Jungle King Survival Knife

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sam_acw

Native
Sep 2, 2005
1,081
10
41
Tyneside
I think it was a case that it did its job as a survival knife ok, maybe not super but ok. When the level of craftsmanship and build quality was reduced it became a totally awful design.
 

phaserrifle

Nomad
Jun 16, 2008
366
1
South of England
the principle of hollow handled knives with the roll pin holding the blade on is'nt as flawed as some make out. but, as with anything, it only works if it's been made to a good standard. supposedly the jungle king 2 was a good knife (at one point) although current production is anyones guess.

schrade are making a knife simmilar to the chris reeves knives, with the hollow handle, that's going for about £60. past that hollow handled knifes of any known quality are the chris reeves models, which are going to set you back a fair bit.


In my teenage years I had a Gerber Mk II hidden under my bed, I didn't get a Buck 184 until I'd left home.:rolleyes:

some versions of the gerber mark 2 can fetch a fair bit now. if you've still got it, it might be worth looking into how much it would go for.

no knives under my bed. mum and dad know about all of them anyway. and none are especialy embarrasing.
 

FerlasDave

Full Member
Jun 18, 2008
1,792
559
Off the beaten track
why should a knife be embarrasing anyway? im sure ill get one or two people laugh at me if i purchase a JK but im not worried, after all its me whos going to be using it. so if it works for me then whats the problem? each to their own and i hold no prejudice against preference. :)
 

forestwalker

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
I have a military survival knife. It is big, heavy and black. It has a full crossguard. I even use it on a daily basis. Until I find something better I maintain that the MOD survival knife is an ideal kindling knife. A sturdy, heavy chopper, lives in a drawer next to the woodstove. I also used in this past summer to chop and peel the poles for a yurt, it did that pretty well too.
 

Wayland

Hárbarðr
:D This thread reminds me I once had a Jungle King that somebody gave me when such knives were fashionable.

It was stolen from my tent along with a load of other stuff from a commercial campsite in the Lakes ( Last time I ever used one. :bluThinki ) while I was down the pub.

I didn't lose much sleep over the knife but some of the other kit was annoying to lose.
 
Nov 29, 2004
7,808
23
Scotland
some versions of the gerber mark 2 can fetch a fair bit now. if you've still got it, it might be worth looking into how much it would go for.

Both the Gerber Mark II and the Buck 184 were sold long ago. I do still have a Chris Reeve Shadow III which is certainly a very tough tool however I think the question people should be asking is not whether a hollow handled knife is tough enough, but rather what is the point in having a hollow handle in the first place? Surely any odds 'n' ends that would fit into the handle would be better of hanging around your neck or being stored in a pouch on your belt or knife sheath?
 

phaserrifle

Nomad
Jun 16, 2008
366
1
South of England
Both the Gerber Mark II and the Buck 184 were sold long ago. I do still have a Chris Reeve Shadow III which is certainly a very tough tool however I think the question people should be asking is not whether a hollow handled knife is tough enough, but rather what is the point in having a hollow handle in the first place? Surely any odds 'n' ends that would fit into the handle would be better of hanging around your neck or being stored in a pouch on your belt or knife sheath?

best way I've heard of it being used is for extra kit. a few bits and bobs that are equivilants or supplements to what is in you're kit allready. basicaly means you've got an extra supply of matches or whatever avialable if your main set gets dammaged or lost. if the knife works fine it can't hurt can it?
 

rapidboy

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Jun 14, 2004
2,535
27
BB
The CR knives are real quality but IMO they are pretty uncomfortable to use.
I did own a Robert Parrish 8" survival knife for a while, it was very well put together and a real quality piece but too valuable to thrash to see what sort of use and abuse it could take.

DSC01832.jpg


I read somewhere that the original idea of hollow handled knives was not for survival kit but for carrying drugs.
 

bushwacker bob

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 22, 2003
3,824
17
STRANGEUS PLACEUS
why should a knife be embarrasing anyway? im sure ill get one or two people laugh at me if i purchase a JK but im not worried, after all its me whos going to be using it. so if it works for me then whats the problem? each to their own and i hold no prejudice against preference. :)

You said it all here Davey. If you get on with it, its no problem.:cool:
 

mark wood

Forager
Jul 25, 2004
205
0
52
Newcastle
The Mk IV (the larger) was bought in the eighties and was about he same price as the original Wilkinson Sword knife at the time - pricy but not ludicrous (£140 or so). The smaller shadow IV was purchased a few years ago and involved trading a large Alan Wood knife, also from the eighties, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to afford it. I just grew up on this kind of knife and much as my head appreciates the woodlore et al I'm happy with these.
They are excessively expensive now though.
 

rapidboy

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Jun 14, 2004
2,535
27
BB
£100 - £150 will find most of the CR hollow handle knives second hand but in good / mint condition
They arer a lot of knife for the money if you need a hollow handle and can live with the handle profile / finish.
 

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