Paul
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Posts: 85
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Post by Paul on Jul 8, 2014 8:54:57 GMT -5
Who here carries a fixed blade as part of their fighting gear? If so, what blade do you carry? What makes a great combat/survival knife to you? Length? Weight? Steel i.e. carbon vs stainless? Etc. I am interested in what you all think.
I am considering an Esee 3 clip point because it is light and tough, but I am concerned the blade is too short.
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Post by panzer0170 on Jul 8, 2014 10:40:37 GMT -5
As far as survival (read: general purpose, great for cutting small wood and gutting animals) for the price point, the Mora Clipper is absolutely spot on. There are better knives, but for how damned cheap they are (in Europe at least, might cost a little more to ship to the US...) they're perfect, I've had one for 3-4 years now and so long as you look after it (clean it after you use it etc, don't just chuck it in a corner) it's spot on. Carbon vs stainless I opted for stainless because I didn't need the sharper/easier to hold blade, I prefer that it doesn't rust as easily. Mora ClipperThey also do ones with firesteels mounted into the back, but I prefer to have that stuff seperate. It's a nice addition, but if I manage to break my blade and get a new one I don't want to be paying to buy a new firesteel as well.... |
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Post by Hawkeye on Jul 8, 2014 11:35:25 GMT -5
Yes, I do carry at least one, usually more. Depending on what I'm doing/where I'll be, I rotate through my ESEE 4, ESEE 5 SERE, and my CRKT Hissatsu.
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Paul
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Posts: 85
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Post by Paul on Jul 8, 2014 11:42:47 GMT -5
Yes, I do carry at least one, usually more. Depending on what I'm doing/where I'll be, I rotate through my ESEE 4, ESEE 5 SERE, and my CRKT Hissatsu. Hawkeye, how do you like the balance of the Esee 4? I had both the 3 & 4 in the past and I seem to remember the Esee 4 to be poorly balanced. True? Do you think the 3 would be too short for a defensive/offensive blade? Thanks. |
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Post by USMC0331 on Jul 8, 2014 12:05:44 GMT -5
CRKT Hissatsu on plate carrier ala Paul Howe style
Custom narrow drop point FB 6" in E&E kit.
If I had to replace it, the MORA would be the one.
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Post by UnforseenWeather on Jul 8, 2014 14:39:59 GMT -5
Ek Bowies here.
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Post by Patriotic Sheepdog on Jul 8, 2014 16:40:01 GMT -5
Well, I currently have the ESEE-3CP on my belt rig, but I also sometimes carry the ESEE-6. I have the ESEE-Laser Strike on my get home bag. And even carry an Izula-2 on an under the arm setup at times when I'm camping or hiking. The Laser Strike is a good all around blade. It even has a small area under the handle that you can keep some fire tinder. It comes with some, but I have many other ways to get tinder before I'll break apart my handles. The -3 is a great little knife, but since I had the LS I didn't want the -4 so I went with the -3CP. Not a long blade but with the CP it can cut on both sides which can be an advantage. The -6 is good as well. You can choke up on it and have better control, it's long enought to do some chopping, but heavy enough to use to baton with. The LS isn't as good of a chopper, but can be used to baton some smaller diameter pieces with. All can make decent feather sticks, but the smaller the blade I have better control with. I don't think you would go wrong with a -3, -4, -5 (although heavy it will soon be in my line up as if the SHTF why not have a sharpens pry bar?), or a -6. With practice they all can be a "survival" blade. Blade porn.. Attachments:
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winter
Junior Member
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Post by winter on Jul 8, 2014 18:23:19 GMT -5
I have a knife battery. One large fixed for shelter building, clearing fields of fire, and last ditch weapon. Usually it's a customized 1918 bolo or a kukri. This is 3rd line. Large fixed examples-  One 4"-6" bladed general purpose or fighter utility used for fieldcraft, finer cutting, and stabbing fuckers. This is a 2nd line tool. Examples   Then I have a multitool that is 1st line but can also be on the second line if I think I may need pliers often. Last but not least is a large folder that stays on my first line. Usually this knife is a swiss army trekker lockblade because it can do most survival tasks all by its self. I also carry a Wyoming saw 3rd line. Saws are so much quieter than chopping. |
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Post by eddiewouldclearhot on Jul 8, 2014 19:52:44 GMT -5
Always carry a folder and a multi tool. My rig I usually have an ESEE 5 or a Kabar carried vertically on my support side next to my left most magazine. sometimes i run it on a drop leg.
I carry a tomahawk and/or an ESEE junglas on my pack.
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Paul
New Member
Posts: 85
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Post by Paul on Jul 8, 2014 20:50:57 GMT -5
One 4"-6" bladed general purpose or fighter utility used for fieldcraft, finer cutting, and stabbing fuckers. This made me spit out my beer laughing. This is a great forum. |
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Post by panzer0170 on Jul 8, 2014 21:30:42 GMT -5
winter - What ISN'T the Kukri good for? I've been meaning to get one for ages, but I've never really had an excuse - I've a decent little Mora for small stuff, and I've a bahco folding saw for pretty much everything else. In addition I have a Gransfors Brux hatchet... Mostly because I wanted a fucking axe. I've seen the Ghurkas use them for EVERYTHING, but are there any limitations for those of us who didn't grow up with one?
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Post by omnivorous on Jul 8, 2014 22:30:05 GMT -5
(sheepishly raises his hand) I've been wanting a kukri for a while as well... One of the ones Cold Steel makes, but I'm torn as to whether I want the regular or plus model: it could be only one or the other for the time being. I'd like to be able to justify it being on my belt line, in preference to being lashed to the pack/ruck, even if I have to fabricate a better sheath.
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Post by panzer0170 on Jul 8, 2014 22:35:04 GMT -5
(sheepishly raises his hand) I've been wanting a kukri for a while as well... One of the ones Cold Steel makes, but I'm torn as to whether I want the regular or plus model: it could be only one or the other for the time being. I'd like to be able to justify it being on my belt line, in preference to being lashed to the pack/ruck, even if I have to fabricate a better sheath. Ghurka's carry it on their first, so there's no reason to justify it, so long as you have some wood, or aggressive people to defend against  I definitely WILL get one, I just need to know where it's limitations to a non-knife type are, rather than to the kids who get them at about 12 (perhaps younger) and grow up with them as a GP tool, even if they never enlisted and got shown as soldiers... |
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Post by omnivorous on Jul 8, 2014 22:59:35 GMT -5
Well, they definitely are in the "big knife" category, but other than that, the two key things to remember about them is the point of impact will be sooner than with a more traditional big knife, and learning how to maintain a curved edge. Other than those, there's not much more to them. Here's a good demo of a kurki's uses as a camp knife: Of course it wouldn't be your only knife.
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Paul
New Member
Posts: 85
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Post by Paul on Jul 8, 2014 23:05:29 GMT -5
Nepalese kukris come with a much smaller knife called a karda that will do the tasks for which Westerners pull out a Swiss Army knife. Himalayan Imports makes a model the size of the CS called the British Army Service model. That is the one I really want to try. One major drawback to kukris are their weight, yet most Ghurkas are of smaller stature and they NEVER complain.
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