Thoughts on knife selection.


Gryphonblade

Gryphonblade

Guide
Joined
Jan 13, 2011
Messages
1,863
Likes
84
Location
Saint George, UT, temporarily out of state (and mi
Reading a question posted by a vendor on Facebook this evening kind of made me think.

The question was asked if you could only carry one blade in a survival blah blah blah...

First thought was "Gee, I've seen a lot of threads on this one", second was something about wondering how many trolls are going to chime in with whack-head answers.

Well, they did. Out of over 400 replies, most of what I read (skimmed a 1/4 of them was all I could handle) and only saw Mora mentioned twice. Nearly everything else was along the lines of "Rambo knife" "Chuck Norris's knife" and idiocy like that.

I mentioned a medium-big knife if I had to, a Mora if I could or a SAK if not because it can still bring about the tasks one would need to accomplish such as processing firewood and building a shelter, snares and hunting tools. Going from the other answers, I may as well saved my fingers and bandwidth.

It just brought to the forefront the difference between those who know what they are doing (you folks here) and the rest of the yahoo-whackadoos out there.

I'm just dang glad I found BCUSA and the fine individuals here. This wealth of knowledge is worth far more than any mile-high pile of Rambo craploa.

Thanks folks.
 
Oh no, I can hear another cheesy Chuck Norris joke on the verge of conception... :51:
 
Chuck Norris doesn't need a knife- he just smiles and things come apart where he wants them to. ;)

Problem is the vendor is going to read the whack doodle answers, shake his head, and market yet another big name signature piece of poorly designed cutlery with questionable steel and heat treat, and we are going to wonder when it will ever end.
 
Honestly, I have to say that I wasn't too far ahead of mainstream thinking until I found this site. I wasn't quite Rambo thinkng, but I was of the "one knife to rule them all" mindset. This was exemplified by my purchase of the ESEE 5. I don't regret the puchase but I would have chosen differently had I come here first. Hopefully, your response on the other site will lead others to better information and inspire them to learn. I also thank the members here for my continuing education.
 
GreyOne said:
Chuck Norris doesn't need a knife- he just smiles and things come apart where he wants them to. ;)

Problem is the vendor is going to read the whack doodle answers, shake his head, and market yet another big name signature piece of poorly designed cutlery with questionable steel and heat treat, and we are going to wonder when it will ever end.
Click to expand...

Chuck Norris never smiles...:4:
 
Well, thats because the vendor asked on Facebook. Your goin to get so many uninformed opinions there from people who watch far too many movies and think the great outdoors is a 10 min walk through the nearest park on the walk to starbucks. And you know what they say about opinions. That being said. I like knives no bigger than a KaBar and nothing smaller than say, an Izula and it really just needs a sharp edge. everything else is pretty much fluff
 
Last edited:
Gryphonblade said:
Well, they did. Out of over 400 replies, most of what I read (skimmed a 1/4 of them was all I could handle) and only saw Mora mentioned twice. Nearly everything else was along the lines of "Rambo knife" "Chuck Norris's knife" and idiocy like that.

It just brought to the forefront the difference between those who know what they are doing (you folks here) and the rest of the yahoo-whackadoos out there.

I'm just dang glad I found BCUSA and the fine individuals here. This wealth of knowledge is worth far more than any mile-high pile of Rambo craploa.

Thanks folks.
Click to expand...

I can appreciate all of that. I went to another forum to check some reviews on the Schrade knife I received for Christmas. Man, I can take the pros or cons, but these guys were sniping at each other and insulting one another. I don't understand why people keep going back to a forum like that.

Ditto on finding BCUSA. Best bunch of people I've ever encountered on any forum. Glad to call it home.
 
shiangti said:
Honestly, I have to say that I wasn't too far ahead of mainstream thinking until I found this site. I wasn't quite Rambo thinkng, but I was of the "one knife to rule them all" mindset. This was exemplified by my purchase of the ESEE 5. I don't regret the puchase but I would have chosen differently had I come here first. Hopefully, your response on the other site will lead others to better information and inspire them to learn. I also thank the members here for my continuing education.
Click to expand...

