Need knife for trail clearing and boar protection.

C

Ctrues

Joined
Mar 22, 2014
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I live in SE Louisiana and spend time in the woods and swamps of Southern Mississippi & Louisiana. I was trying to find a large knife that I could carry outdoors while walking through these areas and fishing that will be good for use in trail and brush clearing. I was originally thinking of a machete but wanted something substantial enough to provide protection from wild boars/ feral hogs in the area.
Was thinking on the lines of ESEE Junglas, or Buck Hoodlum. I would prefer a sidearm for boar protection but it is prohibited in some of the area that I go.
Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated.
Thanks.
 
Junglas is too round at the tip for a hog sticker...

You want something along the lines of Cold Steels subhilt fighter knives. Pointy and double edged, with a nice long blade.
 
This one has everything I think even the cool factor lol, the only down site is the price :-) 12" Blade of O1 steel (Treeman Knives)
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As you most likely know, hogs are tough so a brush clearer and hog sticker in one is a tall order. The best I can think of is a cold steel magnum kukri machete. It is light and long enough for clearing and packs a real wallop for hog chopping and a sufficient point for stabbing (though not as thick as I would like for that). A backup CS OSS would be handy as Grease indicated.
 
Your kinda limited because your really asking a tool to do two completely different jobs. There arnt many designs that are tough enough for clearing trails but with a sharp and pointy enough tip to damage a tough hog.

Also considering your locale and climate, I think a high dollar knife is not practical. My thought is focus on what you will be doing most often, and try to get something for the hopefully rare hog defense. Condor barong at 14" would be very useful. Also look at the cold steel bowie machete in 12" or 18". These are also cheap enough to try out and if they don't fit your needs your not out a lot.

Hope that helps, good luck!
 
Ctrues said:
I live in SE Louisiana and spend time in the woods and swamps of Southern Mississippi & Louisiana. I was trying to find a large knife that I could carry outdoors while walking through these areas and fishing that will be good for use in trail and brush clearing. I was originally thinking of a machete but wanted something substantial enough to provide protection from wild boars/ feral hogs in the area.
Was thinking on the lines of ESEE Junglas, or Buck Hoodlum. I would prefer a sidearm for boar protection but it is prohibited in some of the area that I go.
Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated.
Thanks.
Click to expand...

Welcome to the forum. I grew up and lived most of my life in St. Charles Parish. Years and years ago, friends and I used to drive down to Honey Island Swamp to hunt* wild pigs. That was a lot of fun. Back then I carried a Ka-Bar. Today, I would probably carry either my Doug Ritter MK2 or the Becker BK7.

[*edited to clarify: bow hunting, knife was strictly auxiliary use]

You want something relatively long (but short enough to easily wield) with a very strong blade with a good, strong tip. Those buggers are hard to kill and the skin is tough to penetrate.
 
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Condor Speed Bowie or Condor Dundee Bowie would fit the bill. Long enough for chopping, pointy enough for stabbing and won't break the bank.
 
As far as chopping a trail my fake CS Trail Master has already proved itself a beast.

I'd feel as well armed with my fake CS TM as any knife but as far as turning a charge from a large hog, either a sow determined to protect her brood or a dominant boar I'd give myself the same odds as if it were a black bear, not very good. It's only going to give you a false sense of security as your only real protection is to be a fast runner and have tree climbing skills.

Don't stab and let go thinking it's going to fall over like in the movies or you're going to lose your knife. In fact, in the book Hound Dog Man where I got my moniker a kid threw his handmade knife at a large sow that was raiding their camp and the last he saw of her and his knife was when she swam out on the opposite bank of the Llano River, a side of bacon still clamped in her mouth LOL.
 
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Any machete will do for brush clearing...

For the boars a 12 gauge with slugs or a something like a .444 Marlin would do fine.
 
I'll second the BK7, large enough to clear brush fairly well and nice and pointy with the clip point for penetration.
 
crkt chanceinhell machete is pretty pointy with 12" blade and a secure grip for piggie combat BUT I would be nervous about the .10" blade stock being stiff enough.
 
get the kabar large heavy bowie.
it has a good bowie tip for stabbing, long 9" blade that can handle brush clearing easily, and its carbon steel so you can catch a spark if you need to use it for that. also its .25" thick blade. i'm a busse guy but for the price that heavy bowie from kabar is pretty tough and versatile. ive seen them for sale for under 60 bucks.
 
Where exactly are you going that guns are prohibited? As far as I know there aren't many places in Louisiana that guns are restricted. (I live near Baton Rouge)
 
I live in central Florida, and wild hogs are my biggest concern when traipsing through all the saw palmettos down here. I myself carry a Junglas and an M&P 45 in a Hill People Gear Kit Bag.

The Junglas works well at what I use it for, and I feel the tip is more than sufficient as a pig sticker. It's heavy enough to be a decent chopper, yet light enough to swing for long periods clearing palmettos. A fighting knife, as suggested, would be of greater value if all you need is a knife designed for defense, but it'll be awful for anything else in the woods.

Figure out your budget and desired thickness, then shop the options. I'm happy with the Junglas.
 
Any decent machete and a Ruger Super Blackhawk w/300 gr. ammo.

I as sure would not go up against any feral hog or boar with anything less.....and no freakin way with a knife.

Here is mine.....

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A Coldsteel Bowie machete may be perfect for you. They have a nasty clip point and plenty of heft for clearing. The sheaths aren't half bad either.
Here is a 12 and 18 inch:
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I don't hunt, and I haven't slept in a Holiday Inn in a long time, but AFAIK, the only time one would use a knife on a wild hog is when your pack of dogs is holding the hog for you. If a hog charges you, are you planning to stand your ground and get in a perfectly timed stab? how is that supposed to work? If you were carrying a machete for the brush clearing, then it seems that you might be able to get some chops and slashes in on a wild animal.
 
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