- Joined
- Jun 23, 2008
- Messages
- 1,428
Well put. If one of the members can't hook you up a CS Master Hunter in Stainless is under $100 one good knife for that tag.
-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is available! Price is $250 ea (shipped within CONUS).
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/
Wilderness Knife for Backcountry Canoe Trip
- Thread starter Chunk
- Start date
Well put. If one of the members can't hook you up a CS Master Hunter in Stainless is under $100 one good knife for that tag.
- Joined
- Feb 9, 2008
- Messages
- 5,421
Always wanted to do a trip like that. Now Im not healthy enough to. I dont have a blade suggestion. When canoeing / fishing on one day excursions , I want a fixed blade with a friction sheath. A short pointy knife . But on a trip like yours Id want something more substantial.
Sounds like it will be a fantastic trip.
I have a
n RC6 and one would serve your needs well. From the sound of it (since you were considering the Bravo 1) The RC4 would also serve your purpose.
Either knife is well made and durable as can be. I have been very impressed with their quality and performance.
I have a
n RC6 and one would serve your needs well. From the sound of it (since you were considering the Bravo 1) The RC4 would also serve your purpose.
Either knife is well made and durable as can be. I have been very impressed with their quality and performance.
Two of my best knives for food prep are customs, a Charles May big woods and a Bob Lay Canadian Hunter . I also use a Dozier Master Hunter from time to time with good results. Last week I used an Shadow (Eddy White) knife to great satisfaction for food prep.
For non custom knives I find the swamprat Ratmandu does quite well. I would also look into some of the Benchmade line (fixed blade Gripilian).
I encourage you to keep and eye on the custom fixed blades for sale page on this forum, as rarely a week goes by without several good stainless steel customs at decent prices.
For non custom knives I find the swamprat Ratmandu does quite well. I would also look into some of the Benchmade line (fixed blade Gripilian).
I encourage you to keep and eye on the custom fixed blades for sale page on this forum, as rarely a week goes by without several good stainless steel customs at decent prices.
- Joined
- Jun 9, 2006
- Messages
- 5,525
Forgive me, but I would be asking what AXE to take
I would recomend the VIC Farmer, Mora 2000 or some other scandi, and a Granfurs Bruks Wilderness hatchet...that would handle anything you might encounter nicely. And come in around 1.5 pounds.
out of my collection, as it is now..I would take my Skookum, My GB Wilderness hatchet and my Vic Farmer..I would also take along my AG Russell woodswalker for skinning small game and fish, and a couple small light folding saws...like the fiskers. I would bring 2 saws, as they can break rather easily, and they weigh next to nothing.
I would also take a bigger knife in my pack...like a 12" Tram or something from Cold Steel..good solid light choppers. Thats what I am recomending, but I might take a bowie, just for fun, instead of the Tram..something like my Bill Siegle Hudson Bay. Good for food prep and light chopping.
It sounds like you have a bunch of experience in this regard, but dont forget to lash an EXTRA small survival kit to the canoe..some rope as well.
No matter what you bring, bring a couple of Moras, they are light and cheap...and you will find that you are using them more and more.
EDIT: small knife list..I have tested all of these, and they are tough as nails.
ColdSteel Master hunter Sanmai or CarbonV
Fallkniven F1, H1, S1 ( I prefer the ColdSteel Master hunter, I have good size hands, I EDC a master hunter in my car)
BRKT Bravo1, Aurora, Northstar
Mora 2000, heck, any Mora
Javenpaa Scandinavian knives..puukko's and leukos..I prefer the Aito
Busse Gamewarden with a thinner blade..one of the best.
Becker knives
RAT cutlery
Condor tools machetes..I just got a wildernesss tool, and I love it..its the one with all the wicked curves..very cool tool.
I would recomend the VIC Farmer, Mora 2000 or some other scandi, and a Granfurs Bruks Wilderness hatchet...that would handle anything you might encounter nicely. And come in around 1.5 pounds.
out of my collection, as it is now..I would take my Skookum, My GB Wilderness hatchet and my Vic Farmer..I would also take along my AG Russell woodswalker for skinning small game and fish, and a couple small light folding saws...like the fiskers. I would bring 2 saws, as they can break rather easily, and they weigh next to nothing.
