What is the right knife for camping/bear attacks/wild mountain folk kind of knife?

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Thanks TT2Toes. I know those bears are safe. I just used that as an interest grabber. Got more interest than I wanted, and I am conviced that a becker is what I would get. I am currently not making any money as I am a stay at home dad. I did however come into a bit of Christmas money and am now debating on what knife I want to get with it. The Becker is one, The Hideaway Yurco or Brum, or maybe one of those $200 Striders. I still have trouble with that price, but the stripes, the stripes. I know that I would be happy with the BK7, but I have a rare opportunity for something I want, and the money is not important. Someone keep me grounded.
 
I have a Becker bk10 and think it will be exellent for what you have in mind( forget the bear;) . You can get it razorsharp- first I was concerned about the point configuration having not enough penetration capability,but ,though its not a dagger, its better than it looks. I think it would serve quiet well for self defense, and it does slice good for all around use too. With that relatively short blade you would need a lot to break it,because it just does not give you the leverage.The BK10 teamed and with a leatherman or sak you are set for almost everything, with the exeption of heavy chopping. If you need that add a BK9 or a hatchet/axe.
 
chris100575 said:
I don't live anywhere near any bears, but I think I saw in a documentary once that the best thing to do when faced with a bear is to slowly back away. I think the guy was a forest ranger or something, and he was saying that most bear attacks happen when people accidentally invade a bear's territory. If you back away the bear sees you getting off his patch and doesn't maul you. Turning your back apparently makes them instinctively chase you.

I don't know how accurate this is, but it's probably worth a try. If I absolutely had to go up against a bear with a knife I'd probably go for something like the Cold Steel Spike. Judging by the shape of the blade, I think it'd work quite nicely for the bear to pick his teeth with once he's done eating me. ;)

Chris
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It all depends upon where you are. In the lower 48,some of the bears (blacks particularly) in National Parks will make mock charges to get people to drop backpacks (food). In other parks they will simply charge and take the backpack (food) off of your carcas and then eat you. Yet others (mostly in the wild) will sometimes back off if you make yourself "big" by holding arms out and screaming/making all the noise you can. Thereupon you can slowly back away...turn your back and you are prey, however.

Grizzly bears react differently, especially if they are on a kill. A local hunter who was in Colorado on an elk hunt was hiking a trail to the hunt area before dawn when a Grizzly that was later determined to have been on a kill just off the trail charged in earnest. He got off a hip shot that went in the mouth and stopped in the brain. The bear died instantly. Not many people are that lucky in such circumstances.

On the other hand, if you are in ice bear country you are on the a la carte menu.

Bears are inherently unpredictable. A Japanese nature photographer who was widely regarded as the most knowledgeable person in the world about living in bear country (while photographing them) failed to appear at the pickup point on time (in Alaska). His remains were discovered later that day.

None of the 6 inch knives mentioned will reach anything vital on a bear, assuming that the bear does not simply snap your neck or spine with a swat of its paw.

A bell on your backpack is, perhaps, your best defense against startling a bear. Keeping food out of the tent (and all odors of it) is perhaps all you can do to prevent one coming in to see what's for dinner.

Guides in the National Parks used to be fond of carrying short barrel 44 Special revolvers with 300+ grain cast bullets where they could reach them in the event that things went terribly wrong. By the way, 44 Mag factory loads are widely reported to have failed to perform on large dangerous game.

For a utility knife though, it is difficult to beat one of the K-Bars or the Cold Steel Trailmaster bowie. Don't expect them to cut sashimi thin slices of fish though.
 
So, you're looking for a decent field knife that you can rely on. I doubt you ever fight a bear but a knife that you can rely on can make you feel like you could.

IMO, there is no need to spend more than $50 for a decent field knife. I've owned over 1,000 knives (lost count) and firmly believe that $50 is plenty to buy a decent knife.

Having said that, two favorite fixed blades come to mind, the standard USMC Kabar with plain edge & leather handle and the Camillus Becker BK10. I know, most of you are saying, no, you mean BK7...No, I don't. The BK10 is plenty large and the difference in blade shape/weight produce the same chopping ability plus the BK10 carries better.

The BK10 slices better than the Kabar but this knife should be in addition to your other knife that has a good cutting edge such a Mora knife. I recently tried the new Marbles Woodcraft with leather handle and it's a very good cutting knife. They recently had a huge price jumb from $65 to $90, those are street prices but ebay should still have a few in the $65 range. They are made by Camillus Cutlery and are very good.

A decent knife can be used for cutting/carving a sturdy hiking staff which you can use for defending yourself against a bear or big cat.

