axe, saw or knife?
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For me it would be a saw, as i could accomplish every thing i would need while camping/travelling with it, just not carving.
cut fire wood, shape wedges to be hardend in the fire, cut a branch to use as a hammer with the wedges to split larger wood. could even use it for food prep even though it would be a bit messy.
cut fire wood, shape wedges to be hardend in the fire, cut a branch to use as a hammer with the wedges to split larger wood. could even use it for food prep even though it would be a bit messy.
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I'd have to go with a knife. With a knife, you could fell a tree if you had the time, make feathersticks, carve wood for bow drill fire method, split wood, use as a signalling mirror (if not teflon coated), use it prepare game, and can easily be sharpened in the field.
I'm gonna be different... My little axe can do all things said above and in many cases far easier then a knife. This may well be down to the fact that its far better steel then any of my knifes though.. I also find it very easy to handle and in many ways safer.
an axe wins hands down for me.
saws blunt and most cannot be sharpened and the ones that you can sharpen can only realisticly be done in a workshop. you can't shape or split wood. saws tend to be fairly fragile compaired to other tools.
knives are good and yes you could fell trees but only very small ones and it would blunt or easily damage the blade by pushing it to tackle larger jobs.
with an axe you can efficiently fell, sned, section and split a tree into firewood. like a knife it can be easily maintained in the field with basic tools. building shelters is a breeze with an axe. its only downfall is fine carving but you could gut fish or skin game at a pinch.
of course all three would be much better or a billhook as Zingmo would be a good option for an 'only one tool' situation (if one exists?).
i think i would choose an axe, 2- 2.5 pounds and a 28 inch handle is hard to beat but nobody uses them? i can understand issues with carrying one backpacking in the uk but for fixed camps it blows others out of the water imo.
pete
saws blunt and most cannot be sharpened and the ones that you can sharpen can only realisticly be done in a workshop. you can't shape or split wood. saws tend to be fairly fragile compaired to other tools.
knives are good and yes you could fell trees but only very small ones and it would blunt or easily damage the blade by pushing it to tackle larger jobs.
with an axe you can efficiently fell, sned, section and split a tree into firewood. like a knife it can be easily maintained in the field with basic tools. building shelters is a breeze with an axe. its only downfall is fine carving but you could gut fish or skin game at a pinch.
of course all three would be much better or a billhook as Zingmo would be a good option for an 'only one tool' situation (if one exists?).
i think i would choose an axe, 2- 2.5 pounds and a 28 inch handle is hard to beat but nobody uses them? i can understand issues with carrying one backpacking in the uk but for fixed camps it blows others out of the water imo.
pete
Hey that sounds pretty close to a gransfors large forest axe! I love mine, but as an all round one carry only my Robert Sorby camp axe wins every time. Easy to use and punches well above its modest weight.
Definitely a Knife.
Its the most versatile and i can press it into doing the job of a small axe, at a push, with a baton. But, god, i'd miss the other two...
Its the most versatile and i can press it into doing the job of a small axe, at a push, with a baton. But, god, i'd miss the other two...
an Axe for me. - I can do almost anything I want/need to with an axe.
fell a tree, split wood, dress game, clean out dirt from under my fingernails - you name it.
Andy
fell a tree, split wood, dress game, clean out dirt from under my fingernails - you name it.
Andy
Whittler Kev
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Carbon Mora does everything I want from battening to carving. Tied to a stick you have a spear. Always preferred carbon steel although I know a lot prefer Stainless as easier to keep clean and rust free, etc. I personally find carbon easier to sharpen and holds an edge better than stainless IMHO
It all depends on factors.
1. Are you using a tarp/hammock and siting yourself in a heavily forested pine-type area? Saw or Axe
2. Are you trapping? Knife
I could go on.
1. Are you using a tarp/hammock and siting yourself in a heavily forested pine-type area? Saw or Axe
2. Are you trapping? Knife
I could go on.
For the UK? Whichever you prefer - they all have merit.
For 'survival' purposes then a mobile phone (you can sharpen it if you must I suppose)... lets face it, if the nearest coast is never more than 80 miles away, the nearest taxi is going to be, what, five tops?
If you're trying for seriously low weight you won't actually need any of the three but a small knife will almost always be the lightest if you feel you've got to carry something.
Cheese!
For 'survival' purposes then a mobile phone (you can sharpen it if you must I suppose)... lets face it, if the nearest coast is never more than 80 miles away, the nearest taxi is going to be, what, five tops?
If you're trying for seriously low weight you won't actually need any of the three but a small knife will almost always be the lightest if you feel you've got to carry something.
Cheese!
I would say all three but thats just because i like sharp things!! If I had to choose one though it would be a knife, it is lighter, more easily stowed and a good knife can do most things either of the other 2 can anyway. Just my 2 cents
Dave
Dave
Whilst by default, I'd say knife, I have been most impressed by the versatility of the GB Wildlife Hatchet. Light, sharp as a razor and very versatile. Still gotta be the knife though, if only for the possible requirement for making it into a spear!
