Knives necessary in the outdoors?

When I get up and get dressed in the morning, one of my SAK's goes in my pocket. Whatever I do that day, be it hiking. camping, working out at the farmstead, the Sak will be with me and will get used several times a day. 90 perecent of the time, I could get by withoput it but not as well as I get by with it. I will say that I seldom use anything other that the SAK unless hunting or fishing.
 
I've gone on hikes where I didn't use a jacket, I've gone on hikes where I didn't need a hatchet, I've gone on hikes where I didn't see people for a couple of days and I suppose I could have been walking with no clothes on. I've gone on hikes where I didn't use a tent and I've gone on hikes (day) where I didn't use my knife. But I always carry my knife in my pocket. But here's the deal- if you don't want to carry your knife that's your choice. OK with me.
 
Focusing specifically on hiking, it really depends on how you hike. Do you just stay on the trail and camp overnight at designated sites? If so, you really don't need a knife. If you plan to do any bushcraft tasks or practice any skills, sure, a knife makes sense.

I think you bring up a valid point about need and reality, but I would also counter that a knife is just a tool that can make some tasks easier and if you have that tool, you are more efficient on tasks requiring a sharp edge.

I've used a blade to set up my campfire stove hanger; needed some extra ground stakes, so the knife was used to sharpen them. My do was wrapped up in sticker vines and the small scissors of my SAK Outrider made removal much easier.

Your activities will really dictate if you truly "need" a knife...most people don't and most activities don't require a blade. Some of those ultra-light backpackers can get by with a SAK Classic, but again, they travel on trails, camp in pre-designated areas and focus on getting from point A to point B while focusing on distance and sometimes photography. Having a knife isn't a necessity for them.

I would consider a knife like a spare tire when on trips where they really aren't needed. It's good insurance, even giving one a little mental confidence with regards to preparation and even though it may not be needed it's better to "have and not need, than need and not have". Yeah, quite cliche, but just born out of my own life's experiences.

The same concept goes with the compass and map. Why do you need them if you're hiking an established trail route? I've been outdoors and used my compass less than my knife, why do I still bring it? It's a basic essential and good insurance if a situation doesn't arise where you just so happen to leave the trail too far and get a little disoriented.

I treat day hikes just like do life. Comfort and avoiding bad situations are mitigated more by an alert mind, good attitude and always being prepared. A knife for me is that daily part of preparing for something that may never occur, but you never know what a simple day hike may turn into...most tragic deaths happened to day hikers not being prepared. Your own level of experience, skill and judgment dictates what you personal can do with or without.

ROCK6
 
I think my original post was in line with the question, although vague.

To wit:
Cpl Punishment said:
Wow.

I have no idea how many times a day I use a knife, much less when I'm outdoors..
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So yes, I think it's needed when hiking.

Why? Because I do things differently.

See, a lot of us do things with our knives that means we don't have to carry all the extra clothing and gear to keep us safe without being able to make that emergency fire or shelter.

Offtrail hiking you are a lot safer from other people, as criminals are generally too lazy to try to beat bush to find someone to ambush, and rather stay on marked, cleared trails, often near prepared shelters or outhouses. There are, however, feral animals to be dealt with.

Oh and guys, let's not be sexist here, men are in as much danger of scumbags on the trail as women. It's just that they (usually) kill us instead of raping us first, but that's not a given.

But what the hell do I know? Most people are real polite when they see this in hand:
Mosin003s.jpg


Also having a kukri/machete at your side or a tomahawk in hand goes a long way toward politeness. . .
 
I pretty much agree with everything in the OP. I did react a bit to the thread title but qualified it in my opening statement.

The knife being a tool is like all tools, it's great to have my table saw, band saw, miter saw, back saw, crosscut saw and each in it's strength can save me much time in a project, I can, within limits of sanity, produce similar results with the blade of my SAK Forrester. Tools are like that, the more skill the craftsman the less he can get buy with. Bushcraft is the same. In the spirit of the OP I would be well served with just the SAK in my pocket for almost all excursions into the woods or swamps in my case.
 
