Hi all,

First post here.

I apologize if this has been covered before and I did do a search but the results were scattered. So here is the question I pose.
What type of survival do you have for your kit/bob bag.
My personal belief is not one can do all. I have a small lockblade for the small chores ie. skinning game, repairs of equipment, but I'm looking to upgrade the 7 inch Kabar to something in the 10 inch range and at least a 1/4 inch wide at the back strap. I also believe that the 300 dollar knife is the best way to go either, some were in the 50 to 150 price range.
I've looked at the Ontario Spec Plus Survival Bowie and the Cold Steel Trailmaster Bowie in black.
The knife chosen would be part of the BOB I carry and what will come along during hiking/camping/training exercises. It will be a work horse as a machete/camp ax cannot always be taken.

What are your thoughts? What do you have experience with?

Greetings GreyWolf, Welcome to the fire!

IRT your question,

When backpacking/camping, I carry the following:

Buck 110 lock blade ($70.00); 7" KaBar (USMC issue)($50.00); *M-16 Bayonet ($30.00)*; short Machete ($ unknown); Small camping hatchet ($ unknown but cheap); HoBo knife ($5.00); German Army Issue Entrenching Tool ($30.00 ?).

*There are many cases where I will leave the Bayonet behind.*

When I go Hunting, I carry the following:

Buck 110 lock blade ($70.00); 7" KaBar (USMC issue)($50.00); M-16 Bayonet ($30.00); straight razor ($ unknown); USCG drug sampler tool ($ unknown).

The greatest aspect of a knife is: "It never needs reloading and one rarely bites off more trouble than they can chew."

GreyWolf WELCOME!

Like Wildman, what I carry for a “survival” knife varies from situation to situation.

I have a three knife/tool philosophy when I am in the field and for my survival kits.

I always have either a Benchmade RSK Mk1, or a Bladetech Responder in my pocket. Both are good folding locking knives made with S30V, and both are plain edge knives. I find that one of these two knives can do 90% of the tasks that require an edged tool. I would be happy to have either as my only knife in a survival situation if for some reason I only had one knife. (In fact, I only carry a RSK Mk1 Mini when I am running or riding).

Second, either in the kit itself (in that case of my bailout kit) or on my belt is a Leatherman of some kind, usually a Charge with a bit kit.

Lastly, I usually have a fixed blade knife in my kit. I have three fixed blade knives in my three main kits. First, in my Bailout kit I keep a Chris Reeves Aviator. Since my Bailout kit is not as big as most people’s BOB is (it is kept in a SOTECH Mission Go Bag), the smaller Aviator fits perfectly. In my Large Survival Kit and for most field stuff I carry a Benchmade Ritter RSK Mk3. The RSK Mk3 is my preferred fixed blade knife. My last fixed blade knife is a KaBar 10” that is in my truck kit…

The reality of it is, there are a lot of GOOD knives on the market. You will need to find the tools that fit your needs and pocketbook!

Personally, I think it is hard to go wrong with the Ka-Bar MkII or one of the better clones. If I could, I'd carry one rather than a pocket knife. But a survival knife is, to drag out an old line, is the one you have with you when it all goes south.

For a bigger blade, there are lot of nice ones out there. I guess the question should be is this going to be a large utility blade that will replace the Ka-Bar in your inventory, or something carried with the Ka-Bar?

If carried with, a 12" machete or a kukri are inexpensive but if you give them some TLC with a stone you can make them shine. And at that point, you might also look at hatchet (smaller than a camp axe), just because a hatchet is a better hatchet than a machete is. The Gerber hatchet weighs about 20oz, while a Trailmaster runs about 18oz if google is right.

If replacing, there are a LOT of options out there. The Ontario/RAT RTAK is well thought of, as are the 9.5-10" offerings of Scrap Yard and Mad Dog, along with Ranger Knives. Just remember that it isn't a machete or a hatchet, and in many cases it might be too big. I'd never carry just the one big blade- you do have a multitool or swiss army with you, right?


And since everyone else has shown you theirs, and I didn't:
EDC: Vic Climber, LM Supertool, LM Micra, LM Squirt E4, and a good pair of wire cutters.
Off the blacktop, I add a Ka-Bar, a clone, or one of a couple of older 5-5.5" fixed blades. At times, I'll a bow or folding saw, and/or a 12" or 18" machete, and/or a small hatchet.

frosts (mora) makes a knife/small machete, model c-223.if you have ever owned one of thier SAK or craftsman series you might like this model.

