Best Winter Carry?

There are a few different features of the Military that make it good for gloved use, besides the extra large hole. It has a large handle with exaggerated curves and it also rides high in your pocket, so it's easy to withdraw and hold. Plus, a large portion of the liner is exposed so it's easy to close one-handed even with very thick gloves or mittens.

People are often critical of these features (handle's too big, cutout for liner is too big), but you have to understand that the knife is designed with gloved use in mind.

In really cold weather, a fixed-blade would certainly be the way to go. I have to agree that a Roselli puukko with those huge wood handles would work well. {shrug} I guess Scandinavian knife makers know something about cold weather!
smile.gif


------------------
Cerulean

"We cut things to create things" - J.K.M.
 
Sounds like Spydie holes are the easiest to open w/gloves on, but remember autos (if you can carry them) or any Wave opening knife as well.

Axis locks and lockbacks seem easiest to close. (Another[/i} reason we need an Axis lock AFCK)

It doesn't get that cold here, but when it gets cold enough that I have to button my jacket, thereby making access to my pants pockets difficult, I'll move a knife to my jacket pocket if I think I'll need it in a hurry. Then I can put my hand in my pocket, with the knife in my hand, if need be. Don't know how well this would work with gloves though.

You might just want to loosen the pivot on your Axis locks a little bit so they're real easy to flip open, then opening and closing will be easy.

So you might want to buy more Spydercos, more Axis locks, and check out different types of gloves. G-10 sounds like the best handle material not to slip out of gloves. Or move to somewhere where it doesn't get so damn cold.

------------------
Jason aka medusaoblongata
-----------------------
"I have often laughed at the weaklings who call themselves kind because they have no claws"

- Zarathustra
 
Answers to a question like this one should, and do reflect a persons individule climate, and day to day activity.

I can see where most can get away with a folder of some type, and even remove gloves for short periods of time.

I know a family that has a Christmas tree farm, and during the season, he is outside all day cutting twine and such for his customers as they try to figure out ways to get them home on their cars. Taking off the gloves is not an option, and he carrys a small fixed blade in a sheath in the pliars pocket of his insulated coveralls.

My sister raises Longhorn cattle, and in the winter feeding takes about four hours. Her husband wears a Puukko fixed blade around his neck and uses it to cut feed bags and hay bale twine.

As a carpenter, in the winter (year around actually) I carry a fixed blade in my tool bag, as it is much simpler than opperating folders with gloves and cold fingers. I do own spyderco's and CRKT's with the flipper, and can open them with gloves, but a fixed blade is just easier.

For driving to a heated work place, or going to the store, a folder is fine for me.
 
Here in Sweden it often gets really cold and thats the reason you rarely see someone using a folder. Hunters often have gloves where you can stick your fingers out of the glove without taking them of.
With such gloves you can actually open a Spyderco folder with the gloves still on. You pinch the hole with the bare fingers against your gloved thumb and drop open it.
A Spyderco Military is easy to operate in this way. Most folders handles tend to get slippery when cold. Gerber has some folders with some kind of rubber handles that work well.
When you use a folder in winter it´s important to make a quick inspection to make sure the lock has engaged fully before use. Use a lubrication that works well when its cold. Most things you cut when its really cold are frozen and I prefer to have at least one of my blades in an angle not too steep beacuse they tend to chip or best of all a hatchet for chopping frozen wood.
 
I have had luck carrying my folder clipped to the underside of my jacket collar on the side opposite of my strong hand. If it is a deep carry clip, it will appear as a nifty way to carry a pen. Only the clip will show. It is easy to draw from that position whether sitting or standing. It blends in very well with a black clip, since a lot of winter jackets are dark to absorb heat.The use of hunter's gloves that allow one to move their fingers under the seam to the outside is an excellent idea, one which I must try. As far as lubricity, If one uses tuf-glide, the pivot should move freely.I should think that a BM 710 would work perfectly this way. I live in a an auto friendly state and have had good success with a BM Autostryker. It doesn't get as cold here as other places, but last night it got down to 15 degrees F, and that is plenty cold enough! Big snow is in the forcast tonight!

Best of luck,
david

------------------
AKTI# A000150
NC Custom Knifemakers Guild member
NC Knife Knuts member
 
Of my limited supply of folders, the MPF is the easiest to open with mits or gloves on. With mits (which are needed in the cold) I found that I fumbled the MPF a few times.

A fix blade is much better.

Will
 
The Spyderco Military is my primary outdoor utility knife. I have outdoor chores daily and the cool/colder weather means I can leave the Military clipped to the left breast pocket of my lined jean jacket (or insulated coveralls as the weather gets more winter like). In warmer weather I have to remember to clip it to my pants pocket.The big hole is easy to manipulate with gloves, even heavy insulated ones. The handle is large and contoured so the grip is sure...plus those serrations make cutting almost anything a snap. My two cents.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top