Cheapo Surival Kit Knife

[Skofnung]

84B20:

I don't know you, thus I don't know your background with regards to practical cutlery but I can say without ego that I am no stranger to bushcraft. While I agree with you that we should strive to get the best equipment that we can afford, I have used a CS Bushman in the field and it is no slouch. My use of the blade included shelter building, firewood gathering, and food prep.

No offense meant, but that CR knife that you posted a picture of wouldn't make the my top 20 cut as a knife used in bushcraft. It looks more like a fighter than a tool. I am sure that it is of the highest quality, but in my experience double guards get in the way of using the knife as a tool and thick blades and grinds don't lend themselves to good cutting.

Also, that CR looks like it just came out of the box. Have you used it in the field?

If looks are what you're after, then the bushman is not for you. Like most inexpensive but good knives, you need to do a little work on it to bring it up to snuff (grinding a better edge profile, making a better sheath) but for the money it is a bargain.

I may be off base here, but you seem to be confusing "survival-knife" with "combat-knife."

 

[84B20]

I have used a CS Bushman in the field and it is no slouch. My use of the blade included shelter building, firewood gathering, and food prep.

Just about any knife can be used for these things. But ask yourself how long will it last compared to the CR?

No offense meant, but that CR knife that you posted a picture of wouldn't make the my top 20 cut as a knife used in bushcraft.

No offense to you but you obviously haven’t handled a CR knife. They are very substancial and extremely strong.

It looks more like a fighter than a tool.

It is both, that's what survival is all about.

I am sure that it is of the highest quality, but in my experience double guards get in the way of using the knife as a tool and thick blades and grinds don't lend themselves to good cutting.

I find the guards very useful when lashing a stick that has been inserted into the handle and as for cutting, when I sliced through equal pieces of paper they both cut smoothly and without hesitation.

Also, that CR looks like it just came out of the box. Have you used it in the field?

I purchased it recently after selling an Al Mar survival knife that had become a collector's item after Al had died. It was too valuable to use in the field. I felt it would be better served in a collector's hands rather than on a camping trip.

If looks are what you're after, then the bushman is not for you. Like most inexpensive but good knives, you need to do a little work on it to bring it up to snuff (grinding a better edge profile, making a better sheath) but for the money it is a bargain.

Fortunately, I don't have to do anything to the CR to "bring it up to snuff" it's already there.

I may be off base here, but you seem to be confusing "survival-knife" with "combat-knife."

And finally, combat=survival.

Enough said. I'm obviously not going to convince you and since I now own both you don't have to sell me any more. It was a good discussion though.

 

[Skofnung]

Combat=Survival

Perhaps this is where we've gotten our wires crossed. A "survival knife" in my lexicon is a tool to get you the essentials: Shelter and Sustinance. Any knife will work as a weapon but not all "weapons-grade" knives will work as tools.

If I need a hand weapon in a "survival situation" I'll use my knife to make one.

There's nothing wrong with owning fine cutlery. Like I said, I'm sure that blade is top notch. But don't lose sight of the fact that a good knife doesn't need to cost as much as gun in order to do the job well. Our ancestors used rocks and their brains... they got us here didn't they?

 

[gremlin_bros]

Perhaps this is where we've gotten our wires crossed. A "survival knife" in my lexicon is a tool to get you the essentials: Shelter and Sustinance. Any knife will work as a weapon but not all "weapons-grade" knives will work as tools.

If I need a hand weapon in a "survival situation" I'll use my knife to make one.

There's nothing wrong with owning fine cutlery. Like I said, I'm sure that blade is top notch. But don't lose sight of the fact that a good knife doesn't need to cost as much as gun in order to do the job well. Our ancestors used rocks and their brains... they got us here didn't they?

+1
though i am sad to hear he wont be testing the bushman against his Chris reeves knife
another thought is if he slips down a hill and his knife is lost he has lost an expensive tool to him if you or i do the same we have only lost 20 bucks and chances are we have a second one in our pack as back up.
i myself also Knapp flint and obsidian so making a new knife or spear for me is little trouble. i can shave with my obsidian blades and have done so to prove a point. as i stated in an earlier post i have several knives both expensive custom made and factory made if i can only pick one knife and it's going to be used and abused I'll take the bushman. as for combat knives vs survival knives i find if you try to make one for both it ends up not being up to snuff for ether. hence survival is my bushman combat i carry something double edged and would hate to have to rely on it for survival i mean hey what am i going to pound on when trying to split a piece of firewood and double edged in survival is a safety issue to me. if your hand slips as your trying to cut up some wood for a shelter you'll end up cutting yourself now you have to survive and you also have an open wound to deal with. single edge for survival double for combat and don't try to make one do the job of both.
personnel opinion i know but i have the right.

 

[Optical Serenity]

Hah, how do you compare a cold steel to a Chris Reeve knife?

Actually, I think for the money, the Bushman is a funky, but decent backup type fixed blade.

Its more something i wouldn't mind using heavy duty once and loosing...

I'd be pissed if I lost a CR.

 

[mrmeval]

I love the fancy blades, especially the exceptionally well made ones. I've handled Al Mar's stainless damascus kitchen knives which cut pineapple like butter. I've got my eye on a Junglee tanto that's been in a friends inventory for about 10 years. It would be something to talk about but not something to use unless I had to.

I'd prefer a 20 dollar knife I had confidence in but could afford to beat up if needed. Neatest blade I've found? A cane knife I found at Tractor Supply for $11.00. I stripped the crap paint and handles off and smoothed it down and reshaped the edge. It will get properly heat treated and then either have a bake on coat of enamel or some sort of gun coat. Then I'll put on some kind of cheap laminate handles, probably some scrap phenolic and I've got a cool looking bush knife. It's nice getting coached by a real knife maker.

