Which gets more use in the bush?

Morablades

Morablades

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Dec 29, 2007
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Your fixed blade or folder? I would have to say that my folder gets 85% of the use and my hatchet gets the other 15%. Someone will come and lecture me on this, but on my last two ventures I only carried a hatchet and a couple folders. My folder gets most of the use to the point that I don't carry a fixed blade much any more.
 
No lecturing here. I always say that that you should use whatever tools suit you best. I do usually carry a Mora or Spyderco Temperance along with a hatchet and a SAK camper, but I'd be just about as comfortable with something like a Delica or Endura in place of the fixed blade since I'm not really using the toughest of fixed blades anyway. That's assuming my regular hiking areas and the usual tasks that I use my tools for. There's always the chance that I'd want to take something a bit more stout if I were expecting tougher conditions.
 
I use my fixed blade for most everything, I'm too lazy to constantly dig my Farmer out of my pocket and open it up. My fixed blade is right there in it's sheath for one hand to work with.
 
I never really carry a fixed blade while hiking or one day camping because I dont need to, my folders can do everything a F.B will and provides the convenience of portability. I dont find the need to chisel through a tree trunk or pry up logs to get grubs. If I did, I would use a F.B. (Plus you dont get dirty looks from the sheeple joggers.)
 
for me its Fixed 50% folder 35% and Hatchet 15% folders have been my main source until i got my KA-BAR and hatchet
 
I have been able to use a hatchet for everything that I use a fixed blade for; carving, digging, chopping, etc.
 
Morablades said:
Your fixed blade or folder? I would have to say that my folder gets 85% of the use and my hatchet gets the other 15%. Someone will come and lecture me on this, but on my last two ventures I only carried a hatchet and a couple folders. My folder gets most of the use to the point that I don't carry a fixed blade much any more.
Click to expand...

Thats pretty much the direction I went over the last several years. I find a sak does 90% of what I need to do, and for when it doesn't, the 12 inch Ontario or Fiskars hatchet in the pack will.
 
Fixed Blade..98% of the time, I carry a SAK for the saw and the off chance that I might need to conduct surgery on myself:D I see no need to risk injury by doing any carving with a folder or hatchet...niether tool can carve as well or as safely as a fixed blade...period. I have pretty strong feelings about the trend to "go Light" ....I see nothing to be gained from NOT carrying an Axe or Chopper and a fixed blade, saw, and SAK...they just don't weigh so much that I can't carry them all...20+ miles a day..JMO. And I never hike on trails...so I don't worry about sheeple, although I understand the concern. Nothing would ruin my day faster than being asked silly questions by strangers..."what is that, why do you need that...?"
Nessmuck Trio ++ is the way to describe my setup, I guess:D
 
I use a fixed blade almost 100% of the time I'm in the bush, and it's usually pretty big- 7" blade minimum, (although I have a little 3.5" blade fixed I carry as well and use for little stuff, plus a folder). I spend a lot of time when I'm out there clearing trails, and a big fixed is most appropriate for that task, much more so than for practicing bushcrafty things or multi day camping trips, where a little fixed blade is more handy and not so heavy.
That's how I roll. Not that it matters:)
 
Nessmuk himself said that the hatchet was his primary tool. His fixed blade was really only used for skinning/cleaning game.
 
I find ( like others) that a folder, even a sak or stockman handles most jobs for me, I often carry a fixed blade but it gets less use. If I could only carry a fixed blade or a sak, for general camping, hiking, I'd stick with the sak. Especially with a hatchet or machete.
 
My Fox River gets the most use on trips. I carry a necker in the winter and sometimes in the summer and if not that, a small folder, SAK or Multi-Tool. I use a hatchet or machete for chopping but I use my fixed blade for light chopping and battoning.

A 4" belt knife is my constant companion.
 
Fixed blade for me I just pull it out of it's deep pouch sheath and start cutting. I am about convience no reaching into my pocket and pulling it out and then have to open it
up use it and then fold it up and put it away. I have to worry about it folding on me and getting cut ( which I have had happen ). My axe gets used a lot to. My swiss army classic gets used for the sissors and that is not used very much.
There again to each his own.

Bryan
 
I do a lot of fishing when hiking, wading... I use a large fixed blade most of the time. Its handier and able to hack limbs out of the way . Theres always a folder in my pocket and a multi tool. I only carry a hatchett when I camp.
 
Never carry a fixed blade anymore. Modern lockers are more than strong enough. Heck I could probably get by with just my Leatherman. I do carry a chopper often-- either a hatchet or machete or both.
 
it depends, but mostly i use whatever my hand hits first. in many cases that is my mora, but not always. sometimes my hand goes into my pocket for the opinel. since they are the same blade length, the only user variable is really the handle. the opinel's handle is much more comfortable for me, so sometimes i end up using it.

sometimes i forget to grab the mora on my way out the door for a quick trip in the woods back behind the house, and i am fine anyways. the mora is a bit more convenient, but its not that much more convenient.

i rarely carry a chopper on the trail, i just don't need it. when off trail though i am much more likely to have a hatchet or machete or folding saw on me.
 
When the fixed blade is on my belt, it tends to be used more often than the folders. This is because it is easier to deploy and available- convienience.
 
Fixed blade for sure. Along with a 5-6" fixed I take along a 3-3.5" fixed for smaller jobs, so I stay with a fixed blade for just about all needs.
 
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