Indians For Guns

Hey Folks,

Thought will share my collection here. Most of my requirements are functional. So you will find river knives, and camping knives largely here. Plus, I picked sickles, etc that were stored for over 30-40 years in my grand-parents' place. Couple of those could be over 50 years old.

Nice collection Quick draw...

Loved the hand forged blades among the oldies

Cheers

TC

Close up images of some of the blades above.

Thanks, I thought I submitted close ups as well. Don't see them here.

Edit. Still to get comfortable with the posting rules, etc. Looks like each post takes a while to get approved.

Quick Draw,
What I liked most is the fact that your knives serve specific functions. The wear shows that.


Cheers
TC

Hi QD,
> As TC so succinctly put it each blade had served its intended purpose sometime or the other
> BTW - That's what knives are meant for....
> Nice collection + family heirloom - Look after them....
Briha

Thanks TC & Briha!

Briha, Most of them are for outdoors use (haha, I know most knives are meant for that purpose).

So, the Gerber River Shorty travels on my PFD (personal floatation device/life vest) while I am kayaking. That's why you didn't see the sheath in the image.

The Mora Companion is my preferred companion on my hikes, camping or climbing trips. It replaced Gerber Ultimate. Gerber Ultimate is nice, but I find it overdesigned for my requirements.

My personal preference these days is the Leatherman Wave and Mora Companion for all my non-kayaking outdoor trips. Between both of them, I can do most things. LM Wave has a terrific saw, which is completely functional and also helps to hold utensils on the stove, between other functions it provides for. Also both provide low profile, easy accessibility. I wear my knives close, either on my pack, or on my belt. Gerber ultimate is too loud, and like I said over designed.

Besides I also feel, not all knives are made for everyone. People have small hands, large hands and medium hands (sounds silly, but you get the point). Each blade sits in your hand differently. Mora sits in my palm better for most of the work. Gerber Ultimate just feels too big. (wish they could make the same knife with different sizes, just like shoes;)

Secondly, I feel, no one knife full fills all your outdoor requirements. Ideal would be three knives, as per me. But optimal considering logistics, two knives (one small fully functional mutlitool like LM Wave, and a medium sized blade between 4.5"-6"), and a damn good folder saw.

Kabar Kukri, you see works well for chopping up wood, but I seldom carry it on the foot trips (it sits in my jeep). Feel too heavy, besides I can collect firewood by foraging.

The axe was one of my first pieces, about eight years old. Coghlan make. Thought was pretty crappy, until I figured how to sharpen it's edge. Lot of learning about choppers from this one.

Other multi-tools were a learning experience until I got the LM Wave. That ends my quest for the perfect little fully functional Multi-tool. Gerber multitool, nice, but nowhere in relation to the functionality of LM Wave.

Folders, are usually EDC knives. Favored one is the Kershaw one 1580ST. Picked up in Cambodia. Thought was a fake, because got it for $40 or so. But has withstood test of time. Likely an original or a damn good remake.

A few of the folders, hang on my harness, when I do multi-pitch long climbs. Once actually did save some gear for me, as I had to bail in certain conditions, and had to cut up webbing to make anchor points, while rapping off on the retied webbing loops. Alternative would have been to leave behind relatively expensive carabiners on the three pitch rappel.

That axe head on a make shift handle is not just held by that cordage. It is solidly wedged with small nails as well. And I have used it on occasion. It is just a very unpretty but satisfying project.

So much about the blades... Thank you for reading. Welcome to give any suggestions on how to maintain. I am not too savvy about maintenance, other than occasionally sanding the blades and grinding the edges (use a grinder bit on a drill for it, or use other sharpeners for this purpose).