The Desert Island knife.

gamekeeper · Post by **gamekeeper** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 11:09 am

The survival firearm was a fun thread, with lots of ideas on the most useful firearm to have after Armageddon.

.
Now I have a similar question, if you found yourself marooned on an uninhabited island, what knife would you want to have with you ?
I remember Robert Mitchum in the movie "Thank Heaven, Mr Allison," when he was up against the Japs and only had a K-bar.
Maybe not a bad choice but being a bit of a knife collector myself, I find it difficult to choose just ONE knife that would be the ultimate survival knife.
Any suggestions

rogn · Post by **rogn** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 11:22 am

Only one! I guess you'd have to go with something substantial and sturdy. Id go with a machete , something along the order of a Kukri., or a 14 or15 inch heavy blade traditional machete. Better quality steel than is usually seen would be essential.

FWiedner · Post by **FWiedner** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 11:27 am

I might actually prefer a small axe or a tomahawk over a knife.

Tycer · Post by **Tycer** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 12:04 pm

A lochaber axe or halberd.

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 12:19 pm

Probably a good machete....

MrMurphy · Post by **MrMurphy** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 12:21 pm

For a desert island I'd say probably a hatchet or small axe for felling trees, and all that.

Knife-wise a 6 or 7" blade, stoutly built with a solid buttcap for hammering.

http://www.graymanknives.com/gp.html

Something along the lines of this. I have a smaller Suenami for general purpose use.

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 12:36 pm

I've found my Blackhawk #7 to be useful... but, it doesnt take the place of other, larger edged tools when they're needed.

7.62 Precision · Post by **7.62 Precision** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 12:55 pm

I am surprised by people talking about a machete or something large like that.

Only one knife needs to be something small enough to be useful for more than just one task. I would consider even a Kbar to be on the large side.

A fixed-blade knife with a shorter, more useful blade would be better, and best for long-term strength. A folder with a couple different blades would be even more useful, but maybe a bit less durable.

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 1:13 pm

I am surprised by people talking about a machete or something large like that.

"Desert Island"

Let me know know how chopping bamboo, and palm logs go with that Barlow.

(You can make a small knife from heat treated bamboo that would be perfectly good for cleaning fish, etc, etc...)

Panzercat · Post by **Panzercat** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 1:40 pm

FWiedner · Post by **FWiedner** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 1:50 pm

Well, there you go...

Grizz · Post by **Grizz** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 2:03 pm

7.62 Precision wrote:I am surprised by people talking about a machete or something large like that.

Only one knife needs to be something small enough to be useful for more than just one task. I would consider even a Kbar to be on the large side.

A fixed-blade knife with a shorter, more useful blade would be better, and best for long-term strength. A folder with a couple different blades would be even more useful, but maybe a bit less durable.

yeah'but

can't make much of a fire with a pocket knife unless there's more dry squaw wood than you need.
can't make much of a spear with a pocket knife either... other than the sharp stick version.

I'd want something tough enough to split wood and long enough to reach the lion, bear, moose vitals.

from that perspective the ka-bar or bowie seems versatile, if we're talking about one and only one blade. perhaps a single edged lance or javelin. a dirk makes a good spear, but can't be batoned..

my uses, being on an island, would include fashioning a skin on frame boat, umiak or kayak or curraugh, so all those processes plus making rawhide and splitting sea lion skins for the cover..... a folder could go a long ways for some of this, but don't know how far I'd get.

MrMurphy · Post by **MrMurphy** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 2:30 pm

What desert island are you finding bears, lions and moose on?

nemhed · Post by **nemhed** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 2:50 pm

One of deez:

7.62 Precision · Post by **7.62 Precision** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 3:10 pm

Consider the tasks needed to survive, and then consider what would work best for the majority.

Things like making fish hooks and lines, things we don't often consider. Think about what tools you can make so you can do tasks without usig the knife for them.

Ending up on an Island alone has been a real possibility for me for much of my life.

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 3:16 pm

7.62 Precision wrote:Consider the tasks needed to survive, and then consider what would work best for the majority.

Things like making fish hooks and lines, things we don't often consider. Think about what tools you can make so you can do tasks without usig the knife for them.

