Good Philmont blade

I just picked up a Leatherman Skeletool and that may be just the ticket. It is very light and does not have a bunch of unnecesary tools on it. Pliers, screw driver phillips and flathead, and a locking knife blade. I would not hesitate to carry a Vic Farmer. I do not understand the hostility of the BSA towards fixed blades because I think a RAT Cutlery RC 3 would be perfect in this situation. Whatever you choose have a safe trip and tell us how it goes.
 
Wave, etc. is way too heavy. Here's what I took: a Leatherman Squirt P4 and a Spyderco Delica 3 (the previous version, lighter than the current version 4). The Delica was never used, but the Squirt with pliers saved the trip for one of our scouts when we were able to improvise some repairs when his pack broke! We could not have done it without the pliers, small as they are. The P4 weighs something like 2 ounces...very worthwhile.
 
I carried a Boy Scout folder when I went. :D Granted, this was in '76. I never needed anything more.

Come to think about it, I worked camp staff for 8 years with that knife.
 
...and I do believe I will be using my newly acquired Vic Farmer. ;)

:thumbup:
 
Congratulations on your opportunity, Philmont is an awesome trek. When I went, I had a BM AFCK which I found to be more than enough knife for the job. A good SAK will do everything you need it to. Enjoy the trip and stay dry.
 
I'm jealous! I made the trip as a Scout in the early 70's and once again as a photographer for BSA in the late 90's and hold both trips near to my heart. Branding boots at Beaubien as a Scout and sneaking away for some fly fishing as an adult. Good times!

In a nod to the tradition and history of the place, I'd have to recommend an amber bone Case mini-coperlock. Beautiful knife... and it locks! Although, I have to agree that a ban on non-locking blades and fixed blades is overprotective to say the least.

So, carry your coperlock and throw a small SAK in your pack. You'll probably loose one anyway which will only give you an excuse to buy another just like many years later (in your old age) that will instantly remind you of the great times you had at Philmont.

For me, God willing, it should only be a few more years until I have the opportunity to hike those trails with my own son. Talk about coming full circle! I can't wait.
 
Spyderco Endura. Great knife, can do it all, and won't make you want to cry if it disappears or is lost.
 
Ah, yes........the BSA. The original fixed blade fearmongers...lol. I didn't really notice it when I was in, but as I am now a knifemaker and wanted to make a nice W2 hunter for my son to take to Philmont this summer, I read the Scout Manual. They have had a little pearl of wisdom in there about how a cheapo non-locking folder ( the Boy Scout knife) is infinitely safer and more useful than a fixed blade in the woods. What poppycock. And the Soviets were always worried that the BSA was a paramilitary organization like the Hitelr Youth that could be called up in the event of war...LMAO:D My response is the one I always use regarding the fixed vs. folder debate. Any knife that intentionally breaks in half in the middle is a compromise;)
 
the problem with fixed blades is the sheaths....most sheaths are not secure enough. Even a deep pouch sheath...


A folded up SAK has ZERO chance of coming open on you...ever.


A fixed blade...does not have this "zero chance"...


Now....leather (and kydex) sheaths can be made so that the blade is "locked in"....but you gotta admit...that is not the norm for most fixed blades out there. So, the BSA would have to say "we'll allow these sheaths but not these others...." which leads to a large debate about what's allowable...and a lot of questioning.

Instead, they just have a blanket rule cautioning against using them (and in some places, prohibiting their use).

I don't agree with it...but I can see the reasoning. *shrug*



Dan
 
Daniel Koster said:
the problem with fixed blades is the sheaths....most sheaths are not secure enough. Even a deep pouch sheath...


A folded up SAK has ZERO chance of coming open on you...ever.


A fixed blade...does not have this "zero chance"...


Now....leather (and kydex) sheaths can be made so that the blade is "locked in"....but you gotta admit...that is not the norm for most fixed blades out there. So, the BSA would have to say "we'll allow these sheaths but not these others...." which leads to a large debate about what's allowable...and a lot of questioning.

Instead, they just have a blanket rule cautioning against using them (and in some places, prohibiting their use).

I don't agree with it...but I can see the reasoning. *shrug*



Dan
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In the same line of reasoning, a fixed blade has ZERO chance of closing up on you.

It is a faulty line of reasoning for reaching such a decision.
 
As a scout around 1979 or so I wore a Case fixed blade hunter with a 6" blade in a leather sheath as part of my scout uniform. This was perfectly fine at the time. Some other scouts in my troop wore Kbars. However, I remember my scout master expressing a preference for folding knives as safer to carry, based on an accident some scout supposedly had where the knife went through the sheath and into his leg. It just wasn't policy yet to restrict FBs.

In any event, I think the BSA is in a good position to know what does and does not work for a very large and diverse group of young boys in terms of safety and necessary rules. Despite that particular rule, they do still encourage knife ownership and use and also formally teach correct and safe usage along with hatchet, axe and saw use. They are the only organizatin that I can think of that is so pro-knife (other than an industry group). Overall, we have to give them a thumbs up.
 
I am going on a Cub Scout camping trip next weekend. As I've seen no regulations for Camp Sydney Dew regarding knives, I'll take my SAK Farmer or GAK OHT & my Mora 2000 in a On/Scene Tactical kydex sheath. The folder will be on my belt or in my pocket, & the fixed blade in my pack till I verify with the people running the camp.
 
Lurker = Yes, I agree. The BSA is definitely pro-knife. For my crew...the boys can carry whatever they want...as long as I get to see it first. :D


CaptInsano - yes a fixed blade can't fold up on you....but a folded blade cannot fall out of its sheath and end up going through part of your body. :eek:

Their mentality = a cut finger is much better than a stab wound

Like I said...I can see things their way....but don't agree 100% with it.


Properly trained scouts with good knives and good sheaths = safer/better than an SAK.


another thing to consider:

Today's parents are also less forgiving of their sons getting accidentally cut while out scouting.



Dan
 
OT, but knife and Philmont related, for anyone headed out here to Philmont in '08:

Raton, New Mexico has a small private Scouting Museum on First Street, about two blocks south of the Amtrak station. My humble collection of Schrade-USA Old Timer knives is on display there, for a second year.
 
IMO, a quality scout knife or SAK would more than prepare anyone going on the Philmont trek.
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Absolutely!

Carrying more stuff than necessary does not make someone "more" prepared. You either have a suitable pocketknife or you don't.

--------------------------

Just a note regarding the BSA and fixed blades: I discussed this with a long-time Scouter who remembers when fixed blades were allowed, and why they became disallowed. Apparently the problem was boys throwing the knives into trees, carrying larger and larger knives to show off, and playing knife "games" like mumblypeg (I don't actually know what that is).

Like so many other issues, it only takes a few irresponsible jerks to ruin it for everyone...
 
yes...and it would happen again if the rule was reinstated nowadays...:(

...but with more fantasy knives amongst today's youth...:foot:



mumblypeg...stick it in the ground tip first...w/o hitting your (or your buddy's) feet. :D
 
mumblypeg...stick it in the ground tip first...w/o hitting your (or your buddy's) feet.
Click to expand...
Hit your buddy's foot and you lose? So the person who 'wins' has a knife stuck in their foot?!? Screw that!

No wonder their knives were taken away...
 
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