What knife to bring on a fishing and camping trip tomorrow?

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supertac916

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Sep 6, 2014
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I'm fairly new to the knife world and recently got into bushcraft knives. I'm taking my kids camping and they're going to try out their Buck's that they received from the Knivesshipfree giveaway. However, I'm sitting here looking at my knives and trying to decide what to bring on our 3 day camping and fishing trip. It's car camping in a rural area and it'll be used for basic camp chores along the river.

Here's what I'm bringing for sure: Bark River Necker II, Gransfors Wildlife Hatchet, and Bahco saw.

These are the knives I have for bushcraft.

- Fallkniven F1
- Fallkniven S1
- Swamprat Ratmandu
- Bark River Bravo 1 in A2
- Bark River Bravo 2 in A2
- Bark River Bravo 1 LT in CPM3v
- Benchmade 162 Sibert
- Mora Bushcraft Black
- Mora Companion

It's almost tempting to bring all of them to play with, but my kids are 6 and 7, and it's the first time I'm ever taking them out on a camping trip without the wife. My wife would kill me if I lost one of them because I was playing with my toys:) Which one would you bring with you as your primary Bushcraft knife?
 
Mora Companion, since it's the only one that I personally have. I did have a Custom Shop Ratmandu, at one time, and would argue that it's a little overkill for car camping. However, for a three day trip, I would suggest you bring your Ratmandu and Mora Companion. Two is one and all that jazz.

Or bring them all and teach your kids about each one.
 
Very nice collection of steel to choose from. :)

Mora Companion. You have a fine hatchet and saw that will cover just about every wood cutting need you might have. Bring the companion, since it's one more thing to keep track of, and if you lose the Mora there's no need to cry :) Frankly, any knife off your list would be more than adequate for a car camping expedition. If you weren't bringing a hatchet, I'd lean towards one of the larger fixed blades in your collection.
 
There is a lot of wisdom in aethers post.

That being said, I am going to suggest something that may not have crossed your mind.
If you do want to do something informative with your time around the fire, bring the companion, the 3v and an a2. Use one knife for everything camp oriented for one full day, by the end of the trip, you should have a good feel for each steel, how the knife handles, what your tasks are and how each knife/steel will handle them.

As an added bonus, you wouldn't have spent the time worrying about losing a child or a knife.
 
I would go with the S1 or Ratmandu. I think you'll find that the BRKT Necker will handle most tasks around camp. Adding a quality hatchet and saw pretty much covers everything. Taking a mora to use as a dedicated fish knife is also a good idea.
 
Thanks guys, I've put the Mora companion in my pack because that seems to be unanimous. I think the blade is perfect for gutting fish. We're Striper and Sturgeon fishing, so it could be used to clean some decent size fish. I like all of your ideas from bringing one of each different blade steels to test and get the feel for to the Ratmandu.

I'm also trying decide which knife to pack with me on a few backpacking trips I have scheduled for this summer in the Sierra Nevada's. My wife is going to come with me on one of the trips, so I think I'm going to have her pack the F1.

The next blade steel I really want is Infi, but the wife has put my knife addiction in check. I have to get the backyard landscaped to make her happy before I can buy another knife:(
 
fishiker said:
I would go with the S1 or Ratmandu. I think you'll find that the BRKT Necker will handle most tasks around camp. Adding a quality hatchet and saw pretty much covers everything. Taking a mora to use as a dedicated fish knife is also a good idea.
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Took the words right out of my mouth! Exactly. S1 or Ratmandu is what I'd take with me.
 
That's another reason to try out the knives, see what you aren't a huge fan of and sell them to fund your next piece...

By the way, Welcome to the addiction. :D
 
NJBillK said:
That's another reason to try out the knives, see what you aren't a huge fan of and sell them to fund your next piece...

By the way, Welcome to the addiction. :D
Click to expand...

The addiction went from guns for the last 18 years to knives. I just keep telling my wife that at least it's not crack:D
 
You can't go wrong with the Ratmandu although the Fallkniven F1 and the Moras would also be a good choice since you're packing a small axe, the Necker and a saw.

Crow
 
Shotgun said:
You won't need any of those knives for anything so take the one you like best. :D
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How else will he cut veggies or make skewers / a spit? And smores. HOW. HOOOW? By staring long and hard at sticks till the bark falls off and they become pointy?
 
ev13wt said:
How else will he cut veggies or make skewers / a spit? And smores. HOW. HOOOW? By staring long and hard at sticks till the bark falls off and they become pointy?
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Rub them across a river rock. While he is doing that he will also be fine tuning his free hand sharpening skill.
 
