the wilderness trinity is based on nessmuks habit of bringing 3 edged tools with him into the wilderness.

when he would set off on his journeys into the Adirondak Mtns. in the 1800's he would bring a slip joint folder,a medium sized fixed blade and a hatchet.

i've used that combo many times but i've also gone with a large fixed blade and small fixed blade combo,a hatchet,large fixed blade and medium fixed blade combo.

anyways,i think i;ve tried every combo and i cant say i have a favorite because it depends on the situation in my mind.

with the advent of such quality and high performance knives like those from the busse kin it is becoming more and more possible for a large fixed blade to be able to compete with a hatchet.

i think a hatchet out cuts a large fixed blade the majority of the time but a quality fixed blade should be more reliable than a hatchet.

in a survival situation i would rather have a DFLE or a NMFBM than a hatchet and that all because of the knives one piece design and the hatchets 2 piece design.

so again,every situation is different.

what are your guys favorite combos when in the wilderness

I like to take with me a collapsible 18" buck saw that stores itself inside it's own handle, my Bravo-1 (4.25" blade) and a SOG Powerlock.

When my SOD LE arrives, the Bravo-1 will be replaced. It is a very good knife but only having a 4.25" blade limits the size of the log I can baton.

I REALLY like my affordable Fiskars axe and hatchet.
The hatchet comes with; for sure.

It is possible to gut, skin, and butcher with a sharp axe.
It is my opinion that many folks relegate them to chop-only status because they're used to poor quality and no edge.

The tan YKCG will be coming along as soon as I get some pants for it.

Then there's always, 'whatever folder happens to be in my pocket at the time.'

I usually take one of my "Camp" knives in the 7"-8" range like my Ratweiler or RD7, SwissBianco +B One Hand Trekker, and a SwissTool. I have found very little that I can't get done with that combo. With that being said, I will say that with a high quality axe like a GB or a Hultafors, you can do anything that you can with a large chopper and a lot of it even better.

I do also usually have a neck knife on a necklace rig.

I'll second the notion that a good hatchet can be used as a knife. We've got a Gransfors carpenter's hatchet for woodwork, and it works marvelously as a slicing and paring tool when you choke up on the head to find that neutral balance point.

I usually like to have a small EDC like the Muela Rebeco, or the SS4 for skinning and other fine work, a longer blade like the SS6 or DFLE for hacking and slashing through thick brush, and a hatchet like the Estwing with a blunt head for chopping and hammering.

Sure, a large chopper blade could do a lot of what the hatchet could do, but the wider wedge-shaped head of the hatchet makes easier splitting of the logs, and the use of it as an impromptu hammering of stakes, etc. makes it useful indeed. Plus, the wood around here is seriously knotted and sinewy; a knife would be a pain to try and push through all that. I'll stick with the hatchet.

This is what I had with me the other day.



This is a great combo, but I also alternate with a Gransfors SFA, Busse Mud Razor, Fehrman Shadow Scout, leatherman PST 2 and other small fixed blades.

Hmmmm, looks like someone has the "Bark" fever! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

Great thread topic Northern as this really is the key issue for me.

Like you I think the whole thing is best dealt with by adapting to your intended environment - sort of selecting from a tool box.

My most common trio has been a swiss army champ...a benchmade Walter Brend lock knife and an 8 inch Frank Vought Amazon which is very similar to a FSH.

I do also carry a folding pruning saw and Leatherman Secaturs if the circumstances require....and a Gransfors Woodsman Axe if need be.

The Vought might now be replaced by either a FSH or a Basic 9 or DFLE or DFCG. The Gransfors has been swapped in the past for a C.S. Carbon V Kukri but could be swapped for a FBM or NMFBM since discovering Bussekin knives.

The lock knife has sometimes been changed for a smaller fixed blade...a Scandi Bushcrafter or a Bud Neally Kinzhal.

Now there are more choices to pick from but the trio system is basically still followed.

Realising though that you don't need so many knives as you can only carry a few at any given time makes me conscious of whether I should own more "just for collecting". Especially when you realise how much is invested in "draw queens" instead of maybe a great Wilderness Expedition.

I live off and by the dessert trinity of NY cheesecake, carrot cake and bread pudding.

This wilderness trinity is a tough one. I've also struggled with it.
What was taken would have to depend on the situation.
Where I was going, how long I was going to be gone for, the type or terrain, etc....

For myself personally, I have expanded to include an essential 4 instead of 3.

In my very limited experience, I would have to say that I would take
1) Folding Buck Saw or Folding Swede Saw
2) Chopper of some sort (chopper knife, hatchet, machete, etc)
3) Smaller knife
4) Multitool of some sort.

For the area that I live in, I would take
1) Folding Swede Saw
2) Scrapper 6 (or SOD when it gets here)
3) Koster Bushcraft
4) My Leatherman Charge

Of course, this is all subject to the situation that I would be going out in.

Cheers

1. Gränsfors Small Forest Axe
2. Scrap Yard Son of Dogfather
3. BRKT Fox River w/ G-10 Ergo Slabs