If you were limited to one item to bug out with for cutting wood or other heavy work what would you chose? Saw,axe,hatchet or hawk,large knife or machete? Since no one item is perfect,what would you choose?
I have at least one of each.But my opinion of what to take changes every so often. At this point my bob includes small skinning knife cold steel (Pendelton skinner) large knife Randall RTAK II more like Huge! Cold steel shovel which has been sharpened on edges. Leatherman multi on hip.Still haven't made up my mind on saws? I have one bow one buck saw. Perhaps I will take just a blade and improvise saw frame on site?
Since shovel doubles as small axe, I am not packing that weight! Although I still haven't totally ruled one out. The Estwing solid steel handled one looks good. Don't know about you but I have been know to break a handle every now and then!
I have two machetes I like as well! But you can't take it all with ya. Compromises compromises.
What are your thoughts Saw,Ax,Big knife,machete,trapper belt ax or hawk?
Be Prepared!
China
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Gonna needa bigger,,,,
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Truck, or van, or sumpin,,,, The uses I put Buffalo to, she’s a bit crowded
up inside (and out). OR, maybe I just need to get a different “Work Truck”
and ...
2 hours ago
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Boy, that's a hard decision to make! I would probably go with the large knife, but haven't thought about it much.
ReplyDeleteHey Jim,One of my choices!
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Morning China, To me this is an Environmentally driven question. For me in my area ( Desert ) I would take either the large knife of the machete, here in my part of the desert an axe or saw would not help me much as big trees are few, far and in between.
ReplyDeleteEnvironment and needs. How often will I need to drop a lg tree. I've never bugged out but I bet not often,since I would probably be on the run!Thanks Bro!
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I love that CS shovel, never go anywhere without one (I have one in every car and each backpack).
ReplyDeleteI do carry the Glock shovel, it has a small saw, I am not sure it is quite as likely to last under heavy use - a good test. The Glock shovel is expensive and the CS shovel is dirt cheep and hefty (an aid in use).
Multi-tool - consider that a must have.
Fire steel - on my keychain
Radio,I owe you thanks for the CS shovel,I was checking in to them when you posted video.Kind of a multi tool in its self!For now it takes place of light axe.
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...got the CS shovel,good gig to have...large fixed blade,and folder,folding saw,omnipresent leatherman multi-tools...
ReplyDeletetake a camp ax, not quite a hatchet but not something that your gonna bust a cord of wood with either. you can sharpen very top edge for skinning and still have a heavy blade for shelter and firewood. stiff heavy blades don't work well for brush like a machete. depends alot on your climate
ReplyDeleteHey Ken! I've been considering a folding saw.My dang pack is pretty heavy now as it is.I am afraid if I get much more equipment I am gonna need a pack animal to haul it.Ha Ha.I find it hard to imagine everything I might on an extended bug out! But it usually comes down to several edged tools,which to take which to leave???Thanks Bro!
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Dirtbag,thanks man! I have been eyeballing an estwing for a while now.My dad has a boys he got as a kid.Like a small version of a regular chopping ax.But the estwing has a solid steel handle like there framing hammers.AAAHHH crap guess I will probably get one!
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THANK YOU for posting this!! I love your blog...
ReplyDeleteSteve
Common Cents
http://www.commoncts.blogspot.com
Hey Steve,glad you like..
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By the way Steve if you want to link just ask,we all hate the ones put on something like that! Thanks China!
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estwing's a good ax, goats are my animal of choice for packing, havent done it but i do have goats. I think a burro, three goats 1 lactating and a good cur that trees and bites are the way to go. I dont plan on leaving immediately though
ReplyDeleteDirtbag same here Bro! Not leaving until things are clear.Hopefully riding things out at home but I am trying to get as prepped as possible just in case! Cause options are very good.
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I think people like us are not the norm. How long before the inner city and suburbia stop fighting and bug out say 20 to 30 miles to reach us?
ReplyDeleteWell I don't know the answer to that one.But once they kill each other off for food,then when the strongest have consumed all the available food they will start roving looking for more!
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Eons ago- litterally- a friend asked me the same basic question: "If you could have only one knife forever, what would you pick?" My choice was the Bowie style then, still is. (Just cuz I like a big knife to gut sheeple with.:) ) Seriously- the Estwing is a fine tool, but way too heavy since it's comprised of all steel, not to mention hell on elbows- hated what my 22 ounce Esty did to my elbows after ten years with it and ended up getting a titanium Ruger.
ReplyDeleteMachete's are cool, especially if your AO is going to be swampy brush that'll need whacking. My opinion on that is: Why leave an easy trail to follow? I'm sneaking under the brush if I need going thru it.
A small knife is nice cuzza light weight, but sometimes lightweight is too lightweight.
Again, my mind drifts to a knife that is big enough to skin an elephant but small enough to gut a squirrel... Bowie covers the gamut, IMO.
A shovel- great for digging catholes and making hides but, again, if I need a hide, I can make one from available brush and grass. Don't see much need for a shovel outside digging up burried preps, but in my AO, that's only do-able five months a year.
Saws are great tools for what they do, and can be used as a blade in a pinch, but for firewood? Again, I think if there's a tree around that can be used to make a smokeless fire (dry wood), then there are branches I can break that will make just as good a fire and not need an extra heavy tool to cut it up. (Again, the Bowie will work for splitting small pieces or making kindling.)
Gosh, I get long-winded! Sorry, China- didn't mean to hi-jack the thread. :(
Shy III
Shy, no problem t'all it's here for info,thoughts an opinions!Thanks Bro!
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Leatherman tool or similar, mora or marttinni knives (they're cheap and good, buy a dozen, gerber bush hook machete, hatchet with hammer back. Make a digging stick when you need to dig. Read about what the mountain men took with them, or bush pilots, or beach bums.
ReplyDeleteDirtbag,good info! My small hawk has hammer head.At this point I just need to get out and test stuff,see what's worth packing with me,cause weight sure adds up!
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Well here in the woods those vines grow yr round..the ones with wicked thorns on them so I would go with the machete just for those things...I believe I have a milsurp wooden handled shovel 2.5' or so that can be used as a shovel or ajusted to a hoe position..and that in cqb would be a nasty thing to get hit with no matter what position it was in if one used the edge or the point as the weapon
ReplyDeleteAzurevirus,indeed shovel appears to be a multi tool.I have sharpened the edges of my mine does light duty as an ax.one my recently gave me one of the old milsurp ones as well.Need to clean and oil it before testing it out.
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