What fixed blade knife?

[dsw1204]

I live in Ohio and have just finished my first year of fishing.  Didn't catch a plethora of fish, but what I did catch was of pretty good size.  Fished mostly small ponds in my area and most of the fish caught were largemouth with a few bluegill, crappie, and a smallmouth.  Of the largemouth, the largest was a 5 pounder.  Caught a couple of 4 pounders, a few 3 pounders and numerous 2-3 pounders.  Not very many under 2 pounds.  I enjoyed myself immensely and look forward to year number 2.

 

I am headed to Florida in late March/early April and am excited to do some fishing some of the ponds near my mom's house (where I'll be visiting).  Looking at Google Maps, looks like there are ponds like every 20 feet!!!  Some of these ponds are a little out of the way, which is fine because these are the type of ponds I like to fish back home.  However, when I fish these ponds I don't have anything to worry about except somebody chasing me off of private property (corporate private property not an individual's private property).  But, in Florida, I recently realized that I may have other things to worry about, such as snakes and alligators.  I am much more scared of snakes, but I probably should be more concerned about alligators.

 

So, I am thinking of picking up a fixed blade survival knife solely for my protection against those pesky gators.  Now, I know I will probably not ever need to use the knife for self-protection, but you just never know, right?  I've been researching fixed blade knives for a couple of weeks and now have information overload.  There are all kinds of different steels the knives are made of.  There are different shapes of the blades.  Some come with extra features such as sharpening stones, fire starters, etc.  There are sheaths to consider, also.  Some are very expensive, some are very inexpensive with all of these having good to very good ratings on Amazon.

 

Right now, I am at a loss so I thought I'd ask some of you anglers your opinions.  Currently, I am looking at a few Schrades, a Gerber StrongArm, a Cold Steel SRK in SK5, an Elk Ridge Evolution, an MTech Evolution, an Ontario SP2, and a Milwaukee 5" Hardline AUS-8 Steel Fixed Blade knife.

 

Again, the use is primarily for self-protection.  I am sure I am overthinking this and I am sure I am being a little bit paranoid.  So, with that in mind, what do you guys think what knife would be best for me?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Crankin4Bass]

I don't think your gonna win a fight with a croc with a knife unless your Crocodile Dundee, but how about a Buck 119.

 

https://www.buckknives.com/product/119-special-knife/0119FAM01/

 

[dsw1204]

2 minutes ago, Crankin4Bass said:

I don't think your gonna win a fight with a croc with a knife unless your Crocodile Dundee, but how about a Buck 119.

 

https://www.buckknives.com/product/119-special-knife/0119FAM01/

 

Croc, no.  Alligator, probably not.  But, I'd feel safer with something and the airlines won't let me bring an AR15 aboard.

[NHBull]

I have a soft spot for these

 

 

[dsw1204]

Is that a Ka-Bar?

[A-Jay]

In advance of your purchase, perhaps check the state laws where you plan to use this knife, as there are often 'blade length restrictions' that come into play.

Also when it comes to things that can get you, it's often the one that you don't see . . . . 

btw - @NHBull - I like your style.

A-Jay

 

[galyonj]

2 minutes ago, dsw1204 said:

Is that a Ka-Bar?

 

Yes it is.

 

Honestly, the best thing you can do is just keep an eye out and don't sneak up on one. They don't want any more to do with you than you do with them.

[Hook2Jaw]

Goodness, man, you're a wild man if you think you're capable of fighting off any gator that -thinks- it's capable of making a meal of you.  A danger log that has aspirations of being a man eater is gonna be 10' or longer, you'd be surprised how small a 6'er actually is.  Yeah, a 7' gator got that kid at Disney and rest in peace, but that child was two.

 

I've been run out of a slough by a territorial female, and had quite a few scare the tar out of me in South Georgia that I nearly stepped on.  You won't have to worry about a girl defending a nest or young, that happens around June.  More often than not, an alligator is going to disappear and stay away from you.  All of those that I've startled up walking transmission lines at work have.

 

If they don't, experts recommend to fight like hell.  It's going to grab you and roll, trying to tear off meat.  Attack the snout and eyes.  I would not recommend trying to stab one, the time it's gonna take you to access your pocket, open a knife, and secure a grip on it enough to not have your hand slide down the blade when it stops in the hide is far too long.