The "one knofe to rule them all" mindset has its place, namely military SERE, or even civilian SERE for people in dangerous areas. Something like that ESEE-5 is a good idea because they have a condition on use that most bushcrafters don't: having to get out of enemy territory. This means they may HAVE to do things knives weren't designed to do, because you have your seat kit from your aircraft and not enough room to have every "right tool".

We also can't discount the big knife. Guys like to make statements like "Guys compensate for lack of skill by using a big knife". Well, I notice no one every accused Ron Hood of that, though he championed the large knife even over the axe. Is anyone going to accuse Jeff Randall or even Pict of not knowing what they are doing because they do most things with a really big knife (called a machete)? I think not.

So what we really must look at and examine closely is why people choose what they choose, not really what they choose. What one uses really is no indicator of skill, but the reasons they choose often are.

The Facebook comments (and comments I hear everyday when people ask me about knives) are often based on ignorance or worse, what worked in certain movies.
 
BearKinder said:
The "one knofe to rule them all" mindset has its place, namely military SERE, or even civilian SERE for people in dangerous areas. Something like that ESEE-5 is a good idea because they have a condition on use that most bushcrafters don't: having to get out of enemy territory. This means they may HAVE to do things knives weren't designed to do, because you have your seat kit from your aircraft and not enough room to have every "right tool".

We also can't discount the big knife. Guys like to make statements like "Guys compensate for lack of skill by using a big knife". Well, I notice no one every accused Ron Hood of that, though he championed the large knife even over the axe. Is anyone going to accuse Jeff Randall or even Pict of not knowing what they are doing because they do most things with a really big knife (called a machete)? I think not.

So what we really must look at and examine closely is why people choose what they choose, not really what they choose. What one uses really is no indicator of skill, but the reasons they choose often are.

The Facebook comments (and comments I hear everyday when people ask me about knives) are often based on ignorance or worse, what worked in certain movies.
Click to expand...
Agreed. I have shouldhave mentioned that this was my thinking originally(1/4" thick, I can chop down trees and dig through a mountain with that...right?). Also agree with you on the why they choose what they do. Good points.
 
BearKinder said:
We also can't discount the big knife. Guys like to make statements like "Guys compensate for lack of skill by using a big knife". Well, I notice no one every accused Ron Hood of that, though he championed the large knife even over the axe. Is anyone going to accuse Jeff Randall or even Pict of not knowing what they are doing because they do most things with a really big knife (called a machete)? I think not.
Click to expand...

I have to agree with this.

That and big knives have been around a long time. Hudson Bay knife and the Bowie come to mind.

I also really think people are missing the fact that cultures that push the little knife usually carried a big axe. But I don’t see anyone saying I have a mora and a big axe. If I had an axe then yes I would take a smaller knife, but no axe then I am going to tote a big knife proudly.
 
BearKinder, that was a really well reasoned reply. You, like so many of the other members here, express yourself from a position of knowledge and experience rather from the Academy Awards school of outdoorsmanship. Thank you for sharing your views.

While working for Uncle Sugar I had need of a big knife. Some AOs called for machetes. Now I'm content with a smaller knife and machete. Still learning about axes from the guys here. And having fun.

For newbies here, lots of hard won knowledge here. Pull up a stump and learn from some of the best. I've learned stuff here that wasn't covered in any of my military schools.
 
Horned Toad said:
I have to agree with this.

That and big knives have been around a long time. Hudson Bay knife and the Bowie come to mind.

I also really think people are missing the fact that cultures that push the little knife usually carried a big axe. But I don’t see anyone saying I have a mora and a big axe. If I had an axe then yes I would take a smaller knife, but no axe then I am going to tote a big knife proudly.
Click to expand...

Or a big knife as well. I notice that your Amazon dwellers use the machete as their primary and some small knife. They really don't seem to care what the small knife is, and it's often a kitchen knife -- because they use it for eating or very small chores and it doesn't need special properties.

I tried the special knife route, but I found that most of what I do is with an axe, and the colder it gets, the bigger my axe gets, but the knife sees limited use. So I just went back to the knife I like best, rather than "the perfect knife".
 
thought Chuck did exercise equipment? Something I have found, in my various sites I go to and groups I participate in is a certain 'cultish' behavior around some manufacturer designers, and don't ever become a criticizer them or thou shall be cast into the uncool list like yesterdays kydex.

