A secondary knife?

[Biddlesby]

I've always quite fancied getting one of those drop-point opinels, as a sort of secondary knife. Also, since seeing fenlander strike his firesteel with the back of his closed opinel, I've quite fancied this as an alternative to the back of an unsheathed knife: ever since I cut myself (not too badly thankfully but I learn quickly!) I've been scared of the blade edge (and rightly so).

Do any of you have a 'secondary knife'? What do you use it for? How useful are these knives for fine carving?

 

[Longstrider]

Opinels are handy little knives. I find the steel of the blade to be pretty soft, making them really quick and easy to sharpen up well, but also quick to loose their edge too. I think I can safely say that I always carry more than one knife (if my Swisstool counts I definitely do) When out in the woods or over the fields I'll usually supplement my folders with a fixed blade as well. The smaller knives have many uses, not least of which is that they are less likely to put the fear of God into the natives should they happen by. They are of course also useful for the more intricate work you might want done when carving and shaping wood.

I did try for a while to carry what some call a "beater" knife. An older, poorer quality blade, for tasks that I would not risk damaging a good knife doing. It was no good to me what-so-ever. I simply couldn't bring myself to use a knife for a job that I was sure would knacker it. I guess the lessons of my youth are too ingrained in me. I can still hear my grandads voice in my head... "Use the right tool for the job, boy!"

 

[gregorach]

Well, I almost always have a cheap little stockman in my pocket. Then when I'm camping I have an inox Opinel no 7 in my emergency pouch, and usually a lifeventure KFS (when I remember it) that incorporates a 3" lockknife tucked away somewhere for food duties.

 

[Nemisis]

I either carry my two Grohmann knifes or two mora's one stainless blade the other carbon. The stainless for mainly food prep a carbon for everything else. With the Grohmanns I have the No 4 survival which I use for batoning mainly and heavier tasks and a smaller boat knife for finer stuff. Along with my saw these cover most of my needs.
Dave.

 

[Bear Claw Chris Lappe]

Pretty much any fixed blade I carry into the woods is backed up by some Swiss Army Knife.

Usually a Wenger Master model (the locking mainblade ROCKS)

or a Victorinox Farmer model.

 

[tarmix101]

Do any of you have a 'secondary knife'? What do you use it for? How useful are these knives for fine carving?

Yes. I never go out (even for a day hike) without a back up folder. I have an Opinel # 7, and a VIC Farmer. One of the two is always in my pocket. Two very good reasons for this. If you ever get separated from your belt knife, you have the folder for back up. Second, I end up using my folder for most of the lighter camp cooking, cleaning, and carving duties. When I was a kid everything I did @ camp, on the trail with the family, and @ deer camp was done with either a 3 3/4 " Case stockman or my pride and joy (back then anyway) my Buck 110 folder that my Grandad gave me against my Mothers wishes As I got older and went through my "big bowie/Rambo/young and stupid" phase, I quickly realized that a good folder as back up was a must. Of course it took me breaking my main "CHEAPO" belt knife, and no folder back up to learn this

Good rule of thumb to live by "luck favors the PREPARED".

 

[laurens ch]

I find the opinel good for removing large amounts of green wood fast. They are very light so you can put one in the pocket without noticing it. I carry a convexed spyderco uk pen as my secondary knife or a opinel

 

[markw]

Yep, its an Opinel for me as well No10, prefer the slightly lager blade.



Mark

 

[hilltop]

i have a SAK in every rucksak and bergen i own, this way i am never without a good usefull knife, i leave them in there . also i have an opinel in the pocket of my windproof smock, i leave it in there, secondary knives are a life saver, as switched on and hardcore as a think i am , i have forgotten knives on my travels, these measures have made a major disaster into a minor niggle, you cant carve yourself a knife, lol, lol,

 

[BOD]

My primary knife in this neck of the woods is a parang.

Each of these is sometimes the secondary.

I don't use the puokko if the weather/terrain is too wet or for multi day trips or if staying in non secure places. Being carbon and with a leather sheath it is a bit delicate to maintain.

A Frosts' Mora (not shown) is the main back up for serious trips.

The Opinel used to be a backup but is not strong enough for heavy duty work if the parang is lost or damaged as the broken tip shows (on a hearthboard). Great for woodwork though. Now relegated to the glove box on the 4WD.

The Al Mar Air Weight is the carried secondary when it is not necessary to carry a parang e.g on 4WD or short walks where someone has a parang or known trails. Still not advisable. Just got it and its doing well so far.

A SAK on the car key ring makes up the kit.

 

[Carcajou Garou]

I always carry multiple knives, a camp/survival knife (Randall #1), a personal knife (4" Puma Companion), on belt
My skinning knife (Randall #3) in pack, a Leatherman Micra tool with scissors/pen knife, in pocket.
With all this I also carry a GB Hunters ax. With a canoe a larger Hudson Bay voyageur ax.
I go out for extended treks, sometimes alone, so any loss or broken blades would be inconvenient. :yo: