Folders In The Woods

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Vivi

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I see some people seem to take minigrps and other similar folders with them to the woods, often in conjunction with a SAK or LM and a small fixed blade. I was just wondering why. Whenever I have a folder like that on me, such as my Native or Leek, it's just the knife I was EDCing that day and I was only going to the woods for a few hours so it could handle everything I'd need to do. But a SAK with a saw or a LM wave seems like a much more practical choice if you're going to bring a folder, much more versatile, still have a lock and SAKs are very easy to field sharpen. They usually ship with better cutting profiles too. So my question was why the folder, especially if other knives are coming, and what can you do with it you can't do with a locking SAK / multitool?
 
An EDC is there all the time .Additional knives may be carried as the conditions require. So when I'm cutting brush I take and use my kukri but the EDC is carried regardless...When you put your pants on you put the EDC in the pocket !!
 
I concur with mete my spyderco native is my edc and it is on me before anything else, it is what I think about first when getting dressed and is what I make sure is handy when it is off of me...i.e. sleeping! For me an EDC is an extention of your arm or hand. It is something you don't think about bringing or packing 'cause it is already on you. When a person has time to plan about going hiking or mountaineering say, one has time to think about what to pack and situations that may need another type of tool. Just my .02 anyway.
 
I agree with mete. I always have my EDC kit, which consists of a blade tech prohunter, a vic farmer and a RAT-3. It all goes to the woods when I go because I dont leave the house with out it.
 
I EDC a Kershaw Mini-Cyclone. When I go camping I bring a BK&T 7 and the mini-cyclone. It's a good combo, handles a wide range of tasks and I've never have been wanting for more. If I have the Becker I don't really
need a saw from a Multi-Tool. Also, I've never needed a screwdriver in
the woods (I'm 32 been camping since I was 7). I do keep a Vic SwissTool in the car, since the need for pliars or a screw driver does come up more
often in urban settings.

I like the cyclone because it keeps a great edge, is the most
comfortable folder I own, is tough as nails and has a good blade
profile for just about any cutting task. I like to have a small 3-4"
stainless blade for basic cutting needs and food prep. The BK&T 7 does
the dirty work of chopping and batoning for fire prep (if needed).
I've actually have been thinking of replacing the Becker with an axe
because I basically use it mainly for fire prep and the cyclone for
everything else.
 
I might just be one of the few that takes my EDC off when going to the woods.:D I carry a Leatherman P4, Fiskars saw, Howling Rat, and sometimes hatchet going into the woods. But, I DO think it's worthwhile to have a back up (the P4 is more tool than knife) so I'm getting a PSK knife that I'm thinking of wearing around the neck. It's a little stouter than a pocket knife and is there if my Howler ever gets dropped, lost, etc. and if I carried my Wave instead of my P4 I probably wouldn't carry the saw or a backup. Just happens that the Wave is just about the same weight as the P4, Saw, and necker combined. Sucker is one heavy sum.:rolleyes: Splitting the Wave into 3 tools works better in my carry strategy and it's a little more redundancy without any penalty.
 
I just went for a short walk through local woods, never out of sight of houses or a road actually.

I brought a new multitool, knowing I had absolutely no use for it. You know what that's like, a new toy, goes everywhere with you for a while. :) I made a point of putting my Spydie Assist in my pocket, though, because that's what I use chopping off thorns growing over the path or branches hanging down.

Could I have used the Wave for that? Maybe, but I know the Assist can handle some fairly coarse growth, it has a great grip with the finger grooves and the fat handle, and it's easy to clean that big serrated blade.
 
I am with the my EDC goes everywhere with me crowd. And redundancy is a good thing. The more knives the better!:D
 
SAK and LM aren't so great for skinning large game although they're ok (but not ideal) for field dressing.

That's the only thing I can think of why one might want a folder in addition to a SAK or LM. I'll often hike with a folder rather than a SAK or LM just to save weight since I don't get many opportunities to use pliers, screwdrivers, or bottle and can openers in the woods. Sometimes I'll take my alox Farmer model on a hike but that's only because it's got a saw which can come in real handy.
 
A while back SOSAK had the Lumberjack model posted. It was a blade, saw and combo tool, perfect woods combo IMO. Should of grabbed one...
 
I really don't have a small fixed blade yet, I am going to get the mora knife. So, when I pack light and small without a bigger knife on my belt (bushman), I take my EDC= the Kabar dozier folding hunting, and the SAK trekker. Why two folders? Because you can't open the trekker with ONE Hand, and it has a pocket clip. And I like the Kabar for gutting animals. I also like the edge profile on the Kabar. It is reground from a hollow grind to a flat grind at 20 degrees on my Lansky System. It seems to work better for me for woodworking than the edge on the SAK. I probably will regrind the factory edge on the trekker soon. I also like having 2 blades in case one gets dull. But it would take a lot of use for that to happen.

Basically because the Kabar can be opened with one hand. You never know where that feature might come in handy. :) Actually it comes in handy every day.

