Quick Poll - Knives

[Rick]

Nice thread!!
I know it is heavy, but I like my Swiss Army Explorer - I have gone between one of those and a swiss army camper for years and have been happy with them both. The explorer gives me a magnifying glass and scissors over the camper.

In Winter on dayhikes/snowshoes/ski trips I carry a heavy 8oz SA Multi-tool RS. It is heavy, but it was a gift from my old company and it is great to have along when you need some plier action.

SA Camper
SA Explorer
SA Multitool

 

[forestgnome]

I carry an 8" fixed-blade for peace of mind, a folding buck saw for trail work, and a little swiss army folder. I don't want anything that doesn't serve a real purpose because my camera gear weighs so much.

 

[ADK4Life]

I have been using this Gerber for that last 2 years. Its a good trusty blade so far. Its nice to be able to clip it into something so I dont have to risk losing it when scrambling.

http://www.gerbergear.com/products/view.php?model=6425

 

[keepin' on]

I like my Leatherman. It has similar functions to that of the "blast" .

It's a good tool and I like the security of having a pair of pliers at my disposal.....It's worth the extra weight if you ask me. And the 2" saw blade just packs me full of extra security!

 

[SherpaKroto]

I'm with Chip and Spencer. Small, buck in my cook kit. I always know it's there (after years of endless pack searching when I needed it).

I also went through the 3-4 knife route. In fact, while packing last night, I found a knife in my pack that I didn't know was there

 

[KayakDan]

Gerber multi tool for backpacking. Usually my Gerber folding saw as well.
For kayaking I have a titanium dive knife on a stainless steel retractor,right on the PFD.

 

[bobmak]

Small swiss army knife with scissors for the summer, and a SOG multi-tool for winter trips to help repair the snow shoes, skis, etc. And a french opinel for day trips and picnics; I just love the wood handle and simple design. No fluff, just a nice blade.

 

[spaddock]

Swiss army classic for overnights. Day hikes I bring the swiss army camper my wife bought me in Switzerland. She always asks if I took it and I don't like to lie.

Winter I bring a multitool for crampons, snowshoes, etc.

-Shayne

 

[sp1936]

I guess I'm not an ultralight guy. I carry a relatively substantial fixed blade knife: my Buck Pathfinder, which I have owned for 40 years, a gift from my father.

Steve

 

[bpschroder]

I've always carried the Swiss Army Classic Knife in the past, but recently I upgraded to the Swiss Army One Handed Trekker. I find that a locking blade works better than a non-locking blade. It is a little larger than the classic, but doesn't seem to weight too much more. I guess you can open it one-handed just in case your other hand is trapped beneath a boulder. I couldn't image leaving a knife or other cutting tool behind for ultralight reasons. I think Duct Tape which is lighter is a better fixer than a multitool, but unfortunately you can't cut with it.

 

[sierra]

I carry 2 knives at all times. I have a small poutch on my pack belt that I keep a folding knife with a 5 in blade half serated, a very good all porpose knife. I also carry an "uncle Henry" 8 inch fixed blade for any "messy" jobs that may present themselves.
ON my last hike in Colorado before coming home in june, I was on the back side of the peak at about 11,000ft when I noticed Lion tracks zig zagging my route in the snow. I stopped and pulled out my uncle Henry, sure enough 20 minutes later I saw the cat sittling on a rock, watching me, make know mistake about it, Id have given myself 1 in 50 to kill hiom upon attack but it would have been 1 in a 1,000,000 if I only had a leatherman.

 

[Woody]

I carry a very small swiss army knife in my pocket and I find that it is all I ussually need. When backpacking I will also carry a larger swiss army knife that includes a philips head screw driver, a can opener and a saw. I very rarely use it for anything besides spreading peanut butter!

 

[Warren]

I carry a medium size half serrated folder or an Opinel folder, I don't like to carry a non locking blade knife. I augment this with the leatherman little folding pliers (generally in winter) and a folding scissors. Having the pliers and scissor in a separate tool gives me a better quality pliers or scissors and something to hold a screw while I use the pliers on a snowshoe bolt.

In reference to knives vs cougars; I lived with a fellow who was Lakota. During some man talk he looked over one of my folders not liking it enough. He felt an outdoor knife needs to be able to be lashed to a pole spear style so if you're out on a horse you can carry the knife spear setup in hand pointing straight up, a defense against the cougars in the trees.

 

[Lawn Sale]

I have the Aitor JKI Skinner knife (the one on the right), and at 3.6 ounces, it's pretty light. I've had mine for about 20 years now, and it's been a great knife. The center is for tightening/loosening bolts, and believe it or not, I've had to use that a few times. It's designed to be lashed to a pole, and I don't need to go into details on the bottle/can opener. My only complaint is that the sheath is cordura and I keep the knife very sharp so it has ripped through the bottom of the sheath. But, I fixed that problem with some plastic tubing.

 

[LenDawg]

I have a knife/marlin spike in my bag, but I have not needed it yet. Marlin spikes can be very useful for many different needs.