No doubt--I would buy two or three new knives that are relatively cheap but dependable and capable. Spyderco Delica, Endura and Native come to mind. I'd go with plain edged instead of serrated and take a folding DMT coarse/fine diamond sharpener and not worry about losing, abusing or breaking anything. I wouldn't risk anything expensive or a personal treasure under those circumstances.
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Choose what to lose.
- Thread starter Longstrider
- Start date
- Joined
- May 18, 2005
- Messages
- 230
With your ideas on board, alongside some keen edges and a DMT hone, (Not to mention what seems like a half a ton of other gear in my pack) I'm off to the Karakorum Highway and the Himalaya. Thanks for the thoughts guys... See you in about 3 weeks if all goes well.
That's a bit sad in my book.
I own a Sebenza, bought it to use and wow would I like to use it on that journey. It's THE tool for the job. Sure there's a risk of loosing it or any other bit of kit. You just take what care you can.
Take it, give a proper knife a bashing and a history. Sebenzas need a decent scratch or two
I own a Sebenza, bought it to use and wow would I like to use it on that journey. It's THE tool for the job. Sure there's a risk of loosing it or any other bit of kit. You just take what care you can.
Take it, give a proper knife a bashing and a history. Sebenzas need a decent scratch or two
- Joined
- May 18, 2005
- Messages
- 230
Just to update any that care to know. The trip was a wonder from start to finish. Travelled through the most magnificent countryside I've ever seen (and I've been about a bit). Gathered ice to cool the drinks from glaciers, and roasted in temperatures of 115 F in the space of 2 days. Did not see a "real" Kukri the whole trip as I was too far north for them to be the local "weapon of choice". As I did not really want, or need, to bring home what the locals carried everywhere I left the sickles alone!
Ended up taking a SAK Ranger, original pattern Swisstool, and my just-arrived-in-time-to-take Buck Strider 880SP. All saw service and performed perfectly. Every time the SAK came out (usually to open another crown-top bottle of Pepsi) I could see the look in the eye of our local driver/guide, so he ended up with that as a gift before I came home. The 880SP proved it's worth too. Having the weight, and the edge to do the right sort of damage proved just what the guides wanted when it came to butchering the goat for that nights curry whilst camping at 12,500 feet. I became so used to the weight of the 880 in my pocket that I miss it being there when I'm out and about here at home now. (It's too big to carry legally in public in the UK). Due to a tight schedule, and not much time in towns I didn't get to search out any spectactular knife deals, but settled for a folder of about 3 1/2" made by the guy who sold it to me, from the workshop h makes all his knives in. For the princely sum of 90 Rupees ( about GB£0:90/US$1:55) I think I did pretty well getting a handmade, buffalo horn handled knife.
One blade that really caught my eye was the sword of the old king of all Pakistan. (before it even was Pakistan) Shown to me during a trip round the old and crumbling palace at Chitral, it was a work of art in blued steel with real gold filigree patterning. Seeing and even being allowed to handle such a thing would send most museum curators into a fit, and I felt quite priviledged to have done so. It did rather amuse me to note that the makers name on the blade was "Wilkinson Sword", as British a company as you might ever hope to find!
The days of the Raj still have a lot to answer for. I was offered a British service bayonet of about 15" with what I believe was a date stamp of 1906 on the blade. Still perfectly serviceable, and in it's original sheath, it was supposedly dug out of a field by a local farmer. Unfortunatly the guy selling it wanted far too much in my opinion and would not enter into the spirit of a good haggle over the deal, so I left it with him when I moved on.
All in all it was a wonderful trip filled with memorable moments and vistas. We found the local people to be courteous and hospitable all along our route. There are many that would do well to remeber that it is not the God a man worships that makes him good or bad, but the deeds he perfoms. There have been times I have felt more threatened on the streets of my own capital than I did walking with my partner through the bazaar of Peshawa, purportedly the most lawless city on earth, and you have to have a strange sort of admiration for a race that can give birth to a guy who can look you in the eye and swear that the Rolex watches he is selling are genuine....then sell you a pair of them for £3 !! *LOL*
Ended up taking a SAK Ranger, original pattern Swisstool, and my just-arrived-in-time-to-take Buck Strider 880SP. All saw service and performed perfectly. Every time the SAK came out (usually to open another crown-top bottle of Pepsi) I could see the look in the eye of our local driver/guide, so he ended up with that as a gift before I came home. The 880SP proved it's worth too. Having the weight, and the edge to do the right sort of damage proved just what the guides wanted when it came to butchering the goat for that nights curry whilst camping at 12,500 feet. I became so used to the weight of the 880 in my pocket that I miss it being there when I'm out and about here at home now. (It's too big to carry legally in public in the UK). Due to a tight schedule, and not much time in towns I didn't get to search out any spectactular knife deals, but settled for a folder of about 3 1/2" made by the guy who sold it to me, from the workshop h makes all his knives in. For the princely sum of 90 Rupees ( about GB£0:90/US$1:55) I think I did pretty well getting a handmade, buffalo horn handled knife.
One blade that really caught my eye was the sword of the old king of all Pakistan. (before it even was Pakistan) Shown to me during a trip round the old and crumbling palace at Chitral, it was a work of art in blued steel with real gold filigree patterning. Seeing and even being allowed to handle such a thing would send most museum curators into a fit, and I felt quite priviledged to have done so. It did rather amuse me to note that the makers name on the blade was "Wilkinson Sword", as British a company as you might ever hope to find!
The days of the Raj still have a lot to answer for. I was offered a British service bayonet of about 15" with what I believe was a date stamp of 1906 on the blade. Still perfectly serviceable, and in it's original sheath, it was supposedly dug out of a field by a local farmer. Unfortunatly the guy selling it wanted far too much in my opinion and would not enter into the spirit of a good haggle over the deal, so I left it with him when I moved on.
All in all it was a wonderful trip filled with memorable moments and vistas. We found the local people to be courteous and hospitable all along our route. There are many that would do well to remeber that it is not the God a man worships that makes him good or bad, but the deeds he perfoms. There have been times I have felt more threatened on the streets of my own capital than I did walking with my partner through the bazaar of Peshawa, purportedly the most lawless city on earth, and you have to have a strange sort of admiration for a race that can give birth to a guy who can look you in the eye and swear that the Rolex watches he is selling are genuine....then sell you a pair of them for £3 !! *LOL*