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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.
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Help me choose a good camping/hiking FOLDING knife
- Thread starter jefroman
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lambertiana
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A custom buck 110 with BG-42 blade would be close to the top of my list (actually, it is). Good solid knife with excellent steel. Not as flashy as some of the tacticals favored on these forums, but for a user knife its utilitarian value would be hard to beat.
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Jeff, the 110 is a great choice! Another is the Gerber Gator (full sized). Similar in price, it won't fail you in a pinch. Let us know what you decide.
Richard
BOUNCED EMAIL: I need to update my email address in my profile!
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Sounds like you have pretty much decided on a Buck 110. In my opinion you have made a wonderful choice. The 110 is a proven work horse, and its also just a nice knife to own. The customized version you are considering should serve you well.
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In the same size range as the 110 but at a fraction of the weight, consider a Spyderco Endura lightweight.
I have a plain-edge Endura - what a great knife! Great for camping, hiking, defense/peace of mind, simple utility, etc. Im kind of a traditionalist at heart, so for me the benchmark of quality, affordability (which is important to me), and ruggedness, has always been the venerable Buck 110. That knife is a rock and certainly has been carried for work/hunting/hiking/combat, etc. as much or more than any folder. In other words, lads, I like it. HOWEVER, once you hold an Endura, theres no looking back. The Endura weighs a scant 2.9 oz., the 110 weighs a whopping 8. The Endura's blade is 3 and 15/16", while the 110's is 3 and 12/16". I can carry the Endura down in my pocket, in a sheath or, naturally, clipped anywhere I can think of (jeans pocket, shirt pocket, waist band, on my pack-strap, on my truck's sunshade, on my boot, etc.). With the 110, I can lug it around in a belt sheath or in my pocket, but Id better cinch up the old belt extra tight, 'cause those are 8 heavy ounces of knife. The Endura comes in ATS-55 steel, while to get top-of-the-line steel on a 110, you have to go the more-expensive Pete's Custom Shop route. And the Endura passes one of my most-important tests for a camping/hiking blade: Can it spread peanut butter easily?
I have a plain-edge Endura - what a great knife! Great for camping, hiking, defense/peace of mind, simple utility, etc. Im kind of a traditionalist at heart, so for me the benchmark of quality, affordability (which is important to me), and ruggedness, has always been the venerable Buck 110. That knife is a rock and certainly has been carried for work/hunting/hiking/combat, etc. as much or more than any folder. In other words, lads, I like it. HOWEVER, once you hold an Endura, theres no looking back. The Endura weighs a scant 2.9 oz., the 110 weighs a whopping 8. The Endura's blade is 3 and 15/16", while the 110's is 3 and 12/16". I can carry the Endura down in my pocket, in a sheath or, naturally, clipped anywhere I can think of (jeans pocket, shirt pocket, waist band, on my pack-strap, on my truck's sunshade, on my boot, etc.). With the 110, I can lug it around in a belt sheath or in my pocket, but Id better cinch up the old belt extra tight, 'cause those are 8 heavy ounces of knife. The Endura comes in ATS-55 steel, while to get top-of-the-line steel on a 110, you have to go the more-expensive Pete's Custom Shop route. And the Endura passes one of my most-important tests for a camping/hiking blade: Can it spread peanut butter easily?
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I'll second Paul's comment.
One of the larger locking SAK's makes an excellent choice for a camping folder. I like one with a saw blade too. The Rucksack model is a good one.
One of the larger locking SAK's makes an excellent choice for a camping folder. I like one with a saw blade too. The Rucksack model is a good one.
Although the Buck 110 is a respected knife, it has a very heavy size to weight ratio. If that is ok with you, then you are probably making a good choice. The version you mention will be very attractive, which is important to some, like me, but not to others.
The main drawback of the 110 is that it does not have one-hand operation. That is why my Buck 112 and Buck 500 sit idle in my display case.
I am a shameless proponent of Spyderco knives because they are all one-hand operation, and I am not partial to thumbstuds. I think the main drawback with Spyderco knives is that they tend to achieve "beauty" through design rather than through materials. So they don't offer much in the way of traditional materials like the Buck. That is why the Chinook, Wegner or Military probably would not satisfy your overall interests, although it would likely satisfy your needs.
If you are set on a nice-looking folder with beautiful materials, in that price range, I don't think anyone can really compete with the Buck.
The main drawback of the 110 is that it does not have one-hand operation. That is why my Buck 112 and Buck 500 sit idle in my display case.
I am a shameless proponent of Spyderco knives because they are all one-hand operation, and I am not partial to thumbstuds. I think the main drawback with Spyderco knives is that they tend to achieve "beauty" through design rather than through materials. So they don't offer much in the way of traditional materials like the Buck. That is why the Chinook, Wegner or Military probably would not satisfy your overall interests, although it would likely satisfy your needs.
If you are set on a nice-looking folder with beautiful materials, in that price range, I don't think anyone can really compete with the Buck.
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While I love BG42, I think the Buck 110 is way too heavy and bulky. My vote is for the Victorinox Rucksack. You will have a great knife that holds a good edge(just not as long as BG42)and is easy to resharpen. And, the saw on the Victorinox is wickedly sharp. On top of all that, you will only be out a max of $30. That's about a fourth of what that custom Buck 110 will cost you.
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The Buck 110 in BG-42 would be very nice and suit your needs well.
My two recomendations have already been mentioned above.
The Spyderco Wegner. I cant say enough about this design. Kicks all form of ass. My favorite production knife by far. Rock solid, excellent ergonomics. Do a search and you will find tons of info on this knife.
Al Mar SERE 2000. Another kick ass knife. Here is a review done by Jeff Randall when he used it in the jungle:
http://www.jungletraining.com/almar.htm
A search on the SERE should also yield some results.
What the hell, I will through another recomendation into the mix. The Benchmade 710.
My two recomendations have already been mentioned above.
The Spyderco Wegner. I cant say enough about this design. Kicks all form of ass. My favorite production knife by far. Rock solid, excellent ergonomics. Do a search and you will find tons of info on this knife.
Al Mar SERE 2000. Another kick ass knife. Here is a review done by Jeff Randall when he used it in the jungle:
http://www.jungletraining.com/almar.htm
A search on the SERE should also yield some results.
What the hell, I will through another recomendation into the mix. The Benchmade 710.
glockman99
RIP Dann, you were a good guy.
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The REKAT Carnivour, or the slightly smaller Pioneer II, would be worth taking a look at.
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I suggest the starmate. Somebody called it a "chubby chopper" once, I swear.
-IPR
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I'd back the Wegner all the way.
But, for a bit less money, the Outdoor Edge/EdgeTech Magna is one big, honking, solid, reliable knife that would be ideal for camping/hiking, etc. It comes with FRN handles for a very reasonable price, or with aluminum handles for a bit more. One reviewer, who weighed 190 lbs, braced the edges of the FRN Magna on two bricks set several inches apart. He then stood with one foot on the middle of the knife, with no problems at all. Just imagine how strong the aluminum handled one is. I'm guessing that it weighs a tad less than the Buck 110 also.
I just got my Major something wholesale or another whatever catalogue today. They have some Buck 110s, regular style, with a company name put on the blade somehow -- BASF -- I think. They're selling them for $30. With some sandpaper you could polish the knife and tho you wouldn't have the BG-42, you'd have the basic knife for 1/4 the price you'd have to pay for the fancy steel. No way the fancy one would outlast 4 of the cheaper models.
But, for a bit less money, the Outdoor Edge/EdgeTech Magna is one big, honking, solid, reliable knife that would be ideal for camping/hiking, etc. It comes with FRN handles for a very reasonable price, or with aluminum handles for a bit more. One reviewer, who weighed 190 lbs, braced the edges of the FRN Magna on two bricks set several inches apart. He then stood with one foot on the middle of the knife, with no problems at all. Just imagine how strong the aluminum handled one is. I'm guessing that it weighs a tad less than the Buck 110 also.
I just got my Major something wholesale or another whatever catalogue today. They have some Buck 110s, regular style, with a company name put on the blade somehow -- BASF -- I think. They're selling them for $30. With some sandpaper you could polish the knife and tho you wouldn't have the BG-42, you'd have the basic knife for 1/4 the price you'd have to pay for the fancy steel. No way the fancy one would outlast 4 of the cheaper models.
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The Magna is also an awesome knife for the money.