Which survival knife?

I bought a CS SRK and found that it was an excellent pry bar, but somewhat less excellent as a cutting tool. In addition to the handle being too grippy for extended use, the corners on the blade's spine were really uncomfortable, I have rounded mine off with sand-paper. My main gripe is that the blade is too thick just behind the cutting edge, particularly out near the point. I am looking into giving mine a high flat grind to improve its cutting efficiency. There is no way that the point is up to field dressing game, or carving wood. It isn't bad at chopping and splitting but doesn't bite as well on chopping free standing wood as a thinner edged blade would.

I like the look of the CS Bushranger, barring the double guard. It has more length and a better handle shape for chopping, plus a thinner blade grind.

Just my 0.02c
 
Just an FYI...my own BOB has a CS Kukri, purchased on sale for $45. A nifty new Becker C/U 7 ($45) and a Frosts Swedish Army knife ($7) from Smoky Mountain Knife Works. I've also got 2 'auxilary' BOB's set up and ready to assign, each with a $5 Tramontina machete, a $5 carbon steel Frosts and a $2 Old Hickory carbon 7 inch 'slicing knife'. One Hudson's Bay cruising axe in the pile, as well.
 
How about a smatchet? I'm a convicted Khukuri Knut and I carry a khukuri whilst in the field but I have been admiring smatchets lately. Cheers every one!
 
Smatchets *look* neat, but are nowhere near as versatile as a khuk. With 2 sharp edges, you can't pound the blade through wood to split logs. You can't apply pressure to the back of the blade, or use it as a drawknife. You CAN hammer with it, if you use the side of the blade. I hammer with my khukuri just using the nearly half inch thick spine. Try that with a smatchet or a CS "kukri". The only thing a khuk won't do well is make the belly slie for cleaning game. They're exceptional skinners, though, if you use a second blade to make the initial incision; I taped my REKAT Utility Knife to my khukuri sheath for just that purpose.

After looking at and trying a fair number of other options, I came back to the khukuri as the best all-around survival knife. Works for me.
 
V Shrake: Here,Here!! I love my khukuris. its just that lately the Smatchets seems a facinating bit of kit.
 
Back
Top