What I carry (usually)
City use..
SAK Alox farmer or One Handed Trekker (the saw is so dang handy)
Bark River PSK as a neck knife
Victronoix Swiss Tool Spirit as a multi-tool.

For "Woods" use, the above plus
Charles May "OSF" custom fixed blade
or
1 of a number of Bark River knives, such as the U.S.M.C Wet Enviro Proto; Aurora; Fox River. The Wet Enviro and the Aurora are paired with a PSK knife in piggyback fashion.
My "moonglo" handled Bark River Woodsman in my PSK - Personal Support Kit.

Knives I have with me when out and about:
A Swiss Army Knife of the large format with locking blade and saw (Rucksack or Trekker), scissors too if I take the Outrider.

A locking folder (either a Benchmade 940 or an RSK Mk 1 (Ritter Griptilian).

A 4"-7" fixed blade. . . depending. There are LOTS of good knives to choose from in this category.

An axe.

I have a couple largish blades from Fehrman Knives but rarely use them -- too big for EDC, too small to do serious tree cutting.

My opinion, YMMV

I basically carry a multi-tool (either a Leatherman Charge or Surge), a small folder (Spyderco Native), a large folder (Benchmade Skirmish) and a fairly large fixed blade (Falkniven A1). The A1 is a very simple, stout, high-quality knife that runs in the $120 to $150 range and can be used for slicing, chopping or batoning. I also have a Scrapyard Knives Yard Hook which is also a very stout knife, but is not stainless as the other are and not nearly as good at slicing as the A1. At the price point, I don't believe that you can beat the A1.

I carry a Swiss Army Highlander on my keys and a Blast in my bag. Other than that I use either a Buck 119 or a KaBar MkII from 1943. I will be getting a Lee Reeves double bit axe and one of theose small hand axes I found on a different forum. Once the set is complete I will pos pictures.

I guess I'm a walking posterboy for Doug Ritter's knives. They have the features I like in knives, especially the fixed blade version.

I EDC the mini Rittergrip.

I carry the fullsize Rittergrip when outdoors - camping and such.

I carry the fixed Rittergrip in my bag when outdoors. I LOVE that knife!! I prefer a 4-5" medium-thickness blade (no pry bars for me) and a handle with a lanyard hole.

I bring a Trailblazer Buck saw for cutting fallen wood. I have both sizes (I stumbled upon the big one REAL cheap), but prefer the smaller 18" bladed model. Nice saw.

I'm still hunting for a favorite log-splitting axe. Though lots of folks like the Fiskars axes, I'm not so thrilled with them. The Granfors Bruks axes are real expensive, but real nice.

The smart thing probably would be to just buy the GB axe and be done with it and KNOW that I have a great axe. Instead of being smart though, I bought a Snow & Nealley Penobscot axe and a Snow & Neally 3.5 lb "Our Best" axe, but haven't had a chance to get out there with them yet. I'm headed out tomorrow and hope to put them to use.

When backpacking/hiking I carry a Benchmade 151 , which is very similar to the Ritter Mk3 but I found the 151 at REI where I could scoop it up with my dividend. Otherwise I would have grabbed the Mk3.

I carry a Ranger Knives RD7 if I am going up into the mountains/back country. I went with Ranger Knives because they seemed closest to the Becker mold of knives (since out of business) and the maker, Justin, offers lots of customizations and great customer service.

If I know I can have back country fires I carry a Sven Saw, which I personally think is exceptional for its size and weight. You can see how small it folds up here:

Sven saws are great for backpacking, or for small emergency kits.

I think the first question should be 'what do you plan on surviving?' Somebody who sails the oceans will tell you a 440 series stainless knife is mandatory ( how DID al those sailors manage before?)A Pilot perhaps the Reeves Aviator and a Mors Kochanski student the Mora.

I am all three, own all three. I figure those knives can be switched around with no great angst on my part.

What do Alabama sportsmen carry? I doubt it will something with a peer pressure parameter of $300 a 1/4" thick and 10" blade.
that's 3 F1 Fallknivens or @ 2 dozen Moras!

It's also a good sleeping bag and enough food to keep you fed and well rested in between all this inordinate amount of environmental modification everybody invisions.

I was at a garage sale this morning. I picked up the latest addition to my knife menagerie. It's a slipjoint folder with celluloid handle image of a NWMP and his trusty Husky from a 50s t.v. show.
I can't wait to clean it up and go hiking. I have visions of building a birchbark canoe, butchering a moose and repairing my Winchester with it. Finallly I'll gift it to the indian chief in exchange for the captive missionary daughter with red hair.