Happy New Year,
Collecter
 
The Warthog is supposed to be excellent for chopping, digging, etc., and it's a lot smaller than a Raider Bowie. Supposedly it's possible to take out a bear with a knife (a bowhunter once did it with an arrow he had in his hand -- this was about 15 years ago), but it'll be a slow kill and you will probably die. When a Grizzly "bats" you with his paw, expect to have bones crushed from the impact, and several extremely deep gashes that'll result in an injury similar to what you'd expect from a chainsaw accident. Knife VS bear = REALLY bad idea! "Bear spray" comes in huge cannisters similar to an automotive fire extinquisher, which is why most folks either don't carry 'em or bury 'em in their packs. . . all it is is pepperspray . . . just get a pocket-sized can of 10% capsicum with a fogger nozzle and empty the whole thing at once. American Derringer Company once offered an "Alaskan Survival Model" which held 2 rounds of .45-70 Government . . . it'd probably cripple you for life if you actually fired it, but unlike a .357 magnum it'd actually penetrate a bear's brain pan.
 
You know, most broadheads aren't built all that great compared to a even the Bushman, and thousands of bears are killed every year with those BHs attached to tiny sticks of cedar. I'd prefer something like that CS porker spear with the guard, but I haven't actually seen one.

The only problem with bears and guns is that there are lots of situations where handguns aren't allowed, like bow hunting season, or all over Canada. So I think there is a place for cutting tools, maybe a few of them. I'm thinking if the average guy could stop a charging armoured knight and horse with a sharpened pole, perhaps one shouldn't just start blubing before even giving it a try on a bear.
 
How KA-BAR Got Its Name
Soon after its introduction in the mid-1920's, the KA-BAR trademark became widely known and respected. There have been many versions of how the KA-BAR name came to be, but all evidence points to a letter received from a fur trapper. This particular fur trapper's testimonial turned out to be the most significant ever received by the company.

He wrote, in very rough English, that his gun had jammed and that he had therefore relied on his knife to kill a wounded bear that was attacking him. In thanking the company for their quality product the trapper described using his knife to kill the bear. All that was legible of his scrawled writing was "k a bar". The company was so honored by this testimonial that they adopted this phrase and used it as their trademark, KA-BAR.
 
cmott69 said:
:thumbup: I go with the Ka-Bar heavy bowies.

Both sizes 14 1/4 & 12 1/4 come with a 1095 blade that is a 1/4 in. thick at the spine, and parkerized to protect it from the weather.

I beat the hell out of the first and liked it so much I bought a second, I got each for under $45.00.:)
try this link

http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_detail.html?s=ka1277
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I think that cmott69 has a great choice if you are looking for something in the bowie size range. Other than that I would go for a machete. Having some length could help.

Friday night I was walking through a lodge complex and ran across a black bear scavenging close to my path. I wouldn't have minded having a Ka-Bar heavy bowie on me at the time.
 
I`d say check out ranger knives. The RD`s are made of 5160 which is what truck and car springs are made out of. Plus, Justin can hook you up with a custom if you want. For a lil bit more, check out SRKW. And for alot more, check out Busse(the toughest knives on the planet).
 
It all depends upon where you are. In the lower 48,some of the bears (blacks particularly) in National Parks will make mock charges to get people to drop backpacks (food). In other parks they will simply charge and take the backpack (food) off of your carcas and then eat you. Yet others (mostly in the wild) will sometimes back off if you make yourself "big" by holding arms out and screaming/making all the noise you can. Thereupon you can slowly back away...turn your back and you are prey, however.
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What national parks are those? Statistics, please. More generally, I simply don't buy the notion that getting killed by a black or brown bear is even 1/10th as likely as being killed by lightning or apendicitis.

Grizzlies are another thing altogether, and in Alaska or the NW Territories I'd take an open-sighted lever action on a fast-handling sling. Handguns are o.k., but you *really* had better not miss...
 
May as well get a knife that is dull to begin with...better chance youll cut yourself and bleed to death than be attacked by a black bear....
 
GBeninati said:
How KA-BAR Got Its Name
Soon after its introduction in the mid-1920's, the KA-BAR trademark became widely known and respected. There have been many versions of how the KA-BAR name came to be, but all evidence points to a letter received from a fur trapper. This particular fur trapper's testimonial turned out to be the most significant ever received by the company.

He wrote, in very rough English, that his gun had jammed and that he had therefore relied on his knife to kill a wounded bear that was attacking him. In thanking the company for their quality product the trapper described using his knife to kill the bear. All that was legible of his scrawled writing was "k a bar". The company was so honored by this testimonial that they adopted this phrase and used it as their trademark, KA-BAR.
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I don't dispute this a bit but BRL says it's from Case Brothers in law.IIRC.
A big Griz' would kill ya' dead.High powered rifle and .44Mag. or .454 with some hot loads would be very handy 'cause the only knife ya'd need would be a big skinner if ya' had already killed it.Gettin' into a wrasslin' match with a wounded one it wouldn't much matter either.It would be the fluke of all flukes if you killed one with a knife alone.:eek:
 