Ending up on an Island alone has been a real possibility for me for much of my life.

http://www.primitiveways.com/bamboo_knife.html

gamekeeper · Post by **gamekeeper** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 3:58 pm

I use a machete quite a lot for cutting brushwood, it's quieter than using my chainsaw but my 4" Mora knife gets a lot more use for general tasks. I have knives halfway between machete and hunting knife size that would be a good compromise but may not be good enough for everything that needs to be done. Ideally a large knife/machete/Axe and a small handy knife would make life easier, I guess that's what makes choosing a single edged cutting tool so difficult.
I know blades can be made from bamboo and flint but only if bamboo and flint can be found and there's no guarantee on finding either on every island.
I think if self defense is not an issue I'll stick with my old Marttiini four and a quarter inch blade or my Cold Steel survival edge which comes with a fire steel and can be made into a spear for fishing.

OldBrownDog · Post by **OldBrownDog** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 4:55 pm

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c257/ ... 7ccdb7.jpg

ESEE Junglas?

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 6:03 pm

OldBrownDog wrote:http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c257/ ... 7ccdb7.jpg

ESEE Junglas?

That's a dandy....I have the K-Bar version of that in my back seat pack....

3leggedturtle · Post by **3leggedturtle** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 6:16 pm

. Personally I really like my AK47 Bayonet with the sawback blade. Especially after Pitchy showed me a neat trick on how to sharpen it. tho would really rather have a KaBar. AND now that you got your knife, Who would you bring with:::: Ginger or MaryAnne?

shooter · Post by **shooter** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 6:20 pm

I find my Mora knife to be probably my most useful/used knife, but in a "one knife only" scenario, I would probably prefer a Ka-bar heavy bowie or something similar. I really like the good carbon steel Cold Steel knives. I'm a bit of a knife junkie, and there are a lot of custom designs/makers out there that I would really like better than some of the commercial stuff available, but there is also a lot of nice commercial steel to choose from.

Grizz · Post by **Grizz** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 7:34 pm

spears and machetes seem to be the norm for lots of people groups who mostly walk every where.

there's a reason that some version of a machete exists in most cultures.

what is the concensus on the BEST length of machete? what's the sweet spot? I have one that's 21.5" amd one that's 18", and I am probably going to modify one to 16 inches. just seems like there's more blade than I need. the 21 inch one isn't particularly good at hedge trimming, but the 13.5" cutting edge of the cold steel boar spear excels at it. which, with the 31" short haft makes an excellent tactical house blade. and weed whackerer...

Grizz

Lastmohecken · Post by **Lastmohecken** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 7:50 pm

BlaineG wrote:
OldBrownDog wrote:http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c257/ ... 7ccdb7.jpg

ESEE Junglas?
That's a dandy....I have the K-Bar version of that in my back seat pack....

I have one of the ESEE's and it's a pretty good knife for heavy work, I have used it for what they call battoning, (might have misspelled that) anyway it's where you use a wooden club or baton to hammer on the back of the blade to split wood.

But then again I like a nice Bowie style knife about as well as anything. However, the Junglas would be better for digging if it came to that.

JerryB · Post by **JerryB** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 7:52 pm

Years ago I read a book about a small plane that crashed in the Kalahari dessert in Africa. About 4 or 5 men and a woman, one man had a Puma I think it was the White Hunter model. I finally got an old Puma bowie from my brother in law, blade like a razor reckon I would want it.

rjohns94 · Post by **rjohns94** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 8:09 pm

I have one very similar to the one Nemhed posted. Not the same maker. Mine has a hammer edge on the blackstrap, solid blade. (Can I sneak my Moro knife onto the island also? )

CowboyTutt · Post by **CowboyTutt** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 9:48 pm

I have one of these that I have used for camping for years. Its a seriously upgraded Kabar and is virtually indestructible.

http://www.knifehog.com/t-review_kabar_ ... knife.aspx

-Tutt

MrMurphy · Post by **MrMurphy** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 11:29 pm

Depends on the area you're in.

In Nepal the Kukris tend to be mid-sized, except for ceremonial ones, and they were tools long before being weapons. In more jungle areas, the longer blades seem more common.

Pastor of mine many years ago grew up in French Guiana with a former tribe of headhunter/cannibal types and started hunting from age 9 in the Amazon with a bow, spear and machete, graduating to a single-shot 12ga (the only thing the gov't let them use to prevent rebellions). There wasn't much he couldn't do with a machete, and said the best ones came from England, they imported the blades and put handles on them. He liked around a 16" I think, where they were was a lot of heavy thick brush and the longer blades got in the way. Sort of like a golok or parang, though his didn't have the heavy front end.

cas · Post by **cas** » Fri Feb 28, 2014 12:40 am

Heaven knows Mr. Allison.

