Knives of the Great Outdoors

A group dedicated to knives and equipment used by Scouts, Hikers, Fishers, Sailors and all the other outdoor adventurers.  A place to show off everything from  the knife in your bug-out bag to your tackle box. Or the knife you take on a day hike or climbing the Matterhorn.

A - Z Index, knives of the great outdoors

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  • In Memoriam

    Robert Burris

    Shoot for 100.

  • Howard P Reynolds

    Thanks for the compliment, Robert.

  • Tobias Gibson

    Not sure if I've put this one up or not.  It's a Trail's End Popcorn knife made by Colonial back in the 1990s (I'm guessing).  The knife was a a promotional item that Boy Scouts could win on their popcorn sales.  I assume it is from the 1990s bacuse of the Victorinox Swiss Army Style can opener.

  • Ken Spielvogel

    Nice looking knife Tobias


  • In Memoriam

    Robert Burris

    I guess if you sold enough Popcorn you gout a Scout knife. Just like the Girl Scouts and their Cookies. Real nice looker though, Tobias.

  • Tobias Gibson

    Wow , I see we're at 99 members now.  I was shooting for 140 but I'm going to change that to 125!  That's right 26 more members and I'll be giving away the knife with a very easy contest -- and I do mean easy!  So invite your friends and lets gets to that magic number of 125!

  • Tobias Gibson

    Do you use a lanyard on your knife or do you find them kind of useless.  Here is a tip on a way to get the most out of that lanyard.  It is really useful when you're using a machete cutting brush. 

  • Tobias Gibson

    The Myerchin W100 Offshore System (Fixed Blade Rigging Knife and Marlinspike)

  • Howard P Reynolds

    Nice looking knife (Myerchin), Tobias.  Like the big marlinspike.


  • In Memoriam

    Robert Burris

    Ahoy there my little Mate....lol  Looking good there Tobias.

  • Tobias Gibson

    Thanks Robert.  I thought long and hard before buying this knife. I read a number of reviews and went back and forth and then finally pulled the trigger and bought it. It had truly exceeded my expectations especially for the price I paid.

    Howard the marlinspike is pretty good but it designed for larger lines.  That's okay, I've got plenty of marlinspikes that work with smaller lines.  I think I need to bring a shackle into the cavern and show people how the key works.  I think there are a lot of people who have no idea how to break a shackle with a shackle key or spike.

  • Howard P Reynolds

    That includes me, Tobias.  I know nothing about seamanship, lines, shackles.  Figured the big marlinspike wasn't for paracord, buy I'm lost beyond that.

  • Tobias Gibson

    Bear & Son Upswpet Skinner and the Taylor Brands OT Sharpfinger

  • Ken Spielvogel

    Tobias, I just have a blank black screen on your post.

  • Tobias Gibson

    Not sure what it could be, Ken.  Try the direct link to YouTube.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqdXS3k32ss

  • Tobias Gibson

    Yet another video review of a Camp knife.  This time the Sporting Titan by Boker-Magnum.

  • Ken Spielvogel

    The Titan - looks like a very useful knife Tobias.

  • Tobias Gibson

    I was truly amazed by it.  The Magnum knives are proof you don't need to spend a lot to get a great knife.  They may not be what collector are looking for but if you're looking for an excellent affordable user, they are really worth trying!  I've got a couple more Magnums I need to review.

  • Ken Spielvogel

    Tobias, I know that KaBar and Camillus made fighting knives for the Marines and the Navy but my question is: did they make one for the Army to?? I thought you would know the answer to this Q. Thanks. 

  • Tobias Gibson

    The answer is yes.   The M3 Trench knife was made by the following companies with Camillus making the bulk of them:

        Aerial (Aerial Cutlery Mfg. Co.)

        Boker (H. Boker & Co.)

        Camillus (Camillus Cutlery Co.)

        Case (W.R. Case & Sons)

        Imperial (Imperial Knife Co.)

        Kinfolks (Kinfolks Inc.)

        Pal (Pal Blade & Tool Co.)

        Robeson (Robeson Cutlery Co.)

        Utica (Utica Cutlery Co.)

    From what I understand case made only a small number of them and the cross bar was not bent on the Case models. 

    The Mk 2 Fighting knife, commonly called the Marine Corp Fighting knife was also by the  Navyl. 

    My father also said he carried it in WWII as an US Army  BAR gunner serving with Third Infantry in WWII.  He was very clear on the which knife he carried telling me the M3 was the knife given to officers and paratroopers. It i only his personal recollection i have to go by.   I know production of the M3 stopped in 1944.  My guess is a shortage of the M3 led to the Army contract being filled with substitute  M2 fighting knives.   Ka Bar produced over a million Mk 2 during WWII and they came in second!   Camillus produced close to 1.5 million.

    Only about  600,000  M3 were made and many of these were recalled before being issued and converted to  M4 bayonets.

    Camillus also made the M4 bayonets used by all services that used the  M1 Carbine

  • Ken Spielvogel

    Thanks Tobias, that helps alot. On the tang of the Marine Knife it says USMC, and the Navy knife says USN - does the Army knife then say USA??? You wouldn't happen to have a pic of the Army Knife, would you? Thanks again. A guy in Church was asking me and I didn't know about the Army one.

  • Tobias Gibson

    No pictures, Ken.  All I have is my father's recollection.  

    As for the USMC stamping,It is my understanding that Union Cutlery Co  made the 1219C2 fighting/utility knives that were stamped KA BAR/USMC  and KA BAR USN.  From what I understand, the million plus made by Camillus were just stamped Camillus NY.  

