Survival Knives

[Dtrain]

It is suprising what One can do with Dental Floss and a Needle!

[BIG-TARGET]

Did you guys ever see the thread on YouTube, I think by Urban Prepper? He built a neat little kit that he actually does carry all around. Sine of the items were floss, Immodium AD, Tylenol. Things we are actually likely to need in the REAL world.

Dumb question.  Tried looking for that thread, you got the link??

[Lynn LeFey]

I think he means this video.

Urban Altoids Survival Tin - EDC

[Zed]

Well i think ive now got my GK survival knife setup sorted, added a lanyard hole (all ashleys fault lol)

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

After having to bushwhack through several miles of poison oak infested trail this last weekend, and other types of flora, I decided I need a good machete that I can carry on my backpack.  After much research I've ordered a Condor Tool & Knife "Golok". 

http://www.knifecenter.com/item/CN41014HCS/Condor-Tool-and-Knife-Golok-Machete-14-inch-Black-Carbon-Steel-Blade-Walnut-Handles-Leather-Sheath

I figure it'll double as a general purpose survival knife as well, as it's large enough to use for wood processing. 

[Gareth]

I'd be interested in hearing what you think about the Golok mate, they certainly seem to be getting good reviews.

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

I'd be interested in hearing what you think about the Golok mate, they certainly seem to be getting good reviews.

I'll keep you posted... It won't be here until next week, most likely, and we don't have another camping trip scheduled until July, when we're going to Sequoia / King's Canyon.  Not sure about the trails there, but after my Tuolumne experience, I don't want to go without it!

I'll take it up into the open space preserved behind my house after I get it, and test it on some of the poison oak we have here...   

Edit: I have to admit I'm having second thoughts now, and thinking I should've gotten the Parang instead...  each has features I like.  The Golok's blade tapers from 1/4" thick at the handle, to 1/8" at the tip, so it should work well on brush, and its sheath doesn't require opening any snaps.  The Parang, on the other hand, has a bit better reach and is more designed for brush and weeds than the Golok.  However, it doesn't have the tapered blade, or the snap-less sheath, or the nice ball-end on the handle... 

Agh!  It never ends!

[Gareth]

Just been comparing the specs on them and I can see your dilemma.   On balance I think I would have chosen the Golok myself.

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

Just been comparing the specs on them and I can see your dilemma.   On balance I think I would have chosen the Golok myself.

Yeah, I think the Golok is the better of the two as an overall multipurpose utility tool...  the blade should be better for wood processing than the Parang.  The shorter length and the snap-less sheath are really what made me go for the Golok, as I think that'll make the Golok more pack-friendly.  My hiking pack is a Mountainsmith Approach 3.0, which has side slots for cross country skis.  There's a compression strap at the top of the slot, so I'm going to try running it through the belt loop of the sheath for carrying the Golok.

Our back yard is pretty overgrown right now, and my wife has been on me for a while about getting it dealt with...  I can't rent a weed eater until Monday, but even so, there are some pretty nasty clumps of thistles out there that I'm going to save for testing the Golok.  My wife said she'd even take pics for me to post here for a review of the tool.  With any luck I'll get it early next week, and I'll be able to post a review a day or two after I get it.  I'm really looking forward to getting this tool... partly because after enduring a week of poison oak rash on my side and face, I'm out for revenge!!!   

[Dtrain]

I keep thinking about a Woodsman's Pal myself

[Zed]

Kukris are cool, but I've never heard gurkhas mentioned as jungle special forces before. I didn't think there was a lot of jungle in Nepal, more, well, mountains?

Steinar, you are right. Gurkhas were not known for their Jungle warefare, it was in this part of the world South East Asia the Gurkhas was deployed as elite to fight jungle warefare against the Malayan communist party. That was why they were seens as elite of jungle warefare here, they were deploy in Borneo too: http://www.historicaleye.com/sukarno.html

There are probably better known Jungle warefare elite than the Gurkhas though

I hadnt had a Kukri for over 20 years untill picking these 2 up recently, they defiantly would make a grea jungle survival knife 

[Dtrain]

I have been poking around the Yard and on Hikes with one of thse as an EDC survival knife of a light weight sort...my Rajah II in the Jack Pack and either my Spartan or Rajah III in my Pocket or Vice Versa depending on my Mood of course backed up by an SAK or Two...
http://www.coldsteel.com/rajahseries.html

Dtrain

PS...The Rajah II is awsome for cutting starps and such

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

The shipping on my Golok from Knifecenter is taking forever...        I ordered it a week ago today, and it won't be here for two more days yet... 

I am really looking forward to getting it.  I'll check the edge and finish it up if necessary, then I'm going to put it through its paces... 

[50ft-trad]

I'm still a HUGE fan of the Puukko style for dealing with the vast majority of tasks, but many people expect something bigger for a "survival" knife. I've not got many, but the ones I have got are very dependable and very capable



I posted them in another thread recently, but they belong here too. From the top:

Chris Caine Survival Tool - a real brute of a tool, but capable of lighter work too
Scandi Puukko - not the best chopping knife but a very capable knife all the same
J Adams MOD Survival knife - British Army Issue sharpened prybar
Muela Jabali 17A - full tang bowie with stag and brass for surviving in style 
Scorpion Knives Warthog - SUPERB knife and actually beats a Puukko for me. LOVE IT!!!

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

The thing that bugs me about puukko style knives is they don't have any kind of finger groove, guard, choil, etc. to keep the hand from slipping down onto the blade.

I've been looking a lot at the Condor Tavian... looks like a great small utility knife.