Choose what to lose.

L

Longstrider

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May 18, 2005
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If you were taking a trip where you might well have to either sacrifice a knife due to misuse, or stood a good chance of losing it for one reason or another, would you take an older knife that you might not be able to replace if lost, or a newer knife that cost a lot more but was replacable?
I'm due to take a trip soon, travelling through the Hindu Kush and Himamlaya, and I've decided to take trustworthy new knives instead of old "friends" so that I don't regret their loss if they don't make it home with me.
My EDC SAK was a gift from a friend now lost to us, and will be staying at home. I've bought a new SAK Ranger to carry in it's place. My EDC Swisstool I bought myself as a "user", so it will be making the trip with me. If it gets ruined or lost it's no big deal to replace on my return. My GMOOTS knife will be a Buck Strider 880 SP as carrying a fixed blade poses more problems than I want to encounter. Newly bought for the trip, it's not the cheapest of knives to view as "dispensable", but I'd rather trash that than a Sebenza or an original Strider or similar. I've chosen it as a happy compromise between cost and ultimate reliability, figuring that I could spend more and get an even better knife, but for the money I don't think I'll find a more reliable, stronger knife, and it will be a knife I'm happy to carry and use once home again.

What do you guys think? Would you carry old favourites, or do as I have done in the circumstances?

(GMOOTS = Get Me Out Of The... well you understand... :) )
 
I have a lot of older knives that I really wouldn't mind losing. But for such an adventure as you describe, my takers would be my Spyderco Bob Lum folding tanto (got it last year. Know it can hold up. If I lose it, it won't break me.) My Camo SAK (I think it's a spartan. Really new. Won it in a raffle two weeks ago) For a fixed blade, my old reliable Cold Steel SRK (If I took a fixed blade.) And my Swisstool.
I have no real emotional attachment to any of these knives, even if the Lum would be difficult to replace.
-KC
 
That's a tough call.
It'd be hard not to take my favorites, as they're my favorites.
Makes sense to take a new knife that you've got less emotional attachment to, at the same time a trip to Hindu Kush and the Himalayas might be exactly the thing that you want to share with these "old friends" of yours.
If you all come back together you've got another memory together, if you lost one at least it would be lost somewhere really f'n cool.
 
Your choices sound fine to me. Something I would consider is buying a knife over there-might be cheaper. You might want to visit Walmart and pick up a couple of Buck 110s or similar to use as gifts or to trade for a local knife. :)
 
godot said:
Your choices sound fine to me. Something I would consider is buying a knife over there-might be cheaper. You might want to visit Walmart and pick up a couple of Buck 110s or similar to use as gifts or to trade for a local knife. :)
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I'd go for buying there.It has to be the cheapest angle and should eliminate legal worries.tom.
 
Trade a 110 ?! I might if I were able to pop into a Wally World and grab a couple cheap, but those things come fairly dear here in the UK, and there's no Wallies to buy from here. My 110 is the knife I'm temporarily replacing with the 880 for the trip. Not because it's cheaper (not by a looong way!), but because it will bother me less if it doesn't come home with me.

The blades I listed will be all I can justify taking in my pack, but buying whilst there is definitely on the adjenda. Anyone know of anything special I should look out for in that neck of the woods other than kuks? (I already have a couple of kuks bought in Nepal, one beautifully finished "dress wear" job and one plain "user".) Bear in mind that I'd think my pack will be under pretty tight scrutiny on my return through Customs on my return. Swords are not an option I feel!

As we will be Jeep trekking with a local driver, he may well manage to miss enough potholes (and cliff-drops!) to end up owning the SAK I'm taking anyway, in addition to his tip.
 
The only problem I can see with taking new knives is that you don't necessarily have experience with how they will work, and how they will hold up.

I've taken my first CRK on a few trips where it could have got lost or broken, and I would personally prefer to know that I can rely on my tools, than know that they're easy to replace when I get back.
 
Longstrider,

Take an SAK. Don't bother with a GMOOTS knife. It will most likely turn into a GMITS knife. (Get Me Into The ****)

If violence occurs, you'll be up against people far better equipped and motivated than yourself. (Don't forget:this is where kukris come from!) Struggle has been a part of this area for centuries. Did your tour guide tell you that Hindu Kush means "Killer of Hindus"?

An SAK is universally accepted as a useful, unobtrusive tool. A Buck Strider or similar - especially if brandished in a stressful situation - is an "Open Sesame" to tall time in a NW Frontier prison. Not fun.

If you're in a Jeep, and want extra hardware, take a Leatherman.

maximus otter
 
I probably wouldn't mind losing a SAK or a FRN Spyderco. Easy to replace and not too expensive. But if I lost any of my balis or autos I'd probably start sobbing like a sissy.

