I say budget, you say knife

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kanukkarhu

Tenderfoot
Mar 21, 2012
63
0
Western Canada
Hello everyone.

Thanks for all the advice, and not being a knife enthusiast per se I've seen lots of knives mentioned that I have neither heard of nor seen — everyone knows about the 300–400 quid knives, but only knife savvy people know how to get a decent blade for under a ton.

To answer a few questions directly. Putting a handle on a knife is something I could do, but time constraints are the limit. I am woring hard to earn cash in the coming two months before my departure. I actually have a hunk of O1 which I have cut to shape (pretty much a woodlore clone) and drilled. I also have wood for scales, brass pins and tube for a lanyard loop. However, I have no bench grinder, and have not yet worked out a way of setting up a jig for hand filing the scandi in (I live in a one bedroom flat in brixton with no outdoor space). Realistically, while I look forward to working on knives in the future, it ain't gonna happen before this trip.

With regards to axe, I am going to be moving between the snowy forest of the Yukon, pacific islands in Alaska and the mountainous forest of British Columbia. All of the places I am going I will be work in locations that will have axes/hatchets knocking about. So I will not be taking my bruks forest axe with me.

I could get a blade out there, as was suggest, but I am already a londoner showing up at an alaskan oyster farm to hunt and hang out with some burley bearded men. I need to get all my **** before my departure and make it look dirty, so the don't mock me!

Maybe I am only set on scandi because I do so much wood carving etc. I have got round to investing in a decent scandi bush knife. Maybe I should get a scandi and take something cheapish like an opinel for skinning and field dressing..?

Thanks again everyone!
I find these threads interesting, so I'll poke my nose in again , if you don't mind...

Speaking as one of the people like those you might be meeting (ie , NOT a Londoner, but a North American outdoorsy guy), if you are interested in 'impressing' and/or fitting in and not coming off as a dweeb, you will be surprised that most of your knife recommendations here will far outdistance what most people here might carry. Think Buck, Gerber, et al. Stuff easily available at a hardware store or Walmart. Sadly, I don't think I'm far wrong.

Personally, I can tell you that you'll not likely see anything like a GB axe in a camp, unless someone there is a 'knife nut.' You could still see some old Swedish axes, though, but I bet they'll be dull and in rough shape. You might see some plastic Moras.

Again, I'll offer the opinion (and it's certainly just that: an opinion) that all the hunting knives will be either hollow ground. (an excellent hunting grind, IMHO) or some kind of flat grind or convex. Perhaps a soft sabre grind.

I like the idea of a mora coupled with another full tang knife - perhaps that buck or gerber. Not a bad suggestion. You'll want something full tang that you can trust in an emergency.

Lots of great folks giving lots of great advice! :)

And again, I could have this all wrong! Caveat emptor! ;)
 

Big Stu 12

Bushcrafter through and through
Jan 7, 2012
6,028
4
Ipswich
The way I look at it is, do you really need to spend that amount of money to get a good knife that will do the work that you want, if you are carying a small axe then no need for a heavy large knife...

I think you will find a lot on here will say stay with the simple and the well known, you say you dont want to stick out, then go with run of the mill stuff....and nowt special, also dont forget a lot of these will be using what works... not what looks good on a camp site..

Myself go with somthing like the good old Mora/Hautifors knife say the Clipper/Robust type, and have a small Svord/Openeil in your pocket.. if you really want a meat prep/filleting knife then take a small one from mora or simular... keep it just for that and keep it sharp.. they are cheap enough.


Have fun Bud and enjoy it :)
 

Samon

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Mar 24, 2011
3,970
44
Britannia!
Were you referring to the ESEE?


Not directly, but essentially yes.

A lot of money for a big toy that IMO is not only OTT but not very good at anything.. It might 'chop' better than a smaller one but itllbe goofy and over sized for everything else. The esee brand are decent but they do make smaller, more practical models!

Trying to think practically is all, and hawlling a sword collection to play in the woods is dumb.
 

relin

Full Member
Sep 29, 2010
190
1
Chesham
Not directly, but essentially yes.

A lot of money for a big toy that IMO is not only OTT but not very good at anything.. It might 'chop' better than a smaller one but itllbe goofy and over sized for everything else. The esee brand are decent but they do make smaller, more practical models!

Trying to think practically is all, and hawlling a sword collection to play in the woods is dumb.

No disrespect intended but have you actually used one in earnest?
 