blue8 said:
Right, it sounds silly, but seriously. I need a knife that i can rely on. I know I want something that can do more than just pop hairs or cut cardboard. I bought a Buck Strider Solution thinking that with those two names and a higher end steel that I would not need another knife as long as I lived. Wrong! This is not a knife you can use and abuse. It broke on a small shrub oak. I want something in the $50 range that can take digging, chopping, an accidental slam, etc. If it had to get nasty, which it probably won't, it would have enough presence and heft to give me a little confidence in the situation. As a reference to what I like, my dad gave me a Schrade knife I think. It was a bayonet styled knife with a screwdriver styled guard, a hammer on the end of the handle, a fine tooth saw on the spine, and a ceramic handle that withstood heat. The blade was coated, and the nylon sheath had two pockets for a compass, survival items etc. It was low slung with a thigh cord, camo. The metal was obviously soft enough to handle abuse but hard enough to take down small trees and shrubs. I remember that the tip had bent, and I bent it back with a hammer without breaking the tip or any noticeable effects. This knife was the best all around camping/survival knife I ever owned. It unfortunately was lost in the many moves i have made since college. Nowadays I have been looking for a suitable substitute. The Becker BK 10 looks like the right replacement for me so far as it seems simple, I could replace it if it got ruined, The steel seems to be more rugged than fancy, it's coated so I can get away with a little neglect, The sheath has the pocket for whatever. I don't care for the hammer/screwdriver parts as i have a leatherman for the pouch. Does anybody have an opinion On this knife or a better one. The only other knife I have seen that seems desirable is the Swamp Rat Bog Dog although a bit more pricey. I would rather have five cheap knives fail me for the price of one fancy knife failing me, but i don't get the feeling that The BK 10 would.
Thanks,
Alan
PS I want fixed blade ideas. I've got the best folders I could ever want.
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Kabar large heavy bowie.

Sharpen the false edge (you need a sander to do so). A diamond file will work but will take some time.

Fearsome stabbing or slicing cutting machine that's razor sharp out of the box (1085 carbon). Well designed quick draw sheath. Grippy kraton G handle.

$39 bucks.

Grizzly bear? Not recommended.
 
I thought these two incidents were interesting given the overall tone of this post.

A polar bear clawed through two tents in the Katannilik Territorial Park Reserve, frightening the campers inside.
A woman and man inside screamed, prompting the bear to run to a second tent where two friends were sleeping.
As the animal began attacking the second couple, the man in the first tent grabbed a small pocket knife and ran towards them.
"I had a knife, so I started to stab the bear under his lower jaw," recalled Eric Fortier. The blade was only about eight centimeters.
"It seemed to have worked. He went away after that. When you see your friends getting hurt you have to do something."

Holy crap the blade was only about eight centimeters. That is nuts!


Tiny Lydia Angyiou showed incredible bravery and strength last week when she tackled a polar bear who threatened her son and two friends as they played hockey in front of Ivujivik’s youth centre.
Angyiou, 41, who lives not far from the youth centre, was outside with her two younger children when she saw the polar bear eying the boys. She immediately ran towards animal: all she could think about was protecting her seven-year old son.
Another woman heading to work at the youth centre saw Angyiou fighting with the bear. This eyewitness told police that when she saw Angyiou in front of the youth centre trying to kick the bear, she screamed “polar bear!”
Meanwhile, a child ran to alert Siqualuk Ainalik, 33, to tell him that a bear was in town. He ran to his brother’s house and grabbed a .303-calibre rifle from a qamutik.
“Then, I ran to the place where the bear was,” he told police. “I shot three warning shots in the air.”
Ainalik could see that the bear was struggling with a person. But the three warning shots had no effect; then, the bear looked at him in the eye.
“It moved towards me. I shot the bear four times,” Ainalik said.
Then, Ainalik made sure Angyiou was all right, and that the bear was dead.
When Angyiou arrived shortly afterwards at the police station, she was covered in blood and in shock, but somehow, all right.

Now just imagine how bad that polar bear would have got it if Angyiou had a knife with an eight centimeter blade. To think a knife is useless in a bear attack is stupid. Sure a gun would be better but no one planes to get attacked by a bear so you are not always prepared. The reality is that a knife could save your life and in a bad situation even an eight centimeter blade is better than none at all.

BTW those that don't think black bears are dangerous share a common belief that most victims of black bear attacks had, "that black bears are not dangerous."
Most times they run away so we do not treat them with the same respect as the bigger bears by keeping our distance. This is where we get into trouble because sometimes they do not run away and we are too close. Black bears are not the most powerful of the bears or kill the most people but they are the most unpredictable.
 
This discussion reminds me of the movie with Anthony Hopkins and (ack) Alex Baldwin (at least he dies a horrible death in this).
Their plane goes down and they are tracked by a grizzly.
Hopkins kills it with a sharpened pole, not stick, pole.

Yeah, it's a movie, but this thread reminded me of it.

And, oh yeah, hopkins used his little folder to sharpen the pole!!!
 
I would say, but it was a great movie & wouldn't want to ruin for ya .....it'll make a great rental!
 
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