What is the best 2-tool combo?

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Jan 22, 2007
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I'm fairly new to the bushcraft/survival thing, and have just started buying my tools. I've seen a lot of debate here on the best tools to take into the backcountry for survival purposes, but I'm still left wondering what to get. I'll probably bring 2 tools with me on any given trip. Should that be a multi-tool and a saw? A Mora and a hatchet? A big chopper and a SAK? How about a fishing knife and a machete? I'm going to restrict this to blades only (I know some kind of firearm would be good to have, but I already have a good set of those). Some feedback would definitely be appreciated.
 
This is my favorite combo based on spending a lot of time with it in the woods of Northeastern Ohio during the late fall, winter and early spring.

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The kuhkuri does all the chopping I'll need, can split and baton larger pieces of wood than a hatchet, can be used to cut a wider variety of things than a hatchet etc. Very tough and durable. Great for getting to dry wood in the rain or snow, constructing shelters, making boards for firedrills etc.

The Mora is taped in its sheath to the Kuhkuri sheath and adds no noticeable weight and extremely little bulk. It handles all the cutting outside of chopping and batoning for the most part. Cutting open fish, food prep, whittling and shaping wood and things along those lines. It's very light and the thin blade cuts with little effort, so it takes a while to feel fatigued using this knife.

There are other knives that are very good and extremely versatile, but this combo suits me the best. If I were going to replace either knife with something different, I'd go with a machete and SAK Farmer. I like the kuhkuri over a machete for better chopping and wood splitting ability, which is what my large knives are primarily used for, and I prefer a fixed blade to a folder when outdoors, especially if my hands are cold, hence the Mora over the SAK. With a chopper there isn't as much need for a saw, and the screwdrivers and awl are almost never used on my SAK.

If I could cheat and add a third item to this, I'd include a small knife like a Buck Hartsook neck knife or a Stockman. I like having something with tiny blades for doing more detailed wood carving work, whether for constructing something you need or whittling things for the pleasure of it.


This setup is kind of overkill for the summer, so what I like better for this time of year is one of my puukkos and a SAK Farmer. I'll usually take the one in the middle, which has just enough mass to do some effective chopping, is long enough to baton should it be rainy out etc. The SAK's saw is a good addition to the Brusletto because it's not the most effective chopper. This combo is a lot lighter and more practical for this time of year.

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It's 1/8" at the spine, a little under 6 inches in length, has a scandi grind and about 4 inches of stacked leather / aluminum handle. I'd prefer different handle materials and a slightly taller bevel, but it works. The one on the bottom is an extremely good cutter, having a thinner spine and more acute bevel. I carry that a lot in the summer as well. All five knives looked a lot prettier in these photos than they do now. :D
 
You are asking for a 2 tool combo, but I always carry three tools, a kukri (or a kukri machete depending of destination), a utility hunter (usually a CS Master Hunter or a Becker Necker), and a multitool (Letherman Wave). This way I always have with me a chopper, a hunter/utility knife, and a pocket knife/multitool.
 
If it has to be only 2, my choice would be a chopper, something like a bola machete (Becker Machax-Cincinatti, in my case) and a Mora. I do agree with the previous posts, though. Go for 3 and include either a SAK (with a saw blade- something like the Vic Ranger) or a multitool like a Leatherman Wave.

Doc
 
I am a fan of a 3 tool combo..sometimes 4, are packed in my kit. 1. a large locking SAK with saw 2. 4"field knife 3. MidRange Camp knife (7-8") and a Chopper. This is my setup on my pack, If I was traveling light, I would drop the chopper, and just carry the first 3. If you are only carrying 2 tools, I would carry a SAK and a Chopper. this would give you more tools, and I like the blade on my SAK just fine, it might not be as tough as my Mora's but it has a saw in there...and that is one handy tool out in the woods..JMHO.
PS: My "chopper" is a small gerber hatchet without the knife in the handle. Although after reading about the Wetterlings, I am planning on getting one of these ASAP.
Gene
 
Yeah, I'll allways have my Vic Rucksack, CS Master Hunter and Becker BK7. And for over nighters I'll add in the wetterlings large hunters axe.
 
If I had to pick two... Leatherman Supertool and a Ka-Bar MKII (classic pattern, not an updated one). If I could pick one more, a good chopper (kukri or machete) or folding saw. And just after that, a good trowel (U-dig-it is probably the best).

Alternatively, the Ka-Bar with a Vic Huntsman or Ranger and a pair of decent quality, small needle nose pliers.

And I don't consider my staff to be a tool- I'm a tripod off the concrete, it's me wooden leg. :)
 
I think it really depends on what part of the county your in. I find a mora style knife, and a mini hatchet works best for me.
 
