Choosing the right knife

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gragnak

Joined
Nov 28, 2005
Messages
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Hi everybody. I'm new.
I'm from Italy.

My fovorite sport is equitation. I often go out riding my horse in woods or in the country. So, I need to buy a knife and I want to be sure it'll not slip away while I'm galloping.

Here's my two options:

- Colt Pathfinder Tactical Hunting/Camping Tanto
- UZI Defender Black Handle Tactical Fixed Blade

I'd prefer the UZI knife. But I can't find a picture figuring how the knife is holded in the sheath.

Which is better?
Any idea?
Can you help me?
 
I bought a Colt knife once, a Python, it sucked big time. I would stay clear of most of the knives sold under gun brands, with a few exceptions (like the ones made by Case or Benchmade) they suck.

I do a lot of horseback riding (long trips mostly, my version of car camping) and these are a few knives that I've found useful (I'm asumming from your post that you're looking for folders):


-Victorinox Equestrian. Actually any SAK (Swiss Army Knife) is a good idea, you can pair it with a stronger folder. The Equestrian has a nice tool selection in a slim package and seems quite fitting for horse lovers. The Victorinox One Hand Trekker is an excellent knife, too.

-Spyderco Paramilitary. Awesome knife, probably my favourite and most used folder. I have a lot of knives to choose from, and this one seems to make it into my pocket more often than any other. Everything about it is great, blade, lock and handle.

-Spyderco Endura. Another great Spydie and an awesome knife for the price ($40).

-Spyderco Native (have you noticed I love Spydercos?). You can get it for around $40, too. You'll love it if you like 3" blades, the ergonomics on the handle are great.

-EKA Swede 82. I love this lockback, it's more traditional looking than the other but it is a hell of a knife. It has very nice wood handles with brass liners, excellent edge geometry and one of the safest lockback mechanisms I've seen (the release for the lock is at the butt of the handle). I preffer this one to the Buck 110 or 112 for horse riding because it has a lanyard hole.

I never trust the clips on my knives when I'm riding, that's why I choose knives that have lanyard holes (all of the above do and SAKs have a key ring) so I can attach them to my belt and be sure that I won't loose them.
 
Thanks, thanks..... and thanks!

Beautiful knives indeed.
But among the fixed blade knives, what do you think?
Is there something usefull?

I prefer fixed blade for heavy duty work.
 
Gragnak, are those your only 2 options?
Where do you usually buy knives in Italy?
Have you ordered from the US or EU?
The Benchmade 140/145 series are nice and are usually affordable.
 
Maybe a sheepsfoot blade would be good.
If you had to cut something while on the horse, you would less likely to accidentally stab the animal or yourself.

Some possibles:

Spyderco Rescue
Spyderco Atlantic Salt
Spyderco D'Allara Rescue

Good luck,
Allen.
 
I Buy my knives in a little specialized shop in Tuscany, but there's only a limited number of choices.
I collect also swords.
I've an sabre form 1872 and e rapier.
I bought a Paul Chen Katana (practical plus) 'cause I wanted something to put in my house. I'm thinking to buy the tiger serie but I'd like to have some idea form you.

About the knife.
No.
What I've listed is only a general idea depending by the price and the model. I'm looking for a military knife, beautyful design, but simple and strong.

I use it to:
cut ropes
cut leather
remove some rock away from my horse-shoes
eventually cut some thin wood (to prepare a pole with a hook for example. I use it to hold my horse with a rope when we rest).

And I'd like to spend between 40 - 70 $

I'd like a machete (or something similar) but our laws strictly forbid to wear long-blades (but the law is not so clear about camping and sporting items....) and it's dangerous to ride with something long enough to chop your limbs away if you happen to fall.... (and I had one or two risky accident with my horse.... You never know what can get out of a bush cutting the road while you're riding in the woods).

If there's someone loving the same things (horse and blades), please let me know. I think these are the higher expression of adventure today! I heard about so many places in USA where you have big forests and wild nature.
And I'm planning to come and see those places (with a horse!)
 
It is interesting to see how others find their knives.

I have visited a different European country for each of the last several years. On every trip I have stumbled on a memorable independent knifeshop.

ciao
 
Even though it was a junker, I saw that Frost USA makes a folder with a hoof cleaning pick on it. Don't buy the marlinspike and use that to clean your horses hooves either. I'm sure that a custom maker could make a slipjoint with a hoof pick.
 
My wife does a lot of riding. I got her a Victorinox Equestrian and she's been very happy with it. The built-in hoof pick is handy. Last Christmas we got one for her riding instructor and that has been a big hit too.

The other "riding" tool I've run across is the Gerber Trailrider multi-tool. It's basically a Model 600 series plier tool with a hoof pick and extra coarse file for use on horses.

The riders I know all prefer the Equestrian, but they probably appeal to somewhat different audiences.

--Bob Q
 
Thanks everyone.

I'll try the "equestrian" model.

If you have other ideas, please let me know.
 
I tried the Equestrian model and like it very much (that's why it was at the top of my recommended folders list).

There are lots of good fixed blades in the $40-$70 price range. If you like beefy tactical looking knives, look no further than Becker Knife and Tool, they are awesome hard working tools and well within your budget. The Becker BK9 Combat Bowie costs around 55 bucks: http://www.knifeworks.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=2592

There are smaller models, of course.

My personal favourite low cost/high performance knives are Swedish moras, I like the ones with wooden handles in which the tang goes all the way through the handle, like the Eriksson #22. They are awesome knives for a few bucks.

A knife I've used quite frequently for horse back trips is the Spyderco Moran drop point. I usually don't like knives with kydex sheaths and synthetic handles, but this one is great. The VG-10 blade cuts like a laser and the tek-lock on the sheath allows a lot of different positions, I found that carrying in the small of the back was the most comfortable when riding. It costs around $60: http://www.knifeworks.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1743

IMHO, a Becker and a Vic Equestrian would make a great combo, capable of handling almost anything.
 
Benchmade makes a knife called, I believe, the River rafter. It has a 4" sheepsfoot blade and a sheath with a lock. I've found that it is a very useful knife and convient to carry.
A BK&T BK-10-Crewman is a very stout blade, very useful and not long enough to get you in trouble in most places.
Welcome Aboard.
 
I looked at the knives you talked about.
So, you think that Uzi and Colt models (see the first thread) are not so good. Ok.
I must admit I was attracted by the beautyful design of the Uzi one, but it seems that the quality of the knife is not as good as the other you listed.

Ah, another thing.
I bought a Seal Pup knife cause I read a lot of good things about that knife, but now that I look at it, I'm a little bit deluded....
What do you think?
 
SOG makes good, sturdy knives. They aren't my style of knife ( I don't like the blade shapes or the serrations), but they are good quality knives.

I know a couple of people who field tested some SOG knives (the Revolvers) and were pretty happy with them.

However, at least IMHO, liking your knife is very important. So if you have any second thoughts about that SEAL Pup, just sell it or try to return it and buy something else.
 
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