What knife "system" do you use for camping?

ebidis

ebidis

Joined
Jun 23, 2012
Messages
2,846
Which specific blades for which specific purpose?

For instance, my current "system" is: BK9 for chopping, Esee 3 on my belt for whittling, general camp tasks, and food prep. A folder like my Griptillian for general utility nonsense, and I usually keep something like an Esee 5 or BK7 in my pack in case something pops up that it would be useful for.

I also keep a SAK on me always.
 
My current set up is a Becker BK2 and Becker BK17, however I just ordered an Ontario Ranger RBS 9 to (hopefully) replace the BK2. I also have a stainless steel Mora knife for food prep. I plan to add a Sven saw at some point to handle the logs too big to chop.
 
Big knife, small knife, leatherman and a saw. At the moment I keep a Condor Pack Golok in my pack (although lately it's been losing out to a Tramontina 18"), a Condor Bushlore (or BK14) on my belt, a Leatherman Charge TTI on my belt and a Bahco Force 21" Bow Saw strapped to my pack. I know many people prefer folding saws for camping but that Bahco really isn't that heavy and it can process huge amounts of wood extremely quickly and easily compared to any chopping tool.

Interestingly for me the main duty of a big knife is splitting, since I always prefer to carry a larger saw. The only chopping I might do is limbing and clearing brush, so very light. I have always found a big knife to be a more efficient splitting tool than a small axe when you're in the woods and don't have pre-cut, straight-grained firewood and a chopping block. I carried a Wetterlings for a while and just couldn't see how people could prefer one over a big knife.
 
Before I was obsessed with knives, I never took any!

Now I bring a kukri and folder.

I have another outdoor knife in the mail.
 
BuckeyeGuy said:
My current set up is a Becker BK2 and Becker BK17, however I just ordered an Ontario Ranger RBS 9 to (hopefully) replace the BK2. I also have a stainless steel Mora knife for food prep. I plan to add a Sven saw at some point to handle the logs too big to chop.
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that ontario looks real nice at under $100 and made in the US.
 
ESEE Junglas, Mora 2000, SAK Farmer and a Bahco Laplander. ( I know, it's not a knife but it is well worth adding to your pack)
 
SAK for opening cans, cutting food. Mora if I want a fixed blade. Hatchet/tomahawk for chopping wood.
 
Survive! Knives GSO-10 for a large blade/chopper, which can be replaced with a 25" Gransfors if I expect to process a lot of wood

Custom 5" bushcrafter in CPM-10V or M390 GSO-4.1 depending on how wet it will be

Bahco Laplander and Victorinox pioneer/ harvester
 
Here's my current lineup...

IMG_2414.jpg


The Pack Golok and the Bahco saw got abandoned in the rain when I had to leave a campsite at short notice in the middle of the night recently. They need some tender loving care to nurse them back to health. :)

I plan on upgrading the Condors soon as I find their 1075 steel is not really to my liking.
 
While I was camping and/or hunting I always had my SRK for I've found it did everything I was needing. I could clear a campsite of small growth with no problem. Itcan be use fo all camp and cooking chores as well as others. I kept my Coix stix with me so I could touch up the edge when needed. If the campsite had larger growth than 2" saplings then I broke out my hatchet that I kept on my belt, while camping, for chopping kindling, fire wood, clearing campsites, etc.
 
Big Knife, 2x Small knifes (a mora is usually one of them), saw, folding knife. I know, Im excessive, but its better than keeping the knives at home!! :D
 
Echo chainsaw, 2' bar
31" axe for obvious reasons
Busse TGLB - best hotdog/marshmallow stick maker EVER
Two tough-use folders, such as a Benchmade 520 and a Spyderco PM2 (one for backup)
Benchmade 3550 - mostly sentimental, as that knife has seen the world with me
Leatherman Wave
12" fine DMT to fix the damage I always end up doing to the above blades :D
 
Cypress said:
Echo chainsaw, 2' bar
31" axe for obvious reasons
Busse TGLB - best hotdog/marshmallow stick maker EVER
Two tough-use folders, such as a Benchmade 520 and a Spyderco PM2 (one for backup)
Benchmade 3550 - mostly sentimental, as that knife has seen the world with me
Leatherman Wave
12" fine DMT to fix the damage I always end up doing to the above blades :D
Click to expand...

I'm thinking that this is a system to be carried in a vehicle!

It seems most people here, including me, interpreted the OP as referring to backpacking type trips, although now that I look at it I see that is not the case. When I go car camping I also bring a chainsaw and an axe and/or splitting maul plus a whole bag of knives just for fun.
 
My system is that I bring a couple of knives and use them. :)

Okay, sometimes it's more like 5 knives...
 
General/Basic trip

Boy's size (26" x 2lbs) axe for chopping.
Medium size (3.5-4.5") fixed blade for utility/fire/food
Large folder (trapper/similar) for skinning/cleaning
SAK Climber for other tools.

(depending on type of trip, may also include fillet knife, another small fixed, or other folders)
 
Moses2792796 said:
I'm thinking that this is a system to be carried in a vehicle!

It seems most people here, including me, interpreted the OP as referring to backpacking type trips, although now that I look at it I see that is not the case. When I go car camping I also bring a chainsaw and an axe and/or splitting maul plus a whole bag of knives just for fun.
Click to expand...

If I'm backpacking, the chainsaw and axe stay at home. Everything else still remains :) I guess I've been spoiled living in Montana for most of my life. I'm used to driving to my camping places and still not seeing humans for weeks.
 
Destination determines what I "carry."

Usually a Becker BK7, SAK Huntsman, Mora Robust and either a Bahco Laplander or Pipe Hawk or 24" Condor Ecolite.
 
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