/out/ - Outdoors » Thread #144399

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Large Wilderness Survival Knives

Anonymous Sat 22 Jun 2013 02:44:09 No.144399 View View Reply Original Report

I saw the thread for knives already, but I was wondering more about large knives for chopping wood, fire making, shelter making. I was looking at the ESEE Junglas and the RTAK II with 5160 steel as well as a few others. What are your guy's preferences for large knives and why? Will a knife like that make my outings easier, or should it be replaced by ax or a smaller knife?

I usually do through hiking (hike into a camp sight for a night and leave the next day) for 2-4 days around Virginia, North Carolina, and West Virginia. I've also done a few 2-3 week trips and I really want to do a trip where I build my own shelter. I've also gone out to New Mexico and am planning on going up north to the Southern Canada/Northern U.S. area too.

Any advice?

Anonymous

View Same Google ImgOps iqdb SauceNAO cross.jpg, 24KiB, 366x333

Anonymous Sat 22 Jun 2013 02:54:03 No.144407 Report

Quoted By: >>144413 >>144570

Like a machete OP? That's essentially what your pic is... ESEE Junglas

I live in Canada and I've never owned/used a machete so I can't offer much input, but in terms of an ideal size for camping/hiking I'd say a 5 inch blade provides enough utility.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 22 Jun 2013 02:59:42 No.144413 Report

Quoted By:

>>144407
Probably, but for hacking trees, and splitting logs, I don't think a 6" will cut it. If I'm in a wet environment, then I'll need to get a nice big log (10") if I want to make my work as useful as possible. A 6" will probably be fine for my usual environment, but I really want to add some variety and have some versatility with my purchase.

Anonymous

View Same Google ImgOps iqdb SauceNAO Kukri - British army service.jpg, 55KiB, 576x262

Anonymous Sat 22 Jun 2013 06:57:01 No.144486 Report

Quoted By: >>144998

>>144399
I like my kukri for that sort of work.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 22 Jun 2013 07:04:43 No.144492 Report

Quoted By:

If you know you're going to be doing stuff for which an axe would be well suited why not... I dunno... bring an axe or hatchet as well?

Anonymous

View Same Google ImgOps iqdb SauceNAO BK9.jpg, 203KiB, 1000x750

Anonymous Sat 22 Jun 2013 10:06:14 No.144570 Report

Quoted By: >>144998

>>144407
These aren't really machetes... Machetes are much longer than that actually. And, ideally, much lighter, so you don't tire your arm too quickly when you swing it. These are just large knives.

Also OP, to answer your question, I occasionally carry one of those knives, but then, it depends. As I travel a lot, well, it depends where I'm going: there are trees so soft a machete is enough, some that can be cut with a large knife, some so hard you'll need a hatchet, and some even harder requiring an actual axe. An axe is the ideal cutting and splitting tool, but as you go gradually, the tools get heavier, so there's no perfect tool for every situation, considering how important weight can be.

Though there's another difference: the way it's used. An axe will require great precision and few but great efforts, while a large knife requires several but smaller efforts, and much less precision, which makes it much easier to use overall. There's no beating an axe in ideal conditions, bout outdoorsy conditions are rarely ideal. I've several times been so tired, I almost gave up on cutting wood with an axe. Never happened with a large knife.

So they're great, but it all depends on how the woods you go inna are, because every place is different.

As for large knives, you may also want to consider the pic related Becker BK9, and the Ontario Ranger RD9 which is basically a RTAK2 with 5160 steel, actually a great steel for this kind of knive.

Anonymous

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Anonymous Sat 22 Jun 2013 10:22:42 No.144575 Report

Quoted By: >>144741 >>144749

using this bastard, takes shitload of punishment

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 22 Jun 2013 17:59:10 No.144741 Report

Quoted By:

>>144575
Looks to me lie a modern version of the old Seax, or Sax.

Anonymous

View Same Google ImgOps iqdb SauceNAO officialknife1.jpg, 74KiB, 503x336

Anonymous Sat 22 Jun 2013 18:10:36 No.144749 Report

Quoted By:

>>144575

Anonymous

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Anonymous Sat 22 Jun 2013 18:14:33 No.144756 Report

Quoted By: >>144998

mu chopper. works like a charm. you can see it in this video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50Y31ho8Wu4

Anonymous

View Same Google ImgOps iqdb SauceNAO MOTHERFUCKINGELEPHANT.jpg, 112KiB, 1200x1200

Anonymous Sat 22 Jun 2013 19:29:54 No.144794 Report

Quoted By: >>144998 >>145020

My "big knife" is a cold steel Kukri, when I carry a "big knife" though generally I carry the Cold Steel special forces shovel instead. (similar chopping abilities, plus it actually works rather well as a shovel)

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 22 Jun 2013 23:54:36 No.144998 Report

Quoted By: >>145131

OP here

>>144486
>>144756
>>144794
I'll look into that style of blade, I haven't seen it before.

