Versatile fixed blade for bug out bag/SHTF/prepper scenario?

B

Bukake47

Joined
Feb 27, 2015
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I'm looking for suggestions for a jack-of-all-trades knife for my bug out bag. I currently have a CRK Pacific as my only fixed blade, and while it is a sweet knife, I don't feel that it is the most appropriate knife for this scenario. Having done a little reading on the subject, here's a few things that I think may be important in such a knife:
Weight- A knife with quarter inch blade stock is unnecessary. Anything over 7 or 8 oz should have some good justification.
Useful blade geometry- A hollow grind with serrations probably isn't ideal for outdoor use (that's what the Pacific has).
Practical length- the 6 inches of the Pacific is a tad too long.
Doesn't need to be tactical/weaponish- Glock 19 FTW
Durable and field serviceable- tool steel? Scandi grind? Or convex? Don't know a whole lot in this area. Open to suggestions.

I guess this is just another "one knife" question. I will take the blade camping a couple times per year and it will live in my bug out bag. Budget isn't necessarily a concern, I am open to suggestions in all price ranges. Thanks guys.
 
Buy a basic Mora (10$), a swiss army knife (for example a Tinker or Trekker 20-40$), and an opinel #8 (10$)

Take the CRK pacific and the other knives with you next time you go camping. See what you enjoy using.

Come back with more specific questions based on your experience.

There are lots of great knives out there but ideal knife is a highly personal choice.
 
sideways said:
Buy a basic Mora (10$), a swiss army knife (for example a Tinker or Trekker 20-40$), and an opinel #8 (10$)
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I'd switch the Opinel for a folding saw and you'd be set with all 3. Everything else is just to satisfy your knife needs. Nothing wrong with that. I carry a custom hand forged fixed blade instead of my mora most of the time. The mora is better, the custom just fills my "I need to have a cool knife" itch. :D
 
Good point Shotgun.

Add a folding saw as well.

The things people usually end up needing a blade for are preparing food and possibly preparing wood for a fire. I won't get in to preparing a shelter because that's a silly waste of time IMHO when you can just pack a proper shelter. If you are packing a stove system and also not relying on a fire for shelter you won't necessarily won't need a lot of knife. Not that you can't make a very respectable shelter with a swiss army knife. :D
 
Look to the swamp.
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Swamp Rat Knifeworks, that is
Specifically, a Ratmandu. It's one of my favorite all arounders.
The Bark River Bravo 1-LT has moved way up on the list, and is worth a look; but the 4.25" blade is a little short if you plan on doing a lot of batoning, IMO (There's the Bravo 1.25 at 5"; but that moves up to 0.21" thickness)

*edited to add image*

(don't mind the remaining coating on the RMD - I guess it separated a little when I stripped it, because it came off the next time I used it. I've got to etch the logo a little deeper, then I'm going to pull the scales and strip it entirely)
 
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I have taken my Pacific camping several times and I've realized that it's not quite what I'm looking for. It's very comfortable and sturdy feeling, but I hate the serrations and grind. I also dislike the thumb ramp. The knife worked surprisingly well for batoning but fell short during more intricate tasks like carving, making feather sticks, food prep, and essentially all of the mundane tasks you would expect of a camping knife. For this reason I am looking for a shorter knife, say, between 3-5".

I at one point had an opinel 7, and while the carbon blade took a wicked edge, it was not what I would consider sturdy enough for outdoor use. I carry a SAK Tinker to work daily (I'm a lab technician). It is great for opening boxes and for its screwdrivers. For outdoor use, not so much.

The Falkniven F1 looks like it's right up my alley. I'll have to read/watch reviews on it. I've also been eyeballing the BRK Bushcrafter, ESEE 3 or 4, some sort of Becker, or maybe a Busse (but they seem to make prybars and choppers rather than bushcrafting knives).

I am also interested in everyone's opinion on stainless vs tool steel on an outdoor knife. Is this an important consideration or a moot point?
 
Bukake47 said:
I have taken my Pacific camping several times and I've realized that it's not quite what I'm looking for. It's very comfortable and sturdy feeling, but I hate the serrations and grind. I also dislike the thumb ramp. The knife worked surprisingly well for batoning but fell short during more intricate tasks like carving, making feather sticks, food prep, and essentially all of the mundane tasks you would expect of a camping knife. For this reason I am looking for a shorter knife, say, between 3-5".

I at one point had an opinel 7, and while the carbon blade took a wicked edge, it was not what I would consider sturdy enough for outdoor use. I carry a SAK Tinker to work daily (I'm a lab technician). It is great for opening boxes and for its screwdrivers. For outdoor use, not so much.

The Falkniven F1 looks like it's right up my alley. I'll have to read/watch reviews on it. I've also been eyeballing the BRK Bushcrafter, ESEE 3 or 4, some sort of Becker, or maybe a Busse (but they seem to make prybars and choppers rather than bushcrafting knives).

I am also interested in everyone's opinion on stainless vs tool steel on an outdoor knife. Is this an important consideration or a moot point?
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Been using Carbon steel Moras outdoors for years. Rust has only been an issue if not quickly cleaned after field dressing game. Blood seems to rust my blades very quickly.

I would highly recommend a Mora of your choice. I love the Bushcraft, no 1, and Companion. I have used the no. 1 and companion quite extensively. The Bushcraft is still fairly new and while I appreciate it's robustness and ergonomics, it's a bigger knife than I really need most of the time, and is too heavy to wear around my neck so it been left behind most trips. Still an excellent knife.
 
I'd first take a look at the DPx HEST and HEFT line of knives. As mentioned, the Fallknivens and Swamp Rats would be excellent choices as well.

You need something in the 4-5" blade range. I like 01, D-2, 1095, Sandvik, maybe VG-10, maybe even S30V and Sleipner, although the last two are toward the more difficult to sharpen steels. There are a few other good ones for your 'all around' requirement. Wanting it 'field serviceable,' stick with simplicity and easier sharpening steels.

Grinds get more into "purpose" but flat-grind, Scandi, convex and saber grinds will provide the strength needed for those 'general' things that crop up day-to-day. I agree with you the hollow grinds are more for the 'slicers,' which for me means primarily carrots and onions--not exactly things one confronts often in the urban jungle of cutting needs outside the home.
 
I will add The Ka-Bar Becker BK10 (the whole bk line for that matter) is a viable cost effective Knife. It does have a thumb ramp. But many Becker owners have no problem grinding the ramp off. And It wouldn't effect the strength of the knife.

You have a lot of options, study all of the brands.
 
Stainless is best for a knife that lives in a bag & gets used 3-4 times per year. There are plenty of good SS around these days, they don't have to be inferior metals. Tool steels are fine if you use them much more regularly, & always put them away clean & dry.
Allow me to suggest Helle, Brusletto, Enzo as knives to consider.
 
samclaymore said:
I will add The Ka-Bar Becker BK10 (the whole bk line for that matter) is a viable cost effective Knife. It does have a thumb ramp. But many Becker owners have no problem grinding the ramp off. And It wouldn't effect the strength of the knife.

You have a lot of options, study all of the brands.
Click to expand...

+1 on the Becker line. If you do not like thumb ramps then may I suggest the Becker Campanion BK-2 - it's a tank of a knife in a very manageable blade length.
 
If it's a 3-5" blade you want, I'm going back to the Bravo 1-LT. The 4.25" long, 0.156" thick CPM 3V blade will handle anything you can reasonably expect from a knife that size, and still handle the fine stuff.
 
I haven't used it personally but son of badger from Buses comes to mind.

About the right size, quite rust resistant and its very thick as well. :)
 
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