Knives

[Tonka]

For heavy work, a parang is definitely the way to go. I use machetes for woodland maintenance (clearing rogue rhododendron etc) and I have owned various military issue machetes but was unimpressed. But an old handmade Malaysian parang I picked up 20 odd years back, cuts like a lightsabre. It’s all in the shape of the blade and where the weight falls that makes it work. Even when blunt it hacks branches off like an axe. My problem is that I use this as a tool regularly, and am unsure how to replace it. Anyone know where to get hold of another… outside Malaya?

As for small knives, a half decent multi-tool is a must… just for everyday life let alone survival.
Of course if you carry one daily make sure it doesn’t have locking blades , UK law treats anything that locks as a fixed blade. After the apocalypse, you don’t need to worry about that so much.

My main medium knife is an old RAF issue survival knife. It’s OK, very strong and parkerised, but I’m sure there are better if you want to pay more.

I also use a German made M7 bayonet in a self-sharpening scabbard, which is a nicely made smaller multi-purpose knife. Only the Eickhorn made version is any good, don’t bother with the US ones.

One thing I have found is you don’t get what you pay for. For every £100 knife, there is a £30 knife that is better somewhere. There are bargains online but I believe you really need to see AND feel before you buy. The proof of the pudding is in the stabbing.

Probably.