What Knife Do You Carry, But With a Twist...

M

mikiekimi

Joined
Sep 30, 2002
Messages
5
Yes, this is another "What is your favorite, or the 'Best' blade for survival" question, but this time with a slight twist...

I would like to see members list what knife/knives they actually have used either during a military operation, survival situation, or in a primitive camping environment. I think that many people get caught up in what their knives COULD do, but seldom do I see some rationale behind selecting a blade that is based upon actual experience. I’ve owned several types of blades, along with my share of Randall’s and Lile’s, and I’m sure that they are capable knives, but I’ve always relied upon the following workhorses when I needed a serious blade.

Let me start by giving you a little background. I’m active duty military, my hobbies are hunting, fishing and camping (mostly primitive).

Here are my selections:

Gerber Bowie – Use this extensively when I am camping. The blade is so heavy and maintains such a good edge that I use it during most large camp chores. I’ve cleared a path, cut fish for bait, and processed a weekend worth of firewood using this knife alone.
Schrade Golden Spike – A slightly smaller blade that really keeps an edge. One time out, I didn’t bring an axe or my large bowie so I depended upon this knife to do it all. It cleaned fish for dinner, got my firewood, and was used in every camp chore.
Leatherman Wave – I carry this and use it every day. I find it especially valuable during deployments w/one of my folders listed below. It is the finest multi-tool and can really do it all…it’s the most durable and capable multi-tool that I’ve used (and I’ve gone through several).
Buck Odyssey/110 or Kershaw Vapor – These are definitely the tools that I deploy with. One hand opening, excellent edge retention. Because when you’re getting ready to ship out and forget a sharpening tool you really need a blade that you can rely on. When you’re eating and sleeping in the dirt, you can’t just drive to the nearest Wal-mart to pick up a honing stone. I’ve deployed with larger blades, but they always sit in my hooch with my gear unneeded. My experience is that the aforementioned blades are about as large as I want to go.
Shrade Old Timer Pocket Knives/Leatherman Micra – The most valuable knife you have is the one you always have with you. These are so small that I carry one both on or off duty. The utility and capability of these knives are awesome. I mostly use these for light cutting chores or dressing small fish or game.

Couple honorable mentions are: (SAK…naturally, Buck Intrepid, Cold Steel SRK, Chris Reeve Mark IV…used all of these and still have them, but they’re not my “Go To” blades).

I know that these posts get really boring…that’s why I thought I’d put a little different spin on the question.
 
After getting a CRK Mountaineer II last year I seldom leave home without it.It goes on all my outdoor trips to the mountains of Georgia and Tennessee.I use it for camp chores likefood prep,cleaning fish,gathering kindling,and anything else I need a blade for.I also carry a Gerber Tool.I chose this over my Leatherman SuperTool because you can put he pliers into action easily and quickly with one hand.This is handy when holding a trout in one hand and you need the pliers to remove the hook.I also carry a uck Vangaurd when hunting,it is great for dressing game.But my favorite allaround is my Mountaineer II.It is also great to store fire starting gear in the handle.
 
It's been raining all morning and has given me time to reflect on what equipment I have used in the past year. Now none of the use has been military or survival situations. Just good old "in the woods" chores. I have been rather fortunate in that my business allows me to come across a good many knives. But I have a small tree farm and if I get a knife, it gets used!
"Number One" would have to be the Becker Patrol Machete. It is well used and always with me in the woods. As a big blade it has done more than I could really expect. I might even give it a good cleaning today just out of respect. Prior to the Becker I had a large blade from the Jones Brothers that I loved and would suggest to anyone wanting a true "chopper". I loaned mine out for some serious testing but it will be replaced. I liked it too much to go without.
On the small blade topic, my main choice has been a small Cuda from Camillus. It is left handed and is ideal for the small chores around camp. Now, I have just gotten a Gambit from Trace Rinaldi that may replace the Cuda in the woods. Trace hit the design of this knife perfect!
That is the big and small of it, but the in between is just as much fun. I alternate between a large (5 1/2" to 6") fix blade knife from Geno Denning and one from Jerry Hossom (depending on which handgun I'm carrying, I love match sets). Hand made or custom knives should be used as much as factory models. These two do the job. A third model in this area would be the Raven from Rob Simonich. It is one I use harder than I should.
These three sizes are normally with me any time I venture out and should cover any need I may have. Now I do the camping on occasion and if I would find myself in a "survival" situation, these would be the choices I would make.
 
I didn't "get into" knives until after I was out of the military. During my Navy years I carried an OLD two blade (clip, pen) Ulster Barlow. Worked great - really held an edge. Since I was a Corpsman, I also carried the big "cut a penny" bandage scissors - still a good choice.

After Univ. and in the Army I carried V-nox Fisherman and a Case Mako. I had a leather sheath made that held the Mako, a mini-Mag and a set of 5-WR vise grips (pre Leatherman days.) I carried the fisherman in the RF pocket. The combo served me very well for many years.

If I needed anything big I went for the pioneer tools...

Now I carry the LM Wave on the belt, SAK Pioneer in jacket pocket (Christmas addition) , a BM 710HS as main EDC knife, a lite-writer II on the keys and a minichamp in a leather coin purse.

Really liked the lite-writer II as a keychain knife - got the mini becaude I need the tooth pick and tweezers.

Since I don't have pioneer tools as a civ I fall back on a Swamp Rat Camp Tramp...
 
I've done some primitive camping over the last few years, and have come to trust a couple of knives. The first knife is the Marbles Fieldcraft. The Fieldcraft is small enough that you actually carry it, and it's strong as a rhino. I've batoned the crap out of it, pried with it, jabbed with it.... you name it. If you actually know how to use a knife, there's nothing wrong with a stick tang and a wooden handle. 52100 steel and a convex grind is a wonderful thing.

The second knife is my trusty SAK Huntsman. I've been to hell and back with the Huntsman, and it's never let me down. I couldn't begin to calculate how many times this knife has been used.
 
As a Special Forces medic in the 70's I carried a Randall 15 and a GI knife made by Camillus (we called them Demo Knives because they came in the demolitions kit).
Used the Randall extensively.
The Demo knife saved my life on a mid-air entanglement on a night jump. I carried it in a nylon open topped pouch with about a 3 inch lanyard of 550 cord.
 
In the Marines I carried the Swiss Champ for a long time every day. When I went to the field I added a standard Kabar USMC. Now I favor the SAK Workchamp, and like the Emerson waves for EDC.

For everyday outdoor chores, I use either the Becker patrol machete, or Gerber Camp axe.
 
Overall, the most useful knives I've ever carried are my Spyderco Military PE and Gerber Multitool. I have both on a daily basis. Great while camping and doing normal chores too.

My Gerber Multiool has saved the day numerous times. I've used it to make critical repairs to gear while at sea or camping...has be used to do auto repairs when stranded too.
 
Been getting into doing 2-3 day sea kayak trips lately. Very minimal gear, trawling for fish, camping on the beach of any of the many small islands off the coast here. I tend to use either the BK7 or CS stainless bushranger. 99% of the time I could get by with a smaller knife. But at least once per trip I need to negotiate the #@$* thorn bushes (We call them 'wait a while' here because if you get caught up in them you have to wait a while to patienly extricate yourself)that clog the small creeks and inlets. Both knives make good compromise machetes and are also easy to use for cleaning fish and breaking down wood if I need to (rarely). The BK7 doesn't rust too badly after 2-3 days near the sea. I just keep it clean then oil it when I get home.
 
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