What blade(s) should I bring with me on a wilderness canoe trip???

E

ExtraTang

Joined
Jun 17, 2015
Messages
57
Hello,

This summer myself and some buddies are canoeing on the Allagash wilderness river for about two weeks. I will probably need to gut fish, chop wood, slice things, baton?, and fight bears :D etc. What knives should I bring? Here's the list:

Kabar USMC, kraton handle, Kydex sheath
Buck 119
Buck 110
Becker BK14 (TKC scales, AZWELKE sheath)
Fiskars hatchet
Cold Steel Kukri machete

Recommending blades to purchase would also be great!
Thanks!
 
Svord gen purpose deluxe
Svord%20General%20Purpose%20Onfe%20-%206.25%20Inches%20-%20Mahogany%20Handle%20-%20Brass%20Rivets%20Model%20870BB%20copy.jpg

looks good for fresh water fishing
Hiking axe, crosscut panel or folding saw & folding shovel shared amongst y'all.
 
Machete a hatchet. A fillet knife. Kershaw leek style blades are nice for food stuff. A mora maybe. And a stockman of any brand I case you get bore whittle wood.
 
If you are new to a canoe plan to get wet! A folder and a fixed blade for wood should cover it.
 
You need a Condor Moonshiner or BK-9. :D

I'd add a middle sized knife, something like the a BK-16 and pick up a Mora. If you like the Fiskars hatchet, go with that. Add a folding saw too.

Honestly speaking, from my accumulation, I would pack my CRKT tomahawk (have to think about that as I also have a Fiskars axe?), a Mora Companion, Condor Pack Golok, Silky folding saw, and probably my Blackjack 125 or BK-15. Always will have my SAK with me too. The Moonshiner wouldn't get used if I had the Pack Golok. This assumes that there will be no portages. That's a lot of stuff.
 
From your list, I would take the Buck 119 and BK 14. You only need one axe ( not a hatchet ) and maybe a saw for the group. Divide up the equipment responsibilities among the group. Everyone doesn't need to bring everything.
 
Rationally, all you need is a hatchet or axe, middle sized fixed blade, and a folder. You don't need machetes unless somebody else in the group wants to carry one.
 
A knife for your pack, a knife for your body. there is a real chance of ending up on shore in just your pants, so plan on carrying in a knife on your person that you are willing to put on every morning. The BK14 will be a good choice for this. I always wear my PFD when on the water since I can't swim, so my ideal setup would be Vest knife, Pocket knife, and Pack knife. That way I know that no matter what, I'm not without one.

Out of your list, the BK14 will do pretty much all you want, maybe a small fillet knife, but maybe not. Vic Farmer is handy. Spread the ax and saw out among the group. A hatchet makes a better fire prep tool than the other fixed blades on your list.

At the end of the day, I'd take what you are most comfortable using, you gotta live with them for that long, you might as well.
 
ExtraTang said:
Hello,

This summer myself and some buddies are canoeing on the Allagash wilderness river for about two weeks. I will probably need to gut fish, chop wood, slice things, baton?, and fight bears :D etc. What knives should I bring? Here's the list:

Kabar USMC, kraton handle, Kydex sheath
Buck 119
Buck 110
Becker BK14 (TKC scales, AZWELKE sheath)
Fiskars hatchet
Cold Steel Kukri machete

Recommending blades to purchase would also be great!
Thanks!
Click to expand...

All of them, obviously.

Seriously though, you know they will all end up in your bag :)
 
Of the list, I would go with the 119 if it is properly sharpened and the hatchet. I would recommend a better hatchet than the Fiskars, but they aren't awful. I have had one for the better park of ten years and have actually TRIED to break it but using it to chop through sheet metal and using the side of the head to strike hard objects. I'd still go with an Estwing hatchet if you aren't looking to save a lot of weight.

The 119 can do most anything the 110 can do besides the finest of work and would be easier to clean fish guts off of.

Two added blades I would consider: A cheap stainless Mora. They are so light, so sharp, and so inexpensive that they can fill a number of roles from food prep, to fish cleaning. Truth be told, with a bit of know how, one could get by with just a Mora and a way to keep it sharp...but whats the fun in that;)

I would also suggest a good multi-tool. The chances of NEEDING a huge blade and NEEDING to chop things is pretty small. However, a loose screw or damaged piece of equipment can readily happen. I've found more use for a multi-tool than a fixed blade on my trips...but i still always bring a fixed blade (or 5:D)
 
I would bring three SS Moras. A Bushcraft Forest backed up by two of the cheaper SS Moras of your choice.

A trip in a canoe of that duration I would be worried about losing my knife at some point, but I don't think you need a large knife or anything expensive.

Choppers and axes and saws are fun, but on real camping outings space gets limited real quick.

A Bahco Laplander would be an easy saw to carry if you feel like you needed one.

Sounds like a great trip have fun.
 
I agree with everyone who said a stainless Mora, or three... and a corrosion resistant multitool, like the Victorinox Swisstool. My Leathermans rust too easily.

I would carry a Spyderco H1 folder on my person, like a yellow Pacific Salt SE, with a floating lanyard.
 
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