- Joined
- Sep 18, 2013
- Messages
- 2,870
My buddy Silver Needle and I were posting on a Survive!Knives thread somewhere here on BF not too long ago. For whatever reason, I mentioned my 'gear' meaning the blades, fire steels, axes. and hatchets I take to the woods and water, and assorted other camping and survival gear. He said I should post what I use and why and I committed to do that so here it is. At least the blades anyway.
On a funny side note, I was perusing the tube and saw some videos about top 10 survival knives and related videos. I found it hilarious that most of the guys were reviewing their gear and for some odd reason, all of it looked brand spanking new. I'm known in my circle of peers, family and friends as the guy who always asks the question, "What did you DO today"?
I'm known as that guy because, despite my age, I'm always "doing" something, whether it's in my shop, or out in the woods, or on (and sometimes IN) the water.
So, here are some of my "TOOLS" that I use in the outdoors and what I use them for and why.
I put the Mall Ninja's in the title because I see of these guys to every one real outdoorsman. Don't get me wrong here, I don't know everything and there is plenty of mountains I can't climb. I'm just saying if you've never been farther than the knife store at the local mall, then don't criticize my ability to start a primitive fire if you've never tried it. Any one who has done it in a real world situation will tell you it gets tough to do, especially in the pouring down rain or a flooded wilderness, or bitter cold. And secondly, if your knives and axes have never been farther than the kitchen table for the youtube video, you should probably accept the criticism you receive when you post your "top 10 survival knives".
There, I said it.
On to the good stuff. Pics of USED knives and other tools. Of note; all of the leather, kydex, custom scales, and knife mods were done by me as well as hanging all the axe heads except for the Husqvarna hatchet and the red firehose scales on the necker.
Starting at the top and going left to right in the first pic.
ESEE Junglas and Becker BK13 Remora with custom burlap micarta scales. This is my primary rig when we go primitive. I use the Junglas to chop and baton, build shelter, dig holes, etc. The Becker is my camp knife and striker for the fire steel. YES, it throws enough sparks to start a fire. Great little camp knife too as food is usually minimal on these outings. I normally have a medium folder in my front pocket which is why there is no medium fixed blade in these situations. The Junglas has been well used and is indestructible. I recommend this highly for anyone needing a LARGE blade.
Next is the Survive!Knives GSO 4.1 in M390 and right next to that is the new Survive!Knives SK-4.7 that I've been testing. That is another thread but the SK-4.7 in CruForge V steel, so far is looking to be a tough contender for best all around knife for me. Time and more testing will tell the tale. The GSO 4.1 in M390 has been an excellent hunting knife and the M390 steel when treated by Peters and sharpened by Guy is phenomenal. It's one of the reasons that M390 is my #1 favorite steel right next to the American counterpart CPM-20CV. This is an awesome all around stainless outdoors blade. MY only drawback is that it comes in just a hair too small for a few tasks, hence the 4.7 being tried and tested. I use these as all around camp, hunting, bushcraft, fishing, and survival knives. They both hold a great edge and the 4.1 has been around awhile and is a proven performer from camp chores all the way up to batoning large logs for firewood. It is as tough as nails and a proven performer. Don't let it's beauty fool you. It's a true work horse of a blade.
Next to that you see two smaller neck knives. The first one in the orange kydex is my design. I call it the Hale Storm Alpha. I wanted a small necker size knife with a deep belly in CPM-20CV. After talking it over with my friend, knifemaker Brian Evans over at Evans Knife and Tool, he brought my design to life. Brian made the blade and then sent it to either Peter's or Bos for heat treat and then Jason Wilder of Wilder Forge finished it out for me with the red firehose micarta. Next to that in the camo kydex is one of the very first Dart's that Brian Evans designed and made. He made the finished blade in CPM-20CV for me and I added the Jade Ghost G10 with white liner scales. Both of these knives by Brian are awesome EDC knives and I carry one of them around my neck every day. 7 days a week. 52 weeks a year.
Last on the right is the ESEE Candiru that has been stripped and custom blue and black G10 scales added with white liners. I carry this from time to time at work and the small blade is perfect when the need for a small utility blade is there and this one slips right in and out of the leather sheath for one handed use too. The expertly treated 1095 steel holds an incredible edge for daily cutting and requires minimal touch up to bring back a great working edge.
Right under the Candiru is a standard Victorinox Alox Farmer. I use this around camp on work days and it is indispensable as "pocket tool kit" when fixing and repairing most small things around camp. The only thing more useful would be my Leatherman multitool which is not in the pics but should be (it's in the truck). The Farmer also works great when an EDC is needed around people who seem to get nervous around knives.
And at the bottom is the Husqvarna 19" hatchet, which is actually a Carpenters Axe and not really a hatchet at all. I use this for splitting small logs to make tinder and kindling around camp or for delimbing larger branches when I need poles to make shelter. It works really well for chopping small limbs when making a tripod for a cooking pot or any type of fire making duties. It's lightweight, and holds an incredible edge. Great Swedish steel and American hickory for around 50 bucks.
If anyone finds this interesting, please post pics of what you use and why. I'll post more tomorrow and finish up on the axes, and also more knives. Work comes early in the morning.
