What would you like in a hiking back packing knife

Fiddleback said:
How about something really light weight.

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OH BABY! Somehow I missed this until now, but this just plain kicks ass Andy!
 
If I'm winter packing' I bring my esee 6 with me cause, fire building and shelter building could be life or death so the extra blade length makes those chores easier for me. And if hypothermia is setting in you lose dexterity and a larger blade will help. for summer hiking I'm gonna switch to my newly aquired esee 4 or canadian special from brkt. If I getr the coin together I would like one of Andy's bushcrafters with a covex grind or a bushfinger. (but thats after a bivy sac to replace my tent)(and a climbing rope) ;)
 
I am not a serious hiker by any means, and I hesitate to reply with all you guys, but I take short trips on the trails close to camp, but want a good knife on my belt or by my pack, so the one I would take is my Koyote Great Basin bushcrafter or the BHK Bushcrafter, in 1/8 carbon steel, flat grinds for ease of sharpening, and I can wipe the steel down. The 4-5 inch length come in handy and I know I will not be building shelters or be too far from camp. I also carry a SAK.
 
Here is what I have learned about pack weight. Want to loose weight off your total hiking set up FAST - loose some damned weight.
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Man I could not agree more. Last year I lost 65lb and have since gotten in the best shape of my life, which may not say a lot but for me......;) now when I through on my 15 pound bag of gear I am still 50lbs lite compared to what I was, naked, a year ago.

I have always been a minimalist hiker and I preferr off the trail hiking. The only partner I trust to go with me on these tyes of trips is my wife. She is the coolest, hottest, and smartest wife ever!!!!!!.
When we go we preferr winter, nights around 15 to 20 degrees an days no higher than 50. we do not take a tent or bivey. We go very primative making shelter each night and sleeping with a fire buring. We do not use GPS to nav only a mil spec compass and updated topos. I know that if we every where to get seperated she would be just fine.

I still do the AT with some of my collage buds and I get made fun of for going with so little. One even said he was supprised that I was not going naked on our last trip.
All this bing said I will leave a lot of comforts at home and choose to pack more knowledge than gear but my knife and other cutting tools is somthing I will never skimp on. They are what make up the bulk of my weight when I pack. The tools I use the most consist of a chopper and a carver. I find that I need both and a one knife does not fit well here. but if I had to be stuck with just one...........my chopper........no my carver ............no my chopper...........no definetly the carver.....man can't I have my cake and eat it too?

Sericously If I was on a trail wit my buds and I wanted take one blade it would be a 3 to 4 inch blet knife. Convex or FF gind for hard use in a carbon steel with plenty of handle in lenght and width. I need a serious point, nothing too fine or brittle but good for drilling and penitration. The blade shape would need to be a drop point or spear point with out a false back edge. No jimping, I hate jimping. the blade needs to come right up to the start of the handle so no choil is needed, if I am carving I want to use the handle not a bit of metal in front of the handle. Some portion of the blade needs to be squared off for use with a fire steel. I would say close to the tip leaving the rest of the knife rounded and easy on the digits. I dont care about lanyard holes and I never got use to using them so I am indeferent about them. Micarta or some equiventlent for the handle and a good dangler style sheath.
No serations.....ever! Any way my two cents for what it's worth. I would like to think that my life time of experiance has taught me a thing or two but I find that I learn somthing new ever day........GO Fig!

God Bless.
 
If my Falkniven F1 3G had the handle of my Fiddleback fat KE Bushie, I think that would be pretty perfect for a backpacking knife.
 
I think the comments about peanut butter are spot on. My hiking blade will be used for food prep more than bushcraft. It will be opening packets of stuff, spreading fish, slicing cheese and salami as well as cutting cord and carving twigs.
 
Havokk - I carry a SAK for all of that - but if I wanted to carry just one - I would want one that could do more than a SAK - JUST in case.

TF
 
rpn said:
Looking good! Handy I bet!
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I am making one for my self after blade Show. I can't tell you how pleased I am with the shape, feel and handle of this one. Both Dylan and andy looking at my recent skitches and mentioned that I Have found that something that I was messing and am coming into my own as a knife maker . Now I am just worried I will miss place what ever it is I found I think I will stop washing my socks just in case;)
 
Hah!

Looks good Dan...if you feel the need to send it out for an impartial opinion- you know I got your back! ;) :)
 
You holding out? Didn't see that one. It looks very good and I think you did capture the overall concept and all the finer points made in this thread. Nice work! Love the color.
 
Great style! you really did listen to everyones ideas. That will serve you very well and seperate you from many others out there.

Is the Spine squared off anywhere?
 
Yes the spine is square. all thow I will some times round the spine in front of the handle for comfort I leave most of the spine squared to use as a striker
 
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