@Doug Hamilton - agree, always have a knife (even in the shower).
Yeah. I'd say so, but better than not having any knife at all
@Roller - carry a Knife and Look-like-a-douche bag or Don’t carry a knife and BE-A-DOUCHE BAG….tough choice
1. My understanding is that the client either froze or just ran (and my guess is the latter, which would explain that.
@mrpoindexter you are Right and gave a thoughtful serious reply to my “somewhat sarcastic” post….
@Doug Hamilton - are you Ready? It is almost amazing that You can determine someone’s hunting skill - not only by their knife but right down to the blade length “within an inch” ie: 3“ to 4” = skilled but 6” = No Deer?. For many years I only carried a 4” folder and it worked fine for deer & bear, then occassionally had a 4” fixed blade - very light inexpensive buck “Woodsman” And liked them both as they were “enough”. But I sometimes carried a custom 5” fixed out West for Elk (Not knowing it reflected poorly on my hunting skills). I hunt some remote areas and usually alone but never had any difficulties or “adventures doing so. Twice, on Guide hunts - spent an unexpected Night-in-the-woods: once in Maine after killing bear over hounds miles from truck - Guide said he’d walk back to truck, drive closer and walk in to get me …told Me to stay with Hounds leashed up and dead bear and expect him back in 4-6 hours… - 20 hours later (just after sunrise as I was getting ready to release hounds and walk out —with one of their ‘tracking collars” in my jacket) he returned. He’d had gotten lost then truck wouldn’t start, he was “relieved to see me” and glad I didn’t panic and get lost…we had no cell phones or radio communication on that 1979 hunt. I was able to start a fire, cook a slice of bear meat and it was September so Not cold. Didn’t’t have to build a shelter or cut a lot of wood for big warm fire and it didn’t rain but I realized how “Unprepared” I was for an UNexpected night in the woods. Now, on any similar remote hunt - with or without a Guide - I’m a little better prepared: 5” or 6” straight knife & Leatherman back up, plus small packet (50’ parachute cord, matches, fire starter, back up compass, space blanket = 7oz weight). Only used it once in 30 years and could’ve survived without it then too - but it was helpful, gives me confidence to hunt areas I might not go alone. I’m not a trained “Survivalist” and Not a “Prepper” but I attempt to be slightly self reliant if something unexpected comes up. Lastly, I’ve found that a 5”-6” straight knife can split a deer sternum easier then a 4” folder and makes getting gutting/cutting windpipe a little easier. I can bone a deer with a 4” but a 5” blade makes it easier. There are some functional reasons to carry a 5“, 6”, even 7” fixed blade besides looking like Tarzan (although I admire Tarzan !!)
That makes sense —
You'll only look like a douche bag if you carry a gaudy, oversize knife. Any reasonable knife either folding or fixed with a blade up to about 4" is fine. As you said not having any knife at all could qualify you as a douche bag.
I'm the OP, obviously you did not read my opening post.
I was born forty years before 1990.
If I have to buy some Good Samaritan's assistance during an emergency, I'm not sure I would trust that assistance to be helpful. Keep on driving down the road, pal.
Carrying Canadian cash is detrimental because the slippery stuff has a way of climbing out of my pocket ... constantly. Go to the bank and ask for a hundred dollars Canadian, carry it around in your pocket for a week, and you'll see what I mean. Using cards is much better for the economy too. It moves money faster. And the faster money moves, the more productive the economy. For example, few years back Canada did the wise thing and eliminated pennies. Made sense. Costs like seven cents to make each penny and people threw them away like they were paper cups. Everything is still dollars and cents up here. If the customer pays cash, the price is rounded off to nearest nickel. Pay with card and it's the exact amount. So people were encouraged to use cards. Great. Keep the currency moving and working instead of home in a jar or laying useless on the curb.
I don't care for Taylor Swift ... but I'm not stuck in Frank Sinatra mode either.
Well said--the short knifers are usually premising their usage on most favorable conditions--not stuck out over night or worse. It might be instructive to tally the choices of the old frontiersmen and mountain men who did face it day after day...how many of them had knives 4" or shorter? If they had longer, or MUCH longer--why?
I agree. I’ve carried a pocket knife daily, where permitted, since I was six. Coincidentally, my grandpa gave it to me. The hand me down is my lucky hunting knife.
