best knife for boy scouts

What is the boy scout knife in your country?

here in ontario it tends to be a SAK



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KillerMan

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Dec 9, 1999
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Back when I was in Scouting, the most used knife in the entire troop was my Leatherman tool. At least 10 or 20 times a day, someone would need pliers, a screwdriver, or something and I spent most of my time tracking it down.
 
Either a SAK or one of the cheaper multitools, like the original Leatherman PST or the Gerber Multipliers (the cheaper, nonlocking variety).
 
When I was in the Boy Scouts (early eighties)most everyone had swiss army knives. There were plenty of jack knives around, too.

I think a Leatherman Wave, or comparable multi-tool, would be just about perfect.
 
I agree that any quality multitool will do.
It's important that they in an early stage see the knife as necessary tool, not a fancy prop.
We had a large Lapp knife(used by the natives in Lappland) combined with the multitool.This covers any job in our part of the world/wilderness. We used them both in the army in Northern Norway as well, and they still do.The Lapp knife can endure any rough job
 
Puukko with about 10 cm blade and SAK. Boy scout organization promoted puukko named 'kätevä' = handy. Not wery good puukko IMO. Only plus in that puukko is that it has integral bottle opener. Handle is one of the worst handles that I've seen in a puukko. I didn't get one but my brother won two in boy scout contests. It is perry safe to bet that at least one in each group (abouyt five boys) of little older boys (13 and up) has a leuku = lapp knife.

In camps I used to have some cheap mora or pastic handled puukko etc knife as we always found time for knife throwing (throwing was not allowed). Nice woodhandled puukkos tend to be awful waste if 12-14 years boys throw them in rocky terrain.

I think that a fixed bladed knife with 8-10 cm blade is best. I'd prefer puukko without (normally there is no) handguard. Reason: childs learn that knives are not for stabbing. I can't understand why children should use folders as only knife.
 
Other than adult leaders, I have never seen Boy Scouts carry a Leatherman. Some of them carry knockoff lookalikes though. Most Scouts, both youth and adult that I know carry one of the official Boy Scout pocketknives (now made by Camillus) or a similar knife - some SAK, etc.

Personally, I carry and use a Camillus Official Boy Scout Deluxe Utility pocketknife at Scouting activities.


Originally posted by KillerMan
Back when I was in Scouting, the most used knife in the entire troop was my Leatherman tool. At least 10 or 20 times a day, someone would need pliers, a screwdriver, or something and I spent most of my time tracking it down.
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Originally posted by Rick1955
Other than adult leaders, I have never seen Boy Scouts carry a Leatherman. Some of them carry knockoff lookalikes though. Most Scouts, both youth and adult that I know carry one of the official Boy Scout pocketknives (now made by Camillus) or a similar knife - some SAK, etc.

Personally, I carry and use a Camillus Official Boy Scout Deluxe Utility pocketknife at Scouting activities.
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Interestingly, when I was in Scouts (80's), I carried a BSA Deluxe, from when I got it in Webelos (last year of Cub Scouts) to when I replaced it (in 10th grade) with a Victorinox SAK Adventurer lockback, because I got tired of my scout knife folding on me while I was still using it (OUCH!!!!) and wanted to replace it with something that had a locking blade but still had multiple tool blades (esp. the Phillips screwdriver). I realize now that I didn't fully know how to properly use a folder (despite earning the "Totem Chip"), but then I just wanted a "safer" knife to use on campouts.

Now, my EDC in a Vic SAK camo Tinker. (Still need that Phillips 'driver!)
 
I think a smaller, lightweight lockback is a good starting point for most jobs a Scout has to do in the field. Both my sons carry a Gerber LST. I did also get them a Leatherman PST a couple of years ago...my oldest would wear it in the shower if he could! (KnifeKnut in Training:)) My younger boy doesn't seem to care one way or another, oh well - can't win them all!
 
I seem to remember as a scout never actually using any of the tools on my scout knife, just the blade for whittling. 'Course I was only in the BSA for a little over a year and only went on two or three campouts. After that, I graduated to more junvenile delinquent-oriented pursuits. :o
 
When I was a Scout, almost everyone carried the official BSA Ulster or Camillus camp knife. Some of the leaders carried small fixed blades (the only one that really sticks out in my mind was what I now know to be a Marble's Woodcraft.) In the relatively depressed area where I lived, having an official BSA model was a real status symbol.

On a fairly recent excursion to Gettysburg, PA, there was a large gathering of Scouts from the northeast. As my girlfriend and I toured the battlefields, I took great interest in "spotting" the gear those boys were carrying. I saw everything from multitools, to official BSA camp knives, to SAK's, to Spyderco, to Benchmade hanging from those boys belts or clipped to their pockets. I was really astonished at the amount and quality of the gear that quite a few of those kids had. I saw Merrill boots, Kelty packs, LL Bean products in abundance. So much for rough times and roughing it, I guess.

Mike
 
I like the official deluxe Boy Scout Pocketknife, but it does not have a bail (ring) on it which I like.

I have never had a pocketknife blade close on me. I've either been lucky or just careful.

Originally posted by txmoonwolf


Interestingly, when I was in Scouts (80's), I carried a BSA Deluxe, from when I got it in Webelos (last year of Cub Scouts) to when I replaced it (in 10th grade) with a Victorinox SAK Adventurer lockback, because I got tired of my scout knife folding on me while I was still using it (OUCH!!!!) and wanted to replace it with something that had a locking blade but still had multiple tool blades (esp. the Phillips screwdriver). I realize now that I didn't fully know how to properly use a folder (despite earning the "Totem Chip"), but then I just wanted a "safer" knife to use on campouts.

Now, my EDC in a Vic SAK camo Tinker. (Still need that Phillips 'driver!)
Click to expand...
 
The name of the Boy Scouts of America training program for woods tools - including knives is TOTIN' CHIP.

There is an excellent website about Totin' Chip:

http://hometown.aol.com/mikekrys/totin/index.html

You might want to check it out.

Also, there is a good discussion about Scout knives going on over in the General Forum. Please come join us.

Thanks.


Originally posted by txmoonwolf


Interestingly, when I was in Scouts (80's), I carried a BSA Deluxe, from when I got it in Webelos (last year of Cub Scouts) to when I replaced it (in 10th grade) with a Victorinox SAK Adventurer lockback, because I got tired of my scout knife folding on me while I was still using it (OUCH!!!!) and wanted to replace it with something that had a locking blade but still had multiple tool blades (esp. the Phillips screwdriver). I realize now that I didn't fully know how to properly use a folder (despite earning the "Totem Chip"), but then I just wanted a "safer" knife to use on campouts.

Now, my EDC in a Vic SAK camo Tinker. (Still need that Phillips 'driver!)
Click to expand...
 
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