Knife For a Farmer

But still, my preference was a multi-tool and a small fixed blade. Like I said, thats just me. But if I were working just around i would of just carried my multi-tool.
 
Growing up on a farm in the 50's-60's everybody carried either an oldtimer or a barlow. We didn't know about swiss army knives and leatherman was invented yet. If leatherman's had been around then I sure would have wanted one. I think the choices you ended up making are perfect for the everyday needs and various tasks of farming.
 
justsomedude said:
Interesting info on the heft of the 23. Don't suppose you know how it compares to the Northwoods 44 which I hear is pretty slim?
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I have two Northwoods Madison #44's. Love this knife. It is the same size as the #42 (single blade version). I have the Missouri Trapper version which is a two blade and heavier. Based on my #42 (extrapolating to the single blade version), I'd say the Madison Barlow is probably about the same heft with more rounded edges. The Madison is a beautiful knife and I am quite taken with it.... enough to buy the elephant ivory and the autumn jigged bone. Frankly, I'd like the camel also. (It's a money thing at this point.) The Madison rides in the pocket real nice, but I keep it in a pocket slp to protect it from things like coins and keys.

Looks like you made your decision with the Case. Less expensive certainly.
 
justsomedude said:
This is why I came here, you guys are great!

You're right Pinnah, I was letting my own tastes influence my decision too much.

I got him a Case Sodbuster and McVeyMac has very generously volunteered to donate a Leatherman MT.

I'll try to let y'all know how he likes them!
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I think he'll like them.
 
The main reason I decided to go with something a little less pricey is not because of my budget but because my friend doesn't really like to be given things, he likes to take care of himself. We were very poor roommates once and I know he wouldn't want me spending much on him.

When I tell him about all of your generosity I think he'll be thrilled though!

Thanks again. Double to McVeyMac who kindly offered a donation and represents the best of the best on this fantastic forum.
 
Congrats on getting your friend into knives. After he's had these for a while, he may start to realize that he needs different ones for different tasks.

My own recommendation would have been a small (3" - 5") fixed blade. I prefer Kabars and Beckers. I always carry a couple of folding Bucks (1 in each front pocket) but I have several reasons for preferring fixed blades for farm work, some of them being-

1) easier to deploy and use with gloves
2) easier to put away with gloves
3) faster deployment in an emergency
4) easier to clean farm/ranch gunk off

I personally ALWAYS carry 2 folding and 2 fixed blades when working on the farm; 1 each R and L, because you never know when you will need which type on which side. If your right arm is engaged and you need a knife RIGHT NOW, you gotta have one on the left and vice versa. I know some people would call that overkill, BUT then paranoia is paranoia only if you're wrong. Otherwise it is simply being prepared.
 
Most of the Tobacco, Hog, and Corn/Hay/etc. Farmers I have worked with over the years have carried Case. Of these the majority were carrying CV Yellow, with some using stainless. Large Trappers was probably the one I saw the most.

Note* Many farmers from surrounding counties near where I live came into the city for state jobs to get benefits and retirement. Likewise most of us non farmers had to have second or 3rd jobs to help pay the bills especially when it came time to put kids into college. Just the way it is here. The State jobs are not over paid union positions. In fact I could get fired for talking unions, not even trying to begin one. The same party had controlled both the house and senate since the end of the civil war here until very recently. :)

I did a lot of free knife sharpening and was always curious about the guys that actually used their knives. What they carried and why. That information was all I asked to sharpen their knife.
 
justsomedude said:
This is why I came here, you guys are great!

You're right Pinnah, I was letting my own tastes influence my decision too much.

I got him a Case Sodbuster and McVeyMac has very generously volunteered to donate a Leatherman MT.

I'll try to let y'all know how he likes them!
Click to expand...
That should be a good choice. If he's working with livestock having something with wire cutters is a big plus. Among some of my most heart pounding moments in life , have been freeing horses and steers caught up in wire or barbed wire fencing.
 
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Wow. I guess if the multi-tool is all you have with you, it would work. To me the MT are mostly a pair of pliers with some other tools that you seldom use, hence unless I am working where I need something frequently, I keep a multi-tool in my field bag, but not on my belt. I have one of the old Gerbers and a SOG. The SOG is pretty well made. The Gerber was purchased like 25 years ago.... they were a relatively new thing then.
 
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