Camp knife suggestions

[THE PILGRIM]

The OP asked for Camp Knife suggestions.
To me that suggests Kitchen Knife.
Not a Hunting knife, not a Survival knife.
To me that's a smaller, lighter knife.
I have been in camps where somebody had a small Buck.
Like the 102 somebody already suggested. Excellent choice.
In the days of yore, Hunting Knife choice got down to big game , usually deer. Are you going to use it to cut through the Pelvis?
Then you need a substantial knife.
Survival Knife? You probably want a rather substantial blade.
Camp Knife? Peeling potatoes? Trimming a Roast?
Cleaning a fish? Smaller thinner blade probably preferred.
Lots of the long time successful big game hunters use a saw or hatchet to open the pelvis.
My first Deer was one of those Indiana Corn eating, Apple Munching Bucks.
Opened that Buck up with a big Buck. Model 119 I think.

 

[Jack Flash]

After seeing the Crocodile Dundee movie, ("That's not a knife, THIS is a knife!") it seemed like everyone had a huge Bowie Knife advertised for sale in all the gun rags.

If you go to YouTube and search "knife" you get a lot of bushcraft this and bushcraft that. Lots of information (and misinformation). You will see you can spend just about any amount you want to on a knife. It's easy to get carried away so try to start out simple.

Back when they were going for about $12 each, I bought a couple of AK bayonets. They are pretty rugged and come with a sheath that turns them into wire cutters which I would imagine will cut a lot of things besides wire. They make a pretty useful all around belt knife, but you will probably pay more for one now.

I agree that unless you just bailed out of an airplane, you should take along a hatchet when you go camping. You didn't ask but another very handy thing to have along on your belt is a Leatherman Wave. I bought a Surge and it is nice but pretty heavy and bulky. Others really like a Swiss Army knife.

 

[dave1918a2]

I pack a Randall #5, or a Corbet Sigman hunter. Both 5 inch blades. I also pack a Gerber hatchet. Never see Me using a knife to split wood. On fishing trips I pack a small custom with a 3 inch blade, and the hatchet. Also have a pack saw and a CRKT shovel in the truck.

 

[Targets Guy]

I never pass up an opportunity to show off my 1969 Buck.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Put the knife on the wood you want to split and use another piece of wood to drive the knife through the wood.

I sure would not!!!!!!!!!.....Do that to any knife I treasured or of quality.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Put the knife on the wood you want to split and use another piece of wood to drive the knife through the wood.

I sure would not!!!!!!!!!.....Do that to any knife I treasured or of quality.

Buy an axe.

 

[JJEH]

I like TOPS Knives and perhaps the BAJA 4.5 RESERVE EDITION or the MOHAWK HUNTER will be to your liking.

If you need bigger, the LONGHORN BOWIE might be better. I would let mine go if you are interested...

 

[Echo40]

Buck 120

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

If you want to be John Rambo, use a Rambolike knife. For real life, use hatchet or Tomahawk one wood. I always have a SAK or 2 and usually have a vintage Kabar for in between work. If I could only have one it would be a Kabar in the woods and SAK in town.

Ivan

 

[Jack Flash]

If you want to be John Rambo, use a Rambolike knife. ...

But then be sure to be in a Rambo-like situation. Don't embarrass the S&W Forum by sitting at a picnic table in an RV park wearing shorts, flip-flops, and a $400 commando knife.

It's been a long time since I went out into the woods without much more than a backpack and a tent. Truth be told, back in those days my most useful tool was a garage sale folding shovel and a roll of toilet paper.

 

[Marshwheeling]

Try a Kephart. The Kabar/Becker BK62 is one of the better examples currently made.
The Original Kephart Examined – Knife Magazine
The Kephart is a versatile design, biased toward in-camp uses like food prep, but sturdy enough for woodwork, and even some batoning if you really feel you have to.
I am partial to the Ka-Bar Becker knives, several of which might work well for you: BK16, BK10, BK7, maybe even the BK2 or BK9.
There a lot of knives that could work for you
I would feel well-equipped with just about any Mora (especially the Kansbøl), the Varusteleka Jäkkaripuukko, a six or seven-inch Old Hickory, or a Ka-Bar USMC utility knife.
There are plenty of others that would suit, but I don't know enough to comment.

 

[tnmandpshooter]

Ontario rat 5 with rk custom kydex holster and exotac fire rod is what I recommend. Or an essee 6 which is pictured with my ak.

Sent from my SM-A515U using Tapatalk

 

[Onomea]

Try a Kephart. The Kabar/Becker BK62 is one of the better examples currently made...

Nice video description here: KA-BAR: Becker Kephart

 

[Father Joe]

A Mora is plenty good. If you don't like plastic, Condor makes a version of the Nessmuk you may like.
Sometimes the Grohmann website has factory seconds half priced and their #1 & #3 have a large following.
My latest camp knife is a Terava pukko from Varuteleka---a beast of a knife sort of like a Mora on steroids and, like Moras, very reasonably priced (which makes it even better!)

 

[Capt. F.]

Buck 120

I second the Buck 120. Just a plain good all around knife.

 

[jtcarm]

The Kephart looks perfect.

Thanks!

 

[dasnake]

For me........

Randall 25, 5"or 6", and you don't have to wait 5 years like I did, they are for sale at different venues and the 'net.

 

[otis24]

Ditto on the Cattaraugus 225Q. I have one and purchased one for my son. I believe Bark River makes a repro of it.

 

[otis24]

The leather shop in town made me two new sheaths for my two Cattaraugus knives so that they hang on the right side instead of the left. I hope to pick them up this week.

 

[Shrek Of The Arctic]

Another fan of Mora knives here. I've used plenty of knives that cost several hundred dollars and found them wanting when compared to an old Mora Basic when used for general camp tasks and game cleaning.

One of my higher end favorites yet mentioned is my White River Ursus 45. It's fairly expensive at the cost of $245 or so. It's not very trendy or exotic blade steel, (S35 VN) but the craftsman ship of knife and sheath are absolutely spot on.

I almost forgot, Bark River makes very nice knives. Different steels, designs, etc. But they're all great. If overwhelmed by their selection, check out the Bravo line. Hard to fail with it, and they're well considered.

And, as others have said, the offerings from Varusteleka are exceptional, and tremendous bang for buck.

My personal knives do random camp tasks, process plants for food and medicinal purposes, and process wild game here in Alaska. Heavy duty thick spined, inefficient knives that can fillet a bulldozer have long been culled from my collection. That being said, if your your Mora breaks, youbprobly did something stupid. If a persons White River or Varusteleka knife breaks, I'm not entirely certain they should be trusted with sharp tings.