Wilderness knife design question-----from Dr.Bill

WILLIAM.M

WILLIAM.M

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Apr 14, 2006
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In my attempt to get people to think about what they use and why and pass this information to those with less experience--I've come up with a rather unique question for those of you that READ THE POST WELL

AGAIN--READ THE QUESTION BEFORE YOU ANSWER!!!:thumbup:

This question will apply to ANY Custom knife maker's knives----Not just Bill Siegle's

You will be looking at photos of 8 Bill Siegle Camp Knives/Choppers( I no longer own any of those as I buy-and sell them like a Crack addict)

However my addiction is not in question:)

The Question is this

You have to bring one of these Knives with you the next time you go into the woods(you can bring other knives,axes,machetes,chain saws,etc as well)

You get to choose ONE of the 8 on the left in the first photo--but you are not limited to it---and here is the TWIST

I mean if you like the handle on the top one--and the blade of the 3rd one down--then that is your choice.

YOU CAN COMBINE THEM......:D

You get to Choose the Blade shape and the Handle shapes from the ones SHOWN.....or choose one as it stands now

and TELL EVERYONE why you made the chose in Blade and Handle


THIS POST IS TO HELP PEOPLE LESS EXPERIENCED LEARN FROM THOSE THAT HAVE MORE

What features are important to you in the wilderness knife(Both in regards to Blade shape and handle design)

I will post several BIG photos of the Knives and handles--

-State what one or combination of 8 you would choose

Those of you that have USED Bill Siegle choppers before please state that in your post as well..

ALSO---if you feel that these knives are too big or that you like or feel more comfortable with smaller knives,or that big knives are silly,a waste of time,etc--then feel free to post that as well.

AND THEN POST THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION ABOVE :thumbup:
Number the knives from the top down:#1-8(where #8 is at the BOTTOM of the page)
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I'll go first----

I've tested over 250 Choppers--and over 100 Bill Siegles knives(so I know what I like and what works for me)

I would like to Try the Handle of #5 on the Blade of #1

It had the most secure handle #5 and #1 chopped the best.

Chopping on Mesquite wood with less than a 8" blade is futile and you learn real quick what type of chopper you have in 5 seconds chopping on Mesquite.

What I LOVE to do is take people out who have never chopped or have never used a good Custom chopper and let them chop some---and a SECURE handle on a chopper is a MUST!!!

What knife # or combination would you like to test in the area where you live???

and WHY!!!!
 
My choice would be the top blade with the handle of the 5th knife from the top. The blade size and shape looks to me like a good all around cutter and the angle of the handle on the fifth knife would be a more comfortable shape in my opinion. The angle tends to put my wrist in a more natural position when cutting.
 
I would take #3 but with the grind brought all the way back to the top of the handle. Why not #1, you ask? Because of the slight nub of a guard, and the geometry of the swell at the point. While giving it more chopping power it reduces the acuity of the point. A slight reduction to match the swell geometry of #3 would do little to decrease chopping power, but would improve performance of the point. #3 is pretty spot on in that regard. I would also take #3 over #1 because I feel the slight difference in size would make #3 more capable of smaller tasks, meaning I would be able to carry just it and a folder rather than having to take a small fixed blade along as well for those "in between" tasks.

I also might thin the handle width slightly, just because I have small hands, and add a slight curve to the finger side of the grip. :)
 
blade of #5, and handle of either #4, or #1. Just real quick; I do not mind the blade on #4, and would like it better if #5's blade was the same length.
I personally like a spear point, or a drop point blade design in my woods blades. This is because the shape leands itself to other bushcraft ideals (drilling, whittling, ect.). I like the shape also because it also makes for good forward weight when chopping (my ideal blade would be 1/4" thick), as well as bottoning.
The handle shape; I like #4 because I have many other knives similar to that shape, but I also like #1's shape, because it makes a very comfortable handle for chopping tasks (very "Becker" like). :thumbup:
 
