What knife for desert island survival?

F

FlyingMuskrat

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Jan 9, 2006
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For survival on a south or central pacific island.

three part question

1. What folder if you could only take a folder?
2. What fixed blade* if you could only take a fixed blade?
3. Would you prefer an axe to either or both of these options?


*Fixed blade includes Kukris and Machetes
 
ranger rd7 or rd9 for a fixed blade and folder only ? probably an emerson hd-7. not really sure though maybe just a good kukri would do.
 
large blade knife, parang, machete, golok. number one tool needed , number one job is to open a coconut for water and food although too much will give you diarrhea. the polynesians went from island to island planting desirable species so that if they returned there would be food on the islands. they propagated a lot of their domesticated plants over the entire region for this reason.

alex
 
3 knives:

A SAK with the saw option (and maybe the magnifying glass to help start fires)

A decent machete (or any machete if a decent one can't be found)

A benchmade 47 or 40T... Might as well have a fun knife to pass the time with (and is a good user as well) :D
 
1. Leatherman Core for the folder.

2. Ontario 18” machete for the fixed.

3. No.






- Frank
 
For a folder I would take a Spyderco Manix and a fixed blade a Trident Oberland 01 or a machete. Never really liked to carry an axe.
 
1 Knife = Swamp rat camp tramp
2 Knives= camptramp + 14-18" machete
3 Knives= Same + multitool..
 
Folder only option: Cabela's Alaskan Guide Buck 110

Fixed-blade only option: Ontario 12" machete

An axe would be mighty useful--especially considering that you might not be rescue for many years.

Good luck,
Allen.
 
Folder - SAK
A simple one with a magnifying glass and the biggest blade. A cork screw ... mmmmmm ??

Fixed blade - my Aitor Montero,
Its got a thick heavy blade for chopping, sawing, digging, opening coconuts and prying shellfish from rocks. Can also be tied to a pole to be used as a spear with the cord wrapped around the sheath and finally has a flint rod inserted into a hole I drilled into the handle. Can I include the kit attached to the sheath also?

I really like the island questions due to my water skills so I'd really like to include a pair of swim goggles.
 
Personally I wouldn't bother with a folder or multi-tool for island/beachcoast survival unless I was planning to be around civilization, boats, cars, etc.

It is not necessary to open coconuts with a machete. A thin bladed knife works very well on them as well but it has to be sharp. You can slice through the husk across the grain then drill through the soft top of the inner shell. A green coconut is very different than the ripe, hard, brown ones sold in North America.

I think I'd get along fine with a machete and my Mora 2000. I'd want a stainless knife due to the salt water. No leather sheaths, kydex preferably.

cocoopenswak2yh.jpg


I think I'd also like a clam knife so I wouldn't wind up putting my mora through my palm. Another knife to consider is a dive knife made to pry shellfish off rocks. Mac
 
In my earlier years I snapped 2 inches off the end of one of my dive knives in haste while trying to husk a coconut. Driving a husking spike into the ground works heaps better.
Watching an islander working a coconut with a machete sure is cool. Those young coconuts have given me a sore belly to remember and clean out your guts pretty well at that ;)
 
Probably a SAK Huntsman, but would more likely to be used as a surgical kit and small whittler than food or shelter assistant.

14" blade kukri. No other choice for me.
 
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