Knife recommendation for niece to take on Appalachian Trail?

A Swiss Army Knife might be another way to go.

Chose a knife that has the kind of tools that might come in useful on the trail; scissors, saw, can opener etc. If a lock is needed there are ones that have liner lockers.

The Ranger 55 seems very good, but has no scissors. Could always carry a classic as back up.

My personal favourite is the Alox Farmer, doesn't lock and has no scissors, why not team it up with some folding scissors?.

hth, John
 
I note that the Kershaw is available in several colors including orange and pink for high visibility. But it is a short knife, if that is not a problem (reaching the bottom of a peanutbutter jar, etc.). Buck and Schrade also have made knives in this same class with Zytel handles. The Schrades (SP3 Firebird) were discontinued in '04 but there are plenty still available on the market. Buck is making several variants right now. I don't see any of them having an advantage over the other and, as a non-knife person, I doubt that she can tell the difference in the steels.
 
I'm fairly confident the DWO is 8CR13MOV not AUS6A. Might want to check that. SAK - Victorinox Bantam. About the same price at the same place. I think the blade has better geometry for food prep and it has a tin opener. Kick up to the Waiter if you want a bottle opener too. Rough Rider Sow Belly Stockman in Old Yellow if you want three blades in a rather pretty little package. The smallest blade isn't too shoddy for peeling spuds, larger utility blade for utility I guess, and we can hope she doesn't need the third. Opinels are usually a happy choice and non offensive. I prefer the others I mentioned but an Opinel at 62 RC with the geometry they have and that handle shape will out cut them. Dirt cheap too.
 
Well unless she specifically wants a folder, I'd say a Mora Companion would be the way to go
 
Victorinox swiss army knife is my first suggest for all around utility. She will need to learn how to sharpen a knife eventually.
For a defensive knife, Spyderco Delica.
Fixed blade... one of the Mora's, SOG Field Pup, or an ESEE-3 if she wants something stouter.
 
A SAK Huntsman has everything you need for backpacking, from two simple blades, can and bottle openinrs, a good saw, pot holder, and a decent sized scissors
This is what I carry

Tie a long bright cord on the ring of the knife so it can be easily seen
 
My .02....Vic. SAK Hiker or Farmer & a Pink IZULA ! Oh and a good can of Mace...for the 2 leg predators roaming the trial !
 
I know you seem to be looking for a folder but my wife loves the Becker BK14. It can be had for just over $30 and is lightweight for hiking.
 
Whatever small, easy to open single blade folder, and a Victorinox Classic for scissors, nail file, and tweezers(for nail maintenance and minor first aid).
I'd take my Delica and Classic, personally. Maybe a spare Classic in the first aid kit.
 
What about something lie a Juice Cs(x) from Leatherman? It's got all the tools (knife, pliers, scissors, screwdriver) that she might need.
 
I noticed you said shes not a knife or gear person
So why not get a Mora, some sort of multi tool like
A sac,leatherman etc and a Altoids survival kit That
You make and send her ... Tell her to toss all three
In her backpack,purse whatever she takes hiking
And she'll be pretty much cover for a day hike and
Maybe an over nighter ! All this should cost less then
$30 bucks and will be there if she needs it !

Frank
 
Just tossing in a couple generalizations. she'll probably carry nail clippers, and tweezers anyway. (you could find out for sure, high quality tweezers like sliver-grippers are better than SAK ones)
I would think that an opinel #6 should cover pretty much anything, and the inox versions are supposed to be alright. the added bonus is a piece of sandpaper will help her keep it sharp. And they are cheap.
As good as an izula is, the steel does need some maintenance, and is considerably heavier.
I'm guessing that if everyone else who does the AT doesn't carry much, I'd suspect that either there is not much its needed for, or not much to do in general. I've been places where there is not a single stick left to be reached or cut that could be done with less than a 28 inch McCullough.
I know we all like to carry everything for every eventuality, but the AT is pretty well traveled, it's not like she'd going to be bushwhacking through the amazon jungle.
I think heavier gear will get left behind after a few trips.
I'm just thinking of the best single solution I can come up with, given what little I know of the long distance hiker mentality. I personally love all the SAKs and multitools, but they all have huge disadvantages for the task at hand.
 
Thrifty Joe

All my four Girls carry a SAK with a cork screw when they go on picnics, to the Army, or overnight camping with their Youth Group
All of them know how to make fires and their SAKs work well for them

The Huntsman is a great picnic knife and all the extras for camping
A modest knife that is quite friendly to use
I use most of the gadets for something on a trip

Your niece certainly will not carry a folding saw
 
any knife will do for camping. she just need something to cut things with. i carried SAK spartan, spyderco rescue and others before.. but now i only carry kershaw skyline. lighter the better. now days with ultra light camping, lot of tools are not really needed. no one carries bottle or can with them.

pete
 
Along with the OP's mentioned Kershaw DWO, and my mentioned Schrade SP3 and the Bucklite, I'll present another, the Gerber LST. IIRC, that is the one the others mostly copied. All of them are extremely light weight, are available in various colors (and blade lengths) and most can be attached to a lanyard for safekeeping. Regardless of steel, if she isn't going to be butchering animals, crafting wooden utensils, chopping firewood... these knives will stay sharp a long time for an occasional user. It would take a lot of string cutting, freeze dried meal opening, fingernail cleaning, peanut butter spreading to dull one. And they can all be found cheap new in the box. Sometimes, for some people, the simplist knife is the best.
 
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