So beef, are you contemplating going knifeless on your next trek? I know you said you typically bring several knives on a hike. And I didn't get the impression you were advocating for not carrying a knife. (You mentioned that even when "death marching" you carry a Mora. :eek:) But I'd be curious to get your impressions of a week long trip without a knife.

I know it can be done. I just think I'd feel uncomfortable doing so. Will you try it?
 
Man are you preaching to the wrong crowd.:D
We have shower knives, church knives, Christmas knives, diving knives, neck knives, boot knives, bushcraft knives, wedding knives......shall I go on ?:p
I use my knife at least 10 times a day. The machete even more
 
I don't go anywhere without a knife; even just walking around the house. Knives are so multi-functionial, why wouldn't you want to have one with you? :confused:
 
wait a minute, a SAK, no matter how diminutive, is still a knife :D

my knife for many multi day trips used to consist of a SAK classic- at 0.7 oz it definitely was 0.7 oz packed full of usefulness :) last year I went to a wood burning stove and replaced the SAK w/ a small fixed blade- added a few more oz, but that was easily offset by the savings in fuel weight

the other consideration was if I became separated from my pack, while the SAK certainly would still be useful (it was always tethered and carried in my pocket), the small fixed blade (carried as a necker) would be even more useful
 
I guess I'm feeding the troll.
Heres a guy who went on a hike, http://hike.mountainzone.com/2003/news/html/030502_amputate-arm.html whom I'm sure is glad he had his pocket knife. I know you stated that you carry an sak, but I'm sure this guy would have liked a larger fixed blade, than slowly and painfully cutting his arm off with a pocket knife.
There are many uses for a fixed blade, or large folder knife. Just because you have never had to use it in the past, does not mean that you'll never have to use it in the future.
Why do some people carry a gas can in the car. There are gas stations everywhere, they have a gas gauge....because they prepare for unforeseen circumstances.
 
I really don't think that the OP was trolling, his view of not needing a knife is sound, just not in tune with the majority of this forum. Its not much different then my choice not to drive a car any more. I live a block and a half from work, the grocery store is right beside my work, and the bank is a whopping 30 minute walk away. Winnipeg is not a large city and if need be I can walk from one end to the other without a problem. If the weather is bad or I am feeling lazy there is a decent bus system I can use. Yet other people can't even begin to think of what it would be like to not have a car.

Not having a knife would make things harder, but not impossible. Fire wood? gather smaller pieces you can break with your hands, tent pegs? they can be sharpened on a rock or even another piece of wood. The list goes on, man was surviving without knives for a long time, its just that things were harder and took longer to do. As for me I will take a knife with me every time, guess I am lazy:p
 
unky_gumbi said:
I really don't think that the OP was trolling, his view of not needing a knife is sound, just not in tune with the majority of this forum. Its not much different then my choice not to drive a car any more. I live a block and a half from work, the grocery store is right beside my work, and the bank is a whopping 30 minute walk away. Winnipeg is not a large city and if need be I can walk from one end to the other without a problem. If the weather is bad or I am feeling lazy there is a decent bus system I can use. Yet other people can't even begin to think of what it would be like to not have a car.

Not having a knife would make things harder, but not impossible. Fire wood? gather smaller pieces you can break with your hands, tent pegs? they can be sharpened on a rock or even another piece of wood. The list goes on, man was surviving without knives for a long time, its just that things were harder and took longer to do. As for me I will take a knife with me every time, guess I am lazy:p
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Sorry, unky, but I have to take exception to this. I don't think there has ever been a time since the stone age when man has been without knives. Knives were one of man's first, and arguably most important, tools. The very term "stone age" comes from man's use of tools — especially blades — made from stone, just as the terms "bronze age" or "iron age" are defined by man's use of tools — especially blades — made from those materials.

Man has never, throughout human history, gone without a knife. Yes, there are those now who question why anyone would carry a knife, but that's a recent thing, not ancient.