I would also take a bigger knife in my pack...like a 12" Tram or something from Cold Steel..good solid light choppers. Thats what I am recomending, but I might take a bowie, just for fun, instead of the Tram..something like my Bill Siegle Hudson Bay. Good for food prep and light chopping.
It sounds like you have a bunch of experience in this regard, but dont forget to lash an EXTRA small survival kit to the canoe..some rope as well.
No matter what you bring, bring a couple of Moras, they are light and cheap...and you will find that you are using them more and more.
EDIT: small knife list..I have tested all of these, and they are tough as nails.
ColdSteel Master hunter Sanmai or CarbonV
Fallkniven F1, H1, S1 ( I prefer the ColdSteel Master hunter, I have good size hands, I EDC a master hunter in my car)
BRKT Bravo1, Aurora, Northstar
Mora 2000, heck, any Mora
Javenpaa Scandinavian knives..puukko's and leukos..I prefer the Aito
Busse Gamewarden with a thinner blade..one of the best.
Becker knives
RAT cutlery
Condor tools machetes..I just got a wildernesss tool, and I love it..its the one with all the wicked curves..very cool tool.
Last edited:
Chunk, that fish looks great! I'd love to try an extended trip like that until you mentioned the portages.
20km!!!!!
I'd seriously consider one of the lighter knives suggested here if it were me. A couple Mora 2000's would weigh less than some of the other recommendations.
20km!!!!!
I'd seriously consider one of the lighter knives suggested here if it were me. A couple Mora 2000's would weigh less than some of the other recommendations.
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2007
- Messages
- 9,786
Sounds like a great trip and from your description you really want a do it all knife. Unfortunately, many of us don't really think there are such beasts to be had out there. A couple of questions. One, I'm really surprised you had such rust issues with the fallkniven A1? Is it because you have the leather sheath and the sheath stayed wet? I wonder if a kydex sheath with stainless would help you out?
Based on the knives you've tried in the past, it seems that you really like a mid-sized knife yet also have indicated difficulties in some of the finer tasks like gutting fish with these bigger and more robust knives. I'd suggest a compromise here to add a necker knife with you midsize blades. Adding a necker knife (and you don't have to keep it on your neck, although for canoe trips this works great IMO) is almost weight free and it just gives you that little blade for finer chores like gutting fish and skinning animals when you need it.
Two recommendations on the necker: Rat Izula as mentioned and the Falkniven WM1.
Midsized knife. For the 6-7" category I'd suggest an RC-6, RD-7 or Becker BK-7. They are all coated blades and should provide some protection against corrosion. The coating on the RD-6 is very tough. If you are using your knife daily then you shouldn't have problem with corrosion on the edge. I think the sheath on the RC-6 is awesome and as much a selling point for the knife as is the blade. It has very good drainage and can be a attached in multiple ways beyond use as a belt knife.
I think the Bravo-1 SS would be suitable for you but again judging from your OP, you don't seem to really love 4" knives. The Bravo-2 is 7" but in A1 and uncoated and that is going to present more corrosion problems. Finally, Entrek has some good stout fixed blades made of 440C stainless that could be good for corrosion resistance.
Good luck with your trip and I hope you take some pictures to share with us when you are finished.
Based on the knives you've tried in the past, it seems that you really like a mid-sized knife yet also have indicated difficulties in some of the finer tasks like gutting fish with these bigger and more robust knives. I'd suggest a compromise here to add a necker knife with you midsize blades. Adding a necker knife (and you don't have to keep it on your neck, although for canoe trips this works great IMO) is almost weight free and it just gives you that little blade for finer chores like gutting fish and skinning animals when you need it.
Two recommendations on the necker: Rat Izula as mentioned and the Falkniven WM1.
Midsized knife. For the 6-7" category I'd suggest an RC-6, RD-7 or Becker BK-7. They are all coated blades and should provide some protection against corrosion. The coating on the RD-6 is very tough. If you are using your knife daily then you shouldn't have problem with corrosion on the edge. I think the sheath on the RC-6 is awesome and as much a selling point for the knife as is the blade. It has very good drainage and can be a attached in multiple ways beyond use as a belt knife.
I think the Bravo-1 SS would be suitable for you but again judging from your OP, you don't seem to really love 4" knives. The Bravo-2 is 7" but in A1 and uncoated and that is going to present more corrosion problems. Finally, Entrek has some good stout fixed blades made of 440C stainless that could be good for corrosion resistance.
