Been a while since posting anything but been lurking regularly. My 18 yr old daughter is embarking on a world traveling mission trip next fall. She is taking a year off from college to travel to Haiti, El Salvador and South Africa. I am definitely nervous for her as father, but she really feels that this is what she should do, I want to give her a small pocket knife that would serve as a do it all tool. I know the Swiss Army Knife is a great choice but she is alot like her father and prefers a simple single blade. I was thinking about the modified TL-29 that Glennbad made me since it is a single blade with phenomenal walk and talk and think she would enjoy it for it's simplicity. I was hoping some of y'all could offer some similar sized suggestions for the general purpose single blade folding knife.
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Daughter on a Mission Trip
- Thread starter popech47
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I would say something simple, cheap and relatively dispensable. Not saying she isn't trust worthy, but The TSA has a tendency to take stuff as well as locales in some places. That TL-29 does sound good, and if she likes it it's all the better. More importantly, give her a knife that will actually mean something, something she can Carry and use as a worry stone, something that will cut bandages and packages, something that will slice food, something that will hold and edge, something that she will forever remember the day you gave it to her.
My friend I certainly understand you being nervous as I too have a daughter. My first thought is to check the KNIFE LAWS of each country, or simply have her pick up whatever the local cutlery may be.
Foreign countries already have certain opinions of us citizens and it would truly be a nightmare if she had any trouble abroad because of a pocket knife from her caring father
good luck to you both
troy
Foreign countries already have certain opinions of us citizens and it would truly be a nightmare if she had any trouble abroad because of a pocket knife from her caring father
good luck to you both
troy
Henry Beige
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Another vote for Opinel. When I was traveling for a year in 1970-71, I made the mistake of setting out with no tools. I bought a single-bladed knife. It was the one thing I could not do without, and it was all I needed. The multiple implements of a SAK might have been a luxury, but I was able to improvise or do without everything but the blade. And a couple of harmonicas.
The knife was a Hippekniep, or German sodbuster. It was sufficient, but an Opinel would have been better: lighter and cuts better.
The knife was a Hippekniep, or German sodbuster. It was sufficient, but an Opinel would have been better: lighter and cuts better.
Speaking as someone who has been pickpocketed twice in Nairobi...I wouldn't send her with anything she wouldn't mind losing.
Small knife and a Vic rambler or Leatherman squirt/Micra.
I even had somebody bold enough to follow me around in Mombasa in a large crowded market and slowly cut the stitching in the bottom of my backpack and try and pull stuff out.
I carried around the a Schrade liner lock.
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Small knife and a Vic rambler or Leatherman squirt/Micra.
I even had somebody bold enough to follow me around in Mombasa in a large crowded market and slowly cut the stitching in the bottom of my backpack and try and pull stuff out.
I carried around the a Schrade liner lock.
Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk
afishhunter
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Opinel 6, 7, or 8. Carbone blade for ease of sharpening.
Put whatever knife you get her in her checked baggage
Put whatever knife you get her in her checked baggage
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How about a Mudbug? Definitely a knife that can take a beating.
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How well does she handle a knife now on a day to day basis? The reason I ask this is because everytime I see my wife borrow my knife I am certain she is a hair away from cutting herself. If your daughter is not used to using one, or never really used one, will she really need one on her trip? I would hate to send my inexperienced knife handler out into the world of those places only for her cut her self and need medical attenion, especially in Haiti for example.
If she is good to go I would send her a new Farmer at each new location if she cant fly with one. She may prefer a single blade but this is different imo.
Thoughts and prayers for her journey.
Oh and this. I at least would not pay for it if I couldn't stop her. Yet, this is off topic.
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Is sending that knife with her an option? Having a personal item such as this can mean a great deal when alone and far from home.
I'd also offer up the Victorinox Solo as a viable option. Slim, sturdy, and easy to maintain:
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I would recommend an Opinel as well, either a #7 or a #8 in stainless. A Case sodbuster jr in stainless would also work.
Personally I'd go with a Vic Pioneer or a Vic Compact, the extra tools might come in handy.
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I know these things have been mentioned before, but:
1) Is she an experienced enough knife handler where you would trust her with a knife unsupervised, especially in a warm, wet, infection prone area with atrocious medical care?
