Camping knife, not the Scout type.

Quy4n8 said:
I have a couple of Opinels myself, a #7 and a #9. My concern with these two is the bare wood. If I'm going to be kayaking in particular, it's going to get wet. When I've had that happen before, the wood swells and the blade... well, it sure isn't that easy to open anymore. Is there something you guys do to protect the wood?

And thanks for all the suggestions, most helpful in my search. I don't really "need" another knife, but it sure is a good reason to get one!
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You can make an Opinel more water resistant by melting beeswax or floor finishing wax into the joint with a hair dryer. Works for a while but it is not 100% water proof.

If you want a waterproof Opinel, you get the #8 Outdoor which was made primarily for sailing. Note the funny shaped hole in the blade for opening turnbuckles and the serrated edge for faster cutting of rope.

OP5177n.jpg


For kayaking though... You may want to go with a modern one hand opening design or, sticking with a traditional design, a fixed blade. The Mora Companion is a very useful and light camping knife and while ugly, the plastic sheath plays well with water. This one was modified for horizontal dangler carry. I reckon you could figure out something to do horizontal cross-draw carry on your flotation vest.

Mora Companion by Pinnah, on Flickr
 
I bring a Kellam Falcon Puukko for car camping, and a Case Sodbuster Jr. for backpacking and hiking.

If I bump into a need for non-knife tools while car camping, those are in my truck. If I need them while backpacking or hiking, I improvise. :D
 
I love my Mora Classic for camping activities, and as others have said the Opinel is also a grand knife for the woodsman, both in accessibility, ability to perform fire prep and food prep, and light weight. However, if you aren't carrying a folding saw (Carl says Opinel makes a really good pocket saw, but I don't know of their availability), make sure to have a SAK with one. I carry, of course, a SAK Camper either on me if going on a short hike without a pack, or tied to the pack ready to be used.

A good fixed blade, not anything too big, a SAK with saw, and an Opi would serve all my needs.

Connor
 
Fixed blade: Buck 102
Pocketknife: Old Timer 8OT, large stockman

A dynamic duo!
 
When I was moto-camping a lot, I always made do with an SAK, an Opinel, a small Anza for dirty work, and a Wirkkala puukko, which I used mostly as a steak knife.

The puukko is pretty much retired. In its place, I would use a Mora 612, or Companion, or some flavor of Marttiini.
 
If I bring a traditional folder for camping I usually bring a GEC #77 Yankee Jack in Sunbrite acrylic, but it's paired with a Fiddleback Forge Duke. If I bring only a folder, it's usually my GEC Bullnose in Sunbrite Acrylic or my Osage Orange GEC Bullbuster.
 
A couple you might want to look at are the Buck Ranger 112 and the AG Russel A.G. Russell Cowboy Pocketknives.
 
Great thread! I love hearing about what others do in the outdoors. Adobe great camping knives in here. I admit that the Mora does everything I want and I usually keep one in my pack no matter what.

I love hiking, hunting, and fishing... but I seem to like collecting knives for these even more! Lately my fixed blade has been an awesome Hess Tiburon. The GEC Bullnose is just one of many slipjoints I like to carry in the woods.


New:


And after a year:


I also always bring along an Alox Victorinox. My favorite is my Electrician Plus (carried while hiking in the Italian Alps (Dolomite Mountains)):


 
Holy cow, that Tiburon is stunning. Just wow.

I'm embarrassed to ask... what's the lever gun? The lever looks really old school but I can't place it.
 
Theres a few recommendations for Mora on this thread. Keep in mind the latest Mora, the Mora professional. Its nice.
 
Out of doors, I bring a SAK with a saw, Camper or Rucksack, really, and my Mora. The one with the red, barrel shaped handle, 4 inch blade, carbon steel.
 
I work outdoors everyday. Any of these may show up. Malanika (Danijel Haramina) puukko, BK-15, Mora 911 for fixed. Buck 110 or 112, SAK Trekker, Opinel N°12 for folders. Been carrying a Cold Steel Eland last few days. Gerber/Fiskars hand axe or a Cold Steel Plainsman's 'Hawk when making camp.

Zieg
 
pinnah said:
Holy cow, that Tiburon is stunning. Just wow.

I'm embarrassed to ask... what's the lever gun? The lever looks really old school but I can't place it.
Click to expand...

The Lever is a JM-stamped Marlin 1894 in .44 Magnum. I've said it many times: The Hess is by far the best value in the knife world right now. You get a GEC made 1095 blade ground perfectly to a super thin edge and a hand crafted stacked leather handle with some awesome hardware. Even the sheath is perfect. These knives will (should) be $200 plus in the next few years. I'm tempted to buy duplicates right now.

Here's another shot of the rifle and another of my favorite camping knives: A Moose of any brand or size!



And a few more of the Hess:






Before I waxed the sheath and handle:

 
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That's a beautifully crafted puukko. Was wondering if you could tell me something about it, such as who makes it, who sells it (US), how you'd describe the steel. What steel is it? How well does it hold an edge, and how difficult is it to sharpen? What are its dimensions? This one really catches my eye!
 
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