W

warnerbot

Guest
I'm taking all this on board, and there is lots of great advice coming my, just a quick not, my note about wanting to 'fit in' with the locals was obviously a bit of a joke — more to the point is that I would rather have one on me before I head out there. I will be float planing in to Prince Of Wales Island, and will be a couple of hundred dollars worth of travel away from shops so would sooner be equipped before I leave!

Don't want you all thinking I'm some sort of hipster-outdoorsman who wants a shiny ray mears knife to go with my craghoppers/bear grylls jumpers and belt-mounted spork kit!
 

mountainm

Bushcrafter through and through
Jan 12, 2011
9,990
12
Selby
www.mikemountain.co.uk
I'm taking all this on board, and there is lots of great advice coming my, just a quick not, my note about wanting to 'fit in' with the locals was obviously a bit of a joke — more to the point is that I would rather have one on me before I head out there. I will be float planing in to Prince Of Wales Island, and will be a couple of hundred dollars worth of travel away from shops so would sooner be equipped before I leave!

Don't want you all thinking I'm some sort of hipster-outdoorsman who wants a shiny ray mears knife to go with my craghoppers/bear grylls jumpers and belt-mounted spork kit!

Take a bunch of cheap stainless mora's/hvk's and give them away to people who help you as and when. Then you'll always have a spare, you won't be gutted if you lose one, and you can switch to a new one and sharpen later if needed. I'd also take a saw and an axe if I had the space.
 

Samon

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Mar 24, 2011
3,970
44
Britannia!
No disrespect intended but have you actually used one in earnest?


Not a large esee, no. Played with plenty of big knives in the past though, owned dozens and although they aren't identical, they are of the same concept. Big, tacticool and aimed at the 'urban survivor types'.


This will escalate into the usual debate though, 'west side is de best' etc etc.. And although there's nothing wrong in wanting one mega uber survival knife to work on a fish farm, it still makes me chuckle!

Again, my humble advice is spend less and think practically.
 

relin

Full Member
Sep 29, 2010
190
1
Chesham
Not a large esee, no. Played with plenty of big knives in the past though, owned dozens and although they aren't identical, they are of the same concept. Big, tacticool and aimed at the 'urban survivor types'.


This will escalate into the usual debate though, 'west side is de best' etc etc.. And although there's nothing wrong in wanting one mega uber survival knife to work on a fish farm, it still makes me chuckle!

Again, my humble advice is spend less and think practically.

Mine is a custom and isnt very tacticool looking, however IMO its a great all-round campknife that is practically unbreakable, perfect for battoning, skinning, butchery etc, not the best carver or chopper but good enough.

Nothing to do with uber survival, image, trying to be like rambo or any other reason than its a bloody good knife and is bombproof (search any knife forums, they have a good rep).

I know that its Martyn from BBs fave camp knife too so i'm not alone in this.

There are alternatives to a Mora, yes they are good all rounds, but at the lighter end of the scale, if you want something to take a pounding they wouldnt be my first choice other than they are cheap if you break or lose one.
 

kanukkarhu

Tenderfoot
Mar 21, 2012
63
0
Western Canada
I'm taking all this on board, and there is lots of great advice coming my, just a quick not, my note about wanting to 'fit in' with the locals was obviously a bit of a joke — more to the point is that I would rather have one on me before I head out there. I will be float planing in to Prince Of Wales Island, and will be a couple of hundred dollars worth of travel away from shops so would sooner be equipped before I leave!

Don't want you all thinking I'm some sort of hipster-outdoorsman who wants a shiny ray mears knife to go with my craghoppers/bear grylls jumpers and belt-mounted spork kit!
I actually understand quite well the whole "fitting in thing" because, having been raised in a tourist area of Canada, I've seen the folks that come totin' all the rig - and laughed at them behind their back. No doubt people will treat you like a prince to your face, but IMHO your experience will be better if you prepare appropriately. This is not just in knives, but in everything. Again, one mans opinion.

If I were planning a trip to London, say, I'd be pretty careful about buying tweeds (or a kilt of visiting Scotland, whatever) and showing up that way. Ymmv. I think by carefully planning and preparing your gear, you'll actually find you'll have more respect and less coddling, and that would equal a better trip.

So, just to affirm your idea of going in with proven and suitable gear: well done.

I like the idea someone^ said about bringing in a whack of mora knives, and gifting them. I think that's an excellent idea! :)

I don't think you want to field dress anything larger than small game with a folding knife. Yes it can be done, but it's not the proper tool, IMHO. It's def not done as a routine around here.

