Knives...How Important Is Yours?

This time of year, I spend a lot of time thinking about my gear. I've recently begun thinking about some of my necessities, and I'm thinking about making a change to my most crucial piece of gear: My knife.

Now, I think most of us would agree that if we could only take one piece of gear into the woods, it would be a good knife. A little bit of knowledge and a good knife is enough to keep anyone alive if they want to live. The list of things you can do with a knife in the wilderness is endless, so I'm not going to try to list them here, but let me just say this: If you consider your knife as just another peice of gear, now's the time to remind yourself: The knife you carry--more than any other item in your belongings--could determine whether you live or die in an emergency.

Ok, I'll hop off my soapbox now.

Here's the deal: Up until know, I've carried a Gerber AR series folding knife. Good stainless steel 3" blade, partially serrated, light, incredible construction. It's always in my pocket or clipped to my body somewhere when I'm in the wild. It's always held a good edge, and I've never had any problems with it.


My Gerber:




However, I've recently been considering what my knife would really be used for in a survival situation. On a typical outing, my knife gets used for little more than slicing food, cutting a small piece of rope for a repair, digging a cathole here and there, and maybe some campfire whittling. As I contemplated a survival situation, I realized that the need to chop, hack, pry, dig, hammer, beat, skin, saw, etc...would be paramount. While my little folder could handle a lot of those things, there were many things that I don't think it would hold up to.

I began to realize that a big blade can do everything a small blade can do, but a small blade can't do everything a big one can.


So, I think I'll be going to my KA-BAR 1211 Marine Fighting Knife. 1095 Steel, 7" partially serrated blade, and has an elastomer handle that isn't slippery when wet. I also like the butt of the handle, as it makes a great hammer for driving stakes, etc. While a 7" blade might seem excessive, it gives the knife enough weight to actually chop, digging would go much faster, and I think the length and thrust tip could actually kill a bear if worse absolutely came to worse. Yes, this knife is not that light, at 14 oz including the leather sheath, but I think the advantages of this knife outweigh the weight disadvantage.

And yes, there are lighter knives out there which are better suited for wilderness survival, but this is what I have for now. I'm just saying that, for the reasons to carry a knife, I think I'll be moving to the bigger one from now on.

My KA-BAR:


*BTW, I just re-read my own post and I wasn't real clear about digging...No, I don't dig with my knife. I make digging sticks, and a bigger knife would more quickly make a bigger digging stick, thus, digging would go faster. Okay..got that off my chest.


So, what do you carry?

I carry an old knife that my dad gave me. It has always kept a super sharp edge, but it surprises me how good it is because I have no idea who it is made by. I think it is some kind of off brand. Either way, it is sharp and has done everything I've ever needed. Its a fixed blade with a curved tip that is skinny and great for skinning game and cutting away meat. I always have a knife with me (even at work in the parole office). My day to day knife is a CRKT M16-10K.

Now the knife I'd really like to have is this knife!

Good tread... I usually have a couple of knives on my at any given time. However I do belive that they are to be use for select purpous. One knife is for general use around camp, cat holes, bashing tent stakes, opening cans ect. One knife is for general whitleing, cooking ect. With one knife kept solely for its edge. I make sure I use it only when nessasary. And it usually is very sharp. Nothing makes me mader than a dull knife. I have been known to tote a simple 3 blade folder with each blade dedicated to the 3 task above. I do not however tote the RAMBO III blade that is good for cutting down Giant Red Oaks.. lol. And usually somewhere in my pack will be at the least a small AR wet stone. People dont realize that a dull knife will hurt you faster and worst than a sharp one. I have split my finger open on a sharp knife only to simply pinch the wound shut with my fingers and apply pressure for a min. or two and it stops not only the bleading but leaves a very small scar. Also very little pain afterwards. lol. go figure.

I typically carry a Buck Mantis. It has a 2 3/4" drop point plain blade and weighs only 2.5 oz. It's a great little utility knife, although it's not your average survival knife.

BTW willky, I do really like the TOPS Tom Brown knife. You can get a good look at that knife in action if you ever get a chance to watch the movie, "The Hunted", starring Tommy Lee Jones.
UL

Oh yeah UL. I love that movie. My goal is to get where I can throw it through a tree like in the movie...!

I carry a Spyderco Military model in my pocket:



And a Mora Swedish full tang carbon steel knife in scabbard: