Well, you're entitled to your opinion as frivolous as it appears to be. And you can hang on to it if you don't mind being wrong.Quote:
Originally Posted by Benesse
(snort, chuckle)
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Well, you're entitled to your opinion as frivolous as it appears to be. And you can hang on to it if you don't mind being wrong.Quote:
Originally Posted by Benesse
(snort, chuckle)
Pardigm shift? This forum? Well, yea...nah. Have you seen the quality of folks around here? Some of 'em are lucky if they can shift a 3 speed.
On a Whim, I just looked up "Survival Knife" on Wikipedia, It is really kind of Interesting and gives examples and Origins ;) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survival_knife
So is a "So Called" Survival Knife, still a survival knife if you can't quite reach it.....? or is it a piece of unless shinny metal........?
Wow, man, a shift?, far out, man, haven't been in a shift for a spell, just look out the corners of you eyes you will see "Stuff", man.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rick
Seriously now, we all need to get our knife preferences out there, so the younger generation can learn, like, right?
So like whats the deal?
I think we should schedule a "Survival Knife" discussion once a month, just "because"?
Sourdough - I agree with you. Like Kevin says, "If you can't reach your kit when you need it....Its useless." I feel the same way about whatever you need when you need it. If that knife (or whatever) is lost and unreachable then it's a "Could Have Been Survival Knife".
I was actually being serious when I asked young Ranger Dylan what he meant when he used the term survival knife. I don't know if he uses it as a term for his "go to" knife, or just the latest fad expression.
This forum isn't too bad when it comes to using the term survival. Most have a pretty level headed idea of what it is, and will guide those with a romanticized view of the term to some state of reality. If that doesn't work, we just send Sarge after them.
On other forums (I know - I was shocked as well to find out they existed) the term survival is thrown around like candy. In those cases, it's meaningless - just a bad plot line in a B movie. So much of this annoyance comes from marketing. Products like Survival Seed Bank, Survival Food, Survival Knives, Survival Guns, Survival ad nauseum just dilute the actual meaning and play on peoples fears to market their products.
Crash I have to agree with you.
The terms are thrown around, a lot, with no clue of actual usage other than a few movies and TV shows.
My "go to" knife and if I had a choice of ONE knife it would be a Swiss Army Knife, then add to that as needed.
not me,, I want the Rambo super deluxe with optional luggage rack and off road lights ;)
My "survival" knife that I feel like I would want most as if I were going to be thrown into a survival situation changes. Sometimes I'd want my kuhkuri, other times my BK-2, one of my moras, swiss army knife, multi-tool, and sometimes I even feel like I would prefer with my Opinel. But if I was given the opportunity, I'd take them ALL. Like others have said, there is no right answer to this question. Just different people's opinions.
Ah Ha! The question is not what knife, but how many do you carry?
So, how many do YOU carry?
I've always got the bowie, then there is the pocket Gerber, in my possibles bag is an old Union Cutlery 5" folder, on the strap is a striker knife with a 3.5" blade. Deeper in the bag are a variety of trade points rough sharpened, then there is the hand ax in the back pocket of the bag.
If I'm not going prim. then there will be a Leatherman on the belt, oh and if I have my bow with the modern homemade quiver then there is the Gerber Gator in it's case on the side of that.
Then there are a few misc. flint or chert tools that stay in the bottom of the bag for skinning critters.
Sometimes I substitute the bowie with the hawk.
Oh, I forgot, in the woods I always carry my pioneer style home made file knife. It's the workhorse.
And if you've been here long enough, ya know I like to throw knives. All my knives are throwable and if you are within 20 yards you could look like a pin cushion.
But if I had to take one and only one knife, it would be the sparker knife. 3.5" of blade is enough and it throws sparks with most rocks.
2 to 3. I always have the multitool, and the Mora. Sometimes I bring the SRk along for fun. He gets lonely at home sometimes.Quote:
Originally Posted by FVR
Or....we could all just write up a pre-answer to the question and save it. When someone asks the question again, cut and paste. :innocent:Quote:
Originally Posted by hunter63
What would the fun in that?Quote:
Originally Posted by finallyME
It is kinda fun seeing what different people come up with, and the different uses.
I even picked up a couple of Opinel, after seeing them here, cool little knife.
Most of my time is either hunting, camping primitive, working in the brush, clearing, cutting, etc.
So I do have a variety of different "tools" to do what ever job is at hand.
Anyway, I guess a standard list would help out if asked the dreaded question, "Which Knife is the Best?"
Do they even make a 3 speed any more.Boy Rick you sure are showing your age buddy.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rick
Two feet and 3 pedals.What more is there to say.
i would take one of your sak there light weight and there easy to fit in tightly packed areas like your kit.
i want to geta fixed blade survival knife thats not to big or not to small and not to expensive like $80
OK - a couple of questions for your first, so I can tailor my answer for you.Quote:
Originally Posted by survivalpro#4
1. How old are you?
2. What do you want to use it for (types of tasks you want to do with it)?
3. What experience do you have with a fixed blade knife?
First let me warn you. You are going to get 100 different responses from 100 different people. Some are even going to say "Oh NO!! Not THAT question again!!"