You will find what we need, and what knife makers and popular folklore would tell us we need isn't much different than that old series.

I too have an affinity for red-headed missionary daughters. Too bad I am already spoken for...

There are actually four Ritter knives - the RSK Mk4 Gentleman's Folder is the fourth one.

My dear wife REALLY surprized me with an Mk4 Gentleman's Folder one or two Father's Day back.

I actually also have one of Doug's RSK Mk1 with M2 steel.

I can't say enough great things about these knives.

If you seek the best survival knife, you must study those who have gone before, grasshopper.

Begin with Otzi, the oldest forum member. His was a flint blade with an ash handle in a plant fiber sheath, seen here.

Best features-state of the art materials, constructed by the owner (maybe), could be resharpened (he had a retoucheur with him made from antler) reproducible by the owner if damaged or lost using available natural materials. These are the ultimate desirable features in a survival knife.

Second best might be a purchased knife that the owner has modified to suit exactly the favored survival scenario-( see the Everybody's Knife Book in the Lending Library).

Least desirable survival knife: one that some evil marketer has touted as making the owner taller, stronger, smarter, faster or tougher. Knives do not do this.

That said, knives are also works of art, fashion accessories, status symbols, totems, mood elevators, tools and , for the moment, relatively unregulated: get a knife that makes you smile. There are several knives in the image gallery that I find comforting to look upon-consider one of those. Like most things in life, the spiritual value is in seeking the knife, not finding the knife.

Om mane padme hum....

Good deal all and thanks for the responses.
I did replace the last KBar I broke all those years ago. It's just handy for a lot of things.
I do own a Leatherman and it is part of the kit and I usually carry my fathers old pocket knife or the Gerber Gator.
I'm also looking to add a camp axe one of these days.
But there are times when it’s impractical to carry the machete or camp ax when doing minimalist camping/hiking not to mention survival (SERE for emergencies) hence why I'm looking for something in this line.
I’m getting back into the swing of things and wanted to see what was out there and the experiences of those who used them.
With the way the world is today I'm preparing more than I used too and trying to bring my family in line with it.

General preparedness is what I've been looking at and growing up on a dairy farm has served me well not to mention 12 yrs in the military.

The one problem I do have is like so many employers these days we cannot have weapons in our vehicles and this include knives or anything else that could be used as a weapon. Needless to say I'm looking for somewhere else to be.

I'll check back and when I finely buy it I'll post the test results.
.

Seriously planning to ad an RSK MK3 to the gang by years end!

Here is a site all may be intreasted in;

http://www.khukurihouseonline.com/

Quote from their site;

"Kukri/khukuri house of Nepal owned and run by ex-Gurkha army officer.


Kukris/khukuris made in Eastern part of Nepal by ex-Gurkha armory specialist.


Gurkha knife/knives and original kukris/khukuris inspected, admired and recommended by Gurkha VCs. VCs’ visit the Kukri/Khukuri House."

Check out the military line.
Don't know anything more about them than whats posted on their site.

I carry a Swiss Army Locksmith in my pocket. It has a wood saw, metal file and saw and a larger than normal (for a Swiss Army knife) locking blade.

In my back pocket is a one hand opening lock blade, usually a Spyderco with half blade serration.

On my belt is an old Gerber BMF. I have carried this knife since about 1986 and it is still fantastic.

I have a bad habit with knives, I will deliberately try to break a knife after I get it. I will try anything short of clamping it in a vise and hitting it with a sledge hammer (although I did that once with a Cold Steel Recon Tanto, and it held up), just so my knife does not break on me when I need it most. It can be expensive though. My sheath knife is a tool, and must withstand great abuse. The Gerber BMF has done that. I even drove it into a crack in some rocks once, and hung three grown men from in a rope. I have Kabars, but they are more for sentimental value, I have broken many of them. The Tanto was strong, just not designed as a good field knife (size and shape). It took more abuse than any other knife I have ever seen, only needing a bit of sharpening afterward.

EDC: Leatherman Skeletool and SAK Hiker in my pocket; and in my bag, Mora knife.

When going to the woods: Duluth Trading Co. Bamboo Knife, Leatherman Wave, Cold Steel Pocket Bushman, Gerber Sport Axe, Kershaw BinerTool, SAK Hiker.

Greywolf -

Khukuri House puts out a pretty product and from my understanding it is genuine. I've got one but never subjected it to field use (that's a huge warning flag there). The steel is mild so it'll take a good edge but won't necessarily keep it, and the hilt is horn (water buffalo, if I remember correctly) so I don't know if that would last without cracking. Regardless, the hilt is carved in such a way that it would likely require a little filing so that it didn't blister your hand while chopping.

