What is The Best BIG Backwoods Knife?

S

Sporty

Joined
Jun 7, 2000
Messages
56
I apoligise if this question has been asked, but I searched high and low and couldn't find it. I am talking about a chopper, splitter, hammer, crow bar, shovel, and defense knife: bears and two legged critters. Nine inches is the minimum. So it has to have some stabbing ability and chopping ability.

I am on a quest that has led me through these knives: a WW2 Phillipine Bolo 1/4" thick with a 17 inch blade (great blade, but the handle has developed scary cracks), A USMC Villiage Blacksmith Bolo 1/4" with 11" blade (it has a terrible handle design that destroys the wrist after awhile), A 10" Bowie made by custom knifemaker Mork http://homestead.com/morkltd/MORKltd.html is a great knife for the money, made from sawmill blades but the blade is too thin for really serious chopping, but a good general camping knife.

So that's where I am...still looking. The knives that I am looking at now are the HI AK 15" and the Cold Steel Ghurka, the heavy 22oz one that is around 180 bucks.

So what do you think is the best all around BIG knife?
 
Welcome to the forums! My vote goes to the one I know about, Cold Steel Trailmaster, barring that Matt Lamey would be a good logical course to take. Matt can also do a customize job on a Cold Steel Trailmaster, meaning he can thin the edge down a bit for better cutting and replace the handle with one better. Thinking about taking him up on that before he gets soooo busy but the handle on mine has stayed well after the years I've had it and chops well and the point is near middle for what ever you might like to point it at?

G2

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"The Road to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions!"
Take the time to read your Bible Now, don't be left behind...

G2 LeatherWorks
 
Alot of people are gonna be telling you to buy a Busse of some sort, but I would take a good look at a Livesay RTAK. It's less than half the cost of a Busse Battle Misstres but, IMO makes a better "Backwoods" type knife. Or if you want something more like bowie look at the Livesay HKR. It's a bowie with a 9" X 2" X 1/4" blade. Very similiar to a Trailmaster without the goofy rubber handle.
 
Well, Jayratt was right, i recomend a busse battle mistress. Just poke on over to the busse forum and spend a while reading, maybe ask a few questions. Just be prepared for the addiction.

Having said that, after my Battle mistress arrives, my next big knife will probably be a Newt Livesay RCM...

But for what you describe, and an indestructible blade, go for the busse.

James

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The beast we are, lest the beast we become.
 
If you go for the khukuri, you might consider something a bit larger: 16.5 to 20 inches. Like a WWII model. Or you might try a villager model in this size range, if available. They are less highly finished, much cheaper, and you probably won't feel as bad to pry, dig, or hammer with it. Several forumites have spoken highly of theirs.

The Marbles Trailmaker and Loveless belt knife are both excellent.

 
Sporty,
Welcome to the forums. I too, think the Busse Battle Mistress is alot of knife for the money and damn near indestructible. Its blade length is very near the minimum you consider acceptable, but that INFI steel is really something else. Check out this link for some in depth testing results from our own Cliff Stamp: http://www.physics.mun.ca/~sstamp/knives/reviews.html
You should find some interesting info on several of the other knives that will likely be mentioned here as well.

For something larger, Will York was talking today about a custom project he has in the works for an 18" machete type knife to be made out of CPM-3V. This should be an awesome creature and I can't wait to hear how it turns out.

Good luck in your quest. Let us know what you decide on.

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Semper Fi
 
Sporty,

You might want to read this short thread to help you in your quest. A real life test of one tough knife.


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Blackdog
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IF you want heavy and useful. Call Uncle Bill at HI and ask him what he has on hand.

Cheers,

ts

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Guns are for show. Knifes are for Pros.
 
I've heard good things about the Armageddon by Trace Rinaldi. 10" blade, 1/4" steel. Nice looking knife that seems like it can handle anything. I've got one on order and am interested in trying it out!
 
I vote for the TOPS Anaconda 9. It fits your multipurpose needs to a tee http://www.survival.com/anaconda.htm About 265$ for the 9in.I have beat the crap outta mine for 2 mo.Still looks new.Some really durable fiberglass/polyester black coat.Designed by Dr.Ron Hood survival specialist

[This message has been edited by sharpdoc (edited 06-07-2000).]
 
Chris Reeve Project has a 7.5 inch blade and ismore portable but, I understand that some Shadow 1 models are or will be available (9 inch).

Anyone around here, or anywhere alse for that matter, who has been in the back-country with a Chris Reeve One Piece Knife will tell you that you can use, abuse and depend on them. Great Company to deal with as well.
 
How do you plan to use your knife. There are plenty of good knives out there.
 
