What was your first 'survival' knife or setup?

H

hikeeba

Joined
Jul 20, 2006
Messages
1,073
I'm sorry, I'm nostalgic. And i apologize if there already a billion threads like this.

The year was 1995. I had been out of school for about a year, and was finally working full-time. I had 2 Spyderco Delicas and a first-gen Gerber Multi-Plier. I was camping more and getting more interested in woodcraft and such, so I started looking for a fixed blade.

Until very recently, this was the most expensive knife I ever purchased It cost me $115 brand spankin' new. I thought that was crazy-money at the time. I thought it was one of the best multi-purpose fixed blades I could obtain (price was a factor). Remember, I was younger and naive at the time:
Buck188.jpg

And the 'setup' with the Pinch-O-Matic Multi-Pliers!
oldschool002.jpg

Poor choice or not, It saw a lot of use. Even though I got wise and somewhat reprofiled the edge, it still hasn't been on a trip with me for at least 7 years. But looking at it now still makes me smile. :)
 
I never really thought about survival way back when. I was just carrying something that'd slice and whittle. Was given a nice boy scout knife many years ago at age 11, so I guess that would have been my first *official* survival knife.
 
Why don't the scout knife count? A friend of mine just got a Q225 from his father when he passed away. Primo condition, even the sheath is superb. Ever since he showed it to me, I've been cruising ebay to see what's being offered. I like the design a lot better than the Kabar style.
 
PJhunter4.jpg

I made up the basic kit back in the late 70's early 80's.
The knife (by PJTomes) came later...
The knife of the day back then was the trusty Buck 110
Firestarters, matches, line, compass, ductape, bandaids, dayglo ribbon, candle, space blanket...that sort of stuff.
 
longbow50 said:
Why don't the scout knife count? . . .
Click to expand...

Very soft steel and weakly constructed. Better than nuthin', but not much compared to that 225Q my uncle passed along on my 12th birthday. Besides, he had actually used it when he crashed in WWII, so a "real" "survival knife." :thumbup:
 
Ahh, yeah, my partners didn't even look sharpened. How's that Q225 as a working blade? Do you still use it on occassion?
 
I used it until I was given a MK II as part of a training course. The 225Q moved to the "family treasure" category. It's still sharp, as it was when Unc gave it to me.
 
hikeeba said:
I'm sorry, I'm nostalgic. And i apologize if there already a billion threads like this.

The year was 1995. I had been out of school for about a year, and was finally working full-time. I had 2 Spyderco Delicas and a first-gen Gerber Multi-Plier. I was camping more and getting more interested in woodcraft and such, so I started looking for a fixed blade.

Until very recently, this was the most expensive knife I ever purchased It cost me $115 brand spankin' new. I thought that was crazy-money at the time. I thought it was one of the best multi-purpose fixed blades I could obtain (price was a factor). Remember, I was younger and naive at the time:
Buck188.jpg

And the 'setup' with the Pinch-O-Matic Multi-Pliers!
oldschool002.jpg

Poor choice or not, It saw a lot of use. Even though I got wise and somewhat reprofiled the edge, it still hasn't been on a trip with me for at least 7 years. But looking at it now still makes me smile. :)
Click to expand...


It's still in one piece so it must be a good knife. looks more like a bayonet than a survival knife. I didn't know BUCK made those.

My first survial knife was a 2 blade barlow. I think it cost around $3 back in 1975. My friend had one just like it, and we did some serious woodcraft with them. Of course, it is a little small for my hand now days, so I've moved on to a fixed blade USMC Ka-bar type.
 
I guess the first for me were all the kitchen knives I stole from my mother. She would ream me constantly about ruining all her good knives.

That lead to my father getting me a Buck 110 and later a 119 and those saw alot of carry time and I learned to sharpen on them so as you can imagine, their no longer with us.
 
My first survival knife was also a 2 bladed Barlow but was given to me in the 60's. Of course for the most part it was not serious survival, but as far as being a kid went, it was serious to me.
 
