[Seneca]

Are three knives the minimum?

While setting up a bug out bag I got to thinking about what kind of cutting tools or knives would I need. I decided that one knife was not enough I could get by with two but three knives would cover about anything I could possibly need a knife to do.

The three types of knives that I came up with were...

A heavy full tang fix blade knife, something such as a BK 2 or ESEE 5. For heavy chores like chopping batonning.

A medium weight fixed blade knife such as a Mora or Condor bushlore. For finer cutting and fashioning gear dressing game etc.

A pocket knife. Which is also an EDC item and would be useful for fine or light cutting chores.

I think that covers most uses for a knife one might encounter while bugging out. I do believe I could add more but think three is a nice number...and of course I'd include a stone to keep them sharp.

 

[Deebo]

being a lover of knives, I have to many....but i like your line of thought, seems to cover all the bases. For the bug out bag.
as for knives in general, I sometimes pick up decent folders on sale to keep in my "barter pile". Knives that are relatively inexpensive, but functional.

 

[Fuzzee]

One certainly isn't enough. Especially if it breaks, you lose it or have a task it's hard to use for like trying to filet a fish with a large 7 inch drop point a 1/4 inch thick. I always carry a pocket knife. It's a must, because I realized that if shtf at any given time it will be the first and possibly only knife you'll have on you. Which is why I spent good money on a couple of good Spyderco's a few years back. A Manix and Caly 3. Excellent steel, handles and designs. Both over a hundred a piece, but worth every penny.

I'm in the south and don't plan to bugout to the high north so I've tossed the big knives for a machete which while big in length and cutting power doesn't weigh more or even as much as some of my large fixed blades with there thick steel blades. While there is the need for batoning down here and further north it's not as much of the fat logs one comes across up north. There's lots of heavy bush and tangly branches down here with lots of fallen pickings in the bush. Out of the bush there will be tools to be found if I need otherwise and society has crumbled. A machete is quite capable either way and I carry a Cold Steel Latin Machete strapped to my pack. It's capable of chopping heads too if I need it and the way I see it, ...... you never know with so many asshat liberals and the need to conserve ammo, lol.

I also carry my main fixed blade in the pack which is a Benchmade combo edge Nimravus. This is my general knife for cleaning game, eating, whittling trap hooks and knotches, cutting vine and various other tasks that I wear on my belt. It does lots of things well and is a high quality blade. I love the 154CM steel blade it has more than any other steel the way it sharpens and keeps an edge. The blade is thinner than lots of other fixed blades which means it's certainly no crowbar, not that a knife should be, but cuts through things very well. Next I carry a Spyderco Catcherman FRN. I've had this for going on twenty years and it's an excellent folding fillet and fishing knife. Great for cleaning game and cutting meat too and is the one I'd hand to someone else that may be with me to do work and is a spare to the main. That person would only be family or a trusted individual of course, but that's the knife for it. For my GHB I just added on the Mora Light My Fire fixed blade with firesteel insert and it looks to be a great little knife for the money. When shtf too, my GHB will be passed over to a family member and it should still be with me in that aspect. While not a knife I also carry a Gerber retracting into the handle handsaw. That's what will be used for heavy log or branch work before wearing down the knives. It's also the first to go if I want to cut weight as I can live without it if I have to.

http://www.prepperforums.net/forum/...ight-my-fire-swedish-fireknife.html#post38511

Spyderco Catcherman FRN

 

[Deebo]

NICE set up. Forgot to mention, a friend of mine gave me permision to put his site on here, he makes some very awesome knives. Oliver Knifeworks. google him, he is an honest man, I havent set up my special purpose order yet, but will soon.
Hey Fuzzee, what is the name brand of your pack, i like it.

 

[Fuzzee]

NICE set up. Forgot to mention, a friend of mine gave me permision to put his site on here, he makes some very awesome knives. Oliver Knifeworks. google him, he is an honest man, I havent set up my special purpose order yet, but will soon.
Hey Fuzzee, what is the name brand of your pack, i like it.

It's a Maxpedition Vulture II 3 day. Fits my body and needs very well. I was using a Condor II just before this one, but while Maxpedition is excellent quality and design and I use a lot of their gear, the Condor II was too small for me really so I moved up. Both are great packs though. You can find the Maxpedition stuff all over these days as they've become very popular.

Maxpedition Vulture-II Three 3 Day Assault Pack Tactical Backpack 72 Hour Ruck

 

[AquaHull]

Western Large Bowie and 6" fixed, Buck 3 3/4" folder and sheath found at a yard sale for $2.50 that needed an edge.

EDC is a 3" Buck or 3" Gerber folders with polymer frames.A 3" Guidesman folder with aluminum frame and stainless clip. All were made here in the U.S.A.

I have a few Chinese Gerber's that run well also, that are scattered about.

 

[joec]

"Old Timers" (Schrade-Walden) for this old-timer. 6" #15OT, a #152 Skinner and an AB27 boot-knife. And a Buck folder for my pocket. Tried and true for the decades I've had them.
Heavy blades and full tanged. AND American made

I carry three mostly for hunting also Schrade Old Timers skinner/gut-hook as well as a Kentucky bowie knife with 10" blade. In addition to this I carry a Sagen Field saw in my hunting set. Always have a folder in my pocket with the current one sold by Outdoor Life. I do have a drawer full of folders though mostly case XXX.

 

[Seneca]

I think Fuzzee makes a good point about the large knife, in that of the three the large knife should be adaptable to the environment...

I also wanted to include a multitool, since they are so useful. In keeping it to three knives...a multi tool would have to take the place of either the pocket knife or the mid sized fixed blade knife. Or does a multi tool have a different role? and should not be considered one of the three.

