COMPASS brand survial knife- any good?

D

Doskil

Joined
Aug 6, 2003
Messages
4
I have one of these that my dad got a long time ago. You know stainless sawback blade, survival kit and screw on compass.

How useful would it be on backpacking trips? Should I get a better survival knife even though I have a leatherman and swiss army knife I carry too?

Thanks

Doskil
 
If it holds an edge and you like it, go for it. I would still look into getting a replacement though.
 
these knives seem to suffer from a weakness in the blade handle junction that does not make them reliable for heavy use. the exception is the reeves custom made models. so if you intend on using this knife as your " back up" i would suggest that the solid tang knives would be a better choice. make the knife sheath your survival kit as it is attached to your belt.

alex
 
I have tried these, the join isn't actually that weak you could not use it for chopping. The problem is that most are bolted on and they come loose very easily. I used loctite on one and it worked decently well.

Of course the edge geometry and steel properties are nothing to get excited about, the handle ergonomics and security are rather low, and the balance usually neutral or handle heavy (depending on what you pack).

I would seriously recommend getting a decent more plain replacement, a CU/7 if you want a neutral balanced utility knife and a Camp Tramp if you want more blade balance for chopping power.

-Cliff
 
Ahh, here's the exception to the hollow handled rule, My Jack Crain Life Support System..
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There has never been an account of any Crain loosening or breaking. That's impressive. His handles also hold more than a Chris Reeve. Crain's guards, handles and butt caps are machined from 440C and Hardened to withstand massive abuse.
 
DAMN!! I love that LSS2. I should have got my LSS1 in stainless not O1. I would still have it. I have one of Colin Cox hollow handle knifes coming in. It has a D2 blade and I hear they are very tough.

Some others to look at if you like HH knives,

Jack Crain;)
Colin Cox
Robert Parrish(My fav. and hard to find)
Chris Reeve
Mike England(hard to find)
Randall Mod.18(I was not that impressed)

Keep the one you have, put it up, as it sounds like it has sentimental value.
 
I checked out Colin Cox's knives, very nice! You'll have to post pics when you get it. His knives are "Randall" like, but I like them much better, and his hollow handled knives seem tough as hell!

I designed a survival knife and Dave Beck is making it! I should have it in 2 months or so. It's going to be AWESOME!

Take care
 
Those Crain knives are awesome! I have seen Colin Cox mentioned here on the forums but have never seen his stuff. Does he have a web site?


Thanks


Cerberus:cool:
 
He does, a quick search on the internet will yield his website. I believe he lives in Apopka Florida.

Glad you like my Crain's here's another one that I designed and he built-
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Jack Crain's prices start at $350.00 for a small dagger or boot knife. His hollow handled knives start at $450.00. The hollow handled models I've posted here were $550.00 for the "Hunter" and $595.00 for the "Life Support System 2" Here's his website-

www.crainknives.com
 
VERY effective. On the LS2, every other sawtooth is slightly higher than the one next to it and the tops are opposing pitch. One slants to the right, the next to the left etc. Since they are tapered sawteeth, they dont cut the thickness of the blade, but they are the most aggressive sawteeth I've ever seen on a knife and they rip chunks out of things. They would be great for ripping through aluminum or sheet metal, canvas, rope, etc. I have used them for notching wood for figure 4 traps and firemaking bows. They are also handy for scoring large branches on trees so that you can snap them off.

The Hunter has sawteeth that are very similar to Dave Beck's Wilderness Survival Knife. They will cut the thickness of the blade. Very well done.
 
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