An Ontario Marine Raider bowie. Better too big,than too small. Also a Swiss Army knife. Theres Momma bears in them woods.(Northern Minnesota) You know the rest. Run, climb a tree ,or fight. And by God,I can do them all. Aint come to that yet. But ya never know.
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What knife do you take into the woods?
- Thread starter Rameshacklee
- Start date
The variety in choices is interesting.
My choices vary as well. Last time hiking I carried all stain resistant blades, a Bark River Mountaineer, SAK Farmer and Endura 3 because of the rain and mud. Had the weather been dry, I would have still carried the SAK Farmer, but would have opted for similar size carbon steel fixed blade and folder.
My choices vary as well. Last time hiking I carried all stain resistant blades, a Bark River Mountaineer, SAK Farmer and Endura 3 because of the rain and mud. Had the weather been dry, I would have still carried the SAK Farmer, but would have opted for similar size carbon steel fixed blade and folder.
I almost always have a Swisstool Spirit on me, but if I'm wandering around in the woods behind my house, I'll instead bring a Grohmann #1 or a SAK Outrider. If I'm doing any kind of camping, I'll have my Spirit, Spyderoc Native, and for a fixed blade either my Grohmann or Becker Crewman.
In about two weeks, I'm taking a solo motorcycle camping trip through the Adirondacks and Vermont. I'll bring my Swisstool and a hatchet, maybe a Spyderco Native or maybe the Grohmann. The Becker seems like overkill for such a trip. I can get by just fine on these trips with just the mulitool and a hatchet, but I like to have a dedicated cutting blade too.
In about two weeks, I'm taking a solo motorcycle camping trip through the Adirondacks and Vermont. I'll bring my Swisstool and a hatchet, maybe a Spyderco Native or maybe the Grohmann. The Becker seems like overkill for such a trip. I can get by just fine on these trips with just the mulitool and a hatchet, but I like to have a dedicated cutting blade too.
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Funny you should ask, since I just changed up my load-out...
Up til last year, I'd carry an ancient old Schrade 153UH Golden Spike (mostly 'cos my grandfather gave it to me!) fixed blade, a Victorinox Huntsman (blades, scissors, wood saw, awl) for a slipjoint, a Leatherman Charge Ti (before that, old Wave) for fixing gear, one of several one-hand-opening tactical folders (Spydie Endura, CRKT M16 or M21, etc., nothing I can't afford to lose), and either an Estwing hatchet (heavily reprofiled) and/or Ontario SpecOps SP6 in camp for chopping.
This year, I'm going with a new Bark River Fox River in blaze orange G-10 for a fixed blade, the Huntsman, no big folder, my usual EDC Leatherman Charge Ti, with a SRKW Ratweiler for the chopper. Haven't gotten out much yet this year (will this rain EVER end?!?!), but so far so good. :thumbup:
Up til last year, I'd carry an ancient old Schrade 153UH Golden Spike (mostly 'cos my grandfather gave it to me!) fixed blade, a Victorinox Huntsman (blades, scissors, wood saw, awl) for a slipjoint, a Leatherman Charge Ti (before that, old Wave) for fixing gear, one of several one-hand-opening tactical folders (Spydie Endura, CRKT M16 or M21, etc., nothing I can't afford to lose), and either an Estwing hatchet (heavily reprofiled) and/or Ontario SpecOps SP6 in camp for chopping.
This year, I'm going with a new Bark River Fox River in blaze orange G-10 for a fixed blade, the Huntsman, no big folder, my usual EDC Leatherman Charge Ti, with a SRKW Ratweiler for the chopper. Haven't gotten out much yet this year (will this rain EVER end?!?!), but so far so good. :thumbup:
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- Jun 14, 2005
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I always have my Vic Farmer on me. My normal belt knife is my Eriksson Mora carbon blade or my Fallkniven F1. Really depends on the weather on which knife I take.
I like the Moras for their price vs performance factor. Takes a razor edge and is perfect for general camp duties IMHO.
The Fallkniven is just a pleasure to use out in the field. Great steel, and design.
I like the Moras for their price vs performance factor. Takes a razor edge and is perfect for general camp duties IMHO.
The Fallkniven is just a pleasure to use out in the field. Great steel, and design.
Wenger Handyman.