Hah, how do you compare a cold steel to a Chris Reeve knife?

Actually, I think for the money, the Bushman is a funky, but decent backup type fixed blade.

Its more something i wouldn't mind using heavy duty once and loosing...

I'd be pissed if I lost a CR.

 

[gremlin_bros]

Hah, how do you compare a cold steel to a Chris Reeve knife?

Actually, I think for the money, the Bushman is a funky, but decent backup type fixed blade.

Its more something i wouldn't mind using heavy duty once and loosing...

I'd be pissed if I lost a CR.

how do you compare a cold steel to a chris reeve knife you ask. simple you buy both and abuse the hell out of them till one of them breaks to see whitch one can take it. my money is on the cold steel for the win.

 

[middy]

my money is on the cold steel for the win.

I'll take that bet. I might prefer the CS as a cutter, but there's no way you're going to break a CR without a sledgehammer or something...

 

[mrmeval]

It's A2 tool steel, pretty tough. I was looking at the specs and it's air hardening. I think either are ok for what each does.

After looking at metal specifications I want a Talonite or Stellite blade but the cost is ... ouch.

I'll take that bet. I might prefer the CS as a cutter, but there's no way you're going to break a CR without a sledgehammer or something...

 

[hso]

HSO, I wish I had the time to do the tests you suggest but unfortunately I don't. I'll have to leave it for the magazines or someone else to do that kind of comparison. Sorry.

Send the silly thing to me and I'll test it against my CR.

I'll post pictures and leave it up to the parties here to advocate the tests.

Rope cut

Stab and twist out

Fir 2X4 trim

Wooden stake trim

Limb lopping

What else?

 

[mrmeval]

I think what you've done is a cool idea. Here's another.
http://www.alpharubicon.com/leo/coldsteelforester.htm

The knife is made from SK5 which is used to make razor knife blades. It's a carbon tool steel with good qualities.

I made a cheapo survival kit knife.

Cold Steel was having a sale on their "Bushman" model....the one-piece blade with the rolled handle.

 

[vynx]

For $15 the CS Bushman is hard to beat - I have for for my "backup" survival knife.

But surviving in the woods is easy - its surviving on the mean streets of LA thats hard

For that heres my survival knife. I'm new at this so hope it works.

If not its a Camillus Cuda Max - Now thats survival in the city!!LOL

 

[KriegHund]

In response to the original post
Decent idea hillbilly. Creative.

However, ide rather just take a regular knife and a small pack with more items

 

[gremlin_bros]

ok it took some time but i did it and as soon as i can get a camera ill post the pics. i was able to do somthing i dont think anybody would do to an expensive knife just to see if the thing can take it. where i work there building some new facilites and i was able to talk the dozer operator into this. i can honestly say the bushman knife will withstand being ran over by a D-9 dozer on hard packed gravel (no place with asphalt available) the knife did get rather scuffed up but did not break and after ten minets of work is back to being able to shave the hair from my arm. truthfully i figured it would at least bend but it held up talk about a torture test. now if sombody would like to test a chriss reeve knife in the same manor i would love to see if it could take the punishment. oh and yes my wife thinks im certifabily nuts on this one and sorry for the bad spelling

(note: this is somthing you would not do to a knife it constuites i beleve you would agree gross abuse and torture and this is where i tell you dont try this at home.)

 

[madmike]

(note: this is somthing you would not do to a knife it constuites i beleve you would agree gross abuse and torture and this is where i tell you dont try this at home.)

Indeed. I are an expert in this field, and I wouldn't try it at home. At least, not in MY home...

 

[madmike]

I don't care how strong the literature says it is it's stamped from a sheet of steel and not forged like better knives. It may be flexible but that’s because it is so thin and that is not how great knives are made. My kitchen knives are better made; they are forged the way the CR knives are made.

CR knives are machined in several stages from bar stock. Air hardening steels are not easy to forge. If he's started having them forged, it's being done on contract like most of his work.

Round handles spin in the hand and are awkward to use for many operations.

Metal handles are horrific on the hands in cold weather, and impossible to use in sub-freezing weather.

They're exceptionally well-made, but the design lacks. This is the opinion of a great many people, including the retired SF master sergeant who reviews knives for The Blade magazine.

And finally, combat=survival.

Interesting theory. 21 years in the military, I've yet to kill anyone with a knife. Just checked with a friend who's a SEAL...nope, not him, either. Let me ask the Ranger back from Afghanistan...nope, never killed anyone with a knife.

We HAVE cut a lot of litter poles, sandbags, pallet bands and straps, firewood, tent sides, rope, tree branches...thin, wide blades are better for this. You can power through with little resistance.

If I want something thick and heavy, I'll get an Ontario Spec Plus for $50ish. does everything the CR does.

There's nothing WRONG with CR, but you're paying for the name and the semi-benchmade attention to detail. That of itself does not make it a better knife, except in a collection.

 

[KriegHund]

Its my experience with knives that you dont get what you pay for.

If you have the cash, may as well spend it, but you dont really need more that 50$ for a great knife.

 

[mrmeval]

It does depend on the knife and the amount of personal testing you can do or if you can get first hand knowledge of how well they hold up.

If I had the money I'd pick up a set of Al Mar kitchen knives. They are around 800 list.

I'll pick up cheap folders I can lose that don't rust though one I have has lasted about 10 years. It was 8 dollars.

I'll pick up collectables if I can get them for 10 dollars, like my Gerber Mark II.

And I'll gladly take any knife I'm given.

Hrm. I'm posting a new thread. "Photos of your Iraqi knife"

Its my experience with knives that you dont get what you pay for.

If you have the cash, may as well spend it, but you dont really need more that 50$ for a great knife.

 

[carebear]

And if you lose it and buy another, you're still money ahead.