Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Group Forum: Solo Tripping :: Solo Knife(s)?
|
Author | Message Text | ||
Tony |
quote johnMN: "Tony, how does the knife attach?"hope this helps |
||
johnMN |
quote Tony: "quote johnMN: "Tony, how does the knife attach?"hope this helps" Thanks, Tony, yes Now I see. Is that a custom made case then? |
||
paddlinjoe |
The pluses: Knife blade can be deployed with one hand using the thumb. (I used to bring a regular leatherman, but don't anymore) Pliers (replaced needle nose pliers for fish and regular pliers for handling hot pots around fire) Phillips and standard screw drivers. Minuses: I would prefer a non serated blade, but it does cut well. Doesn't feel as nice in the hand as wood handled knife. Sometimes I take a Grohmann Camper knife, but that is more sentimental reasons. The only thing it does better than the skeletool is spread peanutbutter. |
||
RetiredDave |
quote gymcoachdon: "I carry a Morakniv Companion, got it cheap on Ebay. Clipped on my belt, occasionally got in my way, but was handy when needed, and came super sharp. I used it for batoning wood to start fires, and it was perfect for cutting the summer sausage. I wouldn't want to be without the ability to split wood to expose the drier insides if trying to start a fire in wet conditions. I also carried the Irwin carpenters saw to process the wood. " +1 on the Morakniv! That and a small saw and I have a campfire every night. The Morakniv is a sturdy SOB and I use it every evening to baton and burn my firewood. We all have our preferences, but I've never really needed an axe. Big groups, big fires, big wood, maybe an axe, but never on a solo for me. And I love campfires! Dave |
||
MacCamper |
Mac |
||
Tony |
quote johnMN: "quote Tony: "quote johnMN: "Tony, how does the knife attach?"hope this helps" No, that is the way it came from Kershaw. I think it is called the responder. It is half serrated with a glass breaker and seat belt cutter Tony |
||
luft |
Lately I have only brought the Swiss Army Knife. It covers all my needs. |
||
muddyfeet |
quote NotSoFast: "I, too, carry a Leatherman when solo. I'm aware of its short-comings (no batoning, not the best steel, peanut butter gets in the hinges, etc.) and yet find it a good trade-off to have the various tools in a convenient format." Yep- I clean and oil/maintain mine pretty well, but there must be years of cheddar cheese in there! I do find the multiple tools helpful for adjustments/repairs. quote whitecedar: " If you have more to spend I would suggest an Adventure Sworn knife. www.adventuresworn.com " Those look beautiful! ...and by a small American company too. Ive carried a small hatchet for splitting wood (which I also enjoy being able to do for wet fires), but the potential exists for weight savings by replacing it with a large knife to baton with. (never tried it- but it looks easy enough). What else might a hatchet be better at than a large knife? (note, i also have a svensaw with for crosscutting/trail clearing) |
||
gymcoachdon |
quote Alan Gage: "Ive carried a small hatchet for splitting wood (which I also enjoy being able to do for wet fires), but the potential exists for weight savings by replacing it with a large knife to baton with. (never tried it- but it looks easy enough). What else might a hatchet be better at than a large knife? That is some great info there. I love this site! |
||
hooky |
In the kayak or canoe, I carry a full tang fixed blade for batoning wood instead of the little folder. The difference being that when backpacking, the fire is usually only in my twig stove. When fishing I add a pair of Gander Mountain aluminum pliers that have sidecuts and are tethered to the sheath. |
||
PortageKeeper |
Why not just get rid of the Leatherman and go with a Mora. In over 50 trips I can count the times on one hand that I needed a Leatherman style tool, and that was on portage clearing trips to maintain another non-typical tool. It's like carrying a solid block of steel - not ultralight. That being said, on almost all trips, I get by with just a pocket knife. |
||
muddyfeet |
quote PortageKeeper: " I think I'm leaning more this way. Just have to let go of the "what if" repairs to equipment or canoe- which, admittedly, are fairly rare. |
||