I have a nice Ontario SP Fixed blade I'll use every so often if I know I'll be doing some chopping, but that's incredibly rare. This is the only knife I bring into the woods with me and I prettymuch have to force myself to consider a fixed blade or a folder like a Manix or Native. I have no need for them it seems if I have my SAK. The saw is very useful with woodworking. The thin blades make wood shavings with hardly any effort. Can opener's edge is useful for scraping, nail file is good for striking matches, awl has a variety of uses and tweezers can be nice to inspect bugs or plants. Aside from chopping, which can be compromised in most cases with the saw, I've yet to meet a task in the woods a mere SAK can't handle.
For discussion purposes, I'd like to hear from the big knives camp. What all do you guys use your fixed blades for and why do you choose them over other types of knives? I'm gonna go for a walk with my Manix and post my feelings later.
Vivi said:
For discussion purposes, I'd like to hear from the big knives camp. What all do you guys use your fixed blades for and why do you choose them over other types of knives? I'm gonna go for a walk with my Manix and post my feelings later.
Like you, I just carry a sak for most of my cutting. To be honest, in all the camping, river running and once upon a time backpacking in my younger day, I have almost never needed a large fixed blade.
BUT-
Thats if everything goes according to the game plan. I like to keep a 12 inch machete in my pack, canoe/kayak bag, truck cab. Just in case. Once I had an emergency with somebody down with a broken ankle, on a hike in 1979. Myself and my wife, and another couple had taken a early winter morning hike in the snow to a waterfall to watch the snow come down and have some hot coffee out of a thermos and a picknic lunch. My friend Dan and his wife Lori were ahead of us and Lori slipped crossing an icy rock ledge and really did a number on her ankle. My wife wrapped Lori in a space blanket and started getting hot coffe into her while Dan and I made a stretcher from some sapplings.
Both of us had sak's, a Huntsman and a Hiker respectivly. We got the job done, with some of the wood left over for splints, and we got Lori to the local ER where she got a nice cast for the next 6 weeks. But I was wishing for something a bit faster and more effective than the little sak saws when we were making that makeshift litter. Since then I keep a 12 inch Ontario or Tramontina handy just in case.
Vivi,
I am not so much from the "big knives camp" as I am from the most appropriate knife for the type of outdoor activity I plan on doing. When I go canoe camping I always take a tool I can cut wood with, or if it has to be done,, cut through the canoe. I was pinned between my canoe and a log one time and was trapped for over an hour. I was lucky and was able to break free, but I never go into a canoe without the ability to cut myself out of a "strainer".
In regular camping, usually firewood is involved. Invariably, any other available axe or large knife is dull. I also fish for catfish and use my large knife to cut off heads and cut steaks. Sometimes I bring a cleaver for this. Also, If I am collecting plants for food or fiber, I prefer a 6-9 inch knife for digging out roots, digging sticks are not always the best option.
For winter camping, Not only is firewood involved, but a large knife is nice to have to bust through Ice or to get to dry wood quickly. same reason for practicing survival training. a good large blade can just get the essentials done quicker.
Backpacking and hiking I take a small fixed blade, rarely a SAK although that is what I carried for over five years. Small fixed blades are just easier to clean.A little peanut butter in a folder still attracts mice. I never needed more tools than a can opener, and the little military ones work fine.
I am not so much from the "big knives camp" as I am from the most appropriate knife for the type of outdoor activity I plan on doing. When I go canoe camping I always take a tool I can cut wood with, or if it has to be done,, cut through the canoe. I was pinned between my canoe and a log one time and was trapped for over an hour. I was lucky and was able to break free, but I never go into a canoe without the ability to cut myself out of a "strainer".
In regular camping, usually firewood is involved. Invariably, any other available axe or large knife is dull. I also fish for catfish and use my large knife to cut off heads and cut steaks. Sometimes I bring a cleaver for this. Also, If I am collecting plants for food or fiber, I prefer a 6-9 inch knife for digging out roots, digging sticks are not always the best option.
For winter camping, Not only is firewood involved, but a large knife is nice to have to bust through Ice or to get to dry wood quickly. same reason for practicing survival training. a good large blade can just get the essentials done quicker.
Backpacking and hiking I take a small fixed blade, rarely a SAK although that is what I carried for over five years. Small fixed blades are just easier to clean.A little peanut butter in a folder still attracts mice. I never needed more tools than a can opener, and the little military ones work fine.
Thanks for the responses. Large blades do have their uses, I just don't encounter many situations MYSELF which call for them. There have been times though. You two listed some good ones.
