Help me find a great knife for a Missionary friend!

Sproles

Sproles

Joined
Jan 11, 1999
Messages
700
I am helping a friend of mine who is preparing to go to Mozambique for at least 10 years to do missionary work. He and his wife and 2 month old son are going in a team of young couple to live in the rural parts of Mozambique, Africa.

I am wanting to buy/acquire a good quality fixed blade knife and folder for him to have with him while he is confronting all kinds of daily chores that we often do not face here in the States. I am needing some advice on a good quality fixed blade and folder that will hold up, keep an edge and also be sharpened well and are reasonably priced. I told him that I would take care of getting them for him since he is sacrificing for God's work. I need suggestions and/or some assistance from any of our wholesalers/retailers/makers if you could contact me re: some good deals that you might be able to extend to me on behalf of Kyle and Ginger.

This is REALLY not a plea for a free knife or even a discount (mainly) but more for advice on the knife to reccomend for these uses.

Thank you for you help...

David
 
How about a Greco folder and fixed blade?
 
Since they are going to be doing missionary work in a rural part of Mozambique, a machete or cane knife is pretty much the standard fixed blade do-all kinda knife for work over there. I would think Africa has a good supply of those since there a several machete manufacturers there.

Aside from that, there are so many great fixed blade options at reasonable prices these days it's almost mind boggling.
Are they well versed in knife care? If so, a Carbon steel knife from Ka-Bar, Camillus(Becker Knife & Tool), Marble's or even Cold Steel would fill their need rather well.
If not, then a stainless steel blade is really the only option. I would look at the Yari from Gerber, Spyderco's Fred Perrin Collab. or the Temperance are outstanding knives in VG-10. Benchmade has the Nimravus and Nimravus Cub in 154-CM. There are so many to choose from.:eek:
You'll notice the knives I'm suggesting are all in the medium size range. A well made machete can handle most any big knife chores in the right hands. Since they are there long term, they will become well versed in the machete's uses and possibilities soon enough I would think.

Too tired now to tackle the folders but I'm sure you'll be getting plenty of good advice pretty quick.

All the best,
Mike U.
 
I can best answer this by asking myself what I would take.

First off what is the budget? This is 'must-have' information.

Secondly are we limited to just two pieces\knives?

Depending on the above, I would definately consider the following:

Folder:

Swiss Army knife-any model. Guranteed MUST HAVE KNIFE for daily chores and overall usability.

High quality multi-tool. I prefer the SOG Powerlock series, however Leatherman, Gerbers, and Kershaws, look good also.

Benchmade-TSEK\AFCK-either one large or small models available if size is an issue.

Spyderco-Military, Police, Endura, Large Dyad (if found), if large blade is desired. Delica, Calypso Jr. (if found), Native, Dyad Jr., if smaller blade is desired.

Fixed Blade:

First choice? US MILITARY\ONTARIO 18" MACHETE with the 'issue' rubber\plastic sheath. This machete would be my number one pick for a jungle\survival blade. In fact they are so cheap I truly believe I would prefer two of the above combo's over many other fixed blade style knives. Get him this machete, a good folder, a good stone and file and he will easily be set for ten years, barring a loss of blade. Cheap

BUSSE-pick your poison (size!), they are all very highly thought of and rated here and elsewhere as 'the best of the best' for overall heavyduty survival type blades. Expensive

STRIDER-see above. Expensive

Camillus BK&T 9" Bowie, well liked for its performance\cost factor. Under $75.

SOG, BUCK, KABAR, all also make fixed blades I would carry without shame, embarassment or remorse.

There are many other quality knives available, the above is just a small representation of my personal opinion. Don't forget that there are also a few handmade blades that may fit your needs.

Again-my personal preference would be for the above mentioned machete with one of the large Victorinox Swiss Army Knives and good quality sharpening accessories for both.

Hey Sproles-Doesn't Michael Card live in your town? ;)
 
Go with a medium to large Swiss Army Knife, or, one of the many multitools. I would prefer something like a Victorinox Swiss Champ. It is a versatile light weight tool box that doesn't pretend to be a full size tool (I suspect the multitools would be pressed into heavier service and broken quickly).