 

I recommend you pick up a big stick if you want to fend off an alligator.  

 

I don't think you'll have to, though.  You should be more worried about Mr. Noshoulders.  Just watch where you walk.  If you just have to walk through some high grass or underbrush, use that stick I just brought up to slap out in front of you and hopefully startle unsavory reptiles out.

[Dwight Hottle]

You can open carry in Florida while fishing or traveling to your fishing spot. 

[GreenPig]

The Gerber StrongArm is a nice knife. I don't think I'd go gator hunting with it but it'll work great to remove a python from a leg. Just a thought, you might want to consider an inflatable life jacket.

[A-Jay]

Stay Safe 

A-Jay

[Jig Man]

45 Caliber Glock no knife.

[scaleface]

I probably own over twenty Fixed blades but have zero experience with using one for self defense . Heres the four I carry most .

 

I  like the KaBar  USMC . Its just a classic knife  .I have cut lots of forked sticks for rod holders over the years and cleaned a few fish with it too .

 

The hollow handled Cold Steel Bushman is what I carry while out mushroom hunting . If I find some edibles in the trees that are just out of reach , the hollow handle knife can then be slid on a sapling or limb, like a spear and reach out to cut them free .

 

A Scandi Grind Mora cuts through wood like nothing and extremely inexpensive . I have the Clipper  , its real concealable and handy . 

 

If I  feel  the need to chop limbs out of the way to clear a path I take the Ontario SP5 Bowie knife . Its a monster .I usually take it on winter hikes just because I like to chop stuff .

[Hawkeye21]

I bought the KA-BAR K2 for a survival knife a few years ago.  It's a pretty solid knife.

[TnRiver46]

A hatchet or hammer might be a better option than a knife....... I would just take my wallet, keys, phone, and pocket knife like I do everywhere but add knee high boots and you will most likely be fine. Oh yeah and don’t walk a dog on a leash along a swamp. When you look up statistics about animals killing people, alligators and snakes are at the bottom of the list. Deer and bees and domestic dogs are much more likely to get you 

[dsw1204]

3 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

A hatchet or hammer might be a better option than a knife....... I would just take my wallet, keys, phone, and pocket knife like I do everywhere but add knee high boots and you will most likely be fine. Oh yeah and don’t walk a dog on a leash along a swamp. When you look up statistics about animals killing people, alligators and snakes are at the bottom of the list. Deer and bees and domestic dogs are much more likely to get you 

Yeah, I agree with you about the statistics.  But, when I will be fishing at a secluded pond in the Tampa area, I doubt I will encounter a deer, bees, or dogs.  I probably will not encounter a gator or a venomous snake, as well.  But, probably more likely to encounter them than the former you mentioned.  Of course, my paranoia is probably making this seem much worse than it really is.

[Catt]

I carry a Old Timer Model 1520T Sharpfinger that was my Dad's. 

 

 

[WRB]

You can't take a knife aboard a plane.

Snakes bite before you see them. You should be able to aviod an alligator, if it bites you the knife will not be of much use except to cut your own hand or legs off.

Tom

[dsw1204]

9 minutes ago, WRB said:

You can't take a knife aboard a plane.

Snakes bite before you see them. You should be able to aviod an alligator, if it bites you the knife will not be of much use except to cut your own hand or legs off.

Tom

You are correct, I cannot take a knife aboard a plane.  But, I can pack one in my luggage and check the luggage, according to what I read on the TSA site, and as long as it is sheathed and securely wrapped.

[Grim_Reaver]

Never had a problem with gators. If you walk up to one, they'll swim right off. Water moccasins on the other hand will attack you. I'd say forget the knife and get some snake proof boots.

[Harold Scoggins]

[Bassin' Brad]

I like my Gerber Strongarm. I have fought and killed several alligators with it. The trick is flipping them over so you stab their unprotected chest/belly.

Now bears are a little trickier but still manageable with this knife. 

 

 

 

Actually the most I've done with this knife is hack some wood and open a can of soup (we forgot the opener) 

[NHBull]

6 minutes ago, Harold Scoggins said:

I was wondering when I was going to see it?

If you want to keep some separation between  you

 

 

[dsw1204]

32 minutes ago, Harold Scoggins said:

I don't know this knife.  What is it?

[NHBull]

@dsw1204 Bayonet