MOD 4

Ravenman · Post by **Ravenman** » Fri Feb 28, 2014 4:08 am

Bark River Bravo 2 or Bravo 1.5 - for the survivalist and knife collector.

http://www.knivesshipfree.com/bravo-2/?sort=alphaasc, http://www.knivesshipfree.com/bravo-1-5 ... t=alphaasc
Spyderco Warrior - anything near salt water and the collector of exotic knives.

http://www2.knifecenter.com/item/SPFB25 ... RN-Handles

Grizz · Post by **Grizz** » Fri Feb 28, 2014 10:06 am

cas, do you have a link to the mod 4? I have some 1085 and that's the first knife design I will make with the thicker steel..

Mr Murphy, thanks for the info, 16" seems about right to me. The big difference between the machete and knives like mod 4 and ka-bar is the machete is usually pretty thin. thin cuts really well, but can't be driven with a mallet as well.

Grizz

Molasses · Post by **Molasses** » Fri Feb 28, 2014 9:52 pm

I'm thinking a Woodsman's Pal: I've got two, one old military issue and the other a couple of years old. I still need to modify the newer one closer to the configuration of the other, so at the moment, the old one'd get the nod. It's essentially a machete with a few mods to the blade to make it more multipurpose, including a brush hook, digging tip and a hammering surface.

A few months back, used a CRKT ShakaUlu knife/smatchet/whatever on a couple of deer, as well as chopping a handle for a drag rope for one of 'em. It shows promise, but I don't know that I'd commit to it for something like having it for the only tool on a desert island without having given it more of a trying out first.

cas · Post by **cas** » Fri Feb 28, 2014 11:45 pm

Grizz wrote:cas, do you have a link to the mod 4?

I don't have anything specific. In fact I don't even remember where I got mine. But if you Google search "MOD 4 survival knife" all kinds of links, photos and videos will come up.

Post by **Ysabel Kid** » Sat Mar 01, 2014 12:34 am

That is a tough one, because as much as I love a good, large bowie, I wouldn't want to be digging out splinters with it, or anything else that requires a lot of precision. Desert = warm = probably thinking more on making tools rather than cutting wood to keep warm.

rjohns94 · Post by **rjohns94** » Sat Mar 01, 2014 12:00 pm

Thanks CAS, had to order me one of those MOD 4s. Should be here on Friday

AJMD429 · Post by **AJMD429** » Sat Mar 01, 2014 4:53 pm

My question is - - - what about the 'Urban Ghetto' knife...

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Sat Mar 01, 2014 5:32 pm

rjohns94 wrote:Thanks CAS, had to order me one of those MOD 4s. Should be here on Friday

I was looking at MOD 4.....I got the impression that the Sheffield was the original MOD 4....All I could find was a MOD 4 "style" by a company I had never heard of before....Could you share the link to where you found yours, please?

cas · Post by **cas** » Sat Mar 01, 2014 5:41 pm

I think they've been made by a couple companies, or at least gone through minor cosmetic changes over the years.

On mine I carefully sanded the grips to match the tang. I was told years ago that they're made with the large overlap, so in winter your hands wouldn't freeze to the metal. If this is true or not, who knows. Could have been the truth, could have been something someone made up, or the excuse that's been passed down. Don't know. Can't honestly say I've done all that much with mine, mostly use for "camp chores", mainly splitting deer hind quarters and lopping off heads. (deer's that is)

It IS a knife you could kill someone with. And I don't mean stabbing or cutting them, just whacking someone up side the head with it would do it. lol

Old Ironsights · Post by **Old Ironsights** » Sat Mar 01, 2014 6:01 pm

I like this blade design:

The loop on the side of the sheath is for a fire rod... which, oddly enough, fits nicely into the notch made for the purpose...

Habilis Bushtool.

Explanation of the blade/grip features: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2B8FeExnqw

What I generally pack is:

rjohns94 · Post by **rjohns94** » Sat Mar 01, 2014 6:41 pm

Blaine, I ordered a Sheffield on amazon. I went on to google, put in mod 4 knife and the the first amazon link took me straight to the Sheffield. I also go the brown wood handle. They have different choices.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0090U ... 96QD7MPWLO

J35 · Post by **J35** » Sat Mar 01, 2014 7:16 pm

Anyone ever see one of these?