The three tool set is commonly referred to around here as a "Nessmuck combo" after the celebrated 19th century woodsman/writer George Washington Sears (aka Nessmuck). He carried a folding knife, medium fixed blade of the skinner type, and small hatchet. I'd highly recommend his books. The info is a bit dated in many resepcts, but he was an eloquent and entertaining writer.

I like a multi tool (which has a saw) and a medium fixed blade. In fact, I'm shopping around for one these days (I currently have only a small fixed blade and a large one). If practical, I'll also take along a hatchet. If you are determined to carry two tools only, you could try the multi tool plus a larger fixed blade. It works for plenty of folks, but my large fixed blade doesn't get brought along or used as much as my smaller knives.
 
I am another fan of the 3 tool combo, a hatchet, multi-tool, and medium knife. But I could narrow it down to my Leatherman and Mora.
 
Folding saw and small knife work well for a two tool combo, but adding a hatchet or other larger chopping tool will add to its versatility.

I am surprised by the lack of support for folding saws, usualy more efficient to use than a big knife or axe, even more so for larger pieces of wood. And weigh much less.
 
Vivi, what a nice combination !! My top choice too .For one day hunting I carry a 4" knife and a small folding saw which cuts wood or bone very efficiently.
 
My two tool combo that is with me 24/7 is a mini cigarette lighter , and my Okapi .

the lighter is good for making fires easy , the knife is good for all kinds of things .

IF Im going bush , I take a few other things with me , hatchet , machete , survival bag ....

but when it gets right down to it , the lighter and pocket knife are the last two luxuries I would want to have to do without .
 
I always have these 3 with me: Becker BK7, Vic One-Hand Trekker and LM Supertool. If I HAD to drop one, it would be the LM.
 
I'm fairly new to the bushcraft/survival thing, and have just started buying my tools. I've seen a lot of debate here on the best tools to take into the backcountry for survival purposes, but I'm still left wondering what to get. I'll probably bring 2 tools with me on any given trip. Should that be a multi-tool and a saw? A Mora and a hatchet? A big chopper and a SAK? How about a fishing knife and a machete? I'm going to restrict this to blades only (I know some kind of firearm would be good to have, but I already have a good set of those). Some feedback would definitely be appreciated.

Whenever anyone asks "What's the best" anything, I always say that it's largely a matter of personal preference. We can give you all kinds of suggestions and tell you what we find to work best for us, but in the end you're probably going to end up trying a few different things before you find out what's best for you. Your choices are also going to vary with the terrain you are expecting and the activities you are going to engage in.

With that in mind, I agree with everyone who has suggested a three tool combo. Mine is an 18 inch khukri, a 4 inch fixed blade and a Swiss Tool. If I had to cut it down to 2 tools, I'd drop the 4 inch fixed blade since the blades in the Swiss Tool could cover pretty much all of the same tasks and there are a lot of other useful tools in there.
 
Mora and Hatchet!

I'm not sure how Colorado is, but I imagine it is similar to the California/Nevada Sierra Mountains. I have never found a need for a machete/kuhkri type blade since there isn't much thick underbrush, vines, etc. Now when I lived in Ohio, on the other hand, there were many instances that I wished I had a machete/Kuhkri type blade.

Now that I am in California though, I prefer a hatchet/small axe and my fishing knife which happens to be a mora. But most any 3-4" knife would do. I also usually bring my Leatherman Wave but find that I very rarely use it.
 
I'd say SAK and Khukuri.

The Khukuri can clear a path, make a shelter,quarter large game, chop wood,dig a hole or be used defensively.
As a weapon it cuts and thrusts.
A weakness of the ax,hachet and Tomahawk.
It comes with a small knife for fine work and has it's own means of sharpening.

You can go all MacGyver with a SAK.
 
If I had to pick two... Leatherman Supertool and a Ka-Bar MKII (classic pattern, not an updated one). If I could pick one more, a good chopper (kukri or machete) or folding saw. And just after that, a good trowel (U-dig-it is probably the best).

Alternatively, the Ka-Bar with a Vic Huntsman or Ranger and a pair of decent quality, small needle nose pliers.

And I don't consider my staff to be a tool- I'm a tripod off the concrete, it's me wooden leg. :)

I was thinking of trying out the U-digit Trowel, how do you like it...An Idea I had was to get a fixed shovel like the ColdSteel SF Shovel, because you could use it as an axe as well...then I thought about all that, and said...NAAAAH! I like an Axe when I'm using an axe....so the trowel came up..they look pretty cool, and the price isn't bad at all.
 
Although it would be unusual to find me anywhere without a stout little knife, I can't think of much that couldn't be done with a small axe and a Leatherman. The leatherman has a small knife on it, and a saw, and a bunch of little tools you might use to fix your gear, and pliers. Axe for chopping...and I would call you set.
 
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