$50 - three cutting tools?

[thelastbestplace]

Mora Clipper - 13$

Marbles 14 inch machete - 13$, Sheath - 11$

(or substitute a Tramontina machete)

Then choose a Swiss Army Knife.

[Raymond1000]

Not my topic but liked the idea! Imagine you have a friend, (for some of you that's hard ) that wants to go camping, hunting, you name it, but he has no cutting tools of any kind, nothing, not even a pen knife. He asked for your help...your task is to fill his shopping cart with three cutting tools but since he's not really into knives he gives you a limit of $50. One more thing, the items you choose must be good enough that you would use them.

I'll start,

I found these:
- victorinox Pioneer, $21.49
- mora utility knife, $10.26
- cold steel Latin machete, $14.59

Total = $46.37 free shipping on all items.

Your turn!

So many people are willing to take a total beginner to edged tools and send him into the bush with a machete? I hope you give him a solid course in chopping wood and not chopping flesh. But even then...

Give a saw instead. Much safer for a newbie.

[FortyTwoBlades]

Even better--ONLY give him the machete.

I'd be totally willing to give a beginner a machete, but I'd give them a thorough lesson in its usage first.

[collecter]

Sorry Raymond but I disagree.

My earlist memories are of me and my friend taking my dads hatchet, a handful of nails, my mom would make us some a peanut butter & jam sandwiches and with our dog we would be out in thewoods until sunset. I think we we're 5 or 6.

No one ever taught us how to use a knife, axe or machete. If we could do it at 6 years old I think an adult could figure it out!

[Balldboy]

Sorry Raymond but I disagree.

My earlist memories are of me and my friend taking my dads hatchet, a handful of nails, my mom would make us some a peanut butter & jam sandwiches and with our dog we would be out in thewoods until sunset. I think we we're 5 or 6.

No one ever taught us how to use a knife, axe or machete. If we could do it at 6 years old I think an adult could figure it out!

PB and J sammich, my Boy Scout round canteen, walking stick and a Norwegian scout knife and we were gone for the day. throw in some clothes line and watch out!!!

[gadgetgeek]

in my experience, a 5 year old is smarter, more thoughtful, and careful than most of the adults I've met.

[FortyTwoBlades]

in my experience, a 5 year old is smarter, more thoughtful, and careful than most of the adults I've met.

LOL you have a point there!

[ROCK6]

These are always a good challenge. Most of us have enough knives, choppers, saws, etc. to outfit a couple of Boy Scout troops, but there are many who could be prospective outdoors enthusiasts and maybe even a knife lover...but they don't own anything more than a few kitchen knives.

Showing how a quality, but inexpensive/reasonably priced selection could be made to cover the majority of camping chores is a good way to practice functional utility within a specificed budget.

I have a couple dozen SAKs, but was surprised most of the models I would recommend are $20-40. I think these are great camping tools but can throw a budget if you're trying to cover more tasks requiring a chopping tool.

Mora seems to be the best deal for the most functional, budget-minded fixed blades. Many can argue, but the Mora works well at the majority of camping and hiking chores.

I'm torn on the chopper. Location has a lot to do with selection, but I find myself going back and forth between the Imacasa model 152 (12"-convexed) machete or the Cold Steel Frontier Hawk (or Trail Hawk as both can be found around $22-24). The Imacasa is on my short list and having it already convexed makes it an even better chopper and outside of large diameter, seasoned hardwoods, it can compete with a cheaper hatchet. For my location, this would be the ideal choice when doing most bushcraft chores such as constructing camp furniture, improvised shelters, clearing a camp area or bushwhacking areas overgrown with sticker-vines.

A saw is indespensible if you're doing any bushcraft fun or you plan to use an open fire. Bahco Lapplander would be my first choice, but for a functional and more inexpesive choice, the Fiskars "sliding" saw has worked wll for me; plus it's lighter for backpacking. I've found them for just under $12 and although they are not as robust as the Bahco, it still works if they are not abused.

Lastly, other than a SAK pocket knife, I'm really liking the choices of adding an Opinel. Either the OP4 ($9) or OP5 ($10) are good choices.

So, with that thought process and given where I live, my recommendation would be:

Opinel OP4 = $10
Mora Classic = $10
Imacasa model 152 12" machete = $16
Fiskars Sliding Saw = $12

If backpacking, you could substitute the Opinel and machete for a quality SAK (such a the Hiker or Camper).

Mora Classic = $10
SAK Hiker = $22
Fiskars saw = $12 (stretching your budget a little, you could get the better Bahco folding saw)

ROCK6

[gadgetgeek]

I agree with the mora, opinel, and small machete/ hatchet/ saw theory. it gives the person a chance to see what a folder, fixedblade and chopper are good for. I prefer a saw for safety, and maybe the person you are buying for might want a really good saw for his yard, as well as the trail? or maybe he has a fireplace, and a good hatchet will get lots of practice? the other factor would be what style your friend likes. an opinel feels pretty flimsy, and he may be more comfortable with something else. does he prefer a plastic or wood hadled mora? i would encourage him to spend more on the fixed blade and then add a folder as funds allowed if it was a choice of one and the saw or chopper. gear that he likes will be better than good gear he doesnt like.

[thatotherguy]

Pawn shops/ garage sales/ website auctions
Older used (possibly broken) Leatherman tool- $10
Good old hunting knife (maybe a Ka-Bar USMC type)- $15
Machete- $5
nice new stone- $15
Postage to send broken Leatherman back for repair/replacement- $5
$50 even. Free shipping assumed.

[scruffuk]

D'ya know, I agree you could easily get four items at that price.

If you go for a Mora Viking 546 or one of the Mora made branded knives you find.

You can grab a budget hatchet for less than a tenner or track down an American made gem on flea bay or a yard sale.
Maybe splash out a bit more on a Bahco/Helko.

A 24-30" bow saw blade. I've seen these for a quid ($2) at the hardware stores. You can then learn safe knife skills by preparing a simple bush-saw frame

And with the rest of the cash you can splash out on your SAK or other and still have a bit left for a bag to carry em in!

scruffuk

[CWL]

I don't remember individual costs, but the last time we did the $50 trio, I chose:

Mora Clipper
Tramontina machete
Fiskars hatchet

[RescueRiley]

mora carbon companion 12.00
Tramontina bolo machete 14.00
victorinox camper 20.00

[neeman]

Sorry collecter but I disagree.

Tool usage is intuative learning for a kid
But they are sharp!

I was a nice middle-class boy that knew nothing about knives and axes
I was in Scouts and we were taught methodically on how to use tools correctly and safely

I then taught city scouts then my kids how to use and sharpen knives
Cut with a saw and use an axe
Safely

Sorry Raymond but I disagree.

My earlist memories are of me and my friend taking my dads hatchet, a handful of nails, my mom would make us some a peanut butter & jam sandwiches and with our dog we would be out in thewoods until sunset. I think we we're 5 or 6.

No one ever taught us how to use a knife, axe or machete. If we could do it at 6 years old I think an adult could figure it out!