knives-n-stuff said:
blade of #5, and handle of either #4, or #1. Just real quick; I do not mind the blade on #4, and would like it better if #5's blade was the same length.
I personally like a spear point, or a drop point blade design in my woods blades. This is because the shape leands itself to other bushcraft ideals (drilling, whittling, ect.). I like the shape also because it also makes for good forward weight when chopping (my ideal blade would be 1/4" thick), as well as bottoning.
The handle shape; I like #4 because I have many other knives similar to that shape, but I also like #1's shape, because it makes a very comfortable handle for chopping tasks (very "Becker" like). :thumbup:
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Here is a Siegle with a Becker Handle

SIEGLEBECKER.jpg
 
I would pick blade number one with handle on number two. I have large hands and when the back turns down sharply I feel very crowded. The third handle is second choice, but I like the contours of the second better. Number one blade shape has the weight forward I like in a chopper. Especially when I am allowed to bring along other knives. Wide blades also give better geometry for a more efficient cutter.

Thanks Bill. Looking forward to more replies.
 
I would straight up take # 4. Living up here in the big woods it would work for making shelter, fire and has enough belly to work for gutting and skinning animals. I have 4 Siegles and almost all of my customs I order with an 8 inch blade. I have found that is about the perfect length for everything I do. I do have a 5/16 thick Siegle bull dozier with a 9 1/2 inch blade I am going to see how well it works on gutting and skinning. As long as you know what you are doing I can do just about everything a small knife can with a big blade. I can not make a small blade do what a big blade can. On a side note Dr Bill the SAR Siegle I traded you for is a perfect woods beast!
 
bigcountry1315 said:
I would straight up take # 4. Living up here in the big woods it would work for making shelter, fire and has enough belly to work for gutting and skinning animals. I have 4 Siegles and almost all of my customs I order with an 8 inch blade. I have found that is about the perfect length for everything I do. I do have a 5/16 thick Siegle bull dozier with a 9 1/2 inch blade I am going to see how well it works on gutting and skinning. As long as you know what you are doing I can do just about everything a small knife can with a big blade. I can not make a small blade do what a big blade can. On a side note Dr Bill the SAR Siegle I traded you for is a perfect woods beast!
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The Red Handled Knife??
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I own a couple of Bill's blades and his larger Hoodlum chopper is my favorite...anything from Bill Siegle would perform well in the field. With that said, #5 would be my choice. I like Siegle's flared butts (not his mind you:D), and #5 would do well as is with the handle. The blade shape is a good continuous sweeping blade; excellent for slicing and chopping. The spear/drop point makes a great tip for drilling and Siegle's blades are stout enough to do light prying. I also like the slight guard...at least on this size of blade; however, it still has the small choil where you can choke up for close work. As much as I love big blades, the belt-sized knives are more prefered as they will always be with you...for me, anything over a 6" blade, than I'm looking at a stand-alone sheath for the pack or some type of shoulder harness. That's just me, so as much as I would opt to carry a larger blade, I would most likely have a shorter bladed knife with me at all times.

My two cents plus another two dollars will get you a mocha-double-chai-cappa-frappa-chino:D

ROCK6
 
Ah...then I wouldn't pick any of them. Big choppers like this can do the work fine but my issue with them is the fact that they're big. Too big and heavy to really wear on the belt so that means they go in the pack. If they're going in the pack then I'd rather just use a tomahawk which I enjoy using more and I'm betting weighs less then all of them at just under 17 ounces including sheath. All that said I'm really into a medium(small to you :D) fixed blade and a saw at the moment. I think the more I do longer hikes the more I'll warm up to this method. This system weighs less, is more packable, and quicker then chopping. For car camping a chopper like these would be fine but then again it's car camping so why limit myself to a chopper knife when I can just bring an axe and a 2 foot long machete?
 
