Folding knife advice?

[nigeltm]

Hi guys,

Well, here goes my first post! I'm quite new to bushcraft, so please be gentle with me!

I'm after some advice on a knife to keep as a spare in a pouch. I was at Bushmoot and went through the intro to tools session on Sunday (thanks Sargey and the other guy who's name I can't remember!) and finally got to use my F1 properly. But, being as paranoid as I am, I'd like to have a spare folder just in case, or for finer work when my skill progress far enough. I tend to carry a small Buck lock knife (with a Mag Solitaire on the other end of the lanyard) but I have little experience of other makes.

Is there another option out there I shoud consider? All advice gratefully accepted.

Thanks,

Nigel.

 

[Greg]

I personally would look at having a Leatherman, Gerber Tool or a Multi-function Swiss Army Knife rather than just a folding blade, It will do the same job and alot more.

 

[nigeltm]

Hi Greg,

Thanks for coming back so quickly.

I did consider a Leatherman (I keep a Core in the car and often carry a Blast when I can find the damn thing!). My concern is that while a Leatherman is a great bit of kit, it is a bit of a jack-of-all-trades and master of none. While the rubber inserts on some models improve the grip, I wouldn't like to be carrying out some delicate work and have the thing twist in my hand and either ruin my work or, more importantly, ruin me!

I think a Micra, or something similar, would be a great addition to the pouch I'd feel safer with a "proper" knife. Sorry if i seem paranoid, but I have a couple of old scars from using a tool not quite right for the job

Ta

Nigel

 

[morch]

Hi Nigel and welcome aboard.

How about an Opinel? Hold a good edge, throw a great shower of sparks and cheap as cheap things.

Dave

 

[Tadpole]

Hi Greg,

Thanks for coming back so quickly.

I did consider a Leatherman (I keep a Core in the car and often carry a Blast when I can find the damn thing!). My concern is that while a Leatherman is a great bit of kit, it is a bit of a jack-of-all-trades and master of none. While the rubber inserts on some models improve the grip, I wouldn't like to be carrying out some delicate work and have the thing twist in my hand and either ruin my work or, more importantly, ruin me!

I think a Micra, or something similar, would be a great addition to the pouch I'd feel safer with a "proper" knife. Sorry if i seem paranoid, but I have a couple of old scars from using a tool not quite right for the job

Ta

Nigel

Decent knifes don't have to cost the earth, I use an Opinel no6 everyday, and other than a strop on a belt I've not had to sharpen it, it's still like a razor. (very useful as I use it at work) the advantage is that is will lock, cheap easy to sharpen and once sharp easy to keep sharp.

 

[gregorach]

I usually have an Opinel for general fine work and a Lifeventure Interlocking KFS for food use. The knife on the KFS is a 3" liner lock, and it's all stainless.

 

[nigeltm]

Guys,

Thanks for the great advice. I hadn't thought to ask about using the knife with a firesteel! I have tried my Buck and F1 with a Swedish steel. The Buck was a damp squid while the F1 went off like a firework. At £5 for a No. 6 the Opinel looks like a real bargain.

Time to get out the debit card.

Thanks again.

 

[Hoodoo]

A SAK would be a good addition.

This Trekker might be a little big for pocket carry, but it's a very useful style for bushcrafting.

A knife with a good awl located at the end of the knife, though, can be pretty handy. The red farmer in the middle is one of my all time favs.

If you are looking for a multiblade pocket knife, the stuff coming out of Great Eastern Cutlery is super sweet.

 

[Chance]

I (when away from the public) keep a mini-RSK in my waistband; for those fall-of-a-cliff-and-lose-your-rucksack moments.
It's comfortable enough to wear in a tent or hammock, for those wolves-and-bears-set-light-to-the-nylon moment.
Because it's always at hand, it will often be used more for simpler whittling tasks than the fixed blade, and it will withstand a certain amount of baton-ing.

 

[maddave]

Opinel No 6 all the way...No nonsense just a sharp blade and a beech handle.

 

[JonathanD]

Gotta vote for a SAK Farmer, or if you want a locking blade, the Forester and Trekker.

 

[spamel]

Opinel all the way. Get a stainless and it will be ideally suited for food prep, carbon steel can sometimes impart a metallic taste to food. I redcently got a Opi 9 in stainless for my wife and myself. Both were modded as I dislike the clip point on them and the beech handles are IMO slightly tacky. This is what I came up with:

The handles were scorched, slightly sanded and then oiled. The blades were very tough, my file wouldn't touch them which is not the case with the carbon steel versions. Stainless can be a bugger to machine though. I ended up beasting the blades on The Ratbags' pillar drill with a rotating sanding drum. I finished off on an oil stone to get a smooth transition. They slice really well and make a perfect chore knife for food prep in camp and in the kitchen.

Be advised, the Opi 9 is massive!

 

[Barn Owl]

Nigel,

My most useful knives (apart from custom bushies) are sak farmer,l/man wave, mora clipper in carbon and opinel No.8 in carbon.

All others are really just to satisfy the collecter in me,although they do work as well as the 'cheap' (only in price) sharps.

Tom.

 

[JonathanD]

This is the kit I carry when my sheath knife is not practical, and I always have a Farmer on me whatever day of the week it is....

 

[spamel]

<snip> and I always have a Farmer on me whatever day of the week it is....

I am now scared to go to sleep!

 

[WolfCub]

Chance, pardon my ignorance , what's a "mini - RSK" ?

 

[Chance]

No, pardon my presumption: http://www.equipped.com/rsk_mk1.htm
(the little yellow fellow)

 

[nigeltm]

Just to say that a bright and shiny No6 Opinel turned up in the post this morning.

Thanks for all the advice. It's better quality than I expected for £6 and just the right size to keep in a pouch as a spare.

 

[gregorach]

You can't beat 'em for the money. Just remember that the steel is pretty soft and the edge is thin - no using it as a lever!

 

[EdS]

Victorinox Mauser. Bit big for pocket though.

Or if you want legal every day carry the Victorinox Pioneer Harvester. Similar to Farmer but the small curved pruning blade is great for collecting veg.