My first survival set up was a Buck 119, 110, and a SAK. This was around 1977 so no multitools yet. Those knives were carried through many hunting seasons, summer camping trips, and my brothers and I would go on "survival treks" to test our outdoor skills. Those knives never let me down and I still have and use the 110.
 
My 1st survival knife was an Air Force Survival knife. Dad got a couple from a Reserve buddy and passed one each to my brother and I. Still have mine :) It was/is a great blade after I learned how to sharpen it. The things I have done with this knife would have killed lesser blades but it shrugged off the abusive kid behind the handle :D The stone was long ago worn away, but the sheath and handle have held up well. The guard seems to have always had that little bit of wiggle to it that these blades are famous for. I never let it bother me too much.
 
I didn't start off with a "survival knife". I had a blue nylon belt pouch that I used as a survival kit with all the standard stuff. I had a SAK in it, so I guess that was my "survival knife".

Very early on I bought USMC Ka-Bar. I put the knife right through the leather sheath into my leg shortly thereafter. I bought a heavy duty OD web sheath that lended itself to ranger bands and that started me in the direction of making my knife and PSK do double duty. The Ka-Bar was my only knife for many, many years.

When I got married 17 years ago I made up a similar set-up around a Pilot's Survival Knife for my wife. I used that off and on as well.

I still use a version of this Knife/pouch system. Now my Ka-Bar has been replaced with a BK-7 and the big blue pouch has been replaced by a smaller, brown, better thought out pouch. It still has my SAK in it, some things don't change. Mac
 
My first knife that I considered a survival knife in the "Ramboesque" tradition was a Air Force Pilot knife also. I don't remember what make is was, it had a one piece black plastic handle that you could remove by unscrewing the buttcap.
 
Buck 110 and a Estwing hatchet. I still use them from time to time but my originals are long gone 'both were lost' and I am using replacements.
 
When I was young there were only a few categories of knives. The main classifications were: sheath knife, pocket knife or lock knife. A sheath knife might be home made, or more likely a NZ factory made 'Green River' the two main types being a straight "Bushman's Friend" model, or a curved "Skinner". These had wooden handles and were generally carried in a big leather sheath along with a short sharpening steel.

My dad had a friend who was wealthy enough to own a Puma 'White Hunter'. I was in awe of that knife.

Pocketknives came in quite a variety.

The only lock knife I really knew about in those days was the simple Mercator that I've already talked about on the forum.

I regularly carried a knife since I was a very young boy. I recall my dad catching some fish from a beach, but he didn't have a knife to clean them. So he called on me for mine. It had gone through a hole in my pocket and was sitting between the outer fabric and the lining of my short trousers. But we got it out and it saved the day. This would probably have been a small cheap folder with one blade.

When I first started to think survival, I would have a checklist that I would say to myself as I was going out: Knife, matches, string. In those days the knife would have often been a Mercator locking folder. I remember carrying it in my pocket at school and impressing some of the other students with the way I could shave hair off my leg with it.

I don't think I have ever needed a survival kit in a serious situation, but the knife and string have been real handy at times.

Nowadays I like to have the first three items I mentioned, plus a bottle of water, warm clothing and a small LED flashlight if I am travelling any distance from home. Of course I get even better equipped when travelling in the wilderness or over the water. I have a variety of knives now...including a Swiss Army Rucksack and an older Leatherman multitool... both of which have been very useful on a day to day basis.

It is surprising to see how many people don't have a knife. And they embark on long journeys wearing flimsy clothing and dumb footwear. But they get away with it on nearly every occasion.
 
Coote's last paragraph reminds me of the saying, "Failing to prepare is preparing to fail."

Interesting stuff you guys! Keep 'em coming!
 
Bumppo said:
My first survival knife was also a 2 bladed Barlow but was given to me in the 60's. Of course for the most part it was not serious survival, but as far as being a kid went, it was serious to me.
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Do you remember what the brand name it was? Mine was a Sabre Brand. Carbon steel blades, and easy to sharpen. One day I dropped it in some high grass, and couldn't find it for about 3 months. By then it was seriously rusted. man, that sucked.
 
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