Which Blade?

Probably my most recent acquisition: A 16.5", 2+ lb., chiruwa AK from Himalayan Imports. The chopping ability of this 11" blade is nothing short of amazing. My 2nd choice would be a $20 Martindale machete w/ 18" blade. Both these blade together would cover you anywhere in the world.
 
That would be my Aitor Bucanero Survival Knife which is really similar to the Jungle King but with a drop point coated blade. The blade is 8,5 inches and is recurved with double saw back. It cuts through thick branches like butter. It has a heavy blade which makes light chopping a pleasure. It also cuts very well. A bit tricky to sharpen because of the recurved blade but not too problematic.

It has a hollow handle with a mini survival kit and compass on the lid. I have personally put it through rigorous field work in the African bush and it has performed like a charm. The sheath has strong military webbing with quick release mechanisms and lots of cordage.
 
Originally posted by Doc Ron
I'd go with the SAK.

Ron
Click to expand...

Are you no longer making your ATAX?? I am surprised you didn't say that since it is so versatile as a survival tool. Am I missing something? For those of you not familiar with the ATAX, it is shown at this link. http://www.survival.com/atax.htm If it is all it is cut out to be, I'd probably go with this. Maybe this doesn't count as a production piece, but it isn't a custom piece since the website says they have some in stock ready for purchase to anyone who wants one.

Mike
 
My SAK or my Leatherman Wave.

The Atax or a large blade would be a nice complement, but a multiblade knife or multitool wins hands-down.
 
It would have to be a large Sak Trailmaster or a Leatherman.

as long as I had a blade and a saw. I could make a walking stick/weapon/spear, shelter, traps etc.

watch Ron's awesome videos!

but what if you are dropped in afghanistan or some country that has a revolution going on? :D :D
 
Interesting............ it always comes down to SAK or Leatherman it seems! Good choices, mine too- to have other 'experts' in agreements makes me feel I'm not so dumb after all :)
Martin
 
"but what if you are dropped in afghanistan or some country that has a revolution going on?"

I'd use the SAK or Leatherman to make a primitive weapon (like crossbow or bow and arrow) if materials are available, and use it with stealth/stalking technques to get up close, use it, and capture a weapon from a local.

And/Or make camouflage to conceal myself, then use the stalking techniques to sneak up and take an AK-47, LAW, or SAM from one of them! Of course, I'd also steal a good radio to communicate with possible rescuers if I can get my hands on one.

Let's see...what else? I'd try to find a guy about my size, and take his clothes too, so I fit in with the population better. Then I'd find out which side is winning, and temporarily proclaim my loyalty to that side while devising an solid E&E strategy, and a back-up strategy or two or three when the first idea doesn't work. I'd learn the local language for "whatever you say, sir!" LOL!

If it's Afghanistan, I don't care about having a shaving sharp blade, since I'd be using intense concentration to grow a beard as fast as possible. ;) ("Grow dammit! GROW! Think, BEARD!") Then when I approach my rescuers, I'd take off the local clothes (I would have left my own clothes on underneath, concealed, so I wouldn't be naked -- they'd shoot me right away: I know I probaly would if I saw a naked guy running towards me in some far off wild place). Maybe then I'd scrape the beard off to look American again so I don't get shot. I'd hold up my SAK or Leatherman, closed, since they'd know only a silly fellow American would be travelling around Afghanistan with nothing but a small multi-blade knife. :D

Or I'd use it to make anything else I can think of to get myself on an equal playing field.

:D ;)

Whomever is reading this and saying "good ideas!" please know I'm being largely tongue-in-SAK on this answer....
 
Aren't SAKs made with some cheap stainless steel, like 420 or 440A? It is amazing to me that most knife knuts won't ordinarily give a second look at knives made with cheap stainless steel, yet immediately prefer such a knife when asked about a survival situation.
 
W.T.,

It's the versatility of the tool more than the materials that counts here.

I'd love it if someone came out with a Multi-tool in 58-60 Rc, made of D2 or S30V or something. Wow!
 
You're right on Matthew. You've got to have the tool to make others if you can have only one. I always think of combinations, like SAK and hatchet for northern climes, or SAK and machete style blade for southern. But it always starts with the SAK workchamp, or the Leatherman wave first. From those everything else can be built.
 
Hello Brian,

I recently saw an Browning knife advertised in the Cabela's catalog, called the Kodiak F.D.T. 3-Blade. It has a drop point blade, saw, and hide cutter with gut hook. The blades are made from 440C.

I was wondering if this knife might be considered as an upgrade from a SAK ? In many of the posts I have read, it is the SAK models with a saw that are recommended as survival knives. Since this Browning knife has a saw, and the steel is 440C, would it make a good alternative to a SAK ?
 
For $25 you get a whole lotta of knife which like so many have said "Can make a lot of priority items"


I would also survive with a cheap chinese knock-off. not as comfortably as with a SAK but one must make due.

I am certifiably a "knife-nut" but definitely not a "knife-snob" or worse yet a "knife fool".


a KNIFE-NUT goes right to work with what ever edge they have and if they don't have an edge they improvise one.

a KNIFE-SNOB gets going after they bitch to themselves about the piss poor quality of the knives wherever they are.

a KNIFE-FOOL waits or doesn't do anything cause they can't deal with the what reality, god or whatever has given them.
 
Wow..!
Chrisaloia you have hit the nail on the head....
With a SAK it's not the blade its the mind behind it.
 
W.T.,

You got me intrigued, so I looked it up:

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t...511&catalogCode=QN&parentId=&parentType=&rid=

It is a possible upgrade for a SAK if it also had an awl for wood drilling, etc., but looks like a very capable basic survival tool for sure. I would certainly feel more comfortable with it than with nothing! Hard to say without giving it a try in the field, as you well know. It is interesting, though. I may pick one up to play with. If I do, I'll let ya know.

I still would love to see a really high-end multitool, with the high-end materials all around, that includes all or most of the features found in SAKs and todays soft stainless multitools...
 
Brian,

I think I saw some reference to a new multitool made by Newt Livesay. Personally I would not buy or recommend anything by Livesay due to a bad experience in the past, but you might want to check out the multitool.
 
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