What's your knife's purpose?

a.l.hare

a.l.hare

Joined
Sep 16, 2008
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139
Most of us have our favorite knives and contemplate heavily our perfect design and capabilities, but how many of us use these blades to the intended extent? I practice skills when I can, but mostly my knives get used for mundane uses capable of any cheap paring knife. I enjoy the crafstmanship and confidence of the knives I choose, but I have found that I'm moving towards designs that serve multiple purposes by design. I hope to put together a trio that is capable of all aspects of the knife as a tool (general use, kitchen, bushcraft, self defense, etc). How many of you are on the same path? I would think finding a set-up capable of the most possible scenarios leans itself towards the WSS mindset. If you can, show me your all-around set that makes you most comfortable given any situation.

Thanks,
Alan
 
My wilderness trio is a 10" chopper for wood processing, shelter building, protection, etc.
A 3-4" folder for food processing and other odds and ends.
A Multitool with pliers for the things only pliers will do.
 
I agree with you, I use mine for kitchen prep more than anything. I have been moving away from the bigger knives to smaller, easier to carry EDC sized knives. I have a couple mid-sized knives for camp use and that's it. No massive knives or mall-ninja stuff.
 
I think most on bladeforums are hunting for the perfect knife in one form or the other since we are all a little deranged:p

I have settled on a large bowie and 3 blade stockman for most of my needs. I have plenty of knives to play with but i am trying to limit myself to using just those two to gain familiarity and skill with them. I figure if i ever did have to bug out i'm not going to be able to carry everything i want so i want to see what my chosen combo can do in many different situations.
 
I'm looking for the best all around woods knife. I think I have found just that in my BK2. My ideal bushcrafting knife, I own, my Fiddleback Hunter. My chopper is my BK9. SD, my CS Recon 1, Hamamoto style tanto, but, I carry a 1911 also.

For my ultimate trio, it changes, but it generally goes BK9, BK2, ESEE3 or Becker Patrol Machete, ESEE4, Mora Triflex or CS Kuk 'chete, Hunter, ESKabar. It varies depending on my mood. I have alot to choose from.

If I had to go with a single blade, BK2.
A dual setup, BK9/Hunter
A triple, Becker Patrol Machete/BK2/ESEE3.

SO many knives, so little time in the woods. I EDC a ESKabar, but when I get home, I usually put on my ESEE3 or my Hunter.

Dang, tough choices all the way around.

Moose
 
In the woods, mostly batoning and chopping. Along with feathersticks for getting a fire started too. Around the house it is chopping/batoning in my backyard as well as kitchen duty.
 
If I'm out I'm probably practicing or experimenting with some kind of skill... If I am in and the kids are asleep or at school, I'm probably doing the same.

Now I love me a good scandi or a mora for wood working
but my surivival combo is
either the sak and smakk khuk in this pic
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Or the bk-7 and the same sak
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I feel i could make a go of it with either of these setups.. But if I'm specificall going someplace where there will be copious amounts of detailed knife work... its hard to beat a mora or small scandi

What i love about these combos (while non traditional in the buscraft sense) is that the sak (my edc) is a very woods ready blade.. good edge geomoetry, locking blade, great saw great for a romp in town or a hike with the family, than when head for the hills I only need a heavy tool and I'm good..
 
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To drive my enemies before me and to hear the lamentation of their women.

Oops, wrong forum. :D
 
90% of my knife use revolves around fire building, from chopping all the way to heartwood scrapings. I generally eat MREs or other pre-made stuff, so food prep isn't a huge deal for me.

I am usually pretty well served by a Turley Gasconade accompanied by my Wetterlings hatchet and a Bahco folding saw.

This past weekend at the Advanced Bushcraft class, I used my Koyote Alaskan and my Bahco folding saw. I also had the Gasconade, but it didn't see very much use beyond a few shavings.

Probably my two most important tasks are batoning and making shavings for fire prep. I don't HAVE to baton, but I am comfortable doing so and I like a stout knife that will take the beating and still be sharp enough to make my shavings after.
 
a.l.hare said:
Most of us have our favorite knives and contemplate heavily our perfect design and capabilities, but how many of us use these blades to the intended extent?
Click to expand...
I'd like to think that I do.
I use my blades for food prep, fire prep, shelter tasks, etc. I purposely use them when I go out. I don't bring a tent, or stove with me.
I also use my blades to cook and eat with at home. I'e carved roasts and turkeys with my CAK and Bushwhacker, chop up veggies and such with my smaller knives, etc.

a.l.hare said:
I hope to put together a trio that is capable of all aspects of the knife as a tool (general use, kitchen, bushcraft, self defense, etc). How many of you are on the same path? I would think finding a set-up capable of the most possible scenarios leans itself towards the WSS mindset. If you can, show me your all-around set that makes you most comfortable given any situation.

Thanks,
Alan
Click to expand...

I have 3 such sets.
In order of preference:

20" Himalayan Imports CAK and R-10
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Vector Hawk and Busse Bushwhacker:
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GB Hunter's axe, Jarvenpaa Leuku and Puukko:
100_0188.jpg


From the looks of it, the new Busse CABS will replace the smaller knives for most tasks once I get a sheath for it.
 
my 18" machete, esee 3 and my old yellar schrade 3 blade is my trio, it's hard to get away from my machete.....
 
Like Corp I have a few sets these days.

They all serve the same purpose, though they may go about it a bit different. That purpose is to help me procure shelter, make fire, build camp items, process food etc.

First set was my M-43 Kukri and a Camillus Pilots survival knife. With those two I was able to thrive during some very challenging years.

Most these days I'm taking along my custom chopper in 52100 by Tad Lynch, and any of several 5" blades(my two favorites being one made fro me by G L Drew and my new Scagel Hunter from BRKT). I generaly have a pocket knife and a pocket chainsaw thrown in as well.
 
Being on Bladeforums I think it's safe to say that we are knife nuts at least to some extent. Personally I probably search for and lust after more knife than I need. Every time I have what I think to be the perfect knife, I see another one that I just have to have. Or I think of a design or feature that I want on my next perfect knife. It never ends!
 
For uses you mention ' general use, kitchen, bushcraft, self defense ', that just about sums my requirements and I now look for a knife that can serve all those purposes.
For me that's a sturdy knife with a blade about 5"-6" long. Obviously a small scandi Bushcraft knife will perform better at Bushcrafting tasks, likewise a dedicated carver or butcher will perform better at kitchen/camp chores however I'm willing to make a small sacrifice and have a reliable ' all-rounder ' than lug around 3 different tools or more use specific blades.
 
Seems that most of my camping is the modern type with tent, prepackaged food, etc. That being said I don't really need a knife. A chopper comes in handy for fire prep but I choose a hatchet or hawk for the task. I still carry a knife but it's more of a last ditch backup for the worse case scenarios. For that reason I choose a smaller lighter knife than most here. For a tool that I don't use, I'm not going to strap on a heavy one.
 
tknife said:
Being on Bladeforums I think it's safe to say that we are knife nuts at least to some extent. Personally I probably search for and lust after more knife than I need. Every time I have what I think to be the perfect knife, I see another one that I just have to have. Or I think of a design or feature that I want on my next perfect knife. It never ends!
Click to expand...

It ENDS when you run out of $---:D

Until that point all of us are looking for the perfect knife or at least the perfect knife "this week"

Since our likes and dislikes can change depending on our experiences--we will never find the Perfect knife that will be perfect for everything.

But it is a rather enjoyable(and at times expensive) quest that allows us to enjoy knives and the great outdoors at the same time.
 
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