 

[Fuzzee]

I don't consider my multitool part of the knives even though it has a small knife blade. It's a hard to get out blade and I never ever use it for anything. It's still there yes, but doesn't cover the place of the other knives. Maybe the pocket knife in part because of it's size, but a pocket knife for me is for quick use, one handed open, certain amount of blade and control. The multitool blade isn't that. I use the multitool and need it for the pliers and screwdriver ends mostly. The blade will just be a spare edge and certainly doesn't replace the other knives.

 

[insatiable ONE]

I would rather sacrifice a bit of weight for a good quality hawk.
vs a large knife for chopping / batonning that is not its role to do nor meant to do
A knife was never meant to chop or baton through wood.

If you plan on carrying three knives, make one at least a hatchet, axe or hawk.
This fickin stupid batonning bs is for when you get caught with your pants down & only have a knife, period.

 

[Rigged for Quiet]

I would rather sacrifice a bit of weight for a good quality hawk.
vs a large knife for chopping / batonning that is not its role to do nor meant to do
A knife was never meant to chop or baton through wood.

If you plan on carrying three knives, make one at least a hatchet, axe or hawk.
This fickin stupid batonning bs is for when you get caught with your pants down & only have a knife, period.

+1. Ditch the massive big bladed combat knife for a good sturdy hatched with a hammer side to it or something, or a machete. Knife fighting is a real sure way to get killed with your own weapon, and even if you do manage to gain the uper hand there is a psychological barrier to driving a blade into someone. It takes a bit of a dark place in your soul to be able to bo it.

 

[rickkyw1720pf]

I would rather sacrifice a bit of weight for a good quality hawk.
vs a large knife for chopping / batonning that is not its role to do nor meant to do
A knife was never meant to chop or baton through wood.

If you plan on carrying three knives, make one at least a hatchet, axe or hawk.
This fickin stupid batonning bs is for when you get caught with your pants down & only have a knife, period.

I tend to agree and believe a hawk and smaller knife is the way to go. I already have a sog tomahawk and ordered a Swedish fire knife ( I was beginning to feel I was the only one on this site that doesn't have one). I did my own test and the hawk beats a knife in chopping but not as good as a hatchet but I would choose the hawk for weight reduction. But what really sold me on the hawk and knife is going through the Ky History museum and seeing what the frontiersmen, mountain men and Indians carried but especially Daniel Boone. Now these were the real experts.

 

[Fuzzee]

I already have a sog tomahawk and ordered a Swedish fire knife ( I was beginning to feel I was the only one on this site that doesn't have one).

Better late than never.

 

[pharmer14]

My EDC is an American Camper multi tool... it was an old school trails end reward for selling a lot of popcorn in scouts. I also have a Winchester Buck Knife in my pack. It has a 3 inch blade, a hook for skinning animals, and a saw blade on it that all fold out and lock nicely. I'd like to get a full blown survival knife to add to my kit too, but I haven't decided which one to get yet.

 

[pharmer14]

+1. Ditch the massive big bladed combat knife for a good sturdy hatched with a hammer side to it or something, or a machete. Knife fighting is a real sure way to get killed with your own weapon, and even if you do manage to gain the uper hand there is a psychological barrier to driving a blade into someone. It takes a bit of a dark place in your soul to be able to bo it.

Good point. I'm not wired to use a blade or blunt object for self defense, but hatchets and machette's serve a purpose too and could easily replace a knife in a BOB.

 

[AvengersAssembled]

I don't consider my multi-tool a knife, since I don't only use it for the blade, but the tools. I love knives way to much, and know I carry around a few more than I'd really need. I also have a machete and a small axe; redundant I know, I just love anything with an edge! Better to have and not need, than to need and not have, right?lol

 

[Meangreen]

I think everyone covered what I'm going to say and all have valid points for your selections. I want a machete because it can be a very multi- use tool as well as a weapon. I want a sturdy full tang knife and a multi-tool. I love knives and I think that it reaches the primitive soul of every man when he grips a good quality knife, I know you know the feeling The knife is the essential foundation that a survival kit is built on. I carry three at work with each one a different function. Quality of construction is key and my choices include Mora, Buck, and cold steel.

 

[Montana Rancher]

I purchased a belt that has a knife sheath sewn horizontally onto it by the buckle, fits a Swiss Army knife, also carry a "patch" knife with a 2.75" blade on the same belt EDC. Hunting I have a Buck folder backup in my fanny pack but prefer the patch knife for cleaning elk.
Get home bag has a Big has a 12" heavy knife on it (google "the tank eBay knife") in case I need to cut open a log cabin or make a liberal pee-pee his panties.

 

[Seneca]

I would rather sacrifice a bit of weight for a good quality hawk.
vs a large knife for chopping / batonning that is not its role to do nor meant to do
A knife was never meant to chop or baton through wood.

If you plan on carrying three knives, make one at least a hatchet, axe or hawk.
This fickin stupid batonning bs is for when you get caught with your pants down & only have a knife, period.

Yeah I know there is another side to this... thanks!

 

[Seneca]

+1. Ditch the massive big bladed combat knife for a good sturdy hatched with a hammer side to it or something, or a machete. Knife fighting is a real sure way to get killed with your own weapon, and even if you do manage to gain the uper hand there is a psychological barrier to driving a blade into someone. It takes a bit of a dark place in your soul to be able to bo it.

Who said anything about knife fighting??? This topic is about knives for bugout bags and kits... now if somebody wants to bug out with a spiked hammer or axe strapped to their pack well thats ok because that what works for them. Myself I'm going to try it with three and see how it goes.