I personally like stuff that works and doesn't cost me a forune, I got more money invested in my kitchen work tools than the most obsessive Busse or Swamp Rat, Chris Reeve, TOPS, ESEE supporter could dream of. I cook for a living, and many of my mentors have handed knives down to me.

This is just kinda my take, and facebook is totally an area I avoid to discuss anything knife related, even under an alt account. You got total morons and essentially those who know it all...then there is the middle of the road...more or less what I see here, why I enjoy this site.

I'll state an example, certain website group I won't name, had their own knife made. Which well was made by ROWEN thru someone else, they didn't even know who ROWEN was, that blew my mind. I'm by no means an 'elitist' I call things as I see them and what I think works for me, and personally I feel that the majortiy of the 'elitist crowd' don't use their tools anyway just fondle them. I used Moras for years still like them just with failures kinda pushed them out of my inventory. Any tool is subjective to the user and how they will use it. I've seen enough patina'd blades on a certain site to think I'm looking at modern art.
 
Horned Toad said:
I also really think people are missing the fact that cultures that push the little knife usually carried a big axe. But I don’t see anyone saying I have a mora and a big axe. If I had an axe then yes I would take a smaller knife, but no axe then I am going to tote a big knife proudly.
Click to expand...

Or, as in the Saami, they carry a large knife and a small knife- Leuku and Puuko.

The small knife is a great choice for a craftsman, and works well for many uses, but in actual field use it is almost always paired with the axe or a larger knife.
 
I say opinions are like buttholes; everyone's got one and they all stink. Start asking for OPINONS, especially on a place like FB and you'll get all the stink and no think. I know what works for me because I use, abuse, practice, learn then tweak what I do/how I do things then repeat the process.

Example, I have a Case Ka-Bar that I have had for 20 years. I started bushcrafting with that and learned that it's not what I'd hoped it was. I now use a Mora more than anything with some other knives here and there for other things. I have couple modded carbon steel knives that I'm going to begin using more but my Mora will probably always be my primary simply because it's good and it's cheap so if I lose it I can replace it for 15 dollars or less.

Bottom line, count on yourself and your skill and let the other idiots argue over the stupid stuff and remember that the FB discussions are for one purpose, to generate interest (marketing) in a person's page. Nothing generated interest like a stupid question.
 
If were talking, you dont have an axe, and its for the rest of your life. I would chose a big knife every time, I'm not talking a sword, but a big thick unbreakable as I can find kinda knife:)
 
Not to go too far off track - but, if "truth be told", I would bet that out of the 14,000+ members of BCUSA, there are more than a few that got interested in pursuing survival/self-reliance/bushcraft/whatever, from seeing 'Rambo-First blood', and the 'tool(s)' he used to get by (knife as tool and weapon - first aid, by way of stitching his wound - navagation, by way of the compass he had - etc etc)
~ ~ Just sayin'
 
since Ive probably posted on every one of the OP's mentioned Rambo, one knife, what if,big knife no skill lol type threads(Here at Least I dont FB).Im a fan of a "edge" knowing how to use one and improvise one thats about it.I like a blade that some consider a peice of crap or a "Rambo knife"( which is the stupid thing if you look at the timeline of the use of hollow handle saw back knives and when that movie came out...) and have done a ton of myth busting with it.
Theres alot of Blade polishing and talk from most of those folks and not alot of getting out and using tools.Im not stuck on any one tool Im surounded by em but not fanatical about any of them really.Thats what the Tracker pack is all about,a light hearted Jab...Its about seeing potential in things/Tools all Tools and not being a Tool.
If it works, good! if not get out and practice and figure out a way to make it work.

"All I wanted was Something to Eat"
J.Rambo

Take care have fun
M/BK
 
Last edited:
I agree that its not the size of the knife but the size of the skill level that matters...I think most anyone on this forum would do fine in the bush with any blade, large or small....
 
Big Knife or short sword? What is the blade length for big knife?

I'd opt for a 5-6 inch fixed blade knife, medium thickness, clip point blade, short finger guard, with a no slip grip. The Cold Steel SRK fits the bill at about 90% of perfect. Needs a brass or steel finger guard.

If going retro, most of the Green River, or Old Hickory and similar designs in the 5-6" range would suffice. The old Cowboy Bowie would be a contender as well, bowie design but with 5-6" blade"
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top