  • Ken Spielvogel

    Thanks Tobias, that clears up my question. I didn't think I had ever seen one with USA on it. USMC and USN yes, but not USA.

  • Tobias Gibson

  • Ken Spielvogel

    Awesome Buck Fish knife Tobias.


  • Featured

    Charles Sample

    Nice review Tobias.

    I have one of the fish knives but I sent it back to SMKW for examination.  I think it has one of the gold shields.  The box was opened before it left SMKW. I think the winner's certificate was removed at that time.  I called SMKW customer service and was told to send it back and they would check it out and if it is a winner make it right.

  • Tobias Gibson

    Good Luck, Charles.  I hope it was a winner! 


  • In Memoriam

    Robert Burris

    Good luck. It sure did look like a winner to me.

  • Rick Hooper

    When the bait and hook fail, grab a bow, be a hunter and have fun. I do!

  • Tobias Gibson

    I'm guessing bowfishing isn't much of a "catch and release" type of sport!  LOL


  • In Memoriam

    Robert Burris

    Rick, that looks like fun. They do a lot of Bow Fishing around here.

  • Rick Hooper

    Bowfishing has made a comeback in the southeast, Robert. In the 70's and 80's , aligator gar were considered a nusiance and was the most likely target group. It is banned now and endangered, but longnose, shortnose , and spotted gar are legal. As are bowfin, drum,buffalo, all carp, paddlefish/shovelbill catfish and all other catfish! We find locals who eat such delicasies, otherwise, we feed the raccoons, coyotes and martins. Shoreline release is legal, Tobias, I hunt for catfish, and the buffalo is excellent eating And like knives we collect many different arrow tips and heads for different types of fish. Although some are general purpose for all.

  • Rick Hooper

    The arrow points are mechanical wonders of their own.

  • Rick Hooper

    The bowfin is a local favorite for some,but  it has a mushy texture to me.

  • Rick Hooper

    The cajuns and river people love the gar filets or made into a patty or gar ball, I like them on occasion, just the filet along the back. Would trade any ten rough fish for a crappie filet anyday, My filet knife and fish cropper collection is quite impressive! Seriously, a folding Chicago Knife and  full tang Cutco filet knife are no#1 and two, with my dad's old Swede Rapala a close third! but everyone has different taste.

  • Ken Spielvogel

    Rick, I am a Bow Hunter and a Fisherman but I have never combined the two. Looks like fun.


  • In Memoriam

    Robert Burris

    I'm a Cajun and we do eat Gar fish. The fish balls are called Boulets [ boo-lets]. They are good but we make them out of several different species Blue Buffalo, Bowfin [Shoe pic] even Catfish.

      I don't Bow fish but I have several friends that do. They have platforms rigged on the front of their boats. Some even have large fans to direct the boat instead of a trolling motor, that might disturb the water. Bow fish is a real sport and I support it whole heatedly. They don't disturb my Pan fishing and they help reduce Pan fish predators.

      Good luck with your hunting. Please join us in the Outdoor Group.


  • In Memoriam

    Robert Burris

    Rick, there is a few tricks in cleaning a Bowfin. If you want to eat them, let me know and I'll explain it to you. Although there's nothing I can tell you that will make it as good as Crappie filets....lol

  • Rick Hooper

    Ha ha! Robert. I hope I can supply the locals with all the bowfins,/grinnel they can handle. I saw dad steak'em about a quarter inch thick , and with batter, fry them in extra hot oil in the deep fryer. He would sock the smothering filet on the nearest plate with a: "Eat up, before it gets cold!" remark. LOL,he never served those on foam plates! Our water was murky, Saturday and rod fishing for pan fish was poor. But at mid-morning, with the sun up , the fish, we bow hunt were in the shallows and near the bank! we swapped the rods for bows and did well! I watched the cajun woman , on a U-tube video make those Boulets. It was a thirty to forty minute preparation job, before the balls were placed in the grease! Then, they make gravy to cover. Now a Tennessee woman wouldn't spend that much time on a birthday cake, much less something she wouldn't eat! Thanks, Robert


  • In Memoriam

    Robert Burris

    That's cool, it's all for fun. That's what it's all about, having fun. We have to change plans sometimes on our fishing adventures. Last weekend, the Panfish weren't biting good, so we switched to Catfish. We managed a few. It's all for fun and take that kid Fishing with you.

  • Tobias Gibson

    The fixed blade, I'll be carrying this Summer:

  • Ken Spielvogel

    Looks like a great knife Tobias


  • In Memoriam

    Robert Burris

    Good choice, I have a vintage Case of that model. Real sweet.

  • Tobias Gibson

    It's been in my collection for over a year and I've not done anything with it. I'm sure I'll enjoy carrying and using it more than just looking at it.

  • Tobias Gibson

    It is still not to late to WIN THIS KNIFE.  but it will be too late on Saturday, May 10, 2014

    Enter to win it today!  http://www.iknifecollector.com/group/knives-of-the-great-outdoors-f...

  • Tobias Gibson

    Sagebrush Trail Scout Knife by Cattleman's Cutlery.

  • Ken Spielvogel

    Great looking knife Tobias

  • John Bamford

    Great review Tobias really enjoyed it.

  • Tobias Gibson

    This has been a knife I've been using off and on for about 4 years: 

  • Howard P Reynolds

    Thanks for the Rough Rider 844 review, Tobias.