motox380 |
Lots of knife options out there depending how much cash you want to spend. Also carry old Kershaw folding fillet knife works great. I think being prepared is worth the extra weight. |
||
johnMN |
|
||
WaveRunner |
|
||
muddyfeet |
quote WaveRunner: " I recently purchased the Leatherman Juice S2. Seems like a nice balance between light weight and tool options." Thanks- I'll have to look at this in person next time I see it at a shop. It claims weight to be 4.6oz , which is pretty amazing for a multitool with pliers. Different uses than a dedicated knife, but for reference my spyderco folder is 4oz. |
||
em8260 |
|
||
muddyfeet |
Also, the KME sharpener system makes a super sharp edge foolproof. |
||
Armored |
|
||
cgchase |
But what's the fun in that? I adhere to a "3 blade system" . .you have one for "clean tasks", one for "misc tasks" and then one for "big jobs" . .typically this one is a saw for me . .but it could be a hatchet. My "clean knife" . .ie . .for food use and tasks where a clean knife is important . is an Opinel #8. I love this knife. It's cheap, light and the blade shape works well for food. My "misc task" knife is my Benchmade Mini Griptilian. It's small, light, sharp, opens easily with one hand, it's everything you want in a knife that would, for example, need to come out one-handed and maybe cut a piece of rope or fishing line while your other hand is occupied. My "big job" blade is usually my folding saw. I have others - a hatchet, a Benchmade big folding hunter, several Mora fixed blades, etc . .but typically the saw is most useful. If I plan to eat fish, I prep them with my "misc task knife" so that can impact my knife choice there. I can (and have) take a fish apart with my mini grip..it's not ideal but if you work carefully and use the tip a lot you can do a pretty good job. I can't bring myself to bring a dedicated filet knife . .but if I knew I was going to prep a lot of fish I probably would . .or else choose a more nimble blade for my "misc task knife". |
||
Armored |
quote CrZander: "Armored, that is a great looking knife! Could you give me more info on it? Thanks" My father in law made the knife. I did the sheath, fire rod and diamond stone. Any time I go into the woods it is on my hip . There is not much to tell about it. It is a full tang with black walnut scales. The black walnut tree that it was made from, my 4th great grand mother planted when they homesteaded in 1865 in new ulm MN . The tornado of 1999 took out the farm and all the trees . we salvaged the logs. I also had a 62 Cal flintlock northwest trade gun built from one of the logs. I guess I am kind of sentimental. |
||
muddyfeet |
My ultralight tendencies typically have me just using the knife on my leatherman tool as a primary knife for camp needs. It is somewhat a pain, though, to uncase, unfold, and deploy it each time it's needed. But what about having a second dedicated knife? Is it redundant gear or an important backup? I was thinking something like a midsize spyderco folder might be easy to carry in a pants pocket and be a good all-around knife for cooking/repair/general camp use. This would be in addition to the leatherman-which would be relegated to riding in the pack. Of course a full-tang sheath knife might pull duty batoning wood instead of a hatchet, but I think that big of a knife would be awkward to carry around. Assuming realistic solo trips with freezer bag cooking and no crazy emergencies, how necessary is it to have a good knife at the ready? |
||
NotSoFast |
quote muddyfeet: "...Assuming realistic solo trips with freezer bag cooking and no crazy emergencies, how necessary is it to have a good knife at the ready?" I, too, carry a Leatherman when solo. I'm aware of its short-comings (no batoning, not the best steel, peanut butter gets in the hinges, etc.) and yet find it a good trade-off to have the various tools in a convenient format. Used to carry a larger/sturdier knife, never needed it. As a caveat, I make only small, brief campfires, and don't fish, so that may change the picture for some. |
||
Alan Gage |
