Small fixed-blade to keep in rifle buttstock?

[MatthewVanitas]

I was idly pondering what I can do with the empty space inside the bolt-channel of my Marlin 30-30, and was thinking that some emergency gear might be appropriate.

Maybe hank of fishline, couple hooks, Sunto watch-compass (beloved of Marines) etc. Maybe a plastic emergency whistle?

Then I thought that maybe a very small (1.5"-2") fixed-blade knife might be useful. I thought fixed so as to have no moving parts. Something small to fit, and light to not throw off the balance. Any suggestions?

And of course, the obvious question: how to I set up the buttstock so that I don't need a screwdriver to get into it? Or do I just make sure that one screw is a flathead, and look for a sharp rock to turn it in an emergency?

-MV

 

[Fosbery]

Tape a coin to the stock to use as a screwdriver?

As for knives, CRKT make the Side Hawg which has a 2" blade. Anza knives make a 'mini skinner' with a 1.25" or so blade. Kellam and Brusletto do some nice little Scandis which are probably your best bet if you ask me.

Though to be honest, I think you'd be better off either carrying a knife on your hip or neck, or taping a knife to the stock, and having something bigger. Use the space in the stock for fishing line, etc as you say.

 

[Joe Demko]

Why not an AG Russell Hunter's Scalpel?

 

[MatthewVanitas]

(scuffs ground akwardly)

Umm, it turns out that a Marlin 336 buttstock isn't hollow, so back to the drawing board on that one.

On the bright side, with the inspirational aid of beer, I managed to figure out that a Kershaw Chive fits into the pistol grip of my AR, w/ enough room for line, hooks, compass, etc. I just might go get one of those trapdoor grips now.

Any recommendations on a folding knife, the size of the Chive or smaller, of decent quality but affordable? If I do manage to jam all this gear into an AR grip, I'll snap a pick of my kit.

-MV

 

[hso]

You may think this is silly, but I'd pick an exacto. You can put several different blades wrapped in heavy Al foil and cut the blade holder down to fit in the grip. Add a bit of para cord and a mag fire starter along with a miniature saw blade, curved general purpose and the pointed scalple like blade.

 

[Skofnung]

My late father's squirrel/walkabout gun was a Savage model 24 in .22/.410. He modified the gun extensivly, and one of the things he did was to replace the butpad with a funky swiveling pad that had a recessed latch where the top screw would have gone. To open it, you would simply find a twig or some other thin pointed thing and push the button latch in. You would then be able to swing the pad out of the way, revealing the bare wood underneath.

You may try asking in the shotgun/rifle forum if anyone still makes such a thing.

He drilled a bunch of holes in the butt end of the stock for extra ammo, and a little knife. The knife was just a short Brusletto patch knife blade with the tang cut off to the shortest useable length. He then wrapped the tang with artificial sinew (a strong, waxed dental floss like thread for you non-buckskinners) that could be used in an emergency.

Along with the other stuff he did to it, it is a right handy setup.

As for small folders, look to the small Spydercos. I'll bet you can find one to fit.

 

[Fosbery]

Do you not remember the Marlin 336 stock kit everyone was drooling over? It was synthetic with a camo pattern and had two little hidden compartments. One in the fore end concealed a rail to stick torches and lasers on. The other, in the side of the stock opened up to hold a brace of cartridges on a little rack. I'm sure you could rip out the rack and just stick a knife in there.

 

[El Tejon]

Fosbery, yes, I remember. My brother has one on one of his Marlins. He keeps a mini SAK (cots $10) in the buttstock.

 

[rbmcmjr]

Did that stock kit ever come to market? The only thread I saw described it as a prototype.

 

[19-3Ben]

In terms of overall length of the knife for blde length, it's nearly impossible to beat a push-dagger. Look at this one from Cold Steel. I've had one of its big brothers for about a year and a half, and I love it.

http://www.coldsteel.com/urbanpal.html

It looks like it may be exactly what you would be looking for in terms of blade length, weight, size, and low (no) maintenance.

 

[MatthewVanitas]

It looks like it may be exactly what you would be looking for in terms of blade length, weight, size, and low (no) maintenance.

More than short, I need _narrow_ if it's going to fit into a buttstock.

I was also looking into a folder to put inside an AR-15 trapdoor grip. For that purpose, the best suggestion (from BladeForums) was the A.G. Russell Ultimate Penknife in titanium. $20, light as heck, folds up small enough to fit w/ room to spare.

Checking around to find a swivelling buttplate for the Marlin 30-30. I imagine it's safe to drill a hole into the buttstock from the end, tons of rifles have that anyway to access the stock screw.

-MV

 

[Skofnung]

It may take awhile, but I'll try to find out who made that contraption and let you know. Truth be told, I'd like a few more of them myself for some other project guns.

Drilling holes in a Marlin stock will cause no harm provided that you drill them straight.

 

[Skofnung]

Ok, I'm afraid this is all the info I can give you.

The pad itself was made by Pachmayr and is stamped with the words Presentation Model and White Line.

My dad set this gun up 30+ years ago, so Pacmayr may have discontinued the model, (I don't see anything on their website that looks like it) or it may have been something that he put together himself.

I'll keep looking, and If you want details regarding its construction (should you wish to put one together yourself) I'll send you details as best I can via PM.

 

[LAK]

Umm, it turns out that a Marlin 336 buttstock isn't hollow, so back to the drawing board on that one.

Nothing that some careful employment of a padded vise, drill, some narrow chisels and a mallet won't fix. Slightly oversize a hollowed rectangle to hold a box of sheet brass, stainless, or plastic to custom house your chosen items, epoxy it in flush.

---------------------------------

http://ussliberty.org
http://ssunitedstates.org

 

[Kaylee]

Something you might consider (if you don't mind a slightly anachronistic look to your rifle) is order one of the patchbox covers from Track of the Wolf or Dixie Gunworks. You could inlet a little compartment in your stock for that knife and other goodies, and just close the lid on it.

 

[hso]

LAK,

I'd stay away from angled openings and stick with round to avoid creating a stress risors and prevent crack propigation. Round hole stronger than square hole.

 

[JShirley]

Heck, why not just get a carrier that rides on your buttstock? Everyone's seen the ones with ammo loops, but there are also ones with a open compartment, covered with a flap.

Okay, here's one such carrier. It's made to hold three shotgun shells, but a SAK or similarly sized knife is about the same size. You could use the other two compartments to hold 4 rounds of ammo, or a lighter, compass, and pack of heat tabs.

John

 

[hso]

John,

Now why didn't I think about that?!!

Eagle makes some with a large pocket and rifle loops on the outside.

 

[MatthewVanitas]

Had an interesting idea which would probably be a little too complicated:

My Marlin buttplate is almost the exact same size/shape as an M16 trapdoor buttplate...


-MV

 

[Sharpdogs]

Take a look at the Buck Hartsook. Weighs only .5 ounce and comes in S30V steel https://edcdepot.com/merchantmanager/product_info.php?cPath=1&products_id=115

 

[LAK]

HSO

I'd stay away from angled openings and stick with round to avoid creating a stress risors and prevent crack propigation. Round hole stronger than square hole.

I'd agree with that, although it depends on what you want to stash, and how thick the buttstock is. A rectagular space could actually be rounded at each end and some metal or wood be used to bolster epoxy filler bedding at each end.

---------------------------------------

http://ussliberty.org
http://ssunitedstates.org