Outdoor News | How to Survive if Lost in the Wilderness

Prepare yourself for an Outdoor Adventure

Outdoor survival is an exercise in preparation. Having the correct equipment and the knowledge to use the equipment is crucial to survival in the great outdoors. Knowledge and equipment go together as it is useless to have all the equipment and not have the slightest idea how to use it.

With the advancement in technology and the advancement in search and rescue techniques it is typically hours before one is rescued. With a basic survival kit and the knowledge of how to use the equipment most survival rescues should have a happy ending.

What to do “If You Get Lost” in the Wilderness!

Most novice outdoor enthusiasts do not know how to assemble a survival kit. They may go online and purchase a packaged survival kit. A packaged Bear Grylls ultimate survival kit is on of the best packages survival kits on the market. However most experienced outdoor enthusiasts will assemble their own kit.

The basic survival kit an experienced outdoor enthusiast would have would contain the following; a knife (Survival Knife), waterproof matches, a water purification bottle, emergency food, maps and a compass, you will also need a signal such as a reflective mirror or a whistle. Perhaps the best tool for survival is letting someone, a friend or relative know exactly where and when you will be traveling. Let this individual know that if you do contact them by a specific date and time they must contact authorities and start a search and rescue.

Educate yourself for the “Rugged Outdoors”!

In addition to the survival kit it is also necessary to educate yourself on additional survival skills. Take some time to educate yourself on the type of wild plants that are edible. Take an class in outdoor survival, many colleges and universities offer classes in outdoor survival. Many colleges will also offer a three day weekend outdoor survival workshop. It is imperative that you master some very basic skills such as building a shelter in the wild and starting an maintaining a fire in the outdoors.

Don’t Let your Outdoor Adventure Turn into a Nightmare!!

With a complete basic survival kit, a good quality outdoor knife and a little knowledge one can survive the great outdoors. Remember outdoor survival is an exercise in preparation.

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Fixed Blade or Folding Knife | “Which Style is Better for You?”

Fixed Blade Knife or Folding Knife

Anyone that has ever been hunting, camping or fishing knows how important it is to carry a high quality knife. Knives serve many purposes and are a very handy tool to have around. Whether you need to clean some freshly caught fish, cut open a pack of batteries sealed in an almost indestructible manufacturer’s plastic case, or cut up your food, having a good knife to do the job is essential.

There are many different kinds of knives, each designed for a certain purpose. Some of the more popular kinds of knives are a fixed blade knife, folding knife, hunting knife, lockback knife and pocket knife. Knowing which type of knife or knives to carry with you depends on what you are going to use the knife to do.

Is the Fixed Blade Knife The Right Choice?

A fixed blade knife is usually made of a thicker and stronger steel or other composite material. A hunting knife is a good example of a fixed blade knife. It comes with a thick handle that fits firmly in your hand and is capable of killing small game, cleaning a fish, digging a hole and doing a variety of other useful chores. The knife is somewhat heavier and harder to store than some other types of utilitarian knives. On the other hand, it is very durable and easy to clean and maintain.

Folding Knives are more “Compact to Carry”!

A folding knife opens when you need to put it to use and closes when it is not being used. This type of knife provides a measure of safety that does not exist with a fixed blade. Most pocket knives are of the folding knife variety. Everything from a single blade knife to a multiple blade Swiss Army knife falls under this category. Folding knives can be dangerous when using them to cut aggressively. If you are not careful, the blade can suddenly fold up and cut your hand or fingers. To prevent that from happening, lockback knives were developed.

Should you Choose a Lockback Knife?

Lockback knives have a locking mechanism that keeps the blade secure so it will not accidentally collapse while in use. There is usually a little button or other mechanical method that you must deliberately depress to close the blade on a lockback knife.

Or Do you Prefer the Smaller “Pocket Knife”!

A pocket knife is probably the most common of all knives. It can have a blade just 1 inch in length or some really large ones can have a blade of 5 or 6 inches. The smaller pocket knives are easier to carry around, but the larger ones are stronger and can cut through tougher materials with much more ease.

Deciding which knife to buy depends on your personal preferences and the needs for the knife. Most quality knives do not cost that much, so, perhaps you should buy a couple of different types of knives so you will be prepared for any situation.

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Sport Knives | Functionality vs Style and Looks

Sports Knives – Making the Best Choice

There are a variety of sport knives available to the consumer today, and the first and foremost question to ask yourself is, “What do I plan on using this knife for?”

Is the “Hunting Knife” Best For you?

