If you could only have one knife to be your everything, what would it be?

L

Lasador

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Sep 11, 2019
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In this day and age, survival knives should be of the utmost importance in everyone's mind. When I say "survival knife", I mean survival knife (fixed or folding knife) in any capacity and in any situation. Sure, certain knives are better for certain tasks in certain environments, so forth and so on, etc., etc. But, if you could only have one knife to be your "do everything" knife, what would it be and why? Obviously, there is no right or wrong answer to this question, and that's not the point. The point is, what knife works best for YOU in this "do everything survival knife" capacity?
 
There was a film with Will Smith and his son that featured a weapon they called a "Cutlass." With a push of button it would extend any sort of blade the user desired. A bit like a Light Saber that could change its blade shape and length. It was the best thing about that profoundly mediocre movie.

Aside from this, I get the most "survival" comfort from my Ka-Bar Mk 1 navy deck knife becaue of its thick blade, moderate length, diminished guard, and hammer pommel. Some are nervous around a stick tang, but not me. The 1095 steel is my favorite and I prefer it over stainless. A close second to this one is the Cold Steel SRK in Carbon V for all of the same reasons (minus the hammer pommel, which sets it back).

First, a knife must cut well and 1095 sharpens up very keen. Chopping is secondary, and the Mk 1 blade is thick enough for sub-hatchet tasks. It is also thin enough to do food prep, though perhaps not chiffonade. The leather grip gives me good purchase with or without gloves and I find the length just right for my medium-large hands. If self-defense is added to the criteria in "survival", it will perform well. The knife is unobtrusive. When I come back from hikes and rides here in Colorado or carry it into town after farm work, no one bats an eye. There something about the five inch blade that makes people overlook it, which is nice if you do not want to attract attention. The shorter blade is also handier than a full bowie knife. Most cutting is done close to the hilt, it seems to me, and that makes this knife easier to use. The last thing I will say about the Mk 1 is that the hammer pommel is a great tool. I have hammered nails with it successfully. It breaks up ice in frozen stock tanks or rivers. It would easily break auto glass in an emergency.

Honorable Mentions (fixed):
Roselli large Leuku
Dawson Sheffield Bowie (#58)
Mora Robust Pro carbon steel
Hackmann large Tapio Wirkkala puukko (stainless, but it was my first fixed blade, from Leichtung in 1983)
Varusteleka Skrama (only one on the list I don't own)
SMATCHET!!

Honorable Mentions (folding):
Buck 110 of any design
Victorinox GAK/Trekker
Opinel N⁰10 or 12

Zieg
 
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One of these three: Busse Fusion Steelheart, Busse SatinJack Tac, Bark River Big Sky Camp knife. If you pin me down to one...Busse Satin Jack Tac. Long enough to do some light chopping and to use as a baton, Short enough to choke up on and make fuzz sticks or other fine work. Not as thick as some of their big choppers, but thick enough that I can't ever imagine breaking it. Pair it with a good sheath and it will be a great companion forever.

 
A 4" fixed blade with good geometry and an easily sharpened steel that holds an edge...

Throw in a contoured micarta handle for the win.

Just so happen to be carrying that "one knife" with me today so I'll recycle a pic:

1fYxrIt.jpg
 
Lasador said:
In this day and age, survival knives should be of the utmost importance in everyone's mind. When I say "survival knife", I mean survival knife (fixed or folding knife) in any capacity and in any situation. Sure, certain knives are better for certain tasks in certain environments, so forth and so on, etc., etc. But, if you could only have one knife to be your "do everything" knife, what would it be and why? Obviously, there is no right or wrong answer to this question, and that's not the point. The point is, what knife works best for YOU in this "do everything survival knife" capacity?
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I have many knives, fixed blade and folding knives, but I'll go with my Fallkniven A1 as my choice.
 
Trouble for me is that no one knife is best for every use and the compromise type models are generally not ideal for anything .

For "survival" , I'd want two fixed blades at the minimum .

One larger chopper / pry general purpose field knife . Plus a smaller thinner blade for food prep and finer chores .













Warcraft and Mini Pendleton could work .

 
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danbot said:
Smatchet! :thumbsup:
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Been wondering, what would happen if a Smatchet and a Kukri were struck together? Would the fabric of the universe unravel? I'm afraid to find out.

I'd probably choose a 4" fixed blade with a good sheath in a good tough steel. Easy to control and strong enough for rough use.
 
MarkN86 said:
Been wondering, what would happen if a Smatchet and a Kukri were struck together? Would the fabric of the universe unravel? I'm afraid to find out.
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That must NEVER be permitted to happen! :eek:
Ducks would talk, dogs would fly and cats would make sense! :eek::eek::eek:
 
Pilsner said:
Yes, I found that opening statement to be rather questionable.
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Yeah not really sure to make of that.

Now when would I prefer to have on me in any situation from an urban emergency like a stuck fire escape to a knife i will actually have on in a wilderness emergency, 4ish" fixed blade. Something tough and capable like my ZT0180.
 
Steely_Gunz said:
Yeah not really sure to make of that.

Now when would I prefer to have on me in any situation from an urban emergency like a stuck fire escape to a knife i will actually have on in a wilderness emergency, 4ish" fixed blade. Something tough and capable like my ZT0180.
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That ZT0180 looks like a tank, beautiful knife. I wonder why ZT would discontinue such a great knife like that? Makes no sense to me...
 
Lasador said:
That ZT0180 looks like a tank, beautiful knife. I wonder why ZT would discontinue such a great knife like that? Makes no sense to me...
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The long and the short of it, it didn't sell according to Kai. It's indeed a tank, and pretty heavy for its class, so some might find it over built to the point of being a burden. I let one slip through my fingers twice. I only lucked into mine because I was in Spark's shop about this time last year asking him if he had anything like the 180. He basically said, "Well what about the 180?" and plunked one he had from old stock on the counter. At this point it had been out of production for at least a year and a half. Didn't even ask the price, just threw my card at him :D I'm sure he gave me a good deal, but I didn't care. Had to have that knife.

Its one of my favorites for sure.
 
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