Ideal size survival knife

Discussion in 'Survival and Wilderness Skills' started by Graphyfotoz, Sep 19, 2016.

  1. Graphyfotoz

    Graphyfotoz Member

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    Some say 4in some say 12in........what's every ones personal pref?
    Choil no choil
     
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  2. 91bravo

    91bravo Guest

    If I had to sell all my fixed blades off and keep only one, it would be the ESEE 6. My all around go to knife that can handle just about all of my knife needs! So the 6, would be my personal survival knife!
     
  3. anrkst6973

    anrkst6973 Member

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    Mine would be a thin(ner) kukri, machete, or parang type blade. Something of carbon steel, 1/8th thick or so and 10-12" long. If I'm playing with "1 knife options" that will do 99.9% with good efficiency for me.
     
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  4. Jeff Hatch

    Jeff Hatch Member

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    I'm with yeah...The 6 can handle most anything
     
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  5. Bruno_GO

    Bruno_GO Member

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    I consider myself a good measure between 4.5 to 7.5 inches.
     
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  6. JAD

    JAD Member

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    6 1/2" blade length would be ideal in my opinion. Let's see what might be out there in that size.

    Oh my. That is the blade length of my ESEE 6. Ding, ding, ding. So that's my answer and I'm sticking to it.
     
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  7. Graphyfotoz

    Graphyfotoz Member

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    I have a 5 1/4in and a 6in I alternate between
     
  8. Graphyfotoz

    Graphyfotoz Member

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    My 6in is a Busse Swamp Rat Mischief 6 (aka M6) came out 07/27/2006
    Known as a modified bowie........ SR101 steel is tough as hell and sharper than sharp :)

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
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  9. charles bower

    charles bower Member

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    I think it depends on what you're dealing with. Wood processing for me means dealing with a lot of scrub cedar with really tight grain so an axe or hatchet will be my best friend for that. For game processing, cooking, general camp goings-on I think a 4" blade shines.

    I could easily get by with just a Fiskars axe and a Mora #2. I like variety though.
     
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  10. Graphyfotoz

    Graphyfotoz Member

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    Best skinning knife I have is a Busse Scrapyard Scrapmax 460 (Elmax Steel) I got the wife.
    Cut up 2 deer with it so far cuts like a champ and holds a NICE edge (460 = 4.6in blade)

    [​IMG]
     
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  11. Bushman5

    Bushman5 Member

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    Junglas or bigger . Chopping trees with a SAK or small knife under 6" blade length royally sucks.

    Bigger knife = less effort, less fatigue, less energy/calories expended. Survival is about maximizing work results, with minimal calorie and energy expenditure.
     
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  12. JMJ

    JMJ Member

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    A better place!!!!
    My Junglas would probably be my 1st pick for most of the reasons Bushman5 mentioned. But I wouldn't feel under-knifed if I had any in the size between the laserstrike and 6.
     
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  13. Baldcutnut

    Baldcutnut Member

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    Esee 6 all day long, it works well for most things.
     
    Last edited: Sep 21, 2016
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  14. Graphyfotoz

    Graphyfotoz Member

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    I'm just thinking if you have ONE knife to survive with it hasta make a shelter.......skin game more than likely small game.
    I can't see skinning a squirrel or a rabbit with a 6in blade.
    Not trying to start a argument.....just trying to picture a one knife scenario.
    Ideally a person would have a 6in for a camp knife and a 4-5in folder for skinning tasks.
    But it's survival "ideal" is s rarity!
     
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  15. JMJ

    JMJ Member

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    I definitely get what you mean! I've done some squirrels with larger blades and even a machete once cause it was all we had with us at the time. It's very doable, but takes some getting used to different ways of gripping the blade spine or wedging the spine into a stump and using it as a stationary tool. Skinning a deer with a Junglas is pretty easy if you slide the lanyard down your forearm and grip the spine about where the saber grind ends. Definitely not ideal, but practicing with it under normal conditions will make you more able when the suck factor goes up.
     
  16. trench

    trench Member

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    In what world? I go to work with at least on 4" folder on me and either a folding saw or a fixed blade in my bag, I go fishing, and bang 4" folder and a fixed blade or folding saw in my bag...why would I ever assume that if I get left out in a survival situation I would not A) have my folder, B) have my bag? Did I sign up for naked and afraid? If I did I'll just find a sharp piece of stone or the like to skin my partner with when they piss me off for being lazy and not bringing a useful tool to the party.
     
  17. JMJ

    JMJ Member

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    Ok so I'm not a weirdo(or only weirdo) for having a 6 with a survival pouch kit, a Junglas, a sak and a multi tool in my backpack. That's besides the izzy or 3 or LS I edc along with a leatherman in my pocket.
     
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  18. trench

    trench Member

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    Hell no! That's why we wear cargo shorts!
     
  19. RedEyedHog

    RedEyedHog Moderator Staff Member

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    Definitely my Izula folder.
     
  20. JMJ

    JMJ Member

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    Friends and coworkers mess with me about the weight of my pack sometimes. I told them I look at it like resistance training, but most of the time it sits in a boat, the truck or next to my desk.
     
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