Ideal size survival knife

I was doing just fine, then I started listening to Jeff Randall, next thing you know I'm roaming about, toting a machete, filtering the dogs water to make tea, carrying a 15 lb pack and wondering if the neighbors cat would taste good!

 

So....nobody really saying anything about an Esee 5. Is there a reason? I realize the thicker blade may limit some uses, but I usually have a folder tucked away. As a matter of fact, a small Gerber rides in the tin with it. I use the 5 around the farm a lot, especially if I'm working clearing around fences or the ponds. Granted it's no replacement for my hatchet ( or machete..or chainsaw..) but as a quick tool to trim it's great. And cutting corn stalks for silage it works well.
Of course, I use it to process wood for the stove and smoker too, getting kindling together and such.
So, I know I haven't used it on an extended foray into the woods, but I have used it for daily chores. Oh yeah...if your careful, it cleans hooves too...

 

@anrkst6973 ia that a cold steel machete

 

Condor. El Salvador model, 1/8 1075 steel. Love it.

 

@FortyTwoBlades I would like to check out one of their eco parings they look interesting

 

Lots of YouTube videos on the Condor
Bushcraft parang,Eco parang, and the Duku parang.

 

If I remember right, the 5 was a purpose driven design for military survival schools/courses. A fine tool for sure, just lacks the reach needed for "jungle work". I used a Junglas for a while and found even that was too short and too heavy for my particular area. As long as it works for you, there is no wrong answer for "What is the perfect survival knife?"

 

Who Carry's just one knife? Me personally generally carry 2-3 depending on when/where I am. I always have a pocket knife on me for small/delicate/precision work, a fixed blade 4-6" for sturdy tasks. Depending on environment a chopper, machete mostly down here in Florida. If I was up north with mostly hardwoods an axe would be more appropriate than a machete, just my 2¢. Take Horace Kepart for example, pocket knife,belt knife, and a hatchet.

 

I usually carry multiples also. Mainly a Kershaw blur and Leatherman wave. But four wheeler or tractor carries a Cold Steel Smachete and or Gerber hatchet depending on the days work. A lot of my work involves cedar trees and scrub brush, vines, etc. But pocket, belt, and hatchet would often describe my load out for farm work. Guess I'm just used to the 5 and the BK2, even though I'm partial to the 5's ergonomics.

 

I got one just like this, it's a fantastic machete!

 

I hunt mainly coniferous woods and open barrens. Winter I would choose an ax for big long lasting fire but I can get a quick blaze burning with scrub wood on the barrens very very fast with a parang. Started using one last year wont go anywhere without it.

 

Book of Eli Austrian edition?

 

Chester wonders what you would taste like.

Here in the Eastern US I can pick up enough tree debris to get a good fire going in a few minutes. And did just that in a camping area last week. Most of my friends would think the ESEE 4 I was carrying was too much knife. (And my 10mm was too much pistol )

Isn’t the ideal knife dependent on where you’re surviving?

 

Where's ya pics Kan-tuck-ee?

 

I need to take some, I will try when I get time in the evening.

 

packing the Junglas II for all out survival...

but always have a good 4" folder with me... Cold Steel or my Benchmade Crooked River....

or my recently restored IROKA 4" fixed blade... if I want to mix it up