When is a short fixed blade better than a large/sturdy folder for bushcraft/survival?

[Shotgun]

For survival, a small knife like the Izula 2(smallest I'd go) is better than a folder like a spydie military when it comes to batoning and prying. A case can be made for handle comfort but IME the bigger and keener edge of the military will do all the other jobs better than the Izzy. Cutting line goes to the folder, food prep goes to the folder, and likewise pointing a stick for tent pegs goes to the folder. I also find folders are easier to carry and easier to put back in my pocket then a fixed with a sheath. With a sheath I have to look down to make sure I'm not stabbing myself when I re-sheath. With a folder I just close it and put it back in the pocket in basically one motion without even giving it much thought. Much simpler and quicker IME.

Bushcraft is more of a hobby and like all hobbies it requires a certain amount of gear to do the hobby. A climber has a harness, rope, biners etc. A kayaker has a boat, paddle, pfd etc. A bushcrafter has comfy a bushcraft knife to do carvings with. This type of knife is great for survival too but I wouldn't say it's necessary. If you're going to sit down at a campfire and do a lot of carving then a comfy handle is the way to go. Something I can't see myself doing in a survival situation.

 

[wfsltt]

No. This is like saying that it doesn't matter if you're trying to hit a target at 200 yards with a pistol or a rifle. They might be equally mechanically accurate, but one tool is significantly easier for a human to use.

vs.

I buy and test a bunch of knives and can tell you this fixed blade is bad...Really, really bad. I also know the fold picture won't hold up to hard use.

 

[CapitalizedLiving]

I buy and test a bunch of knives and can tell you this fixed blade is bad...Really, really bad. I also know the fold picture won't hold up to hard use.

I don't think the Folts Minimalist is bad. Although I don't necessarily like it all that much, I do think it would work for 95% of what most people use EDC knives for (opening mail and Doritos bags).

For outdoor use I have taken a liking to straight handled knives. The more heavily grooved/contoured a handle is, the less versatile it becomes, in my opinion at least. And the more nondescript a knife is, the better it is for general work.

I would even go so far as to try an Opinel carbon steel paring knife in the field, since it has a design that would lend itself to a wider range of uses even if it is lighter and more prone to breakage. I would rather break a knife than never use it because its design isn't correct for my uses.

 

[Insipid Moniker]

I buy and test a bunch of knives and can tell you this fixed blade is bad...Really, really bad. I also know the fold picture won't hold up to hard use.

Sounds like you need to buy and test more before saying something like that. Go watch some testing on the American Lawman.

 

[timberweasel]

I proper fixed blade is always better than any number of folders you want to take in the woods with you. I only know of one folder that has a chance of surviving a true bushcraft outing.

Ok, I'll bite... which folder is that?

 

[Moondrop]

I buy and test a bunch of knives and can tell you this fixed blade is bad...Really, really bad. I also know the fold picture won't hold up to hard use.

Why, in your opinion, is the Minimalist bad? What have you used it for? How have you tested it?

Disclaimer: I have a Minimalist; the wharncliffe, in fact. For EDC-type stuff, it is just fine. For bushcraft, of course, there are MUCH better knives out there. But it was never intended for bushcraft.

 

[Todd21969]

Ok I just have to ask...

How many of you actually carry a decent quality , full sized handle, 4" or so blade, fixed blade knife every single day, all day, on the off chance you find yourself in a survival situation ?

I know I don't. And legally I can carry my F1, concealled even. It is just to much of a pain to do so at work. A lot of bending, reaching, and lifting.

My Military, however, is easily carried, out of the way, and very handy. My PM2 is even more so.

A PM2 or Military in the pocket is far better for "survival" than an F1 left at home.

 

[craytab]

I buy and test a bunch of knives and can tell you this fixed blade is bad...Really, really bad. I also know the fold picture won't hold up to hard use.

So what is your direct experience with both of the CRKT Folts Minimalist Fixed Blade and the Cold Steel American Lawman fold?

I had the minimalist. It was a great design only let down by unimpressive steel. Still well worth the price I paid for it. I had a Recon 1 (similar to the American lawman) for a year or so and found it to be one tough knife because the lock was great!

See, when you trash something it is important give reasons. Something like providing evidence to back up your assertions.

 

[craytab]

Ok I just have to ask...

How many of you actually carry a decent quality , full sized handle, 4" or so blade, fixed blade knife every single day, all day, on the off chance you find yourself in a survival situation ?

I know I don't. And legally I can carry my F1, concealled even. It is just to much of a pain to do so at work. A lot of bending, reaching, and lifting.

My Military, however, is easily carried, out of the way, and very handy. My PM2 is even more so.

A PM2 or Military in the pocket is far better for "survival" than an F1 left at home.

I don't, because that would be ridiculous. On a daily basis my "survival" situation would include which pizza shop I can get to quickest, one of which I can see from the front door of my house.

