It was always amusing to see Les Stroud not bring a sheath knife on Survivorman. Since the cult of the survival knife means asking 'what's the best knife?' is guaranteed to get a massive amount of replies. Oddly now he has a knife to sell (see the 'Les stroud reviews Doug and Bears kits thread', he now thinks one is essential :-)

But is it:

https://youtu.be/vJS1SepHop0

I totally agree. Batoning is totally unnecessary. I have lit numerous wood fires over the years - for cooking, for warmth e- on one memorable occasion as a homing beacon for an incoming helicopter, and i have never felt the need to baton anything.

Most of the time i carried some sort or another of an SAK, but for the last thirty five years or so, it has been a multi-tool, either a Wave or Skeletool and they have served well. I do have some fixed blade knives which I carry from time to time.

I have always been able to find abundant dead wood which has served fine as fuel. Just break it up into length manually, and light your tinder. These days and for many years past, i have gone to some alternative stove - alcohol, white gas, propane, or canister as more efficient and safer.

If for some reason, you absolutely need to split logs lengthwise, carry an axe or pulaski and be done with it. Knives are for cutting.....

I too would not baton with such a small knife as in this video. That´s why they invemted the Skrama.

Wow! I'm surprised that moron didn't lose fingers the way he swung his knife into the block with one hand and the the hand wrapped around the block! I hope this wasn't filmed by a member here, it was painful to watch.

Yeah, the Skrama is a beast! I have the stainless version given to me by a friend. It's a great knife! I have the Jääkäripuukko, too. Remarkable knives the money.

But it´s not a bad way to use a wedge. But in that case I would like to have a decent one made of metal.

I've always felt that people who use their knife as a hatchet, are probably the same people who use their knife as a screwdriver, are probably the same people who use their knife as a pry bar. That's not what it's made for. Get the proper tool. More efficient. Much safer.

Add a handle to the metal wedge and you get a hatchet.
I would take a hatchet. It is the right tool for the job.
My knife is a Mora and I wouldn't use it for splitting wood
And let's remember, thinner branches that do not need much splitting.

Actually, one time I had a longer piece of dead wood, and didn't even bother to saw it in half.
I put it in the fire, and fire did the work of cutting it in half.

I carry a knife because I *LIKE* to carry a knife. Sometimes a couple of them.

But I can not defend the necessity of carrying a knife against the reality that I can do pretty much everything I need to with a set of EMT shears.

I have to wonder about a supposed “survival expert” who appears in a instructional video out in the snow, wearing blue jeans?