I can carry a 20" machete on my belt no problem. Furthermore, I have a cross-belt system that works well for big blades. It distributes the weight across the hips and the shoulder, so it eliminates "belt sag." :)
 
I'd take the handle on #2, with the blade of #1. I like bigger knives more, and that one happens to look like it would chop the best. The handle on #2 looks like it would fit me the best. I have a few knives with handles with a similar look to them, and they are pretty comfortable in my hands.
 
Shotgun said:
Ah...then I wouldn't pick any of them. Big choppers like this can do the work fine but my issue with them is the fact that they're big. Too big and heavy to really wear on the belt so that means they go in the pack. If they're going in the pack then I'd rather just use a tomahawk which I enjoy using more and I'm betting weighs less then all of them at just under 17 ounces including sheath. All that said I'm really into a medium(small to you :D) fixed blade and a saw at the moment. I think the more I do longer hikes the more I'll warm up to this method. This system weighs less, is more packable, and quicker then chopping. For car camping a chopper like these would be fine but then again it's car camping so why limit myself to a chopper knife when I can just bring an axe and a 2 foot long machete?
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You did not read the question well enough Bro :)

I wrote it to prevent someone from not answering the ONLY question

If I offerered to Give you one--I'll bet you would pick one right away

You still need to pick one to let people know what one a Tomahawk lover would choose

Also--what is your level of experience with Siegle or other custom choppers??

From Opening post
ALSO---if you feel that these knives are too big or that you like or feel more comfortable with smaller knives,or that big knives are silly,a waste of time,etc--then feel free to post that as well.

AND THEN POST THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION ABOVE
 
ROCK6 said:
I own a couple of Bill's blades and his larger Hoodlum chopper is my favorite...anything from Bill Siegle would perform well in the field. With that said, #5 would be my choice. I like Siegle's flared butts (not his mind you:D), and #5 would do well as is with the handle. The blade shape is a good continuous sweeping blade; excellent for slicing and chopping. The spear/drop point makes a great tip for drilling and Siegle's blades are stout enough to do light prying. I also like the slight guard...at least on this size of blade; however, it still has the small choil where you can choke up for close work. As much as I love big blades, the belt-sized knives are more prefered as they will always be with you...for me, anything over a 6" blade, than I'm looking at a stand-alone sheath for the pack or some type of shoulder harness. That's just me, so as much as I would opt to carry a larger blade, I would most likely have a shorter bladed knife with me at all times.

My two cents plus another two dollars will get you a mocha-double-chai-cappa-frappa-chino:D

ROCK6
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Your two cents is WORTH A HELL OF A LOT HOMEY!!!
 
Dr Bill yes the red handled one. 5/16 of pure woods knife.Does everything I ask of it.Thanks again for that trade. My other favorite Siegle woods knife is a Hardcore survival model. That is another big woods beast!


Mike
 
bigcountry1315 said:
Dr Bill yes the red handled one. 5/16 of pure woods knife.Does everything I ask of it.Thanks again for that trade. My other favorite Siegle woods knife is a Hardcore survival model. That is another big woods beast!


Mike
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Glad you like it so much

Wish more people could test Bill's work and see what we know

and no--I'm not loaning out mine
 
WILLIAM.M said:
If I offerered to Give you one--I'll bet you would pick one right away
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Nope. I don't keep blades that will never get used.

WILLIAM.M said:
Also--what is your level of experience with Siegle or other custom choppers??
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Irrelevant. I'm not saying these can't do the job I'm saying I find large blades cumbersome to carry.

WILLIAM.M said:
You still need to pick one to let people know what one a Tomahawk lover would choose
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No offense but I don't NEED to do anything. To be honest I don't see the point to your question. You want people of a lesser experience level to learn from this but what are they learning? The parameters of your question are too narrow. All someone is going to learn is what the best features of Siegle's knives are. How does that help someone who has no need for them? I get that you love Siegle's knives but not everyone shares that view. Don't get me wrong they're nice blades but some people have no use for them.
 
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