One of the most important lessons I’ve learned from my time spent trekking the wildernesses of our beautiful world is that having a solid knife can be the simple difference between life and death. I’ve been close, I’ve felt the fear, that jolting feeling when you flirt with death and escape. Imagine getting lost, or being attacked by an animal, or if you become stranded somewhere because of heavy weather… What would you do? What would you need to survive?
For me, learning wilderness survival techniques is a necessity, but it’s also enjoyable. And if you’re like me, you see the chaos spreading around the world and can probably easily visualize how tensions may rise and how that may affect each our everyday lives. So, you may feel a sneaking sense of wanting to prepare, even if it’s simply mental preparation. Because once you know how to survive in the wilderness, you can survive just about anywhere, especially if things go south. Beyond learning how to make a fire from scratch – might I suggest learning the flint and steel method, because all natural fire building can be very tough and trying – having a reliable blade can pretty much ensure your safety. Why is that? Well, because if you need to fashion a structure, or create a trap, or sharpen a long stick so you can hunt, you will need a quality knife to help you through. Otherwise, you’re reinventing the wheel and going back to stone age days.
In the past, I’ve been enamored with shiny, long fixed blade knives, but the more I travel and camp and explore the wilds, the more I realize that bulky, heavy fixed blades, especially ones that are 4”+, are more trouble than their worth. If you are in an area of the world where you may run into other feisty humans, than perhaps a more tactical blade may be needed, but if you’re simply out in the wilderness, camping with friends and family, a serious blade isn’t necessary. Though, if you believe you will be killing a grizzly, skinning him, before eating him, then considering a fixed blade may not be a bad option. But in my opinion, they can be overkill.
In the past, I’ve been enamored with shiny, long fixed blade knives, but the more I travel and camp and explore the wilds, the more I realize that bulky, heavy fixed blades, especially ones that are 4”+, are more trouble than their worth. If you are in an area of the world where you may run into other feisty humans, than perhaps a more tactical blade may be needed, but if you’re simply out in the wilderness, camping with friends and family, a serious blade isn’t necessary. Though, if you believe you will be killing a grizzly, skinning him, before eating him, then considering a fixed blade may not be a bad option. But in my opinion, they can be overkill.
When I’m camping, and not worrying about space as I do when I am backpacking, I pack a longer blade and axe in with my gear kit, then carry a small blade that is capable of handling most survivalist projects, without the weight and burden of a larger knife. My goto option these days is the Camp Knife by Hazen Knives. Hazen is one of the best in the business, as they handcraft all of their knives as they’re ordered. And once you hold one, touch the fine sharp blade and the smooth Micarta handle, you immediately appreciate the craftsmanship that went into crafting such a beautiful, yet small blade.
The Camp Knife measures at an overall length of 7 7/16” and the blade length reaches 3 7/8”, so it’s not a large blade, and it’s not meant for heavy duty projects or warfare, but it could be used to some light detail work if you’re a hunter. As the name suggests, it’s the perfect camping knife because of how small it is and how well made the blade is. The handle is ergonomic, allowing for a comfortable fit while providing the user with a wonderful sense of precision. The blade is made of 154 CM stainless steel, hardened to 57-59 RC, so it’s built to perform and built to last.
A beautiful and finely made brown leather sheath comes with the Camp knife, which feels high end and smells high end, and fits the blade like a glove. Overall, after testing Hazen’s Camp knife, I came away very impressed. I literally found nothing to criticize. It’s a beautiful build, made with high quality materials, and crafted with a whole lot of love, which is visibly and tangibly apparent upon immediate inspection. Now, when I camp and explore the wilderness, I take the Camp blade by Hazen, because it’s small, powerful, beautiful, and fits seamlessly on my hip.
If you would like to find out more about Hazen Knives, click here.
Article written & Photos by Brandon Scott / Eye & Pen
The Camp Knife measures at an overall length of 7 7/16” and the blade length reaches 3 7/8”, so it’s not a large blade, and it’s not meant for heavy duty projects or warfare, but it could be used to some light detail work if you’re a hunter. As the name suggests, it’s the perfect camping knife because of how small it is and how well made the blade is. The handle is ergonomic, allowing for a comfortable fit while providing the user with a wonderful sense of precision. The blade is made of 154 CM stainless steel, hardened to 57-59 RC, so it’s built to perform and built to last.
A beautiful and finely made brown leather sheath comes with the Camp knife, which feels high end and smells high end, and fits the blade like a glove. Overall, after testing Hazen’s Camp knife, I came away very impressed. I literally found nothing to criticize. It’s a beautiful build, made with high quality materials, and crafted with a whole lot of love, which is visibly and tangibly apparent upon immediate inspection. Now, when I camp and explore the wilderness, I take the Camp blade by Hazen, because it’s small, powerful, beautiful, and fits seamlessly on my hip.
If you would like to find out more about Hazen Knives, click here.
Article written & Photos by Brandon Scott / Eye & Pen
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