Robert.Allen@Eng.Sun.COM (Email Mujahideen) (06/05/91)
In some article, <snorthc@relay.nswc.navy.mil (Stephen Northcutt)> writes:
+
+I have read the replies on this thread. They are well written
+and informative, thanks to those who have put forth the effort.
+Perhaps the same question can be analysed in a different way.
+Suppose we define some of the functions the knife would be used
+for and see what kind of knives fall out. I hope this is OK, it
+seems a bit out of charter.
I believe precedent has been set for this before. However, there
is also and edged-weapons mailing list: edge@skipper.dfrf.nasa.gov
for submissions and edge-request@skipper.dfrf.nasa.gov for
administrativia. The list is fairly quiet now; traffic on it
is bursty.
+
+Killing quietly.
+ Else you would probably shoot instead. It seems to me
+most sharp, fairly stong blades work about equally.
This is one case where a sharp double edge dagger is useful. Other
knives would work too, but they should be capable of stabbing more
than slashing.
+
+Knife fighting.
+ I can't visualize exactly how this situation could
+occur. Seems like one party or the other would draw a sidearm.
I know of a number of cases where a "knife fight" occurred. It's
probable for a number of reasons: 1) knives are probably more
commonly carried by thugs on the street than guns, 2) if YOU'RE
caught carrying a knife the police or judge may think it's less
serious than carrying a gun, if you are caught, 3) not everyone
can afford to buy a good gun, or practice with it.
In the knife fights I know of, the majority of them stopped when
a single cut was made. Of course those cuts were pretty serious...
An 8-9" bladed bowie was used by the defender.
+
+Skinning.
+ Well, if we mean the "L", we might have to forage off
+the land a bit.
There are lots of good skinners out there. I've heard the
Wyoming knife is excellent, plus there are various drop point
and trailing point skinners.
+
+Digging.
Use a shovel.
+
+Chopping saplings.
Use a good bowie knife.
+
+Prying.
Use a good forged knife. Most stock removal (IMHO) knives tend not
to be as strong as a good forged blade. But there are also people
doing poor forged blades of course.
+
+Cutting wires fence to phone.
Any well-tempered knife should be able to do this. If it's not well
tempered the edge may bend or chip however.
+
+Sawing.
Use a saw. Otherwise use a bowie to chop.
+
+Eating.
Don't use a large bowie unless you want to lop off your lips :).
+
+I own the buckmaster survival knife (laugh all you want) with the
+hollow handle and grappling hook pins. It chops saplings very well.
+If you keep it wd40'd it draws quickly from the sheath. It doesn't
+saw for beans, cut wire, take a super marvelous edge for skinning
+or eating. I have removed the top anchor pin for comfort. It would
+probably die if you used it for a pry bar. If lead starts flying
+around my head, then I might try digging with it.
The BM was just discussed along with other Phrobis knifes in the
latest Fighting Knives magazine. According to users in the SEALs
the BM is used only as trading material, while the new Phrobis knife,
similar to the M-9 bayonet, is also a piece of garbage, breaking often.
The SEALs are now using the old M3 blade they previously used.
The BM was also stress tested by Cold Steel, who broke the blade into
3 pieces: they snapped off two chunks of the blade by putting the
blade in a vice and applying hand pressure, and snapped the blade off
near the guard by rapping the back of the blade sharply on the horn
of an anvil. Bill Bagwell gave reasons why the BM isn't a well designed,
as opposed to a well constructed knife, but you cover most of them
in your posting.
I almost bought a BM years ago, and bought a Cold Steel Master Tanto
instead. I'm glad I did.
+
+Overall, it seems I would prefer some kind of a machete/bush sword
+possibly with a saw back. A second small blade for skinning/eating
+might be nice, I hate to skin/gut with a pointy knife.
Skip the saw backs. Personally I think a 9-10" bladed handmade bowie
is an excellent big knife, and a 4" or so folder or fixed blade drop
point would be a good skinner and kitchen knife.
Of cours if you really want a big chopper, how about the Blackjack
kukri?