Cold Steel & Survival (10 Reward Points)

If you were ever caught in a survival situation which Cold Steel item would you like to have and why?

* All members who post under this topic will receive 10 reward points.

"Nothing great in the world has ever been accomplished without passion."

Assuming that we are talking wilderness survival as opposed to armageddon end of the world stuff. So if limited to just one item I would have to say a Bushman since it can be used so many different ways and for different purposes. A Kukri would be useful but difficult to skin with or make a spear out of to take game.

Do not fear the night.    Fear what hunts by night.

of the items i currently own, i wouldnt want to be caught in the wilderness where survival was key, without my kukri machete.  it has chopping power, cutting power, and defensive power.  i could chop wood to build a makeshift shelter, sharpen wood to create makeshift spears or spikes for traps for hunting.  i could skin and field dress any game with it.  its large enough and sturdy enough to defend myself if the need arose.  i would want other cold steel items, but if i had to choose only one from my current inventory, this would be it. 

Which Single CS Item would I like to have??  My EDC (Rajah II).  With it I think I could fashion many of the other tools for survival that I might need.  It is stout enough for most any chopping task and compact enough not to imped travel in heavy brush.  Build a lean to or build a fire the Pocket Kuk makes short tasks that might overwhelm most other knives,

What Puts the Pocket Kuk at the top of my list with is that it is the "in real life" CS product that I am most likely to have in a survival situation.

I would have to concur the kukri machete would be on my list as well.
You can use from fine tasks to shelter building , wood chooping etc. Probably the most versatile and therefore the most useful item.

sometimes things just are not what they seem.

I'd have to agree with a couple of the above posts.  Either a kukri machete, or a Bowie bushman.

The bushman is big enough to use as a chopper, yet nimble enough for smaller tasks, like dressing game, gutting fish, trap making, etc. 

The kukri machete would obviously make a better chopper, but be more difficult to use for the smaller tasks.

If I really had to choose one or the other, I'd probably go with the Bowie bushman,  especially if I can keep some stuff in the sheath pocket, like a small PSK or fishing kit.

If I was caught in a survival situation, I would most likely take with me a recon tanto because it is a very versatile knife. I can chop kindling(Forgot the word), use as a weapon and possibly use as a signaling device if The epoxy comes off.

Single item- spear
Recon Scout would be a good choice too.

The Thorn defends the rose, yet it is peaceful and does not seek conflict.
 You're either a sheep, a  sheepdog, or a wolf. If you don't understand this, you are a sheep
 Are you a turtle?

Of what I own--or really of any since I picked what I own with that in mind.
No question. The Gurka Kukri or the Laredo bowie.
I have skinned and butchered a small Texas deer with the kukri.  It works better than you might think. Least it surprised me.  It would pain me to have to choose one over the other.  If I had to, I would likely go with the kukri.  More rugged.  Better weight distribution for chopping firewood and shelter building. 
If concealment were an issue I would go with the Bowie.  Being stright it hides easier.

Kukri for sure!! its perfect for most survival tasks. it can chop, baton, stab.

the more you know, the less you carry - Mors Kochanski

Single Item?  As in I can't put all thelittle thing I put into the survival pouch of the sheath my Bowie Bushman is in???

I guess I would have to say then, I would take my Bowie Bushman still.  Great knife, can be used to clear brush easy, plus it makes an easy spear.
I really thing the Bushman and Bowie Bushman are the most versitile knives CS makes.
I just have a preference for Bowie shaped baldes...

For a single item, I'd take my spetznaz shovel.
It's a hammer, an axe, a self defense tool, and a basic knife all in one. (and a shovel too but who cares right)
For another I'd bring a Kukri.....

everybody has some great picks, but I would take a Rifleman's Hawk.  second only to a Kukri.  You could hunt with it, it's up to more of the brutal tasks that i wouldn't want to put a regular knife through, You have the hammer that can deal out some damage, instead of burring up your edge...

The Bushman would be nice, but just one, i'll take the hawk.  2 add the Kukri, and number 3 is the bushman with a loaded survival sheath

This may sound odd but I would want a Rifleman's Hawk.

Obviously it can chop, it is also a very strong hammer, can be use to make other weapons, including busting up flint nodes for knapping. It is a great weapon in itself as well. would make shelter making much easier, splitting wood easier, could even be used better than most other CS items to make a dugout canoe. Can even serve as an emergency climbing axe. With the handle removed you have a Ulu for camp chores.

