Excellent job SY! That is one sweet looking blade <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />
HomeRun Dan <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Yes, this is well understood. I live in bear country, grew up in it. I have brushed off many with brooms, etc. They are common in my yard, often eating from my blackberry bush. I am a field geo, with 30 yrs experience working in boreal forests. I would say your firearm reccomendations are good for a textbook, but not so much real life. I usually carry a sporterized m-14 with a 10 or 20 round box or a benelli auto shotgun. Good luck trying to hit a charging bear in 1-2 shots with a cannon. No I don't live in the lower 48. It has been my experience, that they are often quite subtle and playful. Spend any time near a stream with a salmon run and they appear out of no-where with great stealth. I cannot tell you how many I have "stumbled upon" or have nearly bumped into me. Bluff charges are common.

It is often hard to carry a firearm in foreign countries. Many bears have been killed or fended off by large knives. Firearms are great tools, but it pays to have a decent blade. I have been using a machete from cold steel. Hoping for a return of dogfather I suppose.

Eugene - Howdy and Welcome to the ScrapYard! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> Just curious - any relation to the famous Mr. Stoner of firearms fame?!? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

The DFCG has a fair amount of forward weight and would probably work well. The Busse Battle Mistress would also be a good choice. Have you considered a Khukuri. If memory serves me correctly I believe villagers have used them to kill black bears in a pinch. I might also suggest a good stout walking stick.

Legend has it that Davey Crockett killed a bear with a knife near Mason Hall, TN. I grew up with those tales, but bears and big cats scare me. I can deal with alligators, since I am more familiar with them. The Cold Steel Bowie machete and the Condor Jungle bowie or Combat Machete. might work for you. Or if you feel like spending a lot, the Busse Argonne. I carry the DFLE with me down in the swamps. I like having a big knife, too.

Bruce - you're welcome! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />


H/D - I'm with you! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I'm in. I'm in. I'm in. I'm in. I'm in. I'm in. I'm in. I'm in. I'm in. I'm in.

Lots of things I like on this knife.

Mudder grip? check
<5" blade? check
154CM Stainless? Check
Bussekin knife? Check

Me ordering one as soon as it hits the store? Soon to be checked.

After getting the Mud Puppy, I can't wait for another mudder grip knife. May be the perfect user handle.

From TENNESSEE, I might add <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bowdown.gif" alt="" />

Of course, there are bears, and then there are BEARS. Black bears are relatively small and not usually aggressive. Browns get much larger, and while opportunistic feeders, are also huge, capable predators. Special care should be taken to avoid bears in the late Fall or early Spring -- they're either trying to fatten up for the Winter or are just coming out of hibernation and very hungry. If you get between a sow grizzly and her young cubs, you're dead meat -- many mountain men perished as the result of that kind of encounter.

I've read that the best bear defense strategy is to be aware of signs that you're in bear territory and simply make noise so that you don't surprise one. As a general rule, bears would rather avoid people and will usually move along unless they feel threatened. Black bears would rather scavenge a carcass than try to take human-sized prey, but I wouldn't want to depend on that with big browns. If you do encounter a bear at close range, I've heard that the best thing to do is calmly back away -- don't run. I've also read that they'll scare if you yell and act aggressively, but in my (admittedly inexperienced) opinion, that doesn't leave you with a good fall back position if they decide to take you up on the challenge.

I spoke with one Korean-war era army vet who claimed to have checked out a BAR to go bear hunting -- I'd be confident even against even a charging griz with a full-auto .30-06, but that's about what I figure it would take. Anybody who has no choice but to go head-to-head with a bear using a knife will take damage and be lucky not to bleed out even if they "win".

bottom line is this.


if you are in a fight with a BEAR and all you have is a scrap yard knife, im just going to say this... you had better be right with God prior to being within arms reach of said bear because you are about to meet the Lord - face to face.

True that!