Does anyone just use a folder?

D

Diamond Dog

Joined
Jun 25, 2007
Messages
695
I was just curious if anyone just uses a folder of set of folders when woodsbumming, mountaineering, hiking/camping, hunting etc. Personally I take a buck 110 on my belt and never felt underknifed when outdoors. Before that I use to carry a folding outdoor edge pocket-lite $20. I usually aways brought a stockman or barlow knife too. I guess I never was in the bush long enough to warrant carrying a machete, a chopper, or hatchet. I have to admit I am very minimilist compare to even a lot of ultra light hikers. My stuff is not even close to 20lbs. I usually have my psk with other stuff in a fanny pack or canvas military pouch that can be added on to my belt. I don't like carrying alot of things and to be honest have never really gotten used to carrying a fixed blade. For me they are a little cumbersome at times as well. I break wood for fires by stomping on it using leverage by placing it at an angle on something higher or between 2 other limps on the ground. When I was younger I liked the SAK but always thought of it as too flimsy to use in the mountains...my thoughts have changed since as I really like the functionality of the SAK. I even carried a opinel by coughlan's.

Times change. After seeing alot of practical and awesome knife designs by the very talented knifemakers on this site, it seems like I can't get enough of the fixed blades. So just curious if you wilderness survival guys ever just carried a folder in the past, present or now.
 
Fixed blade does not have to mean a huge and heavy knife. If you had your buck 110 and a fixed blade knife of similar blade length (and weight) which do you think would be more durable? I know which one I would rather have.
 
I just personally feel better with the fixed blade, and find them much more comfortable to use than a folder. I've also had too many folders fail on me at inopportune times. For near the weight of the 110, a Mora 510 could have been packed along.

I think it boils down to that I just find it easier to use the fixed blade for prolonged periods of time, and like them for ease of clean-up and maintenance.

But whatever floats your boat! :thumbup:
 
If I'm mainly just passing through and don't expect to do much like building fires, catching and cooking some food etc, I'm more than comfortable with just a folder. Most the time for days like this you don't even need a knife, it's more of a convenience than something that's going to really help you out.

For anything that's overnight or longer I prefer a fixed blade for a number of reasons. Less places for dirt, blood and water to get trapped, easier to clean, less things to break, less things to fumble with (Very important for me in the winter) etc.

Personally I like to travel with a small puukko and a swiss army knife that has a saw.
 
If I'm just trekking/bushwalking then a folder is all I take (with a multi-tool). If I'm exploring an area of bush off-trail (which I haven't done in ages) then I'll go for a more survival oriented gear set which includes a fixed blade. Nowadays I'm straight out of the ultra-light hiking catalogue.
 
I know a fixed blade is more durable and all that goes with it. And I know the 110 is not all that light, but I use to just carry folders is all. I was just curious if at anytime did anyone just carry a folder. I would like insight as to their experiences is all. I'm not trying to stir a debate or argument over fixed vs. folder. I like both and I carry a fixed too at times. I guess when I was a kid I never had a fixed blade and always just had a folder so naturally I got familiar and comfortable in what it can do is all. The moras are relatively new to me learning about them in the past 2-3 years. When growing up I never knew of anyone carrying a mora. However I do like the mora's as well. When I talk about folders I mean slip joints too. Never had a slip joint fail on me. Then again I never battoned it for wood either.
 
Diamond Dog said:
Never had a slip joint fail on me. Then again I never battoned it for wood either.
Click to expand...

:D

30ijr4g.jpg
 
Sure, if I'm going somewhere close by, for not too long, or somewhere for the afternoon with easy access to the highway, say...anywhere I'm not really worried about having to suvive, anywhere I don't feel the need to take a backpack, etc. Although I so often have a fixed blade on my belt that I'll unintentionally take one. Also I guess I always have an axe in my truck, although that's just because I'm too lazy to take it out.

If I were off wandering around with a friend, using their car, on the spur of the moment, and all I had was one of my folders, I wouldn't be worried at all.
 
Awesome! Now that is what I'm talking about! Is that a SAK? I guess to ramble on some people have different mind sets when outdoors and survival comes to mind. Would I prefer a fixed sure that is not what I'm getting at. I wonder what the hiker/camper types who take long overnight day trips feel about just taking their SAK. Because I know of some who do. But I know some who feel really insecure not taking a fixed blade just for a day or overnighter.
 
I can hear the oh boy's coming but I got to thinking about Les Stroud and how he manages a week with nothing and a multi tool. I Know t.v and all but got to thinking with today's technology with mult-tools it almost-almost seems like a fixed is not necessary. Just curious did all grow up with always using a fixed or a hatched etc. Regional differences excluded like if you lived or grew up in a thick forest area region where the ax was emphasized.
 
It's a Nylon Solo, which has a blade just a hair shy of the large locking models. Enough to split smaller branches though. SAK steel is soft too so if you do damage the blade it's just going to take a bend, not crack.

I'm fine taking just a SAK for an overnighter. The blade can whittle shavings for tinder and cut other misc things, can clean a fish or small animal, the saw can help construct a small shelter if the wood can't be cracked apart by leverage etc. Having a hatchet or something just makes certain things easier for me. Like when the snow is really coming down, I'd rather just bust open a log, baton it to smaller pieces, make a few shavings and have a fire rather than wander around collecting the right types of wood, then whittle out some shavings using a SAK which will be hard to open with my cold hands so on and so forth.
 
In the past I always carried a folder exclusively, specificially an Opinel or BuckLite.

