JimStC
Member
Dayhiker,
Very nice job. Thank you for the education.
Awesome,
Jim
Very nice job. Thank you for the education.
Awesome,
Jim
Advice for a survival knife
- Thread starter rtrwv
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wheelgunslinger
Member
I get sneered at by a number of hardcore backpackers because I carry a Gerber multitool instead of a little peanut folder or a sodbuster or something, but when you need a pair of pliers or a saw, an abrasive blade, or a knife, it's hard to beat a multitool as a survival piece.
I'm happy to carry a couple more ounces to keep one on my person.
But the backpacker population is currently leaning toward superlight backpacking. So, the culture is against multitools that weigh more than a titanium thumbtack.
Anyway, these wood breaking and kindling making skills displayed are ubiquitous in areas where conifer and hardwood trees grow. Varieties like Poplar and some of the larger grained pines make them easy to section with a smaller tool.
Take some time and try this out, if you haven't. It's worth learning and doing.
I'm happy to carry a couple more ounces to keep one on my person.
But the backpacker population is currently leaning toward superlight backpacking. So, the culture is against multitools that weigh more than a titanium thumbtack.
Anyway, these wood breaking and kindling making skills displayed are ubiquitous in areas where conifer and hardwood trees grow. Varieties like Poplar and some of the larger grained pines make them easy to section with a smaller tool.
Take some time and try this out, if you haven't. It's worth learning and doing.
lobo9er
Member
point for day hiker any rebuttal? 
Ian Johnson
Member
esee 4 paired with a sog mulititool and a victorinox tinker are always on me whenever i hit the woods
ArfinGreebly
Moderator Emeritus
I'm trying to lighten my EDC and various kit arrangements, but the Leatherman is here to stay.
If I have to drop a few ounces somewhere, I can carry a lighter primary knife or lighter containers.
And I won't be abandoning clothing, either.
lobo9er
Member
wonder what they'd think of a sp101?
JimStC
Member
I received a Ka Bar Becker BK 7 in the mail today. Hands down the best stock sheath I own. It has a small front pocket in which I put my TOPS Tom Brown Mini Tracker. The back side of the sheath allows for secure attachment to a pack or a belt with height options for the belt. It also has the standard belt loop which is velcro and a snap. I am very pleased with this purchase. The blade is very sharp with a nice finish.
Specifications:
Stamp: Ka-Bar Becker
Edge angle: 20 degrees
Blade: 1095 Cro-Van steel
Grind: Flat
Handle material: Grivory
Blade length: 7 inches
Overall length: 12-3/4 inches
Weight: 0.85 pounds
Specifications:
Stamp: Ka-Bar Becker
Edge angle: 20 degrees
Blade: 1095 Cro-Van steel
Grind: Flat
Handle material: Grivory
Blade length: 7 inches
Overall length: 12-3/4 inches
Weight: 0.85 pounds
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JimStC
Member
Dayhiker,
On a scale of 1-10 I'd give it a eight. It is small and the blade shape is unusual to me. OAL is 6.5". The handle is 3.25"(nice design and feel) which is long enough to get a solid grip. I do carry it and it is very sharp. Relatively easy to keep an edge on it too. I also believe that it is sturdy enough to baton in a pinch.
Jim
On a scale of 1-10 I'd give it a eight. It is small and the blade shape is unusual to me. OAL is 6.5". The handle is 3.25"(nice design and feel) which is long enough to get a solid grip. I do carry it and it is very sharp. Relatively easy to keep an edge on it too. I also believe that it is sturdy enough to baton in a pinch.
Jim
I had one. Tops has a problem with putting very steep grinds on their blades, making them cut way worse than they have to. Also, their sheaths are made from Kydex that is too thick, and they use the stupid spring steel clips that wear throught belts, backpacks, pants, and anything else they come into contact with.
The Wilderness Survival Knife is an awesome concept, that Tops ruined with their version known as the Tracker.
If you ever get a chance to handle an original Beck WSK, the difference is apparent. They are HUGE knives, but balance perfectly making them feel way lighter than they really are. They also have different grinds in the curved, top section and the straight, lower section, which were desinged for different knids of cutting. Everything about them is better:
http://www.drbeckknives.com/WSK-KNIVES.html
JimStC
Member
Huh? I am talking about a $90 +/- knife and you are comparing it to a $650-$1500 knife. My sheath is at the widest point .265". I am not trying to argue nor do I care if anyone but me likes this knife. Suits me fine.