2) Does she have the street smarts for places like this? I've known lots of very sweet and gentle "good kids" who are a ticking time bomb because they're TOO nice. I had more than my fair share of fist fights growing up, been picked on, had stuff stolen right out from under me, and I learned my lessons. I'm also a fairly well built male, and I still would be in pretty serious fear for my safety in those places. If she's anything like the kind of kids that I knew that went on missions, she's exactly the kind of person who would get taken advantage of.
I don't doubt for one second that she's good natured, well mannered, responsible, polite, and her cause is noble. I'm sure she gets good grades, helps old ladies cross the street and comes home at reasonable hours. She probably has pretty good self-discipline and I bet she handles herself very well with peer pressure and that kind of stuff.
But that's not what makes you a good knife handler, and not what makes you street smart. You have to get a few bad cuts before you truly understand the how's and why's of safe knife handling, and you need to get beat up and/or scammed a couple times before you really learn how to stay out of trouble.
That being said, nobody's last words were "I wish I did LESS cool stuff" and I think she has a lot to gain from a trip like this. I have a lot of respect for people who take all that risk, do all that work and travel all that way just to help out of the kindness of their hearts.
Back to the knives: I say a SAK or a Leatherman. Single blades are nice but nothing compares to a good multitool when you're out and about.
Also, some first aid training if she doesn't have it already. Remember that no matter how fast the police/fire/medic response, the victim is always the first one on the scene.
I know most of this is off topic, but this is a bit more important than our usual hobby chit-chat.
1) Is she an experienced enough knife handler where you would trust her with a knife unsupervised, especially in a warm, wet, infection prone area with atrocious medical care?
2) Does she have the street smarts for places like this? I've known lots of very sweet and gentle "good kids" who are a ticking time bomb because they're TOO nice. I had more than my fair share of fist fights growing up, been picked on, had stuff stolen right out from under me, and I learned my lessons. I'm also a fairly well built male, and I still would be in pretty serious fear for my safety in those places. If she's anything like the kind of kids that I knew that went on missions, she's exactly the kind of person who would get taken advantage of.
I don't doubt for one second that she's good natured, well mannered, responsible, polite, and her cause is noble. I'm sure she gets good grades, helps old ladies cross the street and comes home at reasonable hours. She probably has pretty good self-discipline and I bet she handles herself very well with peer pressure and that kind of stuff.
But that's not what makes you a good knife handler, and not what makes you street smart. You have to get a few bad cuts before you truly understand the how's and why's of safe knife handling, and you need to get beat up and/or scammed a couple times before you really learn how to stay out of trouble.
That being said, nobody's last words were "I wish I did LESS cool stuff" and I think she has a lot to gain from a trip like this. I have a lot of respect for people who take all that risk, do all that work and travel all that way just to help out of the kindness of their hearts.
Back to the knives: I say a SAK or a Leatherman. Single blades are nice but nothing compares to a good multitool when you're out and about.
Also, some first aid training if she doesn't have it already. Remember that no matter how fast the police/fire/medic response, the victim is always the first one on the scene.
I know most of this is off topic, but this is a bit more important than our usual hobby chit-chat.
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+1 for me. Here in SA she can carry it no problem and the tools can be invaluable.
Where is she going to be travelling in SA?
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Coldsteel espada large...
My $0.02 cents. Small SAK. Done some traveling myself, and an SAK with minimum tools. Sharp blade, can-opener, driver. That's it. Familiar, rarely viewed as a weapon. Small enough to tuck in a small pocket of jeans or shorts. Cheap to buy. You can stash a couple if needed. Easy to sharpen. I have carried one all over the Caribbean and Middle East. I also believe a Sodbuster to be a good choice. Same, cheap, easy to sharpen.
This is an important trip in a young lady's life. Please have a talk regarding "situational awareness". Never travel alone, don't wander off alone. Buddy system. Don't flash money around. I'm guessing she will be traveling with a group.
One other thought. Carry an extra, makes a great trading item if necessary.
This is an important trip in a young lady's life. Please have a talk regarding "situational awareness". Never travel alone, don't wander off alone. Buddy system. Don't flash money around. I'm guessing she will be traveling with a group.
One other thought. Carry an extra, makes a great trading item if necessary.