The sheath is decent quality leather but probably wouldn't hold together very long if being torn at say, while crashing through brush.

My urban carry: Leatherman super tool (mostly), RSK Mk 1 (sometimes), and a Res-Q-Me.

Field carry: super tool, RSK Mk 1, Cold Steel SRK, and a Res-Q-Me (sometimes). Rather than an hatchet (I differentiate between an axe and a hatchet) I usually carry a high-quality folding pruning saw.

"But a survival knife is, to drag out an old line, is the one you have with you when it all goes south."

True. If you take it for planned purposes it is more likely to be a 'camp knife' or similar.

For me, it's a tiny SAK on my key ring, plus a sub 3" bladed slippie (UKPK, NRA stockman or Trevor Ablett Farmer)

I'm not an outdoorsman, but I suspect that 99% of any genuine crises I face will need to be tackled with the contents of my pockets at that point.

I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned the Gerber LMF II yet. The price on these has dropped considerably over the past year, making it quite easy to pick one up for $75 or so.



Jim

Right on Big Red Dog. If you don't have it with you when you need it, it is useless to you.

My 2¢, get a busse. Built like a tank. Designed with chopping in mind. Comes with a "you break it, we replace it" policy. I have a basic busse 7". It has handled all I dished out to it.

-Bill Liptak

I bought a Gerber Paraframe with high expectations also. I too was disappointed.

The paraframe 2? I have the serrated version of both the 1 and 2, and one of my boy's has the non-serrated para 2. No problems opening them one-handed, and for their price (on ebay anyway) I think they are very good value. The framelock works very well and they can be closed one-handed.

I've used the ara 1 on rafting trips, with no sign of rusting.

X2 here, no issues what-so-ever.
Found mine at Home Depot, the Paraframe and the mini-paraframe for 20 bucks... thought that was an awesome deal !

I've heard as many people dislike this knife as I have that like it. I wonder if the factory that makes this has Q/C issues?

I didn't have any problems with opening and closing the Paraframe. My problem with it came from the fact that the screws that hold the handle together kept loosening up during everyday use which wasn't extreme at all.

Yes, if the screws keep coming loose on the handle, that is boring ...

You should always carry two knives, A small one and a medium/large one. They both need to be able to interchange when the other is dull or damaged. The small knife is a folder, preferably in a multitool platform such as a leatherman or Swiss army knife, though many get along fine with plain pocket knives. The second Knife is a fixed knife or a large folder, 3-5 inches long. I prefer carbon steel. The most demanding use of a woods knife will be skinning game, from squirrels to elk. For this, 2 knives will come in handy, when one gets dull or chipped. If a knife does well cleaning game, then it will be just fine for camp needs, like basic whittling. Even very small knives like Swiss army knives, can skin big game well. These are the only knives you need to carry, but I like a large machete type knife for camp work. Mainly clearing brush and making trails.

I carry an LM Charge TTi on person ALWAYS and carry a Benchmade RSK 1, as well, if far from home.

I am not a fan of HUGE fixed blades, so my choices there Cold Steel's SRK (in the car) and the "short" KA-BAR (in my bindle).

An Estwing all-steel camper's axe serves for heavier chopping duties, though I prefer SAWING where possible. I have used the "Pocket Chain Saw" quite a bit and give it high praise, by the way:

http://www.equipped.org/saws.htm

My recommendation for a really big blade is to go with a Kukri. Ontario, Ka-Bar and Cold Steel all have pretty robust offerings. For some interesting reads, see:

http://www.m4040.com/Knifemaking/REVIEWS/BladeEvals.htm

and

http://www.m4040.com/Survival/Ghurka/Khukri%20Modification.htm

Maybe I'm paranoid but..... Everyday carry is a Leatherman Charge TI, and a Swissarmy Adventurer clipped in my pocket, and a A.G.Russel field scapel around my neck. I also wear a vest with many pockets when ever I'm out for more then a quick trip containing a Benchmade 550, Leatherman Skeletool, Inova flashlight, a Pelican flashlight, spare lighter, and a few waterproof matches, and a small first aid kit and a compass.
Camping I add a modified Ontario Rat-7, as well as a Fallkniven Frej, and a Grandfor Bruk Wilderness Hatchet, and a Gerber folding saw. I've never had a situation arrive where I found myself needing one more knife then what I had.

Hey Crogan, I was wondering if you finally just walked off into the mountains! Will you be back in Houston for the Rodeo?

