear a resounding recommendation for Gransfors Bruks ( http://www.gransfors.com/ ) if you want a good brand name. I’d go for a hatchet if you plan on doing a lot of traveling, or an axe if you’ll be staying in one place.

The second piece is a Marbles fixed blade ( http://www.marblearms.com ). You can spend a whole lot of money on some very expensive knives, but you’re unlikely to get the cutting efficiency or versatility of a Marbles. These are knives designed for hard use in the northern part of the US. I’d get a Marbles Woodcraft to match with an axe, or a Fieldcraft to match with a hatchet. Marbles makes excellent hunting knives, which happen to also excel at woodcraft. It’s a win/win choice. The only downside is that their sheaths aren’t all that hot. I usually end up making my own.

The third piece is a venerable Victorinox ( http://www.victorinox.com/ ) Swiss Army Knife. I’d personally do something like a Camper. It has two blades and an excellent saw. If you also need scissors, the Huntsman is a great choice. If you do a lot of fishing, something like a Leatherman Wave or Juice might be more appropriate. You’ll get a set of pliers that way, and still have a saw. The tools won’t be as easy to use and comfortable as a SAK, but you’ll have everything you need.

When you have a couple of different sized blades, a good saw and a chopper, you’re good for just about anything in the Adirondacks. You have everything you need for cleaning game and building a camp from scratch. All of the brands I’ve mentioned are available from Smoky Mountain Knife Works ( http://www.eknifeworks.com/ ).
 
If you want to spend the money, then for the terrain you mention I'd look at the Simonich Mid-Tech Raven, 7" blade, in S30V stainless. It has to be one of the finest all around designs I've EVER seen. Cuts, prys (hardly any knives do both), lightweight, not intrusive -- will chop, or you can baton the hell out of it and get great results. Skin game, split wood, whittle, dig holes, etc. -- really one of the first knives that combines cutting efficiency with the lateral strength in one package. I personally think Rob is doing some of the best work iin the business at this point.

http://www.simonichknives.com/midtech.htm

This one has truly impressed me as one of the best all-around fixed blades I've ever seen and used (I have a custom version in D2, but have played with the Mid-Tech).

Combined with a SAK or Multitool, and you're good to go in the woody terrain in the Adirondacks.

Best,

Brian.
 
I love my Cold Steel SRK, I have used it alot and it has never let me down, holds an edge pretty well too.
 
Bigcountry73,

We play in the same field and do about the same things except I am a little up north. I agree with Brian because it is exactly what I have. I carry a Simonich Mid-Tech Raven + a swiss champ. Can not think of a better combo for our region and what we do. The Mid-Tech is a great all around knife and easy to carry (light).

You are gone have a hard time choosing only one knife that will do a great good job for every purposes. You need a least a SAK or multitool with a 5-7 inches blade knife. If you are looking for the ''ultimate'' package for your region and what you do without let say exagerating, you need a 7 inches blade, a SAK, a multitool and a pure skinner.


Fred
 
Originally posted by Brian Jones
If you want to spend the money, then for the terrain you mention I'd look at the Simonich Mid-Tech Raven, 7" blade, in S30V stainless. It has to be one of the finest all around designs I've EVER seen. Cuts, prys (hardly any knives do both), lightweight, not intrusive -- will chop, or you can baton the hell out of it and get great results. Skin game, split wood, whittle, dig holes, etc. -- really one of the first knives that combines cutting efficiency with the lateral strength in one package. I personally think Rob is doing some of the best work iin the business at this point.

http://www.simonichknives.com/midtech.htm

This one has truly impressed me as one of the best all-around fixed blades I've ever seen and used (I have a custom version in D2, but have played with the Mid-Tech).

Combined with a SAK or Multitool, and you're good to go in the woody terrain in the Adirondacks.

Best,

Brian.
Click to expand...

I concur fully and without reservaton !!!

I have known Rob for a while and live very close to him...I have taken a knife making class from him and own a couple of his blades.

I have given up carrying a KBar and/or my Buckmaster for a Simonich blade.

Enough said
 
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