NJBillK said:
Rub them across a river rock. While he is doing that he will also be fine tuning his free hand sharpening skill.
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Reminds me of a friend I went into the woods with for 3 nights. He was prepped bear gryl style including a fire stone. First night he wanted to make fire with it. I told him that I have a lighter. He wouldn't have it.


1 and a half hours later and hungry, he finally asked me for the lighter.
 
ev13wt said:
Reminds me of a friend I went into the woods with for 3 nights. He was prepped bear gryl style including a fire stone. First night he wanted to make fire with it. I told him that I have a lighter. He wouldn't have it.


1 and a half hours later and hungry, he finally asked me for the lighter.
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And then asked you for a river rock to rub the veggies on to cut them? ;)
 
AntDog said:
And then asked you for a river rock to rub the veggies on to cut them? ;)
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Well, judging from the time involved, probably! :)


This guy. I tell you. Such a girl. This guy, btw, 6 foot 2 and works out. First night, sleeping on the ground in sleeping bags I'm dreaming of sexy girls sharpening my knives. Suddenly I hear a loud whisper:

He: "Ben. Beeen.Beeeen! There is somethng out there!"
Me: "Wha, what? Shut up and sleep."
Him: "No man, I'm serious. There is SOMETHING out there. I can hear it."
Me: "So shut up already and let me listen."

I listen intently but... nothing. Except... What??
I hear him rustling. "Wheres my damn backpack? I need my flashlight!"

I had mine in my sleeping bag, in my hand, but decided to let Mr. Firestarter figure it out. I hear him unzipping his sleeping bag and it seems he was slightly in panic.

He demands: "Dude, turn on your light and f-ing help me here!" "Oh SHIT WHAT THE HELL!??" "Something just TOUCHED me man! Dude!"

It was hard not to laugh but I decided to help. Just as I turn on the light I see him swinging at a low hanging tree branch while stuck in his sleeping bag. He trips, stumbles and falls to the ground with a thud. I just started laughing. I coudn't stop for 5 minutes while he was being a dick and getting his light out of his bag and shining it all around the forest in search for other invaders.

I took out a glow stick and affixed it to his bag. "There you go, now you can find your backpack in the dark man."

Next morning the whole thing was still funny, but without the darkness he wasn't scared anymore, just embarrassed.
Him: "Uhhm, dude, you won't tell anyone about this last night, right?"
Me: "Naww. Of course not."

I lied. To this day we make fun of him about it in various situations. :)
 
ev13wt said:
Reminds me of a friend I went into the woods with for 3 nights. He was prepped bear gryl style including a fire stone. First night he wanted to make fire with it. I told him that I have a lighter. He wouldn't have it.


1 and a half hours later and hungry, he finally asked me for the lighter.
Click to expand...

That's why I brought Top Ramen. The kids can survive off of it or we can have fresh sushi:)
 
ev13wt said:
Well, judging from the time involved, probably! :)


This guy. I tell you. Such a girl. This guy, btw, 6 foot 2 and works out. First night, sleeping on the ground in sleeping bags I'm dreaming of sexy girls sharpening my knives. Suddenly I hear a loud whisper:

He: "Ben. Beeen.Beeeen! There is somethng out there!"
Me: "Wha, what? Shut up and sleep."
Him: "No man, I'm serious. There is SOMETHING out there. I can hear it."
Me: "So shut up already and let me listen."

I listen intently but... nothing. Except... What??
I hear him rustling. "Wheres my damn backpack? I need my flashlight!"

I had mine in my sleeping bag, in my hand, but decided to let Mr. Firestarter figure it out. I hear him unzipping his sleeping bag and it seems he was slightly in panic.

He demands: "Dude, turn on your light and f-ing help me here!" "Oh SHIT WHAT THE HELL!??" "Something just TOUCHED me man! Dude!"

It was hard not to laugh but I decided to help. Just as I turn on the light I see him swinging at a low hanging tree branch while stuck in his sleeping bag. He trips, stumbles and falls to the ground with a thud. I just started laughing. I coudn't stop for 5 minutes while he was being a dick and getting his light out of his bag and shining it all around the forest in search for other invaders.

I took out a glow stick and affixed it to his bag. "There you go, now you can find your backpack in the dark man."

Next morning the whole thing was still funny, but without the darkness he wasn't scared anymore, just embarrassed.
Him: "Uhhm, dude, you won't tell anyone about this last night, right?"
Me: "Naww. Of course not."

I lied. To this day we make fun of him about it in various situations. :)
Click to expand...

Something he will never live down and you'll be telling his kids about:)
 
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