Finally (as he prattles on) one knife isn't likely to do it. I'd def leave your axe behind (too heavy and they'll have axes a plenty) and bring a two or three knife combo: good SAK (with saw) fixed blade hunter (similar in size and function to say, an ESEE 3 or 4) and a mora for your carving pleasure.

Again, all MHO. Enjoy the journey and the prep! Thanks for letting me play along. :)
 
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Will_

Nomad
Feb 21, 2013
446
3
Dorset
I need to get all my **** before my departure

Definitely.
Getting local knowledge is great (Like Santaman2000 said) but I'd say it's better to know your knife before you get there. I'd sooner be working with a knife I know, than to be working with a better knife that is new to me - especially if I was jumping in at the deep end of the wilderness like you're about to!! :D

I spent 6 months in western Canada and got to do a bit of hunting with some native Americans I stayed with near Grand Cache.
They picked me up hitchhiking and it turned into one of the best adventures and most memorable weeks of my life! :D

I also met a professional hunter out there who always carried a Buck Vanguard for hunting. I know 440 is not the most popular steel around here, but he hunted for a living and he swore by it.
(He'd hunt all sorts, and if ever there was an aggressive bear problem, he'd be called to track it and kill it! Epic. A few months later I bought one too! Mainly to be as cool as him! :D )
 

Squidders

Full Member
Aug 3, 2004
3,853
15
48
Harrow, Middlesex
We always assume that hunters are experts and that whatever tools they use must be the best and supremely adapted to the task.

It's all nonsense really, if people can use sharp rocks to butcher animals for thousands of years and survive, why do we place so much weight between the slightest difference between knives?

People are also just people, some hunters are complete morons, as are some IT people and some politicians and all are ready to dispense advice about the right way to do something. I hope you have a bloody good trip and get a lot out of it. Worry not about the grind of your knife, there will be an old boy out there somewhere expertly butchering away with a knife you wouldn't keep it you found it.
 

weekender

Full Member
Feb 26, 2006
1,814
19
54
Cambridge
"Worry not about the grind of your knife, there will be an old boy out there somewhere expertly butchering away with a knife you wouldn't keep it you found it."

I think this is true in all things I remember a guy who was a fantastic bricklayer and he used a trowel that I would give tool bucket room, anyone else would use to scrape mud of their boots.
Take what information from here works for you and there has been some sound info, carry what works for you because your the one using it, most of all have a great trip and take lots of photos. (To make us envious obviously) 😄😄😄😉😉
 
W

warnerbot

Guest
Wow. This has got philosophical!

I knew that people used sharpened stones for thousands of years and that some people (whether hunters or IT guys or politicians) are idiots. I also know that some do amazing things with **** knives and some people do **** things with amazing knives. I didn't realise all this would have any bearing on which knife I should buy for my holiday.

I need to rethink my whole strategy I guess! :confused:
 
W

warnerbot

Guest
also, for interest, this is the blog of a young guy who previously went to work on the same oyster farm that I am going to. Looking through a few of these photographs will make you weep...

He's probably on here somewhere, I've been trying to contact him. His name's Alistair...

http://princeofwalesalaska.tumblr.com/
 

relin

Full Member
Sep 29, 2010
190
1
Chesham
It really comes down to a few simple questions:

What do you want to use it for?
How much abuse are you going to give it?
How long does it need to last for?
Does it need to be better at some tasks than others if so which priorities?
How much do you want to spend?

Based on those 5 questions i think you could probably pin down the ideal candidate.
 

relin

Full Member
Sep 29, 2010
190
1
Chesham
Not a large esee, no. Played with plenty of big knives in the past though, owned dozens and although they aren't identical, they are of the same concept.



Incidentally that seems to me like saying that because you have driven a ford mondeo and don't like it the BMW 5 series must be crap, same size, same premise, different beast
 

Samon

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Mar 24, 2011
3,970
44
Britannia!
Incidentally that seems to me like saying that because you have driven a ford mondeo and don't like it the BMW 5 series must be crap, same size, same premise, different beast




If you've got a chubby for big knives, then good for you. If you feel the need to spend hundreds on a custom copy of the tool you need to make cups of tea and eat ration packs in the woods, then bravo to you!

I'll stick to be a little more practical with my money though. And as much as I carry a metaphorical anorack for good tools, I kind of don't for big knives.. Never have, and the more yanks I see play Rambo the less I will!
 

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