I do however carry a small fixed blade regularly for EDC tasks. And when I go to the country I always have a larger, full-sized fixed blade.

 

[bld522]

Ok I just have to ask...

How many of you actually carry a decent quality , full sized handle, 4" or so blade, fixed blade knife every single day, all day, on the off chance you find yourself in a survival situation.

Better question. How many of you have a decent quality, full sized handle, 4" or so blade, fixed blade knife every single day, all day, in close proximity to you on the off chance that you might find yourself in a survival situation?

Just because I don't have a survival knife strapped to my body doesn't mean I can't get to one in a hurry if I need to . . . hence the notion of a bug-out bag.

 

[RX-79G]

Better question. How many of you have a decent quality, full sized handle, 4" or so blade, fixed blade knife every single day, all day, in close proximity to you on the off chance that you might find yourself in a survival situation?

Just because I don't have a survival knife strapped to my body doesn't mean I can't get to one in a hurry if I need to . . . hence the notion of a bug-out bag.

If you read the OP, you'll understand why the idea of a nearby bag doesn't make much sense. The idea is "What is the most effective survival knife that you could actually EDC?" Some folks are saying teeny fixed blades, others are saying big folders.

4" fixed blades and backpacks full of cutlery aren't really an answer.

 

[Todd21969]

I do however carry a small fixed blade regularly for EDC tasks. And when I go to the country I always have a larger, full-sized fixed blade.

As do I, pictured in a prior post in this thread. But my little fixed is for a differant type of "survival". My Military handles the real work.

Just because I don't have a survival knife strapped to my body doesn't mean I can't get to one in a hurry if I need to . . . hence the notion of a bug-out bag.

I can see your point. My get-home bag only has to see me through a 9 mile jaunt home. Food is more important than steel. I get cranky when hungry

 

[bld522]

I can see your point. My get-home bag only has to see me through a 9 mile jaunt home. Food is more important than steel. I get cranky when hungry

Roger that. In my neck of the woods, conditions can get very dicey very quickly with absolutely no warning in advance. I've got bug-out bags in my car and my wife's car and enough supplies and equipment at home to shelter in place and survive for a week or two if necessary. Even that might not be long enough if the disaster is catastrophic, but it's better than nothing.

 

[B34NS]

Skillsets don't have much to do with physics and your skillset would be no different with the folder than the fixed. What makes the CRKT a better choice? And why no CS?

How so? If a skilled user understands the tool and its limits, how can the two not relate?

 

[Insipid Moniker]

How so? If a skilled user understands the tool and its limits, how can the two not relate?

Apologies, upon rereading I phrased that badly. Should have said skillsets can't change physics, and physics play as much a role in a blades capabilities as your skillset does.

 

[stabman]

Our ancestors survived harsher conditions than any of us, using only small bits of flint.
ALL my folders are more stout and capable than small bits of flint.

I'm not worrying about surviving...hey, guess what? I just survived another day, as evidenced by this post.

 

[marcinek]

The whole "survival" thing is a fantasy fanned by marketing. Where the heck is marcinek. This is normally his territory.

I mean, most people will never be far enough from civilization to be in a true survival situation. Plus, the knife can't survive for you. The most important thing about survival is your skills, not what you have.

Heck, if I even go into the country or up in the "mountains" (which is heavily populated) I always bring a fixed blade along with my normal edc folder.

Here I am! It IS fantasy. A fun one, and one that I, admittedly get sucked in by still, but fantasy nonetheless.

I think a lot of it is based on the idea that you can be at WalMart or Applebees and...whammo..you are suddenly transported into the middle of a forest somehow with only your trusty knife.

Really, the only way you could end up in a "wilderness" survival situation is if you deliberately go to the wilderness and screw up royally. If you go, do like craytab...bring a fixed blade. Simple. Prepare.

Now there are the folks who go practice survival. And they always want a good knife for it. That doesn't make sense. If you are practicing you should have a bad knife. Its like practicing for a marathon by driving 26 miles a day.

I think I heard a story somewhere that Chuck Yeager would practice survival with a Vic Classic.

 

[Quiet]

If you read the OP, you'll understand why the idea of a nearby bag doesn't make much sense. The idea is "What is the most effective survival knife that you could actually EDC?" Some folks are saying teeny fixed blades, others are saying big folders.

4" fixed blades and backpacks full of cutlery aren't really an answer.

I disagree, a backpack full of cutlery is the best answer to many, many questions. :thumbup:

 

[craytab]

I disagree, a backpack full of cutlery is the best answer to many, many questions. :thumbup:

Hell yes!

 

[marcinek]

I disagree, a backpack full of cutlery is the best answer to many, many questions. :thumbup:

Hey, I live and work in a major metropolitan area and ride mass transit and I have a backpack (and pockets) full of cutlery.