Fixed Blade: Something with a 4-6 inch blade and micarta handles would be best. Quality Carbon vrs. Stainless steel is a matter of personal preference. The carbon knife will take an edge faster, but also tends to lose it faster to oxidation. Focus instead on getting the package with the best possible sheath. If possible add a replacement sheath or two. I can't think of any sheath material (leather, kydex, nylon/cordura, steel, or plastic) that is likely to survive ten years in a warm tropical environment.

n2s

P.S. don't forget the sharpener. A set of spyderco stones, or a Sharpmaker, would make life a whole lot more pleasant.
 
hi hi
knife is so personal.. just like perfume to women...

suggestions : it greatly based on the skill and experiance of your friend.

In general: a Swiss army knife (with 3 to 4 layer, medium one) or multi tool (wave) as their serve many function.

for folding knife, spydeco or BM won't go wrong.

you want more ? go Busse or Strider

good luck
 
First off,is your friend going to an urban or rural environment? In a city he may not even need a machete.

Anthony Cheeseboro was in Nigeria for a few weeks this summer, and decided his SAK and Leatherman were the most useful:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=215448

Obviously Mozambique is far from Nigeria, but many of the same "third world conditions" will apply.

I strongly agree with SAK or a multitool as the first priority. If he's taking a computer, he might even desperately need a Cybertool someday! You could also give everyone in the family a Photon II and some spare batteries. (Or give them LED lights that take AA batteries, which you can probably find in Mozambique.)

Can we ask what organization are they with?
 
africa....perhaps consider:

(1) swampratknives camp rat - $128.95 as EDC
http://www.swampratknives.com/knives.html
(2) a swiss army knife - like explorer, champ etc - about $50
(3) a 3-4inch fixed blade like Spyderco Bill Moran as EDC for friend's wife - about $60
(4) a sharpening system (must have. a dull knife = no knife) like Sharpmaker - about $50
for eg. at http://www.newgrahamknives.com for items (2) - (4)
Total: $290 Duration: 10 years
Works out to $29 a year or $2.41 a month, for utility, survival, safety and self-defense. I think it's worth it.

Your friend could probably get plenty of machetes and files to sharpen the machetes in Africa for dirt cheap prices, which is why I didn't list out machetes. Otherwise, a machete is the first item I would think to get in any jungle / wilderness utility scenario.

:)
 
for some heavy duty work i suggest Busse and randall. although the randalls are more of a hunting knife, for a heavy duty worker check out Al mar Sere2000, numerous spydercos, BM AFCK
 
Camillus manufactures the BK&T line, which are very durable and inexpensive for big knives. Look at the Patrol Machete and Campanion, for example, or the Magnum Camp. The blades have a very durable coating to reduce corrosion.

On the other hand, when I go visiting, I don't usually arrive with an arsenal of what look like weapons. Be sure they really need them before you send them off with combat/utility-style weed-whackers.

I agree with the Swiss Army or multitool recommendations, but I don't know if they really need any other small folding knives. How about checking out the Swedish Mora knives? Small fixed blades are more durable and easier to clean and maintain, especially if they aren't "knife people".

And you can't beat the price. Missionaries carrying Busse or Strider knives could get mistaken for mercenaries! :) You could outfit their whole party with Moras for the price of some of the knives the guys are recommending. And you won't get anything handier or sharper. The women will be much more comfortable with them.

Spyderco and other V-sharpeners or benchstones are fine, but make sure you get them a basic ceramic rod and maybe a steel -- go to http://eknifeworks.com/webapp/eCommerce/index.html and Search for "Big John Super Stick" and then "Chicago Cutlery 10" Sharpening Steel".
 
Well, I am familiar with Africa...guess where I live? LOL

It really depends where they will be living. If they are going to live inland or at the coast? This will obviously affect the type of steel to utilise. A good Ontario RTAK and an Al Mar SERE 2000 has been tried and tested in jungle environments with high humidity. These are two knives I would highly recommend with a good Swisschamp SAK (The XLT), and/or Leatherman Wave/Supertool.

I wish your friends all the best. Africa is one tough continent. Mozambique is getting better and is being restored to its former glory. Lots of new development and investment is taking place there.
 
Get your friends to contact Buck Knives. They offer seconds and repaired knives to missionaries. Good knives and they wont cost your friends group a thing!

See:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=178233&highlight=missionary

Contact Information

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1900 Weld Blvd.
El Cajon, CA 92020
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Whatever selections end up being made, I'd highly recommend stainless steel in an environment like that. They may not have proper knife care equipment at hand and a rusted edge is not going to be too helpful.

That said, the above suggestions have been good. One or more SAKs should definitely be placed into the mix.

Best of luck to your friends.:)
 
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