If you could only have one knife...

Whats the top one pilgrim? Looks like its based on a Loveless design.

And for those who love Marbles, I think Mike Stewart owns the brand now. He and his son Jim are big Marbles fans, and produce versions of them now and again. I understand a Canoe Knife will be available soon.

That's the Bark River Gameskeeper on the top.
I think it was designed by Mike Stewart.
Bark River does make some Loveless designs.
And yes, I also love the Marbles!
An American Classic, gone but not forgotten. The original one anyway.
 
With out a doubt I'd grab my Cold Steel Pocket Bushman... This is my go to knife if I am headed out into the woods. More times than not I'll find it tucked into my pocket on any occasion. Okay it is slow to deploy, but it is as solid as any fixed blade knife I own.
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I don't have any big name or custom knives, everything I've ever used is off the shelf stuff. I carry a Benchmade Volli (S30V blade) every day, it is the best (for me) of many pocket knives I've tried. For a fixed blade I use a KOA with D2 blade, I had a batch done with a personal touch to give my employees a year or so ago.

Its not a big knife but it serves well. As its actually no bigger than the Volli it doesn't really see a lot of use, but for a mass-produced blade I'm happy with it.
 

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I have a few knives in my collection, but out of all of them, I would probably choose my Randall Model 5. When I am heading into the outback or checking fences out at the ranch, the Randall is the one most often carried on my belt:

 
Since the OP stated another knife, other than your regular carry folder,
Don't understand why some folks pick another folder.
[...]
Since I picked a folder I'll answer. First, for me knives are tools, not weapons. The original question allowed the fantasy of being out in the woods away from society's usual constraints if you chose it, but also allowed picking a knife that would help you through economic hardship. A folder that is 5" closed is allowed on far more jobs and streets than a fixed blade. The big folder in its pouch is less cumbersome to carry. It can also offer two different shaped blades. That accommodates different jobs and allows twice as much work before you have to get back to the sharpening stone. If your daily carry is that large I can see where another folder might not expand your options much. However, like a lot of us Mule Packer's usual EDC pocket knife is an old fashioned slip joint that is small enough to be comfortable in the bottom of a front pants pocket so I read his question to mean a step up to a larger and sturdier knife than that.
[...] not including your EDC pocket knife, what other knife would you pick if you could only grab one? [...]
 
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Since I picked a folder I'll answer. First, for me knives are tools, not weapons. The original question allowed the fantasy of being out in the woods away from society's usual constraints if you chose it, but also allowed picking a knife that would help you through economic hardship. A folder that is 5" closed is allowed on far more jobs and streets than a fixed blade. The big folder in its pouch is less cumbersome to carry. It can also offer two different shaped blades. That accommodates different jobs and allows twice as much work before you have to get back to the sharpening stone. If your daily carry is that large I can see where another folder might not expand your options much. However, like a lot of us Mule Packer's usual EDC pocket knife is an old fashioned slip joint that is small enough to be comfortable in the bottom of a front pants pocket so I read his question to mean a step up to a larger and sturdier knife than that.

Ok. Exactly what knife did you select?
I can't find your selection.
I usually carry a an 'old fashioned slip joint. '


Like right now I have the one that I bought myself for Christmas.
 

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I like to call knives like your Christmas present to yourself rocker locks but most prefer back locks. Slip joint implies a folder with no lock. I wrote my choice would be one of my two blade Folding Hunters, most likely the stag handled Case I bought in the early 1970s. In use I do not miss a lock. While being used as a tool you'd have to do something stupid to fold the blade into your fingers.
 
Les-

I, too, own a Hunter's Pal. Mine is an older one, with three handle bolts and bushings. I've seen pics of new ones and they just have two, a cost-cutting measure. New Pumas are still probably very good knives, but such shortcuts offend older knife buffs with an eye to traditional quality.

Texas:

I stopped by the house today, and dug through the safe and found my Puma "Hunter's Pal". I had thought that it dated to the 1960s, like my "Hunter's Friend", but I misremembered. It was made in the 4th quarter of 1973, according to the little dating app on Puma's website. Check it out here: Frequently asked questions of puma knives hunting knife outdoor knife Just type in the code number on your knife, and it will give you the year and quarter that the knife was made. I had forgotten that it is in almost new condition. Shot a picture of it this afternoon:



By the way, the green you see on the blade is not corrosion, it's a reflection of the tree leaves outside the window where I took this photo. I'm not much of a photographer, and use my iPad to take photos.

I also have the original sheath, and the green and yellow plastic box that it came in. It is a little bigger than I remembered, the blade is right at 4", with an overall length of 8". This, being an older one has the three rivet handle with the Sambar stag scales. I'm not sure, on second thought, that this might not be a great overall knife. At any rate, this is the old "Pumaster" steel, and although I have kept this one in pristine condition, I know from my other Puma that that particular steel holds an edge very well.

Best Regards, Les
 
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The vintage little Puma Hunters Pal is abit
uncommon. The new production knives
pull near 2 Bens these days.
Here is my well used 1966 vintage Hunters Pal.

Nice, Xfuzz!!!

That one seems to have held up pretty well over the years. My 1968 Hunter's Friend, from post 57 above seems to have stood the test of time also. I may start to put the little "Pal" to work also. Since I'm not going to sell it, there isnt much point in keeping it pristine, since my kids don't care one way or the other. Not that they don't like guns and knives, but they feel like I mostly do that they are tools to be used, and they probably don't care about "collector value" much either.

That's a great looking little knife there.

Best Regards, Les
 
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Be glad we held onto these vintage Pumas for sure. Sure would cost plenty today if made the same way with the pumamaster carbon chromium plated steel. Not sure what other alloy was added but the cost would mostly likely be prohibitive for many these days. Thanks for sharing.
 
Just had these made. Howe Mountain Knives in TX...I like them a lot; Dale made them exactly to my specs. Either one would do but the black Micarta-handled one (top) is REALLY growing on me.
Bob

 
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