Very versatile.



Somnomballistic...

Nice answer while I was typing...lol...

  "Got tight on absinthe last night, did knife tricks" Ernest Hemingway

Since there's no CS Multitool that I'm aware of, I'll go with one of the Bowies, be it the Natchez, one of the Master Hunters, or Maybe a Sheep's foot machete.

That is a good question.

I would have to say the shovel as well because it can chop, cut, dig, fight, throw, etc. I would say it can do more than any other cold steel. However except for digging it is outclassed in nearly all of its functions by some other cold steel tool/weapon. However it does not seem to be outclassed in terms of the amount of things it can do.

Hmm tough to say cause it's all about location for me. In the deep north woods I'd want a tomahawk or trail boss or maybe my trailmaster if I was in the jungle I'd want a machete probably the 18" bowie or spear point, in the city a decent folder with a good thick sharp blade with a strong lock maybe a voyager or the pocket bushman.

I would go with the SanMai III Trail Master. It is built tough enough for confidence, large enough as a chopper and yet not as unwieldy as larger blades. The blade can be used as a signal mirror and the handle is a more comfortable Kraton material that lessens fatigue.

I would want a Laredo Bowie, which can handle chopping wood, making spears, and of course defense.
When ever i get asked the "survival" question, i always feel like having a few throwers (3 true flights) would be really beneficial, you can take out small game, and at the same time have a few back up blades in a pinch.

A Gurka Kukri most likely. If possible it would be good also to take a smaller blade like Bushman for the finer jobs.

i would have to say the bushman. Its very lightweight, very sharp, and can easily be converted to a spear for bigger game.

a machete would be another good choice, but pros and cons definitely favor the bushman.

Gurkha Kukri. Better edge-holding ability and stronger chopper than a machete. Also big enough to dig with, and heavy enough to hammer with.
 
I would certainly not feel unprepared with either one of the machetes or a SF shovel. I guess it depends on environment.
 
Perhaps a more specific discussion, dependent on environment, might be warranted?

Cyblade


Hmm tough to say cause it's all about location for me. In the deep north woods I'd want a tomahawk or trail boss or maybe my trailmaster if I was in the jungle I'd want a machete probably the 18" bowie or spear point, in the city a decent folder with a good thick sharp blade with a strong lock maybe a voyager or the pocket bushman.

Cyblade has a point, it depends on where you end up.  I would still take the Rifleman's hawk as a good "blanket" option, but in the jungle i would prefer the SK5 Gurkha Kukri with black blade(for rust resistance)  Deep woods, I would prefer a Trail Boss, but the Hawk would work.  In an urban setting, definitely the Rifelman's Hawk(and either a Rajah 2, or the black Kukri)

the kukri would be great, it's a good chopper + can replace a lot of other tools and is very durable.

the bushman would be awesome too for hunting

I'm starting to think Al and I think alike.  It is environment specific but in general survival if only one choice is given it's going to be a large bowie.  I have two I trust my life with so my CS first survival choice the trail master bowie.  Chop, skin make nearly other tool.  One word of warning if you lash it to a pole to make as staff don't throw it at your backyard target.  I split my 4 inch thick target in two pieces doing this.
     I always recommend a good bowie to people who come on survival trips with me, though I have nothing against the kukri, great blade just not my preference.  I'm not big on machete's, I'd rather have the thicker blade.  I do have a great deal of fun with my rifleman's hawk and would like it as my second tool but it dulls too quickly for my primary, it is great for hunting small games especially snakes.

What I like in a survival knife is something PROVEN.  Really the things mentioned are things that have proven themselves in real life survival by many men over many years. 
Kukri-- Bowie --Spear(Bushman) ---Hawk ---machete.
No one can deny they all work because we can point to a long history of professional wilderness survivors doing well with them.
Its just gonna come down to your personality and style and how you envision surviving---and environment.

SRK Carried it in the Corp, andnever let me down.

While I would agree it is environmentally specific...
This is just about what I would choose in every situation to have with me...
http://coldsteelforums.com/tm.aspx?high=&m=8753&mpage=1#8754


Essentially my fully packed Bowie Bushman with a paracord wrapped handle.  It can be almost anything I need it to be and the pocket contents can help me in just about any situation I find myself in...

I'd say my modified trail hawk.  It would help with gathering larger pieces of firewood and shelter building. Plus it would allow me to save my knife for more delicate tasks like skinning, gutting ect...