This one is not mine but I have one just like it I bought at a Army surplus store on S. Sixth Ave in Tucson in 1968.

Never knew what it was exactly till five minutes ago.

--------J

jeepnik · Post by **jeepnik** » Sat Mar 01, 2014 7:18 pm

Well, if it's a true "desert" island, it ain't gonna matter cuz you'll be dead from thirst in a few days.

Now, if were talking a "deserted" island, the geography and climate would have much to do with your choice. But if I were just to be dropped on any deserted island that happened to be handy, and had no prior information, I'd take

madman4570 · Post by **madman4570** » Sat Mar 01, 2014 7:19 pm

A NAX

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHvE_Zn_pPI

http://www.gearupcenter.com/

jeepnik · Post by **jeepnik** » Sat Mar 01, 2014 7:30 pm

madman4570 wrote:A NAX

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHvE_Zn_pPI

So, tell us where you got it.

AJMD429 · Post by **AJMD429** » Sat Mar 01, 2014 7:33 pm

J35nut wrote:Anyone ever see one of these?

Yep. It's what we split our inside firewood with.

What is it, anyway (other than a nice heavy-bladed machete)...?

MrMurphy · Post by **MrMurphy** » Sat Mar 01, 2014 7:36 pm

The Woodsman's Pal was originally made for the military, for aircrews, etc getting dropped into places they didn't particularly plan on ending up. If you had to pick "one" tool, it wouldn't be a bad choice.

jeepnik · Post by **jeepnik** » Sat Mar 01, 2014 7:39 pm

MrMurphy wrote:The Woodsman's Pal was originally made for the military, for aircrews, etc getting dropped into places they didn't particularly plan on ending up. If you had to pick "one" tool, it wouldn't be a bad choice.

Yea, I first came across them in the service. I now carry one in each vehicle and have another around the house. They take one heck of a beating and I haven't worn one out yet.

J35 · Post by **J35** » Sat Mar 01, 2014 7:40 pm

AJMD429 wrote:
J35nut wrote:Anyone ever see one of these?

Yep. It's what we split our inside firewood with.

What is it, anyway (other than a nice heavy-bladed machete)...?

http://forums.gunboards.com/showthread. ... sman-Knife

Now you know as much as I do about it.

-------J

Old Ironsights · Post by **Old Ironsights** » Sat Mar 01, 2014 7:49 pm

madman4570 wrote:A NAX

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHvE_Zn_pPI

That has a nice Klingon feel to it... but I still like the Bushtool for practicality...

7.62 Precision · Post by **7.62 Precision** » Sat Mar 01, 2014 9:18 pm

Ysabel Kid wrote:That is a tough one, because as much as I love a good, large bowie, I wouldn't want to be digging out splinters with it, or anything else that requires a lot of precision. Desert = warm = probably thinking more on making tools rather than cutting wood to keep warm.

I agree. Also, most places in the world will have some type of driftwood that can be utilized for fires and for building, but not all. The coast of Siberia and islands on that coast did not get much driftwood at all, due to the currents, while Alaskan Islands had an abundance, leading to centuries-long wars between Siberian and Alaskan natives over driftwood.

Also, we generally think warm when we consider the word desert, though some deserts are cold. The original term desert island, however, meant deserted, and was interchangeable with the term deserted island, so to be completely correct, a desert island could be in any climate, so when we say desert island today, many people think of tropical climates, but the original meaning of the term was uninhabited, so it could be anywhere. Needs could be much different on an island with a sandy shore and coconut palms from an island with rocky beaches, tide pools and spruce forests, or a grassy island with pebble beaches and seabirds nesting on cliffs.

I would say that a geographic location would be necessary to really say what knife you would want.

cas · Post by **cas** » Sat Mar 01, 2014 9:26 pm

rjohns94 wrote:Blaine, I ordered a Sheffield on amazon. I went on to google, put in mod 4 knife and the the first amazon link took me straight to the Sheffield. I also go the brown wood handle. They have different choices.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0090U ... 96QD7MPWLO

They certainly have gotten more expensive since I bought mine, but I guess everything has.