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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Good knife for a long road trip
- Thread starter kalisti
- Start date
The map is also incorrect for Louisiana. LA does not forbid blades over 3 inches...but it does forbid carrying, possessing or owning a switchblade. At one time daggers, dirks and Bowie knives were illegal to carry but I think that law has changed. Who can keep up anymore.
The laws in the USA are a hodgepodge of nonsense in many cases. The fact is you will probably be breaking numerous and unenforced laws on many subjects without knowing it or meaning to do so during your travels. Trying to advise someone of a single knife to carry when they will be in so many varied jurisdictions is impossible. My only advise is to simply be prudent and wise and act responsibly with whatever you decide to use. (And don't bring a switchblade to Louisiana.
)
Sounds like a great adventure. Have fun.
The laws in the USA are a hodgepodge of nonsense in many cases. The fact is you will probably be breaking numerous and unenforced laws on many subjects without knowing it or meaning to do so during your travels. Trying to advise someone of a single knife to carry when they will be in so many varied jurisdictions is impossible. My only advise is to simply be prudent and wise and act responsibly with whatever you decide to use. (And don't bring a switchblade to Louisiana.
)Sounds like a great adventure. Have fun.
Like solman, I've done a lot of ~5k mile motorcycle trips which included a lot of camping in semi remote areas.
I've also hunted, fished, canoed, and just generally explored offroad in many remote areas.
When space and weight were a concern, I carried only a 3 inch mini afck 812hs, and a 3 bladed case trapper for backup.
Never used the trapper.
I have a spyderco Gayle Bradley now to replace the 812hs, but it may not be legal in some states, due to its 3.5" blade, according to the above map.
I've also hunted, fished, canoed, and just generally explored offroad in many remote areas.
When space and weight were a concern, I carried only a 3 inch mini afck 812hs, and a 3 bladed case trapper for backup.
Never used the trapper.
I have a spyderco Gayle Bradley now to replace the 812hs, but it may not be legal in some states, due to its 3.5" blade, according to the above map.
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Your trip sounds like a blast. There are some great suggestions here, but the first knife that came to my mind, if for no other reason than nostalgia, was a Buck 110.
Those maps aren't right AT ALL.
Well, that's sad about the maps, but I have a lot of time to figure out the legalities. I try only to break laws I intend to break, so I want to do due diligence.
I appreciate everyone's input and good wishes. I'm pretty much starting from zero with all my gear for this trip, so any and all suggestions are welcome. For instance, I'm sure there must be lots of sharpening kits out there. I have some worn down big old stones here at home, but I'm going to want something small for the road. Any favorites?
I appreciate everyone's input and good wishes. I'm pretty much starting from zero with all my gear for this trip, so any and all suggestions are welcome. For instance, I'm sure there must be lots of sharpening kits out there. I have some worn down big old stones here at home, but I'm going to want something small for the road. Any favorites?
ATwistedStaple
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Your welcome!!! the map is updated to 2013....
When you have any doubt, you can always go to texas, everything it's legal in texas
Not really. Autos were illegal until recently. 5.5" and up is still illegal along with any double edged blades and Bowie knives for whatever reason. You also can't open carry a handgun, even with a license. I don't want to open carry, can't see the point, but for a state where "everyone has a gun in Texas" is the stereotype it seems strange.
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+1 on the Alox Farmer. A mid-sized fixed blade (4-6 inches) would be a good idea as well.
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You make want to look into a small hatchet. They're legal essentially everywhere and make a good complement to a folder for camping and firecraft. Get a lightweight one and it can certainly serve as a fairly formidable self-defense option.
For compact sharpening on the go, it's hard to beat diamond. After all, aren't diamonds supposed to be a girl's best friend?
I carry a Eze-Lap model L with most of the plastic handle cut down so it fits in the zipper part of my wallet, along with my P-38 can opener. The model L will put a nice edge on a knife with a little practice in free hand sharpening techniques.
The most important piece of equipment is going to be the jacket you wear. You're going to live in that jacket all day on the road, in much differing climate and terrain. Don't skimp on the jacket. Aerostich makes some very nice versatile riding jackets and coats. Stay away from leather. It's heavy, not water proof, and not warm. The Aerostich Darian is a great long distance coat. You can skimp on a knife, but don't short yourself on the jacket.
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Cheap and little SOG fasthawk would fit the bill nicely. I keep one in my side saddle and also in my jeep.
A multi tool for unexpected equipment repairs (nuts, bolts, zippers, etc) and a small folder like a Rat 2 or maybe a dozier. Spyderco maybe if you have a higher budget. With a small, unassisted knife, your not likely to have to worry about knife laws, but small enough to discreetly carry and still deploy quickly in the unlikely event you need it.
Have a blast
Have a blast
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Well, the "dot defender" has been having a field day with my posts lately so let's see if this takes on try number 2.
For a sharpener that is small, mobile and effective, I like the diamond DMT Diafold (medium and fine) and/or the Spyderco Double Stuff. The Double Stuff is a two-sided combination ceramic stone, medium/fine. Both are very effective if you follow the cardinal rule of knife sharpening, Never Let The Knife Get Dull. Use them to touch up the knives frequently and you never have to spend a long and frustrating evening trying to return a dull knife to sharp.
For a sharpener that is small, mobile and effective, I like the diamond DMT Diafold (medium and fine) and/or the Spyderco Double Stuff. The Double Stuff is a two-sided combination ceramic stone, medium/fine. Both are very effective if you follow the cardinal rule of knife sharpening, Never Let The Knife Get Dull. Use them to touch up the knives frequently and you never have to spend a long and frustrating evening trying to return a dull knife to sharp.
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I do a fair bit of road travelling, and what I found works best for me is combination of SAK/multitool and a medium fixed blade (or a folder if the trip takes me through urban areas).
Besides complementing your toolkit, the SAK (and most multitools) is pretty much legal anywhere. Even in places where you shouldn't have it, people tend to look at them in a positive light. They are great to use in public, actually come in handy quite often, and are not too expensive.
As a main knife, depending on the kind of trip, I'll go with a medium or small fixed blade (ESEE 3, Fallkniven F1, one of my Moras, BRKT Fox River, etc.) or a sturdy folder usually with a blade about 3.5" (ZT 0550 or 0350, Spyderco Endura or Paramilitary 2, Sebenza or, if I think the trip might be really tough on the knife, a Cold Steel with Tri-Ad lock like an American Lawman).
Usually, I keep the fixed blade in my backpack while going through cities and carry my SAK or multitool as my EDC knife (Leatherman models with clips and one hand opening blades are great for this). I tend to go with a fixed blade over a folder because I do a fair bit of food prep on most of my trips and usually some sort of outdoors activity for which they are better than folders.
If most of my itinerary is in cities, I take a folder instead of the fixed blade. I tend to take something overbuilt since I have this somewhat irrational fear that my folder will break somewhere far away from home where I can't replace it. ZTs are probably my favourite I've taken my 0300 and 0350 on many road trips, now my 0550 is my favourite. They are great knives, but hefty. When I travel for wrestling or muay thai competitions, I take a lighter folder that carries well in tracksuit pants (Paramilitary 2, for example).
As for self defense, any quality knife that you can get to in a hurry will be better than fists. Pepper spray is a good option to have, as is some sort of impact weapon (since you're riding a bike you can keep a tool like a hammer or wrench handy). If you can, and know how to use one, take a gun. Make sure you know the laws for each state you'll travel through (CCW permit reciprocities and so on).
Besides complementing your toolkit, the SAK (and most multitools) is pretty much legal anywhere. Even in places where you shouldn't have it, people tend to look at them in a positive light. They are great to use in public, actually come in handy quite often, and are not too expensive.
As a main knife, depending on the kind of trip, I'll go with a medium or small fixed blade (ESEE 3, Fallkniven F1, one of my Moras, BRKT Fox River, etc.) or a sturdy folder usually with a blade about 3.5" (ZT 0550 or 0350, Spyderco Endura or Paramilitary 2, Sebenza or, if I think the trip might be really tough on the knife, a Cold Steel with Tri-Ad lock like an American Lawman).
Usually, I keep the fixed blade in my backpack while going through cities and carry my SAK or multitool as my EDC knife (Leatherman models with clips and one hand opening blades are great for this). I tend to go with a fixed blade over a folder because I do a fair bit of food prep on most of my trips and usually some sort of outdoors activity for which they are better than folders.
If most of my itinerary is in cities, I take a folder instead of the fixed blade. I tend to take something overbuilt since I have this somewhat irrational fear that my folder will break somewhere far away from home where I can't replace it. ZTs are probably my favourite I've taken my 0300 and 0350 on many road trips, now my 0550 is my favourite. They are great knives, but hefty. When I travel for wrestling or muay thai competitions, I take a lighter folder that carries well in tracksuit pants (Paramilitary 2, for example).
As for self defense, any quality knife that you can get to in a hurry will be better than fists. Pepper spray is a good option to have, as is some sort of impact weapon (since you're riding a bike you can keep a tool like a hammer or wrench handy). If you can, and know how to use one, take a gun. Make sure you know the laws for each state you'll travel through (CCW permit reciprocities and so on).
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Just thought I would throw out the Lansky Turnbox as a sharpening suggestion. The rods fit inside the small wooden block so it doesn't take up too much space.
Your trip sounds like it's going to be awesome. Just mind your surroundings at all times. The world is full of bad people, unfortunately.
Your trip sounds like it's going to be awesome. Just mind your surroundings at all times. The world is full of bad people, unfortunately.
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That graphic is wrong for Florida. You can carry a pocket knife up to under 4 inches in length. Also, you can carry a great deal of other knives as well. I'm guessing this is an old graphic, because the information is right there on their site:
http://www.knifeup.com/florida-knife-laws-explained/
http://www.knifeup.com/florida-knife-laws-explained/
You probably don't want just one knife, but several.
The FIRST knife on my list would be a COLD STEEL Rajah II. A second knife would be a Spartan. Both are ideal bike knives because of their strength and cutting ability. They're also first rate self defense knives, and the latter is very difficult to get out of someone's hand.
Another good choice would be a mid-size SPYDERCO like a Military, Police or Endura. And finally, I'm very fond of the BUCK Alaskan, which is a 110, only with a rich black blade made from S30V steel instead of their blah 420HC. It comes with a nice leather sheath that can easily be worn on the belt.
The FIRST knife on my list would be a COLD STEEL Rajah II. A second knife would be a Spartan. Both are ideal bike knives because of their strength and cutting ability. They're also first rate self defense knives, and the latter is very difficult to get out of someone's hand.
Another good choice would be a mid-size SPYDERCO like a Military, Police or Endura. And finally, I'm very fond of the BUCK Alaskan, which is a 110, only with a rich black blade made from S30V steel instead of their blah 420HC. It comes with a nice leather sheath that can easily be worn on the belt.