In a situation like an outdoor trip, I'd get something nice, but reasonable (BM Nimvarus or something), preferably used and possibly already marked/scratched so I wouldn't feel bad if I screwed it up myself. Opinels/Moras are a good idea too, since they perform very well at very little cost.
 
When I travel to S. America, I carry a 5" chef's knife.. they're sturdy, sharp, and non- threatening looking. Be sure to bring something to sharpen your knife with. :D
Enjoy your trip.
 
I think you could handle 99.99% of all knife tasks with a Victorinox SAK and a Spyderco Endura.

They are not especially dangerous looking, and they are not so fancy that a customs agent might want to keep them, and they are both easy to replace.

Good luck,
Allen.
 
Longstrider said:
If you were taking a trip where you might well have to either sacrifice a knife due to misuse...would you take an older knife that you might not be able to replace if lost, or a newer knife that cost a lot more but was replacable?
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I'd borrow someone else's. :D Sounds like a great trip--post a travelogue when you get back.
 
maximus otter said:
Longstrider,

Take an SAK. Don't bother with a GMOOTS knife. It will most likely turn into a GMITS knife. (Get Me Into The ****)

If violence occurs, you'll be up against people far better equipped and motivated than yourself. maximus otter
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Fear not wise Otter. What I meant by a GMOOTS knife was NOT a fighter. Far too many of the locals carry AK's for me think of a knife as a viable option if the S really does HTF. :eek:
I'm viewing the knife as a relatively expendable extra-strong blade/prybar/foothold/handhold/crap-cutter etc than I can really lean on if I need to without too much fear of it letting me down when I most need it's strength and/or edge. On previous trips to the wild places I've seen few times when folks were stumped by not being able to really bear down on a smaller knife like a SAK (One of which is going with me anyway as a people-friendly user) The "big boy" will be carried hidden yet very accessable. It's not going to be my first choice for snipping off labels whilst shopping in town!

I have no doubts or misapprehensions about the level of equipment I'll be up against if the worst comes to the worst, but as for motivation, when me or mine are threatened....... Enough said.

Watchful......Great idea ! I'll look forward to recieving your Sebanza in the post as a loaner! :D

Thanks for all the input on this one guys. Still looking for any knowledge as to what to look for in the "souvenir" dept other than kuks if anyone knows...
 
I second the motion in favor of an Opinel. Take a No. 10 along. It will cut anything you need, and they're cheap as hell. The No. 10 is big enough to cook with if need be, as opposed to the No. 8 (which might be a little small). If you think you'll need to pry things, you'll want a fixed blade (obviously)... But since you said that's not an option, then take an actual prying tool with you. Or, for opening cans, etc., bring a SAK ranger. Big blade, saw, punch, screwdriver(s), can opener.

Peace.
 
I've just returned from a trip myself and was faced with the same question.
The most sensible thing to do, is to get some new knives to which you aren't very attached. I find a Victorinox Huntsman, a multitool and a mora or SWAK are very good set of tools for the cost.

I find emotional attachment to be more of an issue than actual cost, so I try to stick to widely available production knives when I travel. Specially when I'm moving through towns and cities. I'm not afraid of loosing my knives in the bush, it's an over-zealous policeman or airport security officer that poses the greatest danger in my experience.

I usually like to take one of my favourite fixed blades if the trip is going to be particularly trying and dangerous situations might arise (I don't mean fighting, I'm thinking more about nature related issues). I know if I loose one of them, I would really be sorry, but they are there to be used. They are my favourites because they have been with me through so much, and take part in lots of stories.

I think your choices are fine, but you should really consider a light fixed blade. A mora or pukko won't frighten anybody, but will be really handy.

Taking Opinels or some other similar knife as gifts is a good idea.
 
Take a good SAK or two and a mittful of Opinels of various sizes for use and trading.
 
I had a smith & wesson HRT that fit this bill- went to mexico, germany, etc.- basically take a look at your collection and pick out all the knives that suit the needs for your trip (in my case it had to be a tactical folder of 3.5" or more- what I consider a good knife for both utility and defense). Now once you have these knives in fornt of you imagine that someone has a gun to your head (no- you can't pick up one of the knives and stab him) and tells you to throw one away. That's how you choose a travel knife. I sold the HRT so now my choice would probably be my CRKT m16-13- reliable, cheap and easily replaced- plus no sentimental value.
 
I'd take the tools I have with me as long as they are suitable for my trip's purposes, even if some of them are considered as "old friends". Surely it involves the risk of losing them, but I often take that risk as a cost to pay for the memories that will add on to my gears after we've gone through another trip together. Maybe it's just me but I do treasure my accessories more by knowing that i've added more and more memorible mileage on them. :D
 
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