I have just read this article in Tactical Knives magazine ( in case the publisher is reading this and wants to give me a free subscription I will just say what a great mag this is ! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bowdown.gif" alt="" /> )and thought that this article could have been wrote with the Dumpster Mutt in mind !!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Man that's small. I could barely read it.

There's so much that goes into the selection of a survival knife that if you were to study all ther parameters you'd have a difficult time making up your mind. The key to choosing is really personal. Make your decision, and don't look back.

Some folks are satisified with this, but don't need or want that. Some folks want two knives, others restrct themselves to only one. There really isn't a such thing as an ideal knife, it's a tool.

My own personal predjuices dictate that a survival knife be 6 to 8 inches in length. At that length it's still big enough for log splitting and shelter building, but small enough that it can still handle small task reasonable well such as skinning small game. The knife has to be sufficently strong enough that it'll take what ever the surivial situation dictates. And finally appropiate for the terrain that I'm likely to encounter.

Appropiate for the terrain that I'm likely to encounter? Much like matching a rifle to the game that you're going to hunt there can sometime be such a thing as too much or too little knife. A knife like the Dogfather might be great for a South American jungle where it can perform many duties, however it will likely become less than ideal in Desert/Mountanious terrain where timber may be in short supply.

I haven't had the chance to really punish the DM yet. However, I'm sure it'll pass the toughness task. It's pretty heavy so that'll help when chopping. It's still small enough that it can easily be manipulated. However, in my opinion it takes a hit on its size. Personally i'd like to see it a little bigger. But its smaller size may also make it a great travel blade when you face size and space restrictions, which can be a real advantage. And I've found that if something is too bulky or cumbersome than it's likely to be left at home.

Personally my go to blade is a Scrapper 6. It fills all of my personal requirements and predjuices. It sits in a survival sheath and I'm confident of that set up. However, if I were to go to a two blade set up then the DM would probably be one of those two with the DF being the other. And like I previously stated the DM may make a great travel blade for a situation where you might want a little extra security, but not a lot of extra bulk.

Does all this mean that the DM should be excluded from your list of choices. No the DM is a fine blade and if you're comfortable with it then so be it; you could do a lot worse. And if I recall the Air Force survival knife measures in at a mere 5 inches in terms of blade length. And it's a very popular knife.

When the DM was first announced I wasn't sold on the idea. I tend to buy sheath knives for either hunting, fishing, or bushcraft/survival. When the DM was first announced I wasn't as excited as everybody else. The knife just didn't do it for me. So my intent was to pick one up, see how I liked it as possible sell it later on. However, I must admist that I am pretty impressed with the knife. So much so that I won't be parting with it.



Peace
Jerry

For anybody who has ever questioned if a knife has to be as strong as a Scrapyard blade, just take a look at this post from another forum.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=467170
This just goes to show that not all blades are created equal !!!

I just bought this issue of tactical knives which is my fave of the rags. One big advantage to a Mutt sized knife is it is not a pain when getting in and out of vehicles. Even that extra inch of an S6 is always in the way and uncomfortable.
For a survival situation I want something tough and I am OK with giving up some edge retention to get it.

I personally like a mix of knives. I usually have at least two. A bigger blade, which is mounted to my pack or in my vehicle if I do not carry it.
A smaller blade, 5-6'', on my person. Occasionally, I will carry a 4" blade such as the benchmark Ninja, depending on situation and what's going on.
For survival? The scrapper 6 is a perfect size to carry. not too big, not too small.
Other choices? Reeves aviator 4" or 5" is a good bet. The new Busse badger attack might also make an ideal carry blade, in a survival situation.
Right now, I carry the scrapper 6 almost constantly. It is mounted in the factory sheath to the molle straps on my eagle pack.

I'd take my S6 over my DF every time. The DF is too big and heavy to take hiking, my S6 with a big folding saw (from a supermarket of all places!) weighs less and are more useful/versatile. The big choil helps the DF but it just doesn't work as well as the S6. I've got a Busse Badger on order for times when the S6 is a bit too big- but a DM would be a good Badger alternative..

Easy terrain day hiking I just take my SS4 instead of a bigger 'fixed' but always take the saw..

We're talking about the Dumpster Mutt, not the Dogfather. And I agree with you regarding the S6. However, the Dumpster Mutt might be my new travel blade.

Due to its' size, the Dumpster Mutt would be a good choice for a survival knife in my opinion. After all, it's easy to carry, and the knife that you have with you in a survival situation is the best one to have. A $5,000.00 knife doesn't do you any good in a survival situation if it is sitting at home in a drawer!

I opt for a large knife such as my DogFather and a smaller one like my SS4, but again it's what you have with you that counts in a survival situation. One excellent point of any Busse Family product - you won't have to worry about it breaking!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> Tom

Agreed. In fact as soon as I get pants for the Dumpster Mutt it's going to become my travel blade. It's a stout little blade. However, my Scrapper 6 still remains my go to blade.

like these elf pants?!

elf=LF=leatherface <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />