Extreme knife needed .... please help

[clknife]

What do the pro climbers in that area use...did you inquire....

The recommendation I got was to avoid a steel knife if possible ...... I also expect to pay +200 US for the knife. Going on expeditions is very expensive anyway, so saving money on a knife is not really important.

This year I will go to Nepal and next year I want to cross Greenland on ski. For the Greenland trip weight is also important, but not as important as trekking mountains. I am not going alone on either trip.

I also want to be able to attach it to my harness with a cord or similar.

One of my friends saw a mans metal zip on his jacket get stuck to his lips because he turned his head and got his wet lips to touch the zip for 2 seconds at -40 degrees ........ they had to take him inside and defrost the zip. I was told to wrap the the metal handle on my ice axe with gaffatape for the same reason.

Do you think it is possible to coat a steel knife with "something" ?

 

[T.K.C.]

Like someone else mentioned, I would recommend an all titanium knife. Look at Mission's all titanium knives. They ARE most excellent. http://www.missionknives.com/Indexframes.html

 

[Mongo-man]

Spyderco has been to the Everest. i believe a frn handled endura will do every task.

 

[Thomas Linton]

Question: does Ti not get cold? If so, would it not present the same problems (freezing to flesh) as a knife made of steel? Anyone touched Ti at -30F with a bare hand?

It is my impression that indigs in the far north use steel knives, as do more recent inhabitants. I think they simply avoid bare flesh contact when it's real cold.

Non-metallic materials make relatively poor knives.

"Rescue" situations arise when trekking and climbing. When they arise, the cost of mistake is likely FAR higher than at a car wreck in the city due to lack of access to resources. And why is a "pointed" knife required in Greenland?

 

[not2sharp]

I would carry two knives: one within easy reach of either hand, since I may find myself with only one free hand.

n2s

 

[ThreeWorlds]

Recommend away but both of the knives I mentioned are "rock solid" in construction, performance, and reliability. I've used the heck out of both models for camping and general use and they have always come through and will last longer than I will. While CRKT does make a number of knives in AUS-6, both of these are AUS-8A, which makes them quite formittable as good "working" knives. Plus, the mutitude of combinations for attaching the CRKT Hammond ABC and it's other design features make it very practical for this type of use.
Regards

I've handled the CRKT M16 and just as a personal preference, I don't like it. Also, I have to agree with Thomas Linton here and say for the M21 as well as Titanium handled recommendations, clknife did specifically say he/she was worried about steel being cold (I would worry about it being slippery as well), and I think Zytel most likely has the same properties under extreme cold as FRN.

Just my 2 cents, we all have our favorite models. clknife, I also suggest if there is a retailer in your area that you should go and handle those knives there with gloves on (or however you plan to use it) and see which suits you the best.

 

[clknife]

Question: does Ti not get cold? If so, would it not present the same problems (freezing to flesh) as a knife made of steel? Anyone touched Ti at -30F with a bare hand?

It is my impression that indigs in the far north use steel knives, as do more recent inhabitants. I think they simply avoid bare flesh contact when it's real cold.

Non-metallic materials make relatively poor knives.

I am surpriced that this problem has not been solved, what about the idea of covering a steel blade with a thin layer of "non stick something", but leaving the edge of the blade.

If I am going to touch parts of the blade, it will for sure not be the edge of the blade.

 

[not2sharp]

I am surpriced that this problem has not been solved, what about the idea of covering a steel blade with a thin layer of "non stick something", but leaving the edge of the blade.

If I am going to touch parts of the blade, it will for sure not be the edge of the blade.

Whatever you cover the blade with will interfere with its cutting action and may end up faking off where it shouldn't. Why bother? Your bigger problem will be finding that your neat folding knife has frozen solid so that it no longer opens, closes, or locks. Likewise your fixed bladed knife can freeze in its sheath. You may want to carry them close to the body.

n2s

 

[bladeprince]

I am surpriced that this problem has not been solved, what about the idea of covering a steel blade with a thin layer of "non stick something", but leaving the edge of the blade.

If I am going to touch parts of the blade, it will for sure not be the edge of the blade.

First of all, the knife blade has to be steel. I don't understand where you got the idea of using anything else. And yes, there are many knives with different kinds of coatings like Teflon. But I'm starting to wonder how much extreme weather climbing you have done. You're not going to be exposing bare skin to 30 below to use a knife. If there is even the slightest breeze, your flesh will freeze in short order. Ever heard of the 30-30-30 rule? Flesh exposed at 30 below zero, with a wind speed of 30 MPH, will freeze in 30 seconds.

As I posted before, you may be taking your mittens off at that temp but not your gloves. Stop worrying about the blade. The handle is the concern. I recommened 2 good knives that I wouldn't hesitate to take on an expedition like the one you are talking about. One is a large folder you can keep next to your body, if you like, that has a quick opening flipper in case you are wearing gloves or your hands are numb. It has an aluminum handle so replace it with one that is G-10, if you want to. The Spyderco Military comes fully serrated with a G-10 handle. It's a large knife which I think is critical so you can use it with gloves on. Spyderco Manix is also large and with G-10 scales (handle).

The other is a quick access fixed blade for emergancies that can be lashed to your clothing or pack. This is your "go to" knife in an emergancy and you won't need to take your mittens off to get to it (again, don't forget the lanyards).

Using the blade at 30 below means you are not in your shelter and it's an emergancy. Otherwise, you will be in your tent with temperatures at least in the teens. Cook stoves and body heat warm up a tent, even at 30 below. And don't forget a SAK and Leatherman (I like the Wave). Place them close to your body, if needed, before using.


Regards