What tasks would you require of a "one knife solution" in the wilderness?

[David Mary]

Looking to put a list together for a little demonstration I am planning soon. Thanks!

 

[91bravo]

Be a good chopper and be large enough to baton effortlessly, but at the same time be practical enough to whittle, feather stick and do food prep.

 

[91bravo]

Here is what I would consider good examples.

 

[MolokaiRider]

Digging in dirt, or rotten wood.

De-limbing small branches to use or to get out of your way.

Cut grasses or herbs.

Enough reach to use in slashing cuts to clear a path.

Clean fish and game.

Notching wood.

Able to scoop materials with tip that is partial belly.

Able to scrape rock (remove limpets or similar) without damage.

Shiny finish to use as reflective flash.

Bend small trees enough to cut at base with knife.

Draw knife tasks to de-bark.

Feather sticking.

 

[GB940Rookie]

Digging in dirt, or rotten wood.

De-limbing small branches to use or to get out of your way.

Cut grasses or herbs.

Enough reach to use in slashing cuts to clear a path.

Clean fish and game.

Notching wood.

Able to scoop materials with tip that is partial belly.

Able to scrape rock (remove limpets or similar) without damage.

Shiny finish to use as reflective flash.

Bend small trees enough to cut at base with knife.

Draw knife tasks to de-bark.

Feather sticking.

That about covers it, but I can’t imagine using only one knife. Two maybe. Smallish fixed blade and a machete.

 

[oldmanwilly]

Digging in dirt, or rotten wood.

De-limbing small branches to use or to get out of your way.

Cut grasses or herbs.

Enough reach to use in slashing cuts to clear a path.

Clean fish and game.

Notching wood.

Able to scoop materials with tip that is partial belly.

Able to scrape rock (remove limpets or similar) without damage.

Shiny finish to use as reflective flash.

Bend small trees enough to cut at base with knife.

Draw knife tasks to de-bark.

Feather sticking.

Only thing I would add is a serviceable tip that is robust enough to drill into hard-ish woods without issue while being pointy enough to pierce a hide.

 

[adluginb]

1 knife only?

Then….

Be able to baton up to a 2.5-3” log.

Be stainless

Chop without damage

must work with cutting, skinning, carving, food prep, self defense.

90degree spine or at least half inch of it to throw a spark.

Thickness - 11/64’s to 0.175mm

Easy to sharpen.

 

[kobold]

Tip suitable for poking holes. A pommel to crack nuts with. It should be easy to secure it to a pole with a short piece of cord.

 

[gadgetgeek]

I would want a knife that is clear about its sacrifices. So if you have a chopper that also has decent slicing capability, it's got a tall blade that takes up space and is heavy, rather than trying to half-way it, and going for a hollow grind. Also a knife that is region oriented, fits the terrain. So for me that gets tough because as I've said, timber here either is machete country or takes a lot of work. So for me, it's the ability to make precise cuts, like shavings, for a long time in tough timber, dexterous enough for carving things like spear barbs, good for long smooth cuts like one would need in skinning or other field dressing. Having good egros for tasks like scraping, and a tip that is either clearly set for piercing, or is for beating on, not something half way, and good at neither.

 

[Plainsman]

One knife for everything…
Cut
Chop
Slice
Scrape
Carve

Big enough to chop down a 4” tree then be able to work that tree down and with other materials…
Built a spear/gig
Build a bow
Craft arrows
Make a fire (process shavings, tinder, kindling, fuel)
Create cookware, spit, pot holder, spatula, spoon, kuksa, chop sticks
Process fibers for cordage
Process trap components: carve 7 notches, flat notches, wedges, points
Carve splitting wedges
Gut, skin and process game and fish

So said, Id follow Allan Kay’s example and go with his inspired Condor K-Tact Kukri.

But Id wish I had two to three other knives to handle certain tasks better.