But now I've switched to a fixed blade. The fixed blade is smaller, lighter weight, and has a lanyard.

Awesome! Now that is what I'm talking about! Is that a SAK?
Click to expand...
The knife in the photo looks like a Victorinox Solo, with red nylon handles. They're on closeout for $6 at SMKW if you're interested. I bought one and it's an incredible bargain.

-Bob
 
Diamond Dog said:
Awesome! Now that is what I'm talking about! Is that a SAK? I guess to ramble on some people have different mind sets when outdoors and survival comes to mind. Would I prefer a fixed sure that is not what I'm getting at. I wonder what the hiker/camper types who take long overnight day trips feel about just taking their SAK. Because I know of some who do. But I know some who feel really insecure not taking a fixed blade just for a day or overnighter.
Click to expand...

Sometimes, I've gone out with an SAK Soldier, very good knife. Other times, a 10 year old Kershaw liner action. Other times, a fifty year old Kabar hunter folder.

My dad often goes out for days on end with nothing tougher than a small opinel, or a SAK soldier, or the other aluminum one with just the two blades. Well, nothing tougher than those other than himself, he is tough as boot leather.

Next time I talk to my dad, I will ask him what he takes on his long trips. He is (I think) 65 or 66 now, and goes on two to three week solo trips every year. I don't know what he takes for a knife for sure, but I would bet it's one of the above options (of course he also has an axe.)
 
yeah , me :)
For years too , just folders .
I like bigger folders tho Opinel and Okapi .. they are tough enough for what I do .
I dont use them for cutting firewood , felling trees , chopping logs or de-limbing etc

I do use them for cleaning / scaling fish , clean skin and butchering animals from rabbit to roo , for picking grubs out of their residences , cutting bamboo , making digging sticks , food prep ...

it comes down , IMHO to knowing the limits of the tool , and working within and around those limits an Opinel will slice open a green coconut , cut down a suprising quantity of heavy mature bamboo , it will skin a goat , and part it up without a hassle ... and make basic food prep and kitchen work a breeze ..

I regularly cook with my folders , not just camp / hunt / hike with them .

an Okapi will carve wood all day and still be shaving sharp , itll skin and part up multiple goat sized animals before it needs stropping / touch on the stone , itll cut grass and twigs for thatching for hour after hour before it needs a touch up, if it does at all even then .

I do use bigger folders , I guess , tho nowhere near as chunky and thick as the tactical type folders .. but enough to do the job and more , and I never felt "under knifed" doing the work I did , I do appreciate having suitable fixed blades tho when they are to hand .

That being said , it is a couple of Okapis on my belt and an Opinel and a custom folder in my pockets that ride with me everywhere I go , my martiinis and self made knives ride in my car and pack , but they do not come everywhere , just most places , and when I was younger , I never carried fixed blades at all much when I went bush .
 
I often carry a Buck 112 Ranger for just the uses you describe. I don't feel the least bit uncomfortable. About 35 years ago my Dad and I had to hike about 40 miles through some of the most awful terrain in northern Ontario. Swamps, bogs, lakes, black flies. I had my Buck 112 Ranger and he had a Buck 110 Folding Hunter. We didn't feel the least bit handicapped. These blades did everything we needed to do to for fire making, fish cleaning, etc. So if you keep your 110 sharp and use it wisely (like every knife) it will serve you well. If you not comfortable with just your 110 by all means get a fixed blade knife. A Buck 119 Special or 105 Path Finder is a good place to start looking.
 
Thanks for the info everyone. I am trying to refine what I carry but it always seems to change. Just trying to find that right mix to take. I like that idea of a folder and a hatchet/ax or a fixed and a folding saw. The folder always seems to find its way back on me though so I guess I may have to give in and carry more!! Things will just get worse when I start ordering my customs that I want;-)
 
Diamond Dog said:
Thanks for the info everyone. I am trying to refine what I carry but it always seems to change. Just trying to find that right mix to take. I like that idea of a folder and a hatchet/ax or a fixed and a folding saw. The folder always seems to find its way back on me though so I guess I may have to give in and carry more!! Things will just get worse when I start ordering my customs that I want;-)
Click to expand...

If you went to the same places and did the same things only , over and over , you would be able to narrow down your requirements pretty good

but if you insist on going to new places and doing different things , its kinda natural that your needs will vary each time ...

Im still trying to figure out the perfect combo that will suit everything , but havent got it , I settle more for adapting my use of what I have to the environment I find myself in ... its just easier for me that way .
 
The thing about knives is complex. What happens is one hears stories of survival or one might have been in a situation where a knife made the difference, then knives are so damn awesome beautiful that you can't stop thinking of them. Plus there is a little wannabe adventurer in all of us even if we go on adventures ourselves, you can't go on enough. When I am not able to go one I shop for knives and dream.

Stories of adventure+experience+Awesome designs+sharp edges+more adventures+need for security-money=Knife addiction


Seriously, you sound like an experienced woodsman, a folder would do fine 99%. I just plan for that 1% chance that I would need a solid survival tool.
 
I really like fixed blades,any time I think I might need a rugged,easy to clean knife I carry one.But like others have said,knowing the limits of the tool you have with you and using it accordingly is just as important as the tool it's self.For most short hikes or over night trips Im pretty comfortable with a buck 110 or a sak,as long as it has a saw!I can dress a deer shave up some fuzz sticks just fine with a sak,but I do still like a fixed blade:D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top