If you are a hunter, the logical choice is a hunting knife used to field dress game. For those hunters who travel off road on snowmobiles or all-terrain vehicles, a solid, fixed blade hunting knife makes it possible to field dress an animal and bring it back. A gut hook is a common feature, although it does add bulkiness to the knife and some hunters dispute its usefulness.

Camp/ Utility Knives

If you are an outdoors man, such as a backpacker, hiker, or fisherman, but not a hunter, then a camp knife may best meet your needs. A camp knife can have a small blade or a very large blade and either style you choose will help you perform chores necessary for setting camp, such as chopping wood, cutting rope, and cutting meat for cooking. Another option for a Camp/ Utility knife is the lockback knife. It is compact to carry by means of a pocket clip, in your pocket or in a belt sheath. It is considerably less bulky than the fixed blade knife.

“Survival Knives” for wilderness trips

When you think of a survival knife, the one that first comes to mind just might be the “Rambo” knife. If you think of a knife as a tool, and the only thing standing between you and death in the wild, then a survival knife is your choice. Yet even an ordinary family can find themselves stranded and fighting to survive, such as the Kim family who took a wrong turn and were stuck in the Oregon wilderness for nine days. Desirable features in a survival knife may include a saw edge, a large blade suitable for chopping and cutting, and a fire starter or compartment for matches. The Bear Grylls knife, named after the renowned star of the Discovery Channel’s “Man vs. Wild” show, is a good example of this type of knife, with bright orange coloration, a pommel suitable for hammering, a built-in fire starter, and a lanyard.

“Self Defense” Knives

If you are more concerned with survival in the city than in the country, then tactical knives are what you need. “Tactical knives” is simply a term to describe a knife intended for self-defense. If you carry a knife for self-defense, you have a choice of a fixed blade knife or folding blade knife. The fixed blade is made to carry on your belt making it faster too grab in an attack. If considering the folding blade knife for self defense look at the assisted opening blade knife. This type of knife offers fast blade deployment. Carrying a folding knife is less conspicuous but also considered a concealed weapon. A sure grip handle and a strong blade are also necessary features when considering tactical knives, because a dropped knife or a broken blade can be fatal in an armed encounter.

Regardless of the types of sport knife you buy, always be mindful of the laws in your area affecting knife legality. When deciding on which type of Sport knife to buy keep in mind “How do I want to Carry this Knife”. I myself carry a mid-size lockback knife on my hunting trips. I use it as a general purpose knife around camp as well as field dressing smaller game.

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Hand Made Custom Knives | One Knife at a Time

Qualities of Hand Made Custom Knives

The highest-quality custom knives have several features that make them distinct from their machine-made, mass-produced cousins. A hand made knife should be forged of only high-quality steel, and exquisite care must go into all four aspects of the knife: blade, handle, guard, and sheath. Care of these four features is what makes for true collector knives, not just some fancy engraving of knife handles. True custom knives, whether they are collector knives or not, should be able to be used as a functional camp knife and not just sit in a collector case in a closet.

Preferred Raw Steel to Use

A high-quality hand made knife will be made of either 5160 carbon steel or 52100 carbon steel. Low-temperature forging with this steel allows for a high-degree of refinement. Triple tempering of this steel allows the spine to be soft while the edge is hard and sharp. For the guard, copper or brass can be alloyed into the steel or used pure. When selecting an SAE grade for the steel, O1 is the most popular.

Design the Blade with Style

The shape of the blade must conform to how the hand made knife is to be used. Collector knives are both pleasing to view and functional. A good camp knife must be able to take care of any camp function from cutting wood to field dressing an animal. The quality of the blade must be such that it stays sharp after repeated use.

Animal Bone and Horn Handles are the most Popular!

Knife handles should be comfortable allow the wielder to work the knife in the most efficient way possible. No one should have to adjust their hold on the knife after repeated use for comfort. Bad knife handles only diminish the quality of the cuts.

Hand Guard Both Cosmetic and Functional

The guard of a knife was once important in combat situations to protect against an opponent’s blade. Today, the guard is important in protecting the wielder’s hand against his/her own blade. In cases where excessive force must be used in a thrust against a strong object, a weak guard may break, causing the hand to slide onto the blade. The guard must be strong and not merely ornamental.

True Custom Knife Makers

There are some very reputable custom knife makers in the USA. They all have their own design capabilities and no one knife will be the same. There are knife makers that call themselves “custom” but use pre-stamped blades to start with that are cut on CNC equipment. A true “Custom Knife Maker” makes everything by hand by starting with carbon steel round bars!

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