I went walking for a few hours in a patch of woods by my house. Brought a Manix, the Handyman and a Vic Classic. Normally just go with the Wenger, but I wanted to try out the other two knives.
The Manix had its pros and cons. I made a lot of wood shavings with it, though making thinner, more delicate ones just felt clumsy with it. The blade, compared to my SAKs, wanted to bite deeper and pull off thicker strips of wood. Also, when using the choil the hump in the middle gets uncomfortable around the pinky and ring finger. In the normal grip it felt wonderful though, great design. I have a combo edge version and I was disapointed at the serrations ability to saw through materials.
The Classic works great for making thin, tiny shavings that catch sparks wonderfully. It's easy to feel like the blade is delicate with its size and lack of lock, but after getting used to the small size of the knife I found it was very efficient at this task. That's all it got used for.
The HAndyman performed as expected. Versatile in making shavings, able to make larger ones as well as more delicate, thinner ones that curl off the stick and blow away in the wind. These work great as tinder. SAK blades are such a pleasure to work with IMO. I used the saw a lot today too, I cut apart a recently fallen tree about 1.5 inch - 2 inches in diameter at the base to make a walking stick out of, which I've stashed in a hidden spot for next time I go walking there.
I went walking for a few hours in a patch of woods by my house. Brought a Manix, the Handyman and a Vic Classic. Normally just go with the Wenger, but I wanted to try out the other two knives.
The Manix had its pros and cons. I made a lot of wood shavings with it, though making thinner, more delicate ones just felt clumsy with it. The blade, compared to my SAKs, wanted to bite deeper and pull off thicker strips of wood. Also, when using the choil the hump in the middle gets uncomfortable around the pinky and ring finger. In the normal grip it felt wonderful though, great design. I have a combo edge version and I was disapointed at the serrations ability to saw through materials.
The Classic works great for making thin, tiny shavings that catch sparks wonderfully. It's easy to feel like the blade is delicate with its size and lack of lock, but after getting used to the small size of the knife I found it was very efficient at this task. That's all it got used for.
The HAndyman performed as expected. Versatile in making shavings, able to make larger ones as well as more delicate, thinner ones that curl off the stick and blow away in the wind. These work great as tinder. SAK blades are such a pleasure to work with IMO. I used the saw a lot today too, I cut apart a recently fallen tree about 1.5 inch - 2 inches in diameter at the base to make a walking stick out of, which I've stashed in a hidden spot for next time I go walking there.
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Busse fixed
My edc a nemesis knives arch-ally
Multi tool
My edc a nemesis knives arch-ally
Multi tool
Always carried a spyderco endura, my wife a delica. I always pack my leatherman. I also bring a machete when we will be off trail.
I've always used Spydercos in the woods and they hold up very well. My only complaint was that they corroded significantly in my environement (Coastal). The VG-10 seems to resist a little better. I also don't freak out if they get a little beat up. After all they only cost $30-$40.
My new outdoor knife for a trip to Northern Cali at the end of July will be a waved Endura.
I've always used Spydercos in the woods and they hold up very well. My only complaint was that they corroded significantly in my environement (Coastal). The VG-10 seems to resist a little better. I also don't freak out if they get a little beat up. After all they only cost $30-$40.
My new outdoor knife for a trip to Northern Cali at the end of July will be a waved Endura.
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When im in the wood I take my Ron Post drop point knife and the Spyderco Manix. But soon ill be using the Fallkniven F1 when im out doors.
Esav Benyamin
MidniteSuperMod
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Have you looked intoo the Spydie Salt series with H-1?CMSpeedy said:
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Some recent acquisitions during the 4th of July holiday week have changed my BOB and outdoors gear prioity choices.
Here in Colorado the mountain weather can turn on a dime and literally kill you if you're not prepared. But my M2 Ritter grip came on Monday and I found a SOG X-42 Field Knife in BG-42 that now will be part of my standard gear. If I couldn't take these it would have to be my Lakota Pro-Hawk, Spyderco Manix and/or Military CF in S30V.
Here in Colorado the mountain weather can turn on a dime and literally kill you if you're not prepared. But my M2 Ritter grip came on Monday and I found a SOG X-42 Field Knife in BG-42 that now will be part of my standard gear. If I couldn't take these it would have to be my Lakota Pro-Hawk, Spyderco Manix and/or Military CF in S30V.