Production :

Battle Mistress from Busse combat or 18" AK from HI. Which one to go with depends on if you want to have more splitting / chopping ability or all around cutting. Both blades are very strong and durble and are backed by a full warrenty.

Custom :

Drop Ed Schott an email and get something in 3V.

-Cliff
 
OK. First let me thank everyone for the responses, this was my first posting of a topic here and I was honored by the many knowledgeable and insightful replies.

I found and studied all of the above mentioned knives on the web and was overcome the infinite possibities in what I thought was a fairly niche catagory. One website leads to another...Whew!

This is great, because it has forced me to refine my personal limitaions on a heavy knife. This is in no way "putting down" anyone else's choices, just what works for me. Here goes...

Though I find the security of a big knife makes me sleep easier in bear country or overpopulated state parks too close to urban areas and drug growers, I doubt that in my lifetime I will ever need to (or be able to) defend myself with a knife in a world of guns. Though history proves that men have killed both bears and men with guns with knives, I feel this is somewhat unlikely as the odds go. So I am going to put this catagory last in my priotities, though sleep is important.

So, realistically I am looking for a knife that will do everything my spyderco endura can't in camp and that is basically chop. I chop a lot. So my limitations have changed to be more like a knife with a 10-16" blade, 5/16" stock min with a handle design that maximises grip and minimises shock. Price has to be under 200. Weight is not really super important to me.

And finally I have decided against anything MATTE BLACK. My reasons for this both aesthetic and to minimize attention in travel. I sold my glock, though it was a great gun, and got a Colt mostly because I thought the glock was ugly and lacking soul. I'm just one of those guys.

But the more practical reason is that these Kydex sheaths look like gun holsters and the knives like the Busse BM, Livesay RTAK and the Rinaldi Armageddon just have too much combat attitude for a traveler/backpacker/. They are great if you are in the special forces, or on a swat team but in civilian areas I think they invite unnecessary attention and possible conflict a lot more than say, the Marbles Trailmaker. They just say, "mess with me," to police and anyone looking for a fight. Remember the lesson of Rambo, if he had a pocket knife, that town wouldn't have had to be destroyed.

So where does this leave me? Wood or bone handles/scales, leather sheath, uncoated blade. It also must be a easlily recognizable benign design like a hunting knife/bowie, machete, and I think even a very basic Ghurka would be OK.

Though I do have to say I really like the Busse and the Armageddon and especially the Becker Brute. Thanks Blackdog for the thread about the Panawal, very inspiring, is there section on "real life knife stories." I'm going to look at the HI website now, wee what they have.

Hope I haven't offended anyone, surely didn't mean to. Thanks againt to all, you've been a big help.

 
HI's AK may be the one for me.

[This message has been edited by Sporty (edited 06-08-2000).]
 
After the Blade Show, I am sure that more and more the answer to this question will be a selection from the BK&T by Camillus. It is a whole lot of knife and the pricing just seems to good to be true.
I had more than casual conversations with Mr. Becker about his designs and concepts. I learned that his tools were conceived from a desire to place quality, functional, and affordable tools in the hands of the using masses.
I predict that the day is coming when no matter how many knives you have, and how much you spend on knives, there will be some form of BK&T in your camping box, under your seat, or on your harness. It seems unavoidable.
More info at http://onestopknifeshop.com/store/camillus-becker-knife-tool.html

Sporty:
Do not let the tactical-technical market dissuade you from a properly applied coating on a camp knife. Do consider that good coatings serve a function, it just so happens that most practical coatings are black. A coating can save you a lot of work when that "somebody" puts the tool in the camp box dirty and wet.

[This message has been edited by RadarMan (edited 06-08-2000).]
 
Livesay RTAK or Wasp

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The thorn stands to defend the Rose, yet it is peaceful and does not seek conflict
 
Welcome to the forums, Sporty. You've rec'd a lot of good advice and I think you're heading in the right direction with a HI AK. In fact, I don't think you could go wrong for your purposes with any of HI's heavier blades. As of yesterday, Bill had a few 17 1/2" AKs made by a new kami (bladesmith) that he was offering for the bargain price of $100. http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum53/HTML/000353.html

There is a downside to HI's blades. Once you have one you start thinking about which to get next.
wink.gif
Trust me. I know of where I speak. Bill hasn't been happy with the scabbards that come their Bowie model & I volunteered to make one of a few prototypes. Well, the "loaner" Bowie arrived yesterday AM & before noon I had already made Bill an offer on it. They are that good... & that addictive! Have fun choosing.

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Cheers,
Brian
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He who finishes with the most toys wins.

[This message has been edited by bcaffrey (edited 06-08-2000).]
 
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