Bit of a combo-post. Wanted to share newly-published thoughts from experienced bushcrafters/preppers about how to mix the right bladed tools together based on your situation, plus some new review roundups on over 100 products: How to choose and mix bladed tools Best survival multi-tool Best hand saws Best survival axe review Survival hatchet review Review of bush and tactical tomahawks Best machete and kukri Best Bowie knife / large fighting knife If you've tried multiple in a category, would love to hear thoughts on what worked well for you in the field? What do you think are the core tools everyone should have? We like: Field knife Multi-tool An axe or jungle blade (kukri etc) depending on where you live Folding saw Edited to add new links for reviews of saws, multitools, machetes and kukris, and Bowies.
Core tools from my perspective are... #1 - Pocket knife, whatever flavor you enjoy #2 - Tomahawk in the winter, because I chop lots more firewood, machete in the summer for beating through the sub tropical growth in my area. Tomahawk over hatchet, because a broken handle is easier to replace from the bush on the tommy, not on a hatchet. The tommy head can also be removed and used as a hand blade, and can be attached to a stick in adze fashion for another handy tool. #3 - Big knife, with a blade not less than 4" and no longer than 8", needs to be able to cut bread, clean fish, and light chopping and cutting chores. #4 - I consider a folding saw a luxury, but usually have an 8" one with me. Always experimenting, and now testing a new big knife that has a completely hollow handle, like made from tubing or pipe. Can be used as a spear head, attached to a shorter stick it doubles as a machete, and also is the big knife. It's inexpensive but very durable and I have used it extensively in the field. Now retiring my other big knives, and will see how the pipe knife survives the coming hot months, and I won't be carrying a machete this summer but will rely on the big knife to fill both roles. I'm woodsrunning, traveling light, and not doing extensive bush construction projects past primitive traps and quick shelters.
@Oltymer Are you in a southern climate? Why an 8" blade over something more manageable in the 5-ish range?
Tennessee, very jungle like in the heat, and yes, I have been in the tropics and the northern forests, this place is brutal. It ate Union soldiers alive during the Civil War, without much effort from the Confederates. You are correct, a 5" is more manageable, especially at cleaning fish but my pocket knife fills in a lot of space there too. My big knife is also depended on for self defense and an 8" blade will reach the human heart from any angle in the torso, and yes I have been there too... My retired big knife is a Kabar USMC, and I also carried a Kukri a number of years but I like the pipe knife even better, and don't know what took me so long to try one out. I also know what works for me may not be the best for everyone.
My woods walking days were more than a few days ago, but a 4 or 5 inch sheath knife and 3/4 axe to go with the 1911 and 870 did for my needs at the time. Today, the 870 would be replaced with an MSR. My needs clearly did not call for a machete or large knife back then, but had it done, I would have tried to find a kukri.
Pocket utility knives (1 on me and 1 in pack), several Mora knives (all in pack), folding fillet knife (pack), Bark River FR belt knife, a medium sized axe (CS Trail Boss) / OR / An Estwing hatchet for the day pack. And a Silky Gomboy folding saw -best in the world hands down. Everything else is just "fluff" to me. I like toying around with tomahawks, but I've not found a practical use for them. I'm not Mel Gibson and I'm not a Comanche. Your mileage may freaking vary. I don't need a machete, but they are awesome when you do need them. I don't use chain type saws, most are junk and those which aren't require too much energy to use.
We're putting the folding saw roundup together soon. Obviously know the Silky Gomboy and it's level of popularity, but is there anything else even close?
Silky's operate on the 'pull' motion, not the 'push' for cutting, which is why a lot of folks break blades or claim they aren't sufficient. It takes practice, but they are without a doubt the best there is. Some ultralight packers will use another variety with plastic parts and such, but those people aren't real survivalists, more like yuppies with too much time on their hands. Lars from Survival Russia uses Silky exclusively in -40 and below, deep in the Russian wilderness. He knows what's up. No, there's nothing in the folding saw category that even comes close.
IMO, I. A fighting knife . because if life and death call for it , nothing else will do. If you have never been in that type of situation you can not appreciate the difference it makes . 2. A utilitarian knife used for camp maintenance ,likely to get dull with use most often wood processing. 3. If there is the highest probability if getting into brush a machete deals with it best hands down, preferably one with a hook in the handle and a lanyard . 4. If there is no brush to deal with but trees in abundance a buck saw out performs pruning saws, and is the better use of energy(calories) 5. In this case a full size or boys ax is adequate for splitting wood . 6. If there is an abundance of limb wood then a hatchet is adequate ,practical. 7. Having to build something heavy, making a bear trap , or a more significant shelter, require the larger tools. If you allow for the unexpected it is far better than assuming nothing can go wrong.
If you could only have one of those two, which would it be? (Don't want to assume the numbering answered that.)
My favorite knife that I own. Its a Blackjack model 5 with a stacked leather handle and a 5 1/2 inch carbon steel blade. I carried it all through my Army days and on four combat deployments. It has always worked and never let me down. Four "working" knives of mine , two of which are from the 1890's , that get used a bunch as camping , hunting and kitchen knives. A Hudson Bay Pattern Camp Axe , circa 1920's -30's...still gets used as a camp axe... A 1870's-80's "Pipe tomahawk"... I like a good "working knife or axe" , but that doesn't mean that they need to be made 5 minutes ago or out of the latest and greatest of materials...using a axe or knife that has "been around" and still doing its job , makes me happy.... Andy
