Backup blade thoughts

[ged]

My daily multitool has been the Victorinox SwissTool for over a decade, but for the past few months I've been using the Leatherman Charge TTi as kind of experiment and I'm getting on extremely well with it.

I love the S30V main blade, and the one-handed opening is great unless you're a lefty like me in which case you have to change hands to open it one-handed. I find the interchangeable driver bits very useful at work. I'm not a big fan of the pliers (the SwissTool's pliers are much better) but they are of course useful. The lack of an awl is a nuisance. The saw is acceptable, I like the can opener better than that on the SwissTool. I very rarely use the scissors, they're slightly odd but they work well. It's two-thirds of the weight of the SwissTool.

My usual blade line-up when camping is a folder (a Swede) as a neck knife, mainly for food prep, and a multitool in a pouch on my belt for everything else. If I do take anything bigger it usually stays in my pack unless there's real work to be done.

The cheap steels on the cheap multitools are terrible for blades but OK for pliers, can openers and so on. I keep one on the bike for putting the chain back on for example.

 

[sandbender]

"...However I recently came across my Leatherman Crunch and have started to carry it on occasion. amazing how often those mole grips come in handy...

..."

Another vote for the Crunch, small enough not to weigh me down on longer walks, the jaws have been quite handy in the past.

The SOG range of multitools look quite handy and may be worth a look.

 

[petrochemicals]

Victorinox Soldier or Wenger equivalent as a back up - nice locking 4 inch blade, saw, phillips screw driver, but no corkscrew I'm afraid. Pliers are handy, I carry a little pair, only 62g ,and a rat tail file for metal.

 

[Squidders]

If you carry a multi tool because you need the other tools, my guess is that it will no longer be a backup.

i have never taken pliers into the woods but always throw a high vis mora at the bottom of my bag.

even though I think a multi tool with a good knife, saw, bottle opener and cork screw would be very useful.

 

[Goatboy]

If you carry a multi tool because you need the other tools, my guess is that it will no longer be a backup.

i have never taken pliers into the woods but always throw a high vis mora at the bottom of my bag.

even though I think a multi tool with a good knife, saw, bottle opener and cork screw would be very useful.

Are we holding onto the corkscrew out of tradition? Even good wine (and are we taking £100+ bottles into the woods) are often screw cap these days. And Corked whiskey usually has a stopper cork. Plus with a spoon or a spoon and a bit of string you can get a cork out no problem. What other task that I'm missing do you put it too? Serious question.

 

[Squidders]

Wine bottles.

 

[Goatboy]

Wine bottles.

But that's my point, so few have corks now.

 

[Squidders]

That's no point at all if the wine I like does have a cork.

 

[petrochemicals]

That's no point at all if the wine I like does have a cork.

Get a phillips screw, screw it in with your phillips screwdriver on your swiss army knife, but make sure its diagonally in the cork, get your pliers and pull the screw on a horizontally level plain, whilst twisting it. Hey presto your corks out without damaging your wine. Simple

I'm aware of the cut the cork out method Goatboy, but that will take the edge off your knife, so how does one do it with spoons and string ?

 

[Robbi]

just bang the base of the wine botle against a tree and the cork will come out.......dead simple.

 

[Dave-the-rave]

Just smash the neck off and drink from the jaggy bit like a real man.

 

[demographic]

Get a phillips screw, screw it in with your phillips screwdriver on your swiss army knife, but make sure its diagonally in the cork, get your pliers and pull the screw on a horizontally level plain, whilst twisting it. Hey presto your corks out without damaging your wine. Simple

I'm aware of the cut the cork out method Goatboy, but that will take the edge off your knife, so how does one do it with spoons and string ?

Sod that, just use a corkscrew. Like comes on masses of Swiss Army Knives. Its a doddle.

Yeah I can open a bottle with a cork without a corkscrew. Its not the "can I" that matters, do I want to?
I could also buy wine with a screwtop, but odds on someone will turn up with a cork topped bottle at some point, or I just might want one that doesn't come with a screwtop.

I mean, obviously people who actually need all the extra manpoints they receive by opening a bottle of wine using only a rock and a chicken beak might want that, I'm not fussed about the points and just want the bottle open without doing a Bear Grylls drama queen impersonation.

 

[comis]

I think the decision for 'backup blade' will based on where you work, a SAK farmer or a SAK Trekker(I like the plain edge version better, but might be just a bit over 3") are great for outdoor. They provide blade backup as well as useful tools for outdoor(saw, awl for ferro rod, can opener, etc).

For more urban setting, I don't need a designated knife for work, and I will carry a multitool as EDC. I like Swisstool Spirit for its quality and easy access to all tools without opening the pliers. If OHO is important to you, maybe a leatherman Charge TTi will be a good choice too. For more pocketable solution, a genuine SAK with the tools probably will be your best friend.

 

[Squidders]

Lol, where's the like button?!

 

[santaman2000]

.....I'm aware of the cut the cork out method Goatboy, but that will take the edge off your knife, so how does one do it with spoons and string ?

I'm not sure how GB was talking about doing it but I do know a way IF!!! If the cork isn't driven in flush with the top of the bottle. If a small bit of the cork is exposed, wrap the string round it then use the spoon to twist it tight and as a handle to pull it out of the bottle.

 

[petrochemicals]

opening a bottle of wine using only a rock and a chicken beak might want that,

priceless !

 

[rik_uk3]

I take an original Leatherman with me on trips in the kitchen/stove box and its proven handy from time to time, the blade is very sharp that and a little Sanrenmu locker which is a cracker for its size.

 

[Dave-the-rave]

I've worked it out. Those against corkscrews are drinking Buckfast.

 

[Goatboy]

I'm not sure how GB was talking about doing it but I do know a way IF!!! If the cork isn't driven in flush with the top of the bottle. If a small bit of the cork is exposed, wrap the string round it then use the spoon to twist it tight and as a handle to pull it out of the bottle.

Similar to this video, push in cork with spoon, tie a knot in one or both ends of string and place one or both ends in nick of bottle so knot/knots are underneath the cork and gently pull.

[video=youtube;2kO-VSV2kw8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kO-VSV2kw8[/video]

 

[oldtimer]

I'm glad so many people don't carry corkscrews. I've lost count of the glasses of wine my SAK corkscrew has earned me for opening the bottles of people lacking the means to open them.