>>144570
I figured as much. Versatility is why I'm going for the large knife. The RTAK2 is now made with 5160 steel since they had complaints about it chipping and breaking. I'll look into the RD9, and I've already done a little research on the BK9, but I'm really liking ESEE's reputation and return policy.

>>144794
I'll look into the CS shovel, sounds like a good deal.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sun 23 Jun 2013 00:42:23 No.145020 Report

Quoted By: >>145131 >>145211 >>145247

>>144794
This is why I like /out/ they actually like Cold Steel unlike /k/.

Anonymous

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Anonymous Sun 23 Jun 2013 03:53:51 No.145126 Report

Quoted By: >>145131

>>144399
Sounds like you want to get into bushcraft.

For a "big knife" it depends on your environment and how heavy you'll be working. A 5" full tang carbon steel blade (go stainless if you're in really wet environments) is typically the bare minimum for all around function. It'll do just about anything you can think of. Woodwork, preparing game, digging, cooking, etc.

For cutting wood, just screw it and get yourself a folding saw. Lightweight, compact, and they'll save you a TON of time and energy over an axe/tomahawk.

For chopping and splitting - and this is just MY opinion - try a kukri. The shape and mechanics of the blade are perfect for working with larger logs. An 8" blade (12" overall) will do everything the 5" does plus the work of an axe. IMHO, it's the perfect balance between size, weight, and function.

Start here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGahdNfW9Xk (part 1 of 4)
This will teach you everything you need to know.

For purchasing, go to thekhukurihouse.com and get one from Nepal. You can get a great one for less than a $100. Just make sure it's full tang (you can tell by the metal pins in the handle).

Hope that helps, OP.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sun 23 Jun 2013 04:12:26 No.145131 Report

Quoted By:

>>144998
You've never seen a Kukri before. :| Have you never seen an Indiana Jones movie before, ffs?

>>145020
"like" is to strong a word...it's low quality steel that isn't properly heat treated, I'd NEVER spend more than about $25 on a cold steel product, but in that price range, it's alright.

>>145126
It's all "bushcraft". Some people just do it differently than others.

Anonymous

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Anonymous Sun 23 Jun 2013 08:52:48 No.145211 Report

Quoted By:

>>145020
>they actually like Cold Steel

Anonymous

Anonymous Sun 23 Jun 2013 09:16:26 No.145219 Report

Quoted By: >>145227

What about Ka-Bar's Becker series of knives? Best bang for your buck imo, and pretty much indestructable.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sun 23 Jun 2013 09:34:51 No.145227 Report

Quoted By: >>145248

>>145219
For K-bar, they aren't bad, it's not the BEST steel, it's basically the exact same crap that all the "bushcraft" home makers use because they are to cheep/incompetent to work with other steels...But it's a solid enough carbon steel.

Anonymous

View Same Google ImgOps iqdb SauceNAO DSCN6841.jpg, 109KiB, 640x480

Anonymous Sun 23 Jun 2013 12:00:26 No.145246 Report

Quoted By:

large wilderness survival knive?

fällkniven a2

google for some reviews, this knive is very, very good
expensive (300€+) but i never regreted buying it!

Anonymous

Anonymous Sun 23 Jun 2013 12:09:19 No.145247 Report

Quoted By:

>>145020
Not "like" so much as understand their non-knife products, like machetes and tomahawks and shovels, are pretty OK for the price.

I was given a set consisting of the Bushman and mini-Bushman and loved them. Good stuff. Then I bought a couple of their machetes on clearance. Good stuff. Then I ought one of their fixed blade knives. Paid over $100 for what turned out to be a POS that couldn't keep up with my $20 Old Timer Woodsman. I sold it and won't buy another.

It's the only knife or gun I've ever sold.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sun 23 Jun 2013 12:14:06 No.145248 Report

Quoted By: >>145896

>>145227
You'd be hard pressed to find a much better cutlery steel that isn't D2 or 5160. 1095 has been the standard for a long time because it performs well, not because it's easy to work.

Anonymous

Anonymous Mon 24 Jun 2013 04:20:52 No.145896 Report

Quoted By:

>>145248
It's the "standard" for garage blacksmiths because it's available from car junkyards, and they can't fuck it up to badly, and if they do, it's fairly easy to temper correctly again, unlike more advanced steels.

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