Mora's are good, most knives that have a blade from 4-6 inches are going to be pretty good, depending on the design, thickness, and Grind.
Personally (JUST MY OPINION), I prefer a fixed blade,full tang knife, that is made from a Good Quality steel. It would have a point that could be used for tight spots and easily sharpened. Some prefer stainless, I prefer High Carbon steel. Really it is hard to beat a Mora for value and price. For $80 you could buy 5 or 6 and have some pretty good knives. If you broke one,so what, you still have several more.
Still just my opinion, but knives are like wrenches,screwdrivers or any other tool. Some are Specialty use, some are general use. I would rather "layer" my knife choices so that use and size somewhat "overlap". Example: Swiss Army Knife (SAK), Liner lock @8-9 inches Over all Length(OAL) Good sheath knife about 9-10 inches OAL, small Machete in the 12 inch blade range, Hatchet, Tomahawk, or small Camp axe. Add to that a chisel, and saw and you have all the woods cutting tools you would need to do a LOT with. Using saw,chisel, and knife you can Craft all sorts of things. Traps, furniture, Shelters......
The best thing to do is ask YOURSELF "what uses will I put it to?" Then go from there.
ARGHHHHHHHHH!!!
I give up! (Walks away shaking head.) :smash: :smash: :smash: :smash: :smash:
i am 13 so i dont want a big knife that i cant controll i just want one to carry with me when i go build shelters behind my house and just survival and i have very little experiance
O.K. I don't mean this to be insulting but...
At 13 y.o. and with "very little experience," I'm not sure a fixed-blade knife is a good choice. The Boy Scouts of America limits knives carried by their young men (ranging in ages from 11 to 18) to folding knives and I think there is a fair amount of good logic behind their rule. I know that my oldest (12 y.o. in June) isn't allowed to have a fixed-blade knife unless I'm right there with him, but he does have and carries most places his own pocketknife (as does my 9 y.o.).
A good Swiss Army Knife would have all the tools you need for "building shelters and just survival," can be easily had in lock-back configurations if so desired, and would, in general (and of course IMO), be a wiser choice for someone as young as you.
Then you should perhaps ask your parents what knife they might let you have.Quote:
Originally Posted by survivalpro#4
If you're 13 join the Boy Scouts & get advice from them! Your screen name says "survivalpro #4" (what happened to the 1st 3 'survialpros?:innocent:) This implies that you already know the answer to that question. most retailers in my state will not sell a knife to anybody under 18, so you might have to have a parent order it for you. However, & this is the only advice you're going to get from me on this subject, check out the Survival Mora 2000 on The "Safe Zone" thread I posted. It's about 30 bucks. If that's to much check out the cheaper ones, they're all great starter knives that won't break the bank! :cool2:Quote:
Originally Posted by survivalpro#4
the first three were before me and my parents are fine with it i asked them
Then they'll need to order for you; again, I strongly suggest "Safe Zone" as Rick takes good care of the membership when they order from him! Psssst! (whispering) he's also a Scoutmaster, so keep the prior BSA history on the QT! :sneaky2:Quote:
Originally Posted by survivalpro#4
im not going to get the knife right now i was just wondering what were good brands to get i dont need any more knives
Thanks for answering the questions I asked SP#4. I think the suggestion of a small folder like the Swiss Army Knife is a good one. Depending on which one you get there are many other useful tools on it that will do everything you have indicated that you want to do. What every you do - do it with your parents. That is really important. Scouting is a good program for many young men. Talk to your parents about that too. Obviously things like this are going to require the involvement of your parents. Remember - it's really important.
i know my dad is strict about that and i under stand it and i already have a sak
Start with a SAK and go from there. Every boy should have a SAK while they are growing up. SAKs can be used outdoors or for EDC.
I still have all 3 that were given to me while growing up.
I would pick the RAT-5 in 1095 steel. It might be a challenge finding it under $80 but it is a good knife...for something made in a factory.:innocent:
...with Camp 10. This is the kind of stuff that I was afraid would happen. a 13 year old should NEVER carry a large fixed-blade. You're SAK is perfect for now. Later on you could check into a Mora, preferably the Survival 2000, but you can also get a good one for half of what they cost. A RAT-5 is no knife for a 13 year-old to be playing around with! :cool2:
+1 to that. I had my SAK from the time I was 5 - 14 and then my grandfather gave me an old pilot survival knife. He told me since I was able to keep my SAK in good repair I could have it. Then about 2yrs. later my godfather gave me the KA-BAR he used while he was a marine.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sarge47
survivalpro start out with something you know you will use and become acquainted with. Then down the road find something with a little more heft if you wish, but I would advise to still keep your SAK around or at least a good pocket knife. While I love my RC-4, most chores I can accomplish with a small folder or fixed blade.
I suggest we make this and a few other topics a sticky. It's not that the topic gets done to death, it is a primary topic of concern for guys like this who are just starting out. While I understand the frustration it can be avoided by having a distillation of the best info collected in one location that we can point people to, sort of a FAQ section.
Everybody started out somewhere and I know I bought a lot of knives and have seen my students buy all sorts of crap before they learn what to look for.
In answer to the OP. If you really are wanting to get into a fixed blade knife for wilderness survival and bushcraft then I suggest you start with a Mora and learn how to sharpen. It will do you no good to buy an expensive blade if you don't know how to get it back to a razor edge. As your ability to sharpen increases then you may want to invest in a better knife with better steel etc. Unless you can sharpen well you won't know the difference between 1095, A2, D2, O1 etc, you will just sharpen your expensive knife poorly.
I have been involved with wilderness survival and bushcraft for the past 30 years and when I run my survival course here in Brazil we use the $10 Mora and the $6 Tramontina machete. That is where I start new students. Once they learn serious knife skills they can go on to purchase more expensive knives. I also have other more expensive knives including a $200 Skookum bushtool, it is a fantastic knife. You will get 80% of that fantastic knife function with a $10 Mora.
Start with a carbon steel Mora and buy sharpening stones with it. You are learning to use a system not just a knife. Mac
A Mora has a 4 1/2" blade and the RAT-5 has a 5". I cant see how a kid can "play" with one but not the other.:sneaky2: The RAT will keep its edge far longer (a dull knife is more dangerous...right?)Quote:
Originally Posted by Sarge47
He said his parents were okay with him owning a fixed blade knife. I offered no advice until he posted that. I have never seen a SAK with a fixed blade so I dont know how that might help him in his hunt for a fixed blade. Plus, he had posted this prior to my answer:
Quote:survivalpro#4 im not going to get the knife right now i was just wondering what were good brands to get i dont need any more knives
Tell me how I steered him wrong.
1st of all the kid's 13, we don't know for sure if his dad IS okay with it. 2nd the knife will be at least pretty close to 90 bucks with S & H; & the young man said LOW price, remember? (I wouldn't pay that much for a knife & I'm a lot older, BTW) If the kid loses it he's out a lot of cash. 3rd, the handle of the RAT 5 will fit a man's hand a lot better than that of a child (yes, that's what he is.) & is probably heavier than a Mora. I'm thinking something light-weight that won't break the bank...IF, & only IF the kid is really looking into getting a fixed blade with parental approval as they're the ones who are going to have to order it. Even then I'm hesitant because of liability issues. Remember the give-away back-pack that was originally offered to any new member UNDER 18; then changed to over 18? That was one of the reasons why the giver decided to change the age limit. In dealing with minors you need to be very careful these days. :cool2:Quote:
Originally Posted by Camp10
If your parents are OK with it and perhaps do a little adult supervision after you get it, I would recommend a RAT RC-5/SERE. It will take a heck of a batonig to damage the blade. So just save up your pennies ubtil you can afford one.
Stay away from batoning altogether! It can get you injured really bad! If you're going to chop anything use the right tool for the job. I carry a small, lightweight "Backpacker's" hand axe made by Buck. Get back into Scouts & learn the right way, even if you have to find a different troop! I do agree with Sarky on saving your pennies, by then you should be a lot older. :sneaky2:Quote:
Originally Posted by SARKY
And if you need other Brand names there's Gerber, Buck, Kershaw, Cold Steel, Ka-bar, Becker, yada, yada, yada.....:innocent:
well in the 54 pages of replies, Im sure Im just repeating whats been said, but Im stuck at home with a cast on and bored...so Im replying lol.
I find that a 1/4" thick blade of well tempered carbon or stainless steel (pick your poison) is my magic number. it can provide lateral stability if needed, I can pry with it, I can do almost anything with it, never having to worry about it snapping and injuring myself, never being afraid to use it when I need it because I know its up to the task. There are really strong specialty steels, but they generally bend instead of break...I dont want the blade to bend or break...hence my 1/4" thick requirement.
I feel a big knife can do everything a small one can, but not the other way around. Although if you just use your knife for cutting and thats it, a smaller blade will be just fine I suppose. I like a blade 8 - 12" long with 1 - 3" of serrations towards the rear of the blade. They work great for some tasks and they wont get in the way of slashing or cutting tasks with that much knife in front of them. I like a wider blade for a nice belly. full tang is a must for me and removable scales (those are the only things that need replacing on a well made knife in my non professional opinion).
Im currently have an 11" blade custom made for me with every feature Ive decided I needed over the years, but nothing is wrong with a middle of the road factory made knife...Ive used them for over 20 years, again for me...thickness of the blade above all else will get you through the day, I just felt it was time to get exactly what I wanted and I happened know know a great bladesmith who specializes in utility / survival type knives was more than willing to take on the task.
As far as the 13 year old who wants a knife. I think a fixed blade is a better idea than a folder. I seem to recall that most injuries Ive seen in kids and teens with knives have been them closing a folder on a finger accidentally, even with the new lock blades. I also think that kids tend to play with folders like a toy when bored, but fixed blades are just tools (even if they are "cool" looking) and not treated as much as a thing to play with when bored....but I have limited experience.
before i get on topic i just want to say i love this thread so much. 68 pages of talk about knives. i am so glad something like this exists
just bought it for some work this month. hope it works!Quote:
Originally Posted by justin_baker