Advice for folding camp knives

If you haven't looked at them, take a look at the Leatherman Squirt PS4 or similar (the small ones-key chain size).... one version has a cutter "pliers" and one has a semi-needle nosed pliers. I just picked up the PS4 yesterday... just had the urge and was shopping. Picked up a Sawyer Mini water filtration thingie too. I have no experience with water filtration in the woods. I mostly do day hikes and just carry water. But.... expanding my capabilities a bit.....

I believe Pinnah is big on the Squirt. I think it will do most of what I need to do in the woods without the weight of the Vic Spirit or the SOG Powertool. The blade is like 1" long, but I have a knife usually anyway, so it's there for emergencies I guess.
 
A few good suggestions! Thank you! It's cold and snowy where I live, so it's a good excuse to buy a few more knives I have no need whatsoever for.
 
Fuori, 22-RF is right. I really like the PS4 for backpacking. The pliers fix zippers and drive needles through thread and the scissors help shape bandages.

This picture is with an Opinel #9, which is a great backpacking/camp knife.
Outdoor Carry by Pinnah, on Flickr

I've since switched to an Opinel #10 Inox for backpacking. It can do just about everything that my Mora Companion can do other than regular battoning with the benefit of being able to be pocket carried with ease.

The Opinel is a bit demanding to set up though. IMO, they become great only after tuning up. I can go over that if that would be helpful.

I just got a Buck Slimline 721 and it's a really nice EDC knife for a nice price. But I just don't care for hollow ground blades for camping. A convexed blade just handles wood so much better.
 
Case sodbuster. It's super lightweight and has an awesome blade shape. If you pair a sodbuster with your Victorinox of choice, there's not much you can't handle. A buck 110 would be good too, if you want a locking mechanism.
 
I hadn't thought about the Case Sodbuster but it's a classic that everyone should own at least one of.
 
A sodbuster is not a bad pattern for hiking. I just prefer to have two blades available such as with a trapper pattern.

I have been thinking about buying a peanut of late. Was digging though my pile a couple days ago and came up two or three reasonable candidates for a smaller pocket sized knife that I already own. I usually put knives that aren't in a box inside a zip lock and these were listed as getting in 1992 and they weren't new knives at the time except for a Olbertz medium (3.75" closed length) stockman that is a really nice knife. Need to look at my "pile" more often. Been years since I even looked at it.
 
I ordered the Leatherman today. Thank you for that suggestion. I was looking at the No. 10 in the picture above and wonder how a Dozier would do in place of it? I have an No. 8 and 9, but they aren't my favorites, but I'd like to pair something else with the PS4.
 
Fuori,

I would think about what kind of grind you want and what you want to use the knife for.

I find that for general EDC type of stuff and for most food prep stuff (except potatoes) that a hollow grind knife does OK. IMO, hollow grind knives like the Bucks or the Dozier excel for hunting and cutting meat. But I really hate them for working wood. I find that convexed blade throws curls better and easier to control in wood.

I don't like stock Opinels. Here's a brief run down of what I do to tune them:
- Flatten the sides with a sanding block for better pocket carry and better torsional control.
- Round the top of the butt end for more comfort in the palm of my hand.
- File the top of the lock ring so the slot spins to the 9 or 3 o'clock position for more positive lock up.
- Seal the wood at the pivot with carpenters bees' wax and a heat gun, to keep the wood from swelling when wet.
- Sand with 80 grit, stain with MinWax and top coat of Formsby's Tung Oil finish (several coats)

Not trying to talk you into an Opinel. IMO, they rock due to the great convex blade. Precious few folders with convex or scandi ground blades.
 
You don't have to talk me into them since I own an 8 and a 9 :) It makes sense what you said about wood work and I like the 9 or 3 o'clock adjustment, so I'm open to a 10. I'm not sure I fully understand how to file that, but I'll find a video on Youtube and lean since that is my biggest concern.

I've been looking at the Sodbuster as well and the smaller yellow Schrade Imperial seems to have as good if not better reviews on two knife sites than the Case 13007 Sodbuster. There are a few Sodbuster models, so maybe I'm looking at the wrong one.

Also, what is the advantage of the Sodbuster over the Stockman?
 
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I think when you get the PS4 Squirt, you'll do some soul searching about what you actually use or likely to use a pliers-type multitool for in real life and I guess especially in the woods. Is it enough? My searching discovered that I really don't like to carry the large pliers type mulitools unless I have a need, hence I would seldom have one with me in the woods. With the Squirt, I don't even have to think about whether or not to carry it because it is so small. I just have to remember to put it where I can find it for outings versus hidden within the depths of my junky desk where I discover knives that I hadn't seen for months. Oh, there is is... I may just slip the Squirt onto a key chain, so I pretty much have it with me all the time and get rid of the tiny sak that is there now since I always have a real sak in my pocket. Attaching it to a day pack that you usually carry in the woods is another option I guess, but I have serveral that use. Really don't want to buy several PS4 Squirts unless I develop a real liking for it.

It's fun to buy a bunch of stuff, especially stuff that appears to be useful but not real expensive. I will still use my larger pliers based multitools. In fact I need to make a run to the landfill and I will need something to pull the knots loose that my helper (so "aptly" ties :rolleyes: because he never has to untie/untangle them) on my tie down straps. The Vic multitool will be the perfect tool for the job.
 
It is fun to buy a bunch of stuff :) I don't need half the blades I buy, but this is one place I don't have to explain myself. There is also a lot of bad news, so shopping for toys for spring camping is a good distraction.

I was just shopping around Victorinox's site and saw the Day Packer. Interesting blade shape, but that thing is all handle. I may get one just for the heck of it and try it out. Does anyone know what the grind is on SAK knives? I couldn't find it anywhere.

PS I just got a Rangergrip 61 because a Youtube video I was watching switched to something else. Their Hunter looked pretty comfortable in hand as well.
 
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Fuori said:
You don't have to talk me into them since I own an 8 and a 9 :) It makes sense what you said about wood work and I like the 9 or 3 o'clock adjustment, so I'm open to a 10. I'm not sure I fully understand how to file that, but I'll find a video on Youtube and lean since that is my biggest concern.

I've been looking at the Sodbuster as well and the smaller yellow Schrade Imperial seems to have as good if not better reviews on two knife sites than the Case 13007 Sodbuster. There are a few Sodbuster models, so maybe I'm looking at the wrong one.

Also, what is the advantage of the Sodbuster over the Stockman?
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Fuori,

Regarding the Opinel lock ring.... Open the knife and lock the blade in place, turning the lock ring counter clockwise so that the fully flat portion of the bottom the ring covers the blade well, and not the section that has the cut out for locking the blade closed. The slot in the lock ring should be the same side as the Opinel stamp.

Now, take a felt tipped marker and mark the lock ring on the upper edge where it meets the blade. You will notice that the top portion of the lock ring is ramped. Now mark the top of the lock ring 3 mm or so to the left of the first mark (away from the slot in the lock ring). This will be "higher" on the ramp of the lock ring.

Take the lock ring off. I put the open knife in a padded vice and use needle nose pliers. Lots of videos on You Tube of this. Finally, file the top of the lock ring with a course file between the 2 marks. Essentially, you are lowering the "ramp" along the top, which will allow the ring to spin around more in the lock position. I usually get mine so the slot spins to the 4 or 3 o'clock position.

Regarding the (large) Sodbuster compared to the (large) Stockman pattern... first.... both are slip joints so you won't be able to use the blade to strike a fire steel with the blade open, if that matters to you.

The most obvious difference between the two though is that the Stockman has more blades. I find the Stockman to be a nice whittling knife since it gives smaller blades for fine wood working. But for heavy wood working, I prefer the Sodbuster, since I find multiblade knives less comfortable in my hand.

Another difference is the main blades. Stockmans have a narrow clip point, which is OK for cleaning small fish but I find less useful for general food prep. The Sodbuster's blade (liek the Opinel's) has more belly and can spread peanut butter better (this matters to me, actually).

Finally, neither the Sodbuster nor the Stockman is convex ground. I find the Opinel handle to be much more hand filling and the blade better suited to making shavings and feather sticks.

My pref: Opinel > Sodbuster > Stockman.
 
My PS4 took longer than expected getting here, but I really like it and appreciate the suggestion!
 
Fuori said:
You don't have to talk me into them since I own an 8 and a 9 :) It makes sense what you said about wood work and I like the 9 or 3 o'clock adjustment, so I'm open to a 10. I'm not sure I fully understand how to file that, but I'll find a video on Youtube and lean since that is my biggest concern.

I've been looking at the Sodbuster as well and the smaller yellow Schrade Imperial seems to have as good if not better reviews on two knife sites than the Case 13007 Sodbuster. There are a few Sodbuster models, so maybe I'm looking at the wrong one.

Also, what is the advantage of the Sodbuster over the Stockman?
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Sodbuster is one large broad blade, probably 3 3/4 inches long. Stockman has 3 smaller blades. I think the sodbuster is more comfortable in hand than a stockman pattern. And less maintenance, only having one blade to maintain instead of 3. But the stockman has three different blade shapes for various tasks. I especially love having the sheepsfoot blade. I guess it really depends on how you camp. If you do a lot of food prep, sodbuster all the way. The blade shape really lends itself to this. If you do more wood carving and pre packaged food, stockman.
 
MeanBeaver said:
Sodbuster is one large broad blade, probably 3 3/4 inches long. Stockman has 3 smaller blades. I think the sodbuster is more comfortable in hand than a stockman pattern. And less maintenance, only having one blade to maintain instead of 3. But the stockman has three different blade shapes for various tasks. I especially love having the sheepsfoot blade. I guess it really depends on how you camp. If you do a lot of food prep, sodbuster all the way. The blade shape really lends itself to this. If you do more wood carving and pre packaged food, stockman.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the reply! That really helped!
 
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