M14 Forum

Armed Paramedic

I'm not much of a knife guy, in no way do I ever see myself doing anything but pulling my 1911 in a knife fight or running. BUT, as I set up my SHTF kits, I'd like to include a good field utility knife. My stepdad is an old school Marine that loves his K-bar but Ive heard him grumble in the knife shop that they aren't any good anymore. I really don't know either way. Are they still a good knife? What about the SOG Seal series? I've even seen the Glock knife, is it built as well as the pistols? Just looking for some words of wisdom from guys that actually use their knives. If I can get a direction there, Ill start looking for maybe a small camp hatchet or machete. SHTF kit keeps getting bigger.....

m1a shooter

Since I don't see getting into a knife fight either, I like my Leatherman.

Wayne M

One knife won't do it all and you need to decide exactly where you want to spend the most money: fighting knife, general field/untility knife or hunting/skinning knife. There is a degree of overlap, of course, but keep in mind good blades generally aren't cheap. I'd start on some of the better known makers websites and see what they offer. I admit a fondness for Cold Steel. Have used them for years with very good results from digging holes in dry river beds looking for fossils to daily carry of their "tactical folders" for opening envelopes, digging splinters out of my fingers, handy to carry small prybars(generally anything you might expect a pocket knife to do), use your imagination I guess. I'd add that I've never had to defend my life with one. For a sheath knife I like the SanMai Recon Scout and for the pocket I prefer the soon to be discontinued Voyager(choose your favority blade style and length). Any of them can be found on ebay at just about any price you want to pay.

huntinghawk

Wetlands machette & woods hatchet. Get a metal shaft hatchet with like neoprene grip such as Estwing makes.

A multipurpose tool such as the Leatherman

A small pocket knife.

Quality sheath knife. Solid tang so it doesn't brake at the guard.

A small diamond stone so just a few passes with a blade & its sharp.

JMO,
HH

rageagainst1984

Im pretty fond of Benchmade.
my only problem with knifes today (like everything else) your paying for a name... and most are made of thin Stainless steel.

Take a few good Blacksmith classes and make your own out of solid steel..

drshame

+1 for multiple platforms for multiple uses.
Swiss Army Knife.
Leatherman
5" Solid Tang Camp Knife, Ontario/Becker make some solid, affordable ones. Stay away from anything too fancy and I vote Carbon Steel for ease of re-sharpening and toughness.
You'll get tons of advice. For real hard use, stay away from the "boutique brands".
The old Busse's are advertised as Nuclear proof and may well be!

leadbug

A Cold Steel 24" Latin Machete is a formidable weapon/tool. They are very inexpensive with good quality South African carbon steel blades. They keep their edge.

Very inexpensive too.

Nemosengineer

Stainless K-Bar. This is a nice combination. (I know stainless doesn't hold the best edge, but if you live and work near the ocean it works OK with out the rust issues)



: Mike

mercman

Agreed that you'll get a bunch of different answers on this one. I am also of the one won't do all chores and in my B.O. kit I have an Ontario 12" machete with saw back, a Benchmade.....uh, for the model, but as stated it is a thin SS solid tang knife in a Kydex sheath, an SOG multitool (I just rotated this from my duty bag as I replaced my everyday SOG with an EOD power assist multitool) and of course the ubiquitous Swiss Army knife (lots of tools in this little guy). I also have a daily carry Kershaw 1670tblkst assisted opening knife (I think it is a Ken Onion Blur). I was also a big Cold Steel fan, but have drifted on to other makes and am trying to only buy American.


If I could only have one blade I would go with the 12" Ontario. Here's a YouTube that has had some mods done to it to make it very versitile.






Some mods that you can make to a machete to make it more versatile. I have not done these mods yet and going to but a cheapie machete to mod the first time..............

TimberWolf7.62

Take a machete and a small knife (3" -5" blade). Hone them both razor sharp.

Paint one side of the machete blade silver (or polish it up and then clearcoat it) and paint the other side of the blade hunter orange. This takes the place of a signalling mirror.

Machete choice is yours - Ontario, Cold Steel, Woodsman's Pal, and Gerber are all good. 12" or 18" is your choice depending on possible size restraints, but bigger is better.

Log

Take a look at the Gerber LMF II ASEK as well.

Steel1

That is the most impressive leather sheath I have ever seen, and I have been searching the internet for the past two weeks looking for one... I have to start to save up for it though.
I recommend the Ka-Bar Becker Combat Utility knife; it's gotten good reviews on some of the survival boards as well.
https://www.kabar.com/product/produc...urpose/Utility

DaveH

I really appreciate this thread. It's easy for me to get caught up in the latest tactical rifle/pistol/knife thing. But this thread got me thinking about -fieldcraft-. I just purchased a sweet 16" Estwing camp axe. I'm learning. A great axe, but too big to carry. A great car/truck camp axe. I figger I'll end up getting an Estwing 12" camp axe as a top quality "carry" axe. Funny how a best quality made in USA axe is only $50. Any decent "tactical" knife costs so much more. Anybody have an opinion on the SOG machetes?

TimberWolf7.62

No personal experience, but from the photos on the SOG website, it looks like the saw may actually work. The teeth are offset like a real saw, not just inline serrations like so many sawbacks have.

DaveH

I'm a hopin'. I've got one of those on the way also. Unfortunately the 12" Estwing only comes with the stacked leather washer handle. Oh the humanity!