Good luck with your trip and I hope you take some pictures to share with us when you are finished.
Thanks again for all the well-wishes, guys.
Mr. Alderman - You do amazing work, sir. Your post was edited - but if you are able to he-forge something for me in time, I'd love to talk. mdolling@live.com
Doc - Yes, several parties have met with disaster or died, while attemping a descent of the Back River. As far as we know, we are the first team to attempt the full traverse from Yellowknife to Taloyoak - the groups that do attempt the Back generally put in at the headwaters of the river, and get extracted in Chanterey Inlet by powerboat from Gjoa Haven. As such,the preparation for this trip has been pretty intense, from safety, to training, to logistics and planning. We will be careful and take tons of pictures / video for your viewing pleasure! A gentleman of your experience and knowledge would be a very welcome addition to any expedition. This trip however will be more a test of physical endurance and after the east arm of Great Slave Lake will fast become not a lot of fun. There will be a few hundred km of dragging boats across frozen river systems, as the length of the trip necessitates a very early-season departure. Thank you for your kind wishes and God bless!
kgd - I had my A1 in the plastic (zytel?) sheath... still, it rusted out tons. We were on the ocean for the 2 months, and it did rain for most of that time, and I didn't oil the blade at all - so maybe more a case of neglect on my part, than the knifes fault?
Thanks to all for the suggestions, I'll make a final decision in the next few days and let you know!
Mr. Alderman - You do amazing work, sir. Your post was edited - but if you are able to he-forge something for me in time, I'd love to talk. mdolling@live.com
Doc - Yes, several parties have met with disaster or died, while attemping a descent of the Back River. As far as we know, we are the first team to attempt the full traverse from Yellowknife to Taloyoak - the groups that do attempt the Back generally put in at the headwaters of the river, and get extracted in Chanterey Inlet by powerboat from Gjoa Haven. As such,the preparation for this trip has been pretty intense, from safety, to training, to logistics and planning. We will be careful and take tons of pictures / video for your viewing pleasure! A gentleman of your experience and knowledge would be a very welcome addition to any expedition. This trip however will be more a test of physical endurance and after the east arm of Great Slave Lake will fast become not a lot of fun. There will be a few hundred km of dragging boats across frozen river systems, as the length of the trip necessitates a very early-season departure. Thank you for your kind wishes and God bless!
kgd - I had my A1 in the plastic (zytel?) sheath... still, it rusted out tons. We were on the ocean for the 2 months, and it did rain for most of that time, and I didn't oil the blade at all - so maybe more a case of neglect on my part, than the knifes fault?
Thanks to all for the suggestions, I'll make a final decision in the next few days and let you know!
Oil shouldn't be needed, if you never clean it off, the would be different. I spent days or more around the coast of Nova Scotia, and never had any stainless knives rust out, never even had a Carbon rust out.
For what its worth, I've been using a RC6 for a while now, on all the training I've been doing, and the next plot I have coming up will bring the RC6.
On SAR missions I dont bring anymore than a couple folders, and one fixed on my PFD. Really, on a trip that big I know I wouldn't want a huge knife, but a folder and a hand axe would be ideal.
Maybe take a few days before you go and just stay out for them, try that a couple times before you go and find out what trios, or set of knives/tools that work.
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2008
- Messages
- 596
I'd suggest Dan Koster's "Bushcraft" knife. It's the bees knees in my book. It's a good whittler, very sturdy knife, CPM 3V steel is top notch and has very good stain resistance for a tool steel. I just wet formed a leather sheath for it, didnt oil or wrap the blade just stuck it in the sopping wet sheath and left it to dry and only the slightest bit of rust (in the form of discoloration) on the rough "as forged" flat parts of the blade, none on the polished bevels or spine.
It's my go-to knife for camping and hiking. I wouldn't hesitate to batton with it, and the super sharp scandi edge and keen point work well for cleaning fish. Never filleted with it, I'd probably waste a lot of meat trying to use such a thick knife to fillet.
It's my go-to knife for camping and hiking. I wouldn't hesitate to batton with it, and the super sharp scandi edge and keen point work well for cleaning fish. Never filleted with it, I'd probably waste a lot of meat trying to use such a thick knife to fillet.
