I know there is a thread out there discussing what knife to include in an altoids tin sized PSK, and I figured we could do one size larger and discuss SAS/Mess tin sized PSK's <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Let me first start off by saying I don't know much about knives... just that they can get really freaking expensive!

The most rugged knife in my SAS tin is a little gerber ridge knife (chosen for it's flatness), but I'm concerned about it's durability and the utility of something that size for general purpose work. Is it large enough to do the job if I have nothing else, and is the design durable enough? I'm not sure...

I was looking at Jensens "J.U.S.T" which can fit inside the tin. While it's utility as a hatchet is questionable (reference to a previous thread on the matter), it does seem to make good use of space, being as large as practical given the restrictive size of the tin (~4.76" x 3.5" or so).

I think I recall someone using a mora knife blade in their tin, and planning on fashioning a handle in the field for it, but I don't know if I'd want a knife with some assembly required...

As mentioned earlier, I don't know much about knives, so I'm not keen on the most useful blade shapes for general purpose outdoor work (shaving wood, batoning, skinning, and whatever else you may use a knife for out there), and ergonomics... what's that!? But I was bored and screwing around on MSPaint trying to squeeze the most edge in the smallest space while still having something to hang onto....



A rough depiction of the JUST is in there as well (top right).

Or would a more conventional approach be superior? Instead of trying to jam as much cutting edge as I can into the space, would a smaller blade and more conventional layout be better?



I'm no knife builder of course. What are your thoughts on the matter? Is the ridge knife fine, or is there something out there that would be better?

I wouldn't include a knife in a PSK in the first place. My opinion is that you should carry it seperately. If you lose your PSK, you still got your knife and if you want to do something with your knife, you don't have to make a mess of the tin. And you can use the space that the knive takes up much better.

If the knive in your tin is your back-up: I would remove it and replace it with a scalpel blade. The chanses that you lose your knife are slim, and if you do lose it, the scalpel blade is a acceptable back-up.

About knifes being very expensive: I use some good knives, the most expensive one was 20 Euro!
(my multi-tool costed much more, of course.)

'' The best knives are not always the most expensive ones.''

Make your own desicison and take care.

Jim

Really? Interesting...

Using that logic, you wouldn't have a firestarting method either, as you should be carrying one seperately anyway, and if you lose your PSK you still have it <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I carry my PSK to suppliment my EDC, but I still want it to be useful if I find myself with nothing else.

I have a Helle #56 blade from Ragnar's Forge (it's the one in the middle in this picture. I cut maybe 1/4" off the tang and it fits diagonally into my BCB tin. If I lose knife #1 then I have a reasonably effective backup, certaintly more sturdy than a scalpel. Thanks to Chris K. for the idea.

I understand not wanting to fashion a handle in the field but when dealing with the space limitations of a PSK, everything becomes a trade-off. I plan on wrapping the tang with paracord if necessary, a simple if inelegant solution. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Even though my first line blade is almost always my Leatherman supertool. I carry an old fashioned Buck folder that I've had for years in my work bag as backup. Same way that I carry a couple of extra pens and even a spare flashlight, just in case the ones I carry on my person get lost or fail to function. The word is "redundant" <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Burncycle:

Concider (??) the chances between you losing your knife and having more space in your tin for additional equipment.

In
My PSK
There's no space to add a knife, so I use a scalpel blade. It's a good and acceptable back-up, since the chance of losing your
knife is so slim.

It's a personal choice you're making between a knife-back up and other useful equipment.

Think about it, because when you're in a survival situation, it's your responsibility and you're on your own.<img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

I wouldn't include a knife in a PSK in the first place. My opinion is that you should carry it seperately. If you lose your PSK, you still got your knife and if you want to do something with your knife, you don't have to make a mess of the tin. And you can use the space that the knive takes up much better.
[color:"red"] I have a knife in EVERY one of my kits as well as a knife and a SWISS tool on my person. If you take something out of a kit/tin, just take the time to put it back into good condition. [/color]
If the knive in your tin is your back-up: I would remove it and replace it with a scalpel blade. [color:"red"] Try using a scalpel blade as a knife when you are cold, shaking, it's dark (3AM), raining, and tired. I have, I'll stick with my knives. A knife the size of a Alox Classic or Money Clip SAK can be made very sharp, and IMHO, works far better than a scalpel. "ALL of the members of a SAR team I was on switched away from scalpels after seeing them in use in the field a few times."[/color] The chanses that you lose your knife are slim, and if you do lose it, the scalpel blade is a good back-up.
[color:"red"] Or a not so good back up.....!

But what do I know, I only have more years in SAR and Survival training than you've been alive.[/color]

You include a knife/ multitool in every kit? Well that's your choice. I respect that, please respect my choice and opinion!

JIM just like you said yourself, it's a personal choice. Personal choices are by definition personal, so having a blade in a PSK is neither right or wrong. It's just a personal preference to having redudancy or not.

A scalpel is in my opinion a very bad back-up. Having a much beter back-up knife in a PSK would be a more sensible approach.

"You include a knife/ multitool in every kit? "
No, I said a knife in every kit and a knife/swiss tool on my person.

Feel free to comment.