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On a funny side note, I was perusing the tube and saw some videos about top 10 survival knives and related videos. I found it hilarious that most of the guys were reviewing their gear and for some odd reason, all of it looked brand spanking new. I'm known in my circle of peers, family and friends as the guy who always asks the question, "What did you DO today"?
I'm known as that guy because, despite my age, I'm always "doing" something, whether it's in my shop, or out in the woods, or on (and sometimes IN) the water.
So, here are some of my "TOOLS" that I use in the outdoors and what I use them for and why.
I put the Mall Ninja's in the title because I see of these guys to every one real outdoorsman. Don't get me wrong here, I don't know everything and there is plenty of mountains I can't climb. I'm just saying if you've never been farther than the knife store at the local mall, then don't criticize my ability to start a primitive fire if you've never tried it. Any one who has done it in a real world situation will tell you it gets tough to do, especially in the pouring down rain or a flooded wilderness, or bitter cold. And secondly, if your knives and axes have never been farther than the kitchen table for the youtube video, you should probably accept the criticism you receive when you post your "top 10 survival knives".
There, I said it.
On to the good stuff. Pics of USED knives and other tools. Of note; all of the leather, kydex, custom scales, and knife mods were done by me as well as hanging all the axe heads except for the Husqvarna hatchet and the red firehose scales on the necker.
Starting at the top and going left to right in the first pic.
ESEE Junglas and Becker BK13 Remora with custom burlap micarta scales. This is my primary rig when we go primitive. I use the Junglas to chop and baton, build shelter, dig holes, etc. The Becker is my camp knife and striker for the fire steel. YES, it throws enough sparks to start a fire. Great little camp knife too as food is usually minimal on these outings. I normally have a medium folder in my front pocket which is why there is no medium fixed blade in these situations. The Junglas has been well used and is indestructible. I recommend this highly for anyone needing a LARGE blade.
Next is the Survive!Knives GSO 4.1 in M390 and right next to that is the new Survive!Knives SK-4.7 that I've been testing. That is another thread but the SK-4.7 in CruForge V steel, so far is looking to be a tough contender for best all around knife for me. Time and more testing will tell the tale. The GSO 4.1 in M390 has been an excellent hunting knife and the M390 steel when treated by Peters and sharpened by Guy is phenomenal. It's one of the reasons that M390 is my #1 favorite steel right next to the American counterpart CPM-20CV. This is an awesome all around stainless outdoors blade. MY only drawback is that it comes in just a hair too small for a few tasks, hence the 4.7 being tried and tested. I use these as all around camp, hunting, bushcraft, fishing, and survival knives. They both hold a great edge and the 4.1 has been around awhile and is a proven performer from camp chores all the way up to batoning large logs for firewood. It is as tough as nails and a proven performer. Don't let it's beauty fool you. It's a true work horse of a blade.
Next to that you see two smaller neck knives. The first one in the orange kydex is my design. I call it the Hale Storm Alpha. I wanted a small necker size knife with a deep belly in CPM-20CV. After talking it over with my friend, knifemaker Brian Evans over at Evans Knife and Tool, he brought my design to life. Brian made the blade and then sent it to either Peter's or Bos for heat treat and then Jason Wilder of Wilder Forge finished it out for me with the red firehose micarta. Next to that in the camo kydex is one of the very first Dart's that Brian Evans designed and made. He made the finished blade in CPM-20CV for me and I added the Jade Ghost G10 with white liner scales. Both of these knives by Brian are awesome EDC knives and I carry one of them around my neck every day. 7 days a week. 52 weeks a year.
Last on the right is the ESEE Candiru that has been stripped and custom blue and black G10 scales added with white liners. I carry this from time to time at work and the small blade is perfect when the need for a small utility blade is there and this one slips right in and out of the leather sheath for one handed use too. The expertly treated 1095 steel holds an incredible edge for daily cutting and requires minimal touch up to bring back a great working edge.
Right under the Candiru is a standard Victorinox Alox Farmer. I use this around camp on work days and it is indispensable as "pocket tool kit" when fixing and repairing most small things around camp. The only thing more useful would be my Leatherman multitool which is not in the pics but should be (it's in the truck). The Farmer also works great when an EDC is needed around people who seem to get nervous around knives.
And at the bottom is the Husqvarna 19" hatchet, which is actually a Carpenters Axe and not really a hatchet at all. I use this for splitting small logs to make tinder and kindling around camp or for delimbing larger branches when I need poles to make shelter. It works really well for chopping small limbs when making a tripod for a cooking pot or any type of fire making duties. It's lightweight, and holds an incredible edge. Great Swedish steel and American hickory for around 50 bucks.
If anyone finds this interesting, please post pics of what you use and why. I'll post more tomorrow and finish up on the axes, and also more knives. Work comes early in the morning.
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. What I use mostly as fix blade in the woods its the F1. The X5 is my hiking axe, its compact and light enough for my taste, it always finds a place in the rucksack. Generally nowadays, for my types of hikes (i.e.: walks in the woods or easy mountain hiking), I find that any of my folders and the SOG/FOX PowerAssist multitool are serving me well. Our camp chores in reality are limited to the setting up of a small camp fire (more for fun or for the occasional sausages grilling than everything else 