The belt knife sees the most use. All my meals cook fast but I only carry a stove for backup so I'm cooking over fire at least twice a day; generally in a small twig stove. I can usually find enough small dry branches to make a fire but sometimes, especially when it's wet, it's really nice to have the ability to split small 1-3" branches and that's where the belt knife shines in conjunction with a folding Silky saw that also sees use clearing portage trails. My last trip was the first time I took a hatchet as it was a long trip in potentially cold weather. The weather did indeed turn out to be cold and wet and although the hatchet went unused most days it was greatly appreciated on about half a dozen occasions over the 5-6 week trip. My pocket knife is not used very often and most of the time the 4" sheath knife is overkill; especially to carry on me the whole time (though it's not uncomfortable). I'm thinking about leaving the pocket knife at home and finding a smaller fixed blade (2.5-3") to carry on my belt with either a hatchet or 6" Buck knife in the pack for heavier work when required. Alan |
||
Whatsit |
|
||
boonie |
|
||
ducks |
quote Whatsit: "I use a small pocket size buck knife. Never thought I needed anything else or wished for anything else. For me it's easy to get when I need it and easy to put away. " Same here. I don't even notice it clipped in my pocket and it's convenient when needed. I also have a leatherman in my repair kit in the pack but don't remember ever using it. |
||
Whatsit |
|
||
butthead |
If I plan on more campfire cooking, Saw and hacker knife for batoning go. butthead |
||
jaek5199 |
|
||
lindylair |
Since I learned of batoning a few years ago I have practiced it a great deal and it is fun, effective and impressive to your friends:). All i would need on a trip, solo or otherwise is a Morakniv stainless steel knife, small saw and a lexan or comparable serrated knife for cutting summer sausage and spreading peanut butter. You can beat on those Moras while batoning and they just smile. Best value knife |
||
jaek5199 |
quote butthead: " Large lock blade SAK, AG Russell Deer Hunter and Bird and Trout (which get clipped to each pack). Sheaths are home made Kydex. What is Kydex? Can you tell me more about it? Thanks! |
||
butthead |
butthead PS: Need to point out the beautiful saw sheath was made by Ragged, another forum member. bh |
||
jaek5199 |
|
||
Tony |
|
||
WHendrix |
|
||
gymcoachdon |
|
||
whitecedar |
If you have more to spend I would suggest an Adventure Sworn knife. www.adventuresworn.com |
||
mr.barley |
|
||
1JimD |
As the outside man/janitor at the local High School. The Tinker has saved me more steps than I can recount. Tweezers, tooth picks, three blades, phillips, straight, nail file, and an awl, make for two handy tools. They are with me where ever I go with pants on ! Belt knives are always in the way of things. So I would opt for a decent folder. Jim |
||
Alan Gage |
Ive carried a small hatchet for splitting wood (which I also enjoy being able to do for wet fires), but the potential exists for weight savings by replacing it with a large knife to baton with. (never tried it- but it looks easy enough). What else might a hatchet be better at than a large knife? Battoning small stuff for a twig stove is a snap and I find it faster, easier, and safer to do that with my 4" sheath knife as opposed to the hatchet. For larger wood (length and diameter), especially if it's knotty or not straight grained, the hatchet works much better. I've used a 6" sheath knife (Buck 119) for larger wood and while it did the job most of the time it was a good deal of work and hard on the hands. For cooking over a twig stove and occasional larger fires in warmer weather I think a 4" sheath knife would work well. If you normally cook over an open fire, like to have camp fires most nights, or will be in cooler weather where fire might be used for more than just "fun" I think a hatchet or small axe is worth the extra weight. The hatchet is easier to quickly peel the bark off a small dead spruce for the shelter poles I was making and was also much quicker at limbing branches or small trees that I either wanted to use as poles or to cut into firewood. Other than those uses, and splitting larger wood, I haven't found much use for a hatchet over a sheath knife. Alan |
||
bkebs |
I usually also have a gerber multi tool for removing fish hooks, cutting line, and small tasks. |
||
CrZander |
|