Best knife for an all day canoe trip?

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knifedaddy84

Joined
Oct 8, 2002
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Not counting a SAK or multi-tool, what should be my main blade? Fixed or folder? I don't want to bring my SnG or Cuda Maxx because of the potential for loss (big difference between dropping on the trail vs. a river). The last time I did this we capsized.

For river canoeing should I think like a diver, that my knife might be needed quickly for entanglement situations? I don't want to bring too many knives due to risk of loss. My choices are my CS stainless Master Hunter with the custom tec lock sheath, or for folders my CRKT M-16, or a Buck Strider, or full size Griptilian, or fully serrated Spydie Endura. :confused:
 
Benchmade has a knife ade of H1, a corrosion-proof material. Get that one.
 
I take along either my Merlin or Spyderhawk. In emergencies, such as getting caught in weeds or brush (entanglement issues), these make incredible tools. FYI - I also have CRK&T Bear Claws tethered to each persons life vest for the same reason. These are great knives for cutting anything such as what I already said, or lines of any sort. :)

I choose these for strickly boating purposes, not camping, cooking, or other uses (not that they would not work fine); My fun in having so many knives - or the rationale I sell my wife is that some knives are best suited for specific purposes.
I love having knives for dedicated purposes - its my excuse and I am sticking to it.

I like folders if I do not need gloves - if I am wearing cold water gloves I strap on a good serated diving knife.

Have fun in your choices and let me know what you come up with - we always learn from others thoughts and actions!:cool:
 
Actually a folder might be a good idea, as long as you can open it with one hand, especially for river canoeing (imagine being trapped and needing to cut your way out).

Other than that, most stainless blades will be fine if you pay a little attention. I took my Buck Mayo on a 3 day scout canoe trip a couple of months ago. But I made sure I had a line secured to the lanyard hole, connected to a carabiner on my belt.

The Griptilian would be a good choice, just use a lanyard. Easy to open, and water won't hurt it.
 
Along the lines of the good suggestion about lanyards on knives, attaching milk jugs or similar to bags of gear via several feet of paracord (how deep is the water?) helps locate gear if the canow rolls. Good luck.

TAL
 
Benchmade 100H2O, CRKT Hammond ABC 2604 decent blade good price. tie a lanyard to it so you don't loos it and go for it.
 
Are you going canoeing on the Delaware river ? The stainless master hunter would be a good choice. The old rule is ,when boating , if you want to keep it tie it to the boat or to you. I've canoed the Delaware many times ,haven't lost a thing. Even when I hunted geese on the river a 1/8" line tied the shotgun to the boat. The nicest time of year here is the first two weeks of october, that is the peak of the fall colors.
 
I'm not so sure it's a good idea to go on the water with a pointy knife. It could be dangerous. Maybe a sheepsfoot stainless fixed blade in Kydex sheath would be most appropriate.
 
My "canoe knife" is a small Rapala fillet knife.

It has a dangle sheath that's never in my way, no matter how I'm sitting and it's easy to acces when I need it.

A knife that's tied to you is dangerous. If you happen to get yourself in a fall-out situation while you have a knife in your hand, it should be free to drop away from you so you can grab onto the canoe and your paddle. For this reason a canoe knife should be disposable.

Also, in a canoe, a lanyard hanging from you belt will catch on something, get tangled and make for a tipsy situation.

I recommend a small rapala fillet knife on your belt and a 2nd one to be stored in your drybag (that's strapped to your canoe). Each knife is under $15.00.

Your other knives should be stored in your drybag and used once your on land.

Cheers,
Collecter
 
maybe just get a cheap machete - sure it'll rust, but just oil it. And pack a small frn folder on you - say a spydie endura. That should do it. :D

The machete (tramontina? south american?) would do almost everything - whack the weeks, pry anything, chop firewood, kindling, clean game, cut webbing/rope...it'll only cost $25 and if you lose it, you won't cry...

In water conditions - I don't like anything tied to me - neck chains, lanyards, ropes - they are hazards - you could get entangled, choked, dragged, cut etc. If you must have a lanyard/chain - use a miniball, or, a my low-cost alternative - a section of the lanyard should be joined to a single rubber band - it'll snap off with greater force.
 
Are you going to stop for lunch somewhere? Then bring a knife that's good for cutting food.
Are you going camping? Then you might need something else.
You're on a canoe, so I guess you don't need a knife for cutting spray skirts, but you might want something that can cut a rope quickly.
I guess you might want an "overnight emergency knife", just as you'll want some other overnight emergency stuff (a couple of ways to make fire, some tinder, spare flashlight, flare gun, etc.)
Figure out what you'll definitely need, and get the right knife for that.
Also take a back-up for more general purposes. This might be a folder, since the real trouble begins when you're separated from your canoe.

I also recently received a "Buddy System" neck knife (thanks Tim!) which seems like a very nice carry system for a PFD. But I haven't had the chance to take it on an expedition yet.
 
What river, and how many hostiles are known to be in the area?
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But seriously, I second the nomination of the Benchmade 100SH2O in H-1 steel. I have one securely fastened to my P.F.D. -- which you should wear 100% of the time you are in the canoe, no excuses. People die in some pathetically unreasonable situations when they never should have -- all because they're too cool to wear a flotation device. Don't be stupid. Since you're probably like us and will desperately want to have the knife on you at all times, get the Benchmade, attach it to the vest, and then if you want the knife, you'll have to wear the vest! :p

Seriously, the Benchmade dive knife is a really nice one, and it's quite far from expensive at under $70. Mine is part serrated. I'm not sure if they offer either full plain or full straight, but they probably do.

---Jeffrey
 
PJ is right, actually: the PFD comes before everything else.
Then, if the water's cold enough, you have to be "dressed for immersion" (wetsuit or drysuit).
I don't know if capsize & re-entry is the issue for canoers that it is for kayakers.
 
Take a look at the Spyderco Salt. It combines a Delica handle with a semi-sheepfoot SpyderEdge blade and an oversized opening hole. The design is just about perfect for use on a boat, whether emergency or casual. And the whole knife is made from nearly rust-proof materials, from the H-1 blade and lock down to the chromed rivets.

I've been "beta testing" a Salt for a while, since I have exceptionally corrosive perspiration. :eek: It hasn't shown a spec of rust despite long-term exposure to seriously nasty conditions. I really like the design for a rescue/boating knife.

--Bob Q
 
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