Later,
Scottman
 
SAKs work well with a little edge work. Really you can reducde their edge angle in half without notice any durability problems (At least that's been the case for me). At the least with my knives I like to round off the shoulder of the edge if I'm feeling to lazy to reprofile at the time.

My comment was mainly geared toward people with a fixed blade as well, but even a SAK + Delica or something seems redundant towards me. That's why I post though, some of you people have shown me some pretty good reason, even if I don't personally live by them.
 
Agreed: the EDC is always there no matter where you are.
I generally have my SAK on me as well for whatever may come up. Between work, and the wife, and the child, something always comes up. (sometimes just the wife wanting to open a beer or wine bottle)
 
Unlike a lot of people here, I have found definitate uses for my multitool.
I use mineto tighten a nut in the canoe seat, fix a binding in your cross country skis, untie a frozen knot in the morning (despite my love for cutting stuff, I don't ever cut my ropes while I"m out).

My gerber pliers and my mini manix comes along for day hikes- extended trips.

If I'm going for more than an overnighter, I usually bring either my gerber hatchet/ sog seal, plus my gerber folding saw.
 
Vivi said:
A while back SOSAK had the Lumberjack model posted. It was a blade, saw and combo tool, perfect woods combo IMO. Should of grabbed one...
Click to expand...
I ordered two of the Alox Lumberjacks, great little knives. Wish i had ordered two more!
:)
 
I EDC a Spyderco Endura. There is always one in my front right or left pocket. If I need a knife that is where I naturally reach. The fact that they are one handed knives with a pocket clip is what appeals to me. If you just need to cut something it is rather a pain to dig out your SAK out of the bottom of your pocket with your keys and everything else and open it for a quick cut. The whole thing is just more economy of motion for me than even a fixed blade because I don't carry one routinely. Now if I am going to get a splinter out or trim a busted nail then I will take the time to get the SAK out because it is a more precise tool.
 
I found that the knife blade on my multitools is the least used implement. Most people don't want to unfold the tool, get the blade and refold it then reverse to put the blade away.
 
Vivi said:
I see some people seem to take minigrps and other similar folders with them to the woods, often in conjunction with a SAK or LM and a small fixed blade. I was just wondering why. Whenever I have a folder like that on me, such as my Native or Leek, it's just the knife I was EDCing that day and I was only going to the woods for a few hours so it could handle everything I'd need to do. But a SAK with a saw or a LM wave seems like a much more practical choice if you're going to bring a folder, much more versatile, still have a lock and SAKs are very easy to field sharpen. They usually ship with better cutting profiles too. So my question was why the folder, especially if other knives are coming, and what can you do with it you can't do with a locking SAK / multitool?
Click to expand...

Why only carry one tool? No one I know who intentionally goes into the bush brings only one knife. I'll always have a multi-tool, like a Leatherman or a SAK, and another blade that does most of the stuff requiring the use of a blade. The 2nd knife usually has a much tougher, larger blade than my multi-tool. I've broken the blade on a SAK before.
 
I'm not trying to imply we should all head out into the bush with nothing but a LM or SAK, it's just when I see photos of peoples gear and see them bring a LM Wave, Mini-Grip, TAK1 and a hatchet, I wonder why they even brought the minigrip. I think the wave itself could do everything the minigrip could, and the small fixed blade takes care of the "quick and easy" side of things. I was just curious as the only folders I ever brought with me when carrying a FB were saks and that was usually for the tools and to have a small precision blade to back up my mora / puukko. Either way it's not me that has to carry the "excess" ounces. :D
 
Vivi said:
I'm not trying to imply we should all head out into the bush with nothing but a LM or SAK, it's just when I see photos of peoples gear and see them bring a LM Wave, Mini-Grip, TAK1 and a hatchet, I wonder why they even brought the minigrip. I think the wave itself could do everything the minigrip could, and the small fixed blade takes care of the "quick and easy" side of things. I was just curious as the only folders I ever brought with me when carrying a FB were saks and that was usually for the tools and to have a small precision blade to back up my mora / puukko. Either way it's not me that has to carry the "excess" ounces. :D
Click to expand...

The multi-tool's main blade is usually not nearly as tough as the main blade on the folder. For example, the 3" blade on my Leatherman Charge is only 3/4" shorter than the blade on my KaBar Mule. However, there is no comparison on toughness.

The frontiersmen on the early American West said that they could often tell a greenhorn by how few knives he carried and by how small his main knife was. Those guys were walking cutlery displays, usually packing on them 2 - 3 knives and often a hatchet or tomahawk.

The multitool is essentially your tool kit for making and repairing things. It's blades are best used for stuff like that, though that serrated sheepsfoot on the Leatherman is awefully handy sometimes. There are many things that a dedicated knife is better for, like cleaning out a fish or dressing out a deer.

As for many carrying both a folder and a fixed blade, that gives you a backup blade and versatility.
 
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