-Blast

Not yet I haven't but the temptation has to be fought everyday. I won't be there this year, I'm actually in the middle of school to get my machinist ticket. Figured the only way I was going to find the things a wanted was to get into a trade where I can make then myself. How have you been? You, Clark, and Doc been down every trail in south Texas yet? I was wondering about you when the hurricane was hitting down there in Sept. Hope you and the family are all good. Promise to keep in better touch with you. Cheers

Crogan, what sort of "mods" have you done to your RAT-7 if you don't mind me asking.

John E.

If you can obtain one buy a Fallkniven. F1, A1 or S1.

User opinion is very good indeed.

If your strictly U.S. market then a Cold Steel Master Hunter or a Buck 692t.

First thing I did was sand off the powdery coating, then with a hacksaw and a belt sander I reworked the end of the blade effectively turning it into a bowie style blade. Few more hours at the sander and I'd revamped the handle more to my liking. After I was finished I went over it with some 1200 grit sandpaper then some steel wool, and finally cold blueing it as its only protective coating. Made a new leather sheath for it and voila.... A perfect Rat-7 for me and my preferences. Almost every blade I own has had some kind of modification to it in order for it to better suit my tastes and style.


I'll put a bunch of my modified knives together for a group photo tomorrow so you can see what posiblities there are. I'd be more then happy to answer any questions about any of the mods I've done.

Buck 102, I've had it since I was a teen and it looks it.

SAK, small, for things I don't want to use the Buck on.

Leatherman Wave with integrated 2AA flashlight on sheath. I carry a ranger band to put on the flash so I can hold it in my mouth for short term.

One of the machetes, 18" Ontario or cheap gurkha, where legal.......

I cannot find the one I have on their site right now, but it is one of my best choppers!

The Aitihasik

Interesting, very much like a British issue Mk. II pattern kukri (late WWI-WWII period). I have an original in my collection, an absolutely wicked, heavy duty chopper. Slightly wider blade, curved rather than angled spine and a slightly curved rather than straight grip, though.

For chopping harder woods, felling smaller trees, limbing etc. it's the kind of kukri that will outperform any machete. Tora (UK-based) makes a very close replica but I didn't know about the Khukuri House version before. Glad to hear you're happy with it, looks like a well made knife!

If I remember correctly, they said it was patterned after the 18th century military versions.

It is full exposed tang and could do with a little file work to make the metal flush with the wood, but it never bothered my hands for some reason.
Made quite well(except for the tender pouch which looks like it is made out of paper thin cardboard).
For some reason they put a pencil in the third pouch instead of the triditional blow tube(for helping to start fires)!

Well, the blade shape is pretty common but full tang is only found on British military patterns (20th c.). Traditional kukris have either a stick tang that goes all the way through the grip (peened over a washer at the end) or a hidden rattail tang (friction fit and glued with Laha resin, just as strong as epoxy).

There are no LMF II's at walmart, and they sure as H3ll aren't 29.99. I have the ASEK version and they are a dang fine knife, for the intended purpose.

I have wondered if they might have sent me the wrong version, as the pictures and description does not match the one I have, but I cannot complain, as it cuts better than any of my HI's(Though two of them I have been afraid to test, because they are just TOO gorgeous!).

Grohmann's Survival Knife and the Knives of Alaska Bush Camp are two of my personal favorites. I've thrashed the both of them and they're wonderful knives. My preference is away from tactical style knives and I also steer clear of serrated edges. I've never had much use for serrated edges to begin with and a nice sharp straight edge will slice just as easily through webbing or cordage as a serrated will.

There is a "version" of the LMF called the Prodigy like the one below....




The big box store version has a 440C blade that has no black coating. It is a POS!

I have to second this. Since you stated that you are looking for a large blade, Busse's are pretty much tops on my list. But they are spendy.

The CS Trailmaster has served me well also, if you don't want to spend as much.

well here's mine cold steel trial master. cold steel shovel. leaterman. and a small spydco .some time I'll take A cold steel SRK instean of the trial master but the shovel is alway with me

I have a custom made one, that I recently had shipped to me. A bright orange handle. I havent field tested it yet, but plan to, maybe even this weekend. That said, it is a fairly small fixed blade, made with tool steel. The bright orange handle kinda threw me off at first, but it slowly grew on me. The sheath I had made allows horizontal carry-something I like, particularly when kayaking. I really look forward to abusing this blade soon, just to see how it handles. I will post pics perhaps this weekend.

I like my CS SRK for outdoor work. i'd like to add a Trailhawk but i'm flat broke at the moment.