NuB question: What kind of knife do you carry?
I'n new to the hiking community, trying to educate myself before I dive into it. What type of knife do y'all prefer? Swiss army or a knife in a sheath you carry on your belt?
Swiss Army Classic, smallest one they make. Has a small, sharp blade and serviceable scissors and tweezers.Originally Posted by pgustaf249
"It goes to show you never can tell." - Charles Edward Anderson Berry
Leatherman Micra. Small, and has scissors.
Schrade Cliphanger.
If you want a knife with 112 functions, Hammacher Schlemmer can fix you up.
What Old Grouse said -- the smallest SAK classic. The little scissors and the nail file are the two things I use the most.
Agree.......
I use the smallest knife Gerber makes....http://www.onlygerberknives.com/Gerber-Knife-12.html
I never need a screw driver, cork screw, or a plastic toothpick while hiking.
Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit, and as vital to our lives as water and good bread.
-Edward Abbey
You can get away with a single edge razor blade for about 90% of your "knife needs" I've carried a Swiss Army knife every trip for the past 15 years and never used it. I keep a single edge razor in my first aid kit( which consists of a dozen band aids of variuos sizes, 2 gauze pads, some antiseptic.), spent a week in the Mahoosucs, and never once had a need for it. Heard a few anecdotes along the way about people who had brought AXES on their thru hikes, didnt last more than 40 miles before they realized the extra weight was entirely worthless
none, only a widget.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006JJS30/...SIN=B0006JJS30
I'm so confused, I'm not sure if I lost my horse or found a rope.
Spyderco Endura 4 Fully Serrated 4" Blade - 3.7 ounces
A small-to-medium swiss army knife. I actually like the one with the nail clippers, since I don't get along well with the small scissors. 99%+ of the time, all you need is the blade, but I haven't yet whittled down to a razor blade.
It depends. Do you need a multitool? Do you have a finicky stove, water filter, tent supports, metal pack frame or trekking pole that might need a pliers or screwdriver to repair? If so, carry a suitable multitool. On the other hand, if you've simplified your pack enough that nothing needs repairing, the single-edged razor blade (which I carry) is fine.
I use the razor blade to repair gear, modify shoes, cut cord and line, open food packages, remove splinters from skin, etc. It's nearly surgically sharp and easily replaced when dull.
I've seen hikers carry a one-pound sheath knife thousands of miles and never do anything more challenging with it than cut an apple. How necessary is it to cut an apple anyway? I've also seen the hatchets, early in the hike.
A great advantage I saw with the razor blade was once I was able to carry my pack on an airplane because I could throw away the blade--nothing else in the pack caused TSA any grief. Easy to replace at any drugstore.
"Throw a loaf of bread and a pound of tea in an old sack and jump over the back fence." John Muir on expedition planning
I suppose that folks are going to carry the sort of knife that suits them best. I carry a Camillus USN pocket knife similar to the one the one pictured here --
Takes care of my needs.
igne et ferrum est potentas
"In the beginning, all America was Virginia." -William Byrd
I use to carry one of these too
Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit, and as vital to our lives as water and good bread.
-Edward Abbey
re: Knives - $1 Walmart & $5 multi-tool
For my recent section hike I arried a $1 Walmart folding knife and a fishing $5 multi-tool, also from Walmart.
I only used the knife once to hack some moleskin. While likely drop the knife for a razor blade next trip. Weight is weight.
I'd like to dump the multi-tool, but need a small screwdriver for adjusting my $13 Walmart hiking poles. If I can find a local source for a small keychain screwdriver set, I'll dump the multitool too.
If I were off trail in a national forest, I'd consder a good knife for fire building, etc., but this is the AT.
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Love it. Got mine in the army. sadly I think they are no longer madeI suppose that folks are going to carry the sort of knife that suits them best. I carry a Camillus USN pocket knife similar to the one the one pictured here --
Takes care of my needs.
.....Someday, like many others who joined WB in the early years, I may dry up and dissapear....
well since I don't have teeth I probably use a knife more than the average hiker but any small light knife will do. SAK or small Case stockmaon with 1 1/4" blade
Onward through the fog
i always carry my Mora 840 clipper carbon steel.. one of the best knives i have used. very light and sharp..
Mine was made in 1994. Camillus went out of business in 2007, though another company had bought the rights to the name in 2009. So maybe we'll see this classic made again.
Last edited by Tuckahoe; 08-13-2010 at 23:45.
igne et ferrum est potentas
"In the beginning, all America was Virginia." -William Byrd
I just carry a little winchester with a single locking blade. What I love about it is the spring-loaded assisted-opening mechanism. It's easy as heck to open singlehanded with either hand.
You'll rarely have any need for more than a good sharp inch of steel.
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