Forgot to mention, the steel spring clip is removable. Torx wrench in about a minute
Forgot to mention, the steel spring clip is removable. Torx wrench in about a minute
jlewis406
Member
Buy an ESSE Rat 5. Amazing knife. It's what a bunch of USAF S.E.R.E Instructors use in the field and they really abuse these knives all year long.
If a sharpened prybar is your thing, sure. I don't carry anything because some Airforce, Army, Navy,etc....uses it. I use what works in my hands. I am not a S.E.R.E instructor, though. Just a guy who likes to play in the woods.
Funny thing about the ESEE 5, Jeff himself sees no real use for it. ;-)
JimStC
Member
Been adding a "few" knives to the stable. Received a Ka Bar BK 2 today. Went to work on a piece of black locust. Good balance and cutting. One heckuva stout blade. It is a baton tool to put it mildly. I don't think I own a knife this short that is this strong. Good value now, but time will tell...... Might just be a sharpened prybar though.
Dayhiker, quit holding back and tell us how you really feel, LOL
Jim
Dayhiker, quit holding back and tell us how you really feel, LOL
Jim
JimStC
Member
I have an F1 and it is no prybar
22-rimfire
Member
No, the F1 is no prybar, but that BK-2 certainly might be a runner up. My F1 is a beaut! I just got a BK-2 myself.
That is an understatment. Fun isn't it!
That is an understatment. Fun isn't it!
JimStC
Member
Yep, 22-Rimfire. I think I am maxed out for a few months though.
Wife is starting to expect equal value purchases:banghead:
Hey these are just $10 knives.........
Jim
Wife is starting to expect equal value purchases:banghead:
Hey these are just $10 knives.........
Jim
22-rimfire
Member
The wife thing is what killed my gun buying and other toy buying. I do believe in "fair". But I was a lot younger then and things have changed. At the time, I went for about 10 years without buying a single firearm and I would NEVER spend $200 on a knife. So, we decided to do the outdoor photography thing together with multiple cameras and so forth and share the lenses. That worked out pretty well as we were both nature freaks.
When I bought an ESEE-4, my first thought was "what a pyrbar", but the Kabar BK-2 makes it look and feel like a finese knife. I just bought a leather sheath for my ESEE-4. It fits okay, but certainly not perfect.
When I bought an ESEE-4, my first thought was "what a pyrbar", but the Kabar BK-2 makes it look and feel like a finese knife. I just bought a leather sheath for my ESEE-4. It fits okay, but certainly not perfect.
JimStC
Member
I get that, but in all honesty, I have also gone on an Ebay selling binge and have just about washed my purchases against my sales. I also have a rifle on GB that will put me in the black versus knife purchases. I have always been like that. Toy buying begets toy selling..... sorta like recycling
I like my BK 2 as much as you like yours. That knife is a hoss! Just wish the sheath had a tek-lok. Looks easy enough to swap out. Next project
I like my BK 2 as much as you like yours. That knife is a hoss! Just wish the sheath had a tek-lok. Looks easy enough to swap out. Next project
AStone
Member
Way back in post 60 of this thread, I wrote:
So, I got the SP 53 and took it on a 9 day camping trip.
A new thread about it, and to compare/contrast it with similar big knives - SP 48, SP 52, Kabar 1248, ESEE Junglas, etc - is here.
JimStC is already there. Y'all come.
Nem said:When we get our respective knives - JimSTC his Kabar, me my Ontario SP53 (which as you'll see in my other thread linked just above, I ordered yesterday!), and you get your Junglas - we can start a thread (or maybe just do it here in this one) and review them, compare them, etc.
That'll be a boat load of fun.
So, I got the SP 53 and took it on a 9 day camping trip.
A new thread about it, and to compare/contrast it with similar big knives - SP 48, SP 52, Kabar 1248, ESEE Junglas, etc - is here.
JimStC is already there. Y'all come.
I am a fan of the Leatherman and always have my old sideclip on me. I'd like to add a more modernized Leatherman to the collection before long.
I've also discovered that in actual use, one big knife isn't all it's cracked up to be. My BK7 is too big for a lot of applications. I'm becoming a fan of the Mora knives from Sweden for smaller jobs and planning to add a saw or something ror the larger cutting.
I've also discovered that in actual use, one big knife isn't all it's cracked up to be. My BK7 is too big for a lot of applications. I'm becoming a fan of the Mora knives from Sweden for smaller jobs and planning to add a saw or something ror the larger cutting.
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