Lots of great suggestions here. I would go with the Spyderco Rocksalt which Untamed mentioned. I have one and love it. For a big knife it is light. (9oz. I think) It can chop quite well despite it's light weight. I think it is because of it's hollow grinds. H1 is rust proof and is very tough. I heard that precipitation hardened steel like H1 is resistant to crack propagation which is why it's used in fencing swords. I have batoned with it lots and the kukuri style is a winner in my opinion. Cons: bit pricey.
Benchmade 'Griptilian' Fixed Blade with the 'combo edge', it's 154cm SS and keeps a decent edge long enough to not have to be sharpening it too often for camp chores. Light enough, and tough enough!
Wished you had psoted this trip info earlier; so that maybe some knives could have gotten sorted out sooner to help you.
Good luck on the trip, I would suggest taking the best video footage you can during the whole trip, and still photographs. Then when you return have someone run it into a short documentary type film and put it out on DVD to recoup some of your costs.
Wished you had psoted this trip info earlier; so that maybe some knives could have gotten sorted out sooner to help you.
Good luck on the trip, I would suggest taking the best video footage you can during the whole trip, and still photographs. Then when you return have someone run it into a short documentary type film and put it out on DVD to recoup some of your costs.
- Joined
- Nov 7, 2004
- Messages
- 1,011
Post expired.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Jul 22, 2005
- Messages
- 4,360
I've got way to many boat knives, but I've come to terms with these guys and always find them looking at me on my side in the canoe
The cremedelacreme or however you spell it!
and the knife that made me start paying attention to Condor Knife and Tool:
The cremedelacreme or however you spell it!
and the knife that made me start paying attention to Condor Knife and Tool:
- Joined
- Dec 4, 2005
- Messages
- 955
Sounds like you get to have the kind of adventures a lot of us only dream about! If you see Les Stroud out there, be sure and say hi.
It really sounds like you need two knives to meet your needs. I've tried using big knives for delicate work, and small knives for heavy chores, and it just never works out. I have a RAT-7 D2 and a RAT-3 D2, as well as a Manix. These are the knives I carry in the woods, and have experience with.
The RAT7 is a terrific pole cutter/trimmer/whittle/wood carver/package opener/wood shaper. I've used it to shape sturdy canes, cut walking sticks, chop small trees, cut boxes, prepare food in the kitchen, etc. It excels at these things, but does not do fine work well.
The smaller knives (RAT3 and Manix have about the same blade length) are great for finer, detail type work, like slicing up tomatoes, but do NOT do well trying to cut wood or trim branches.
If I had only one knife in the wild to survive with, it would definitely be the RAT7. It excels at most cutting chopping tasks, and can be used for finer work, though it is awkward. The smaller knives just can't be made to perform like a chopper.
So a RAT7 or similar knife would be my main recommendation, followed by a smaller knife for fish cleaning and delicate work (in H2 or some similar corrosion resistant steel).
Good luck, and have a blast! You know you owe us LOTS of pictures when you get back.
- Joined
- Dec 10, 2007
- Messages
- 2,152
- Joined
- Mar 27, 2009
- Messages
- 336
Wow, you have a great trip lined up. Need a third person?? JK. Personally if I were planning a trip like this for myself, I would take my favorite knife for this kind of thing, my do it all knife. The Dozier KS-3. This is a very versatile knife in my opinion. It is small enough to rest on your side comfortably and more than large enough to do any fish cleaning and camp chores like splitting wood and starting fires.
This has been my go to knife for riding or backpacking into the wilderness for the one knife I can rely on many times. It gets hard use!
Though it is D2 and not stainless, it measures 12% Chrome which is dang close to stainless. The Doziers heat treatmented D2 will hold an edge better than any other knife I have used and all the studies I have read shows the same thing.
I have cleaned salmon, steelhead and trout with this knife, it works wonderfully. You can find the knife on AG Russel where they typically can get it to you in a couple weeks easily. Otherwise it is a 14 month wait from Dozier.
This has been my go to knife for riding or backpacking into the wilderness for the one knife I can rely on many times. It gets hard use!
Though it is D2 and not stainless, it measures 12% Chrome which is dang close to stainless. The Doziers heat treatmented D2 will hold an edge better than any other knife I have used and all the studies I have read shows the same thing.
I have cleaned salmon, steelhead and trout with this knife, it works wonderfully. You can find the knife on AG Russel where they typically can get it to you in a couple weeks easily. Otherwise it is a 14 month wait from Dozier.