Being a dinosaur myself, I can't fathom a man not having a knife on him, but that's just me. There's been a knife in my pocket, or on my belt — or both — virtually every day for almost sixty years... just like all generations before me throughout history have carried knives on a daily basis.
 
Scenario 1. Your stove's fuel tank leaks and all the sudden you have no source of heat to make your tea and you freeze to death with a broken leg.
Scenario 2. You break your leg and the two people you tell about your day hike decide to put it in the back of their minds because it really isn't on their top priority of things to do today. They check your facebook 8 days later and realize, hmm, I wonder why beef hasn't been online today. Oh shit...
Scenario 3. You get bitten by a rattlesnake but by the time you start to suck the venom out the bite holes have already closed. Venom courses freely through your veins and begins wreaking havoc with your nervous system. Autoimmune reaction causes massive swelling and you are completely unable to do anything for yourself. 2 days later when you're supposed to be home and you're not because you froze to death on the trail after being incapacitated by snakebite.
There are uncountable numbers of things that can go wrong. The question is do you have the brain, the willpower and the gear to overcome it? In the hills I hike 7 days a week, mountain lions kill horses and livestock on a daily basis. Wolves whipe out herds of sheep for sport and leave their corpses to rot. Rattlesnakes bask in the middle of the trail because it's the warmest spot and if you don't drink 3 liters of water an hour you will succomb to the high desert dryness and sun exposure. I can't afford NOT to pack a knife and a .357 magnum. Sure if you want to hike established trails in overpopulated, protected state parks so that you can look at the same squirrels everyone else sees while all the real wildlife is scared farther back in the woods because of the ammount of noise Yuppie John and Yuppie Jane make, have at it. I take pictures of bighorn sheep, owls, foxes, elk, moose and golden eagles for fun and you aren't going to find those animals chilling out on established trails. I don't backpack to feel good about myself taking society to the woods. I backpack to get away from society and be secluded in the woods.
 
Not to mention, there's a huge difference between packing a titanium kitchen with you on a backpacking trip and packing a hand axe and a knife. There's something about a fire, and woodworking, and bushcrafting and being down to earth that does alot more for your soul than cranking up a propane stove and boiling water to make dinner that you eat with your REI tiware spork...
 
Guess I wasn't clear in my statement, I should have said metal knives, so no need to take exception:thumbup:
I am one of those people that has to have a knife on them at all times while dressed. If I don't have a knife on my person I might as well be walking around with my fly down and junk hanging out, not having it there is just as wrong. My knife is part of my wardrobe.
 
unky_gumbi said:
Guess I wasn't clear in my statement, I should have said metal knives, so no need to take exception:thumbup:
I am one of those people that has to have a knife on them at all times while dressed. If I don't have a knife on my person I might as well be walking around with my fly down and junk hanging out, not having it there is just as wrong. My knife is part of my wardrobe.
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It wasn't meant as a put down, unky, just pointing out what I considered an inaccuracy:D

If early man hadn't learned to knap stone into blades, he might not have lived to make it to the metal ages. The history of man using blades knapped from stone is far older than man's use of metal. I know: I was there (okay, maybe I'm not quite that old, it just seems like it some mornings).:D
 
PayetteRucker said:
Not to mention, there's a huge difference between packing a titanium kitchen with you on a backpacking trip and packing a hand axe and a knife. There's something about a fire, and woodworking, and bushcrafting and being down to earth that does alot more for your soul than cranking up a propane stove and boiling water to make dinner that you eat with your REI tiware spork...
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I think the OP covered this by limiting his question to just hiking.

Fact is, this isn't much of a hiking site. Even when people here "just hike", they practice primitive skills. It's rare to nonexistent to see pictures of someone's hike where they didn't whittle something, do some primitive fire starting, etc.

Whether it's advisable or not, you can go "just hiking" without a knife.

However, you can't go bushcrafting without at least one knife, 30-40 is better :p
 
Cpl Punishment said:
I think the OP covered this by limiting his question to just hiking.

Fact is, this isn't much of a hiking site. Even when people here "just hike", they practice primitive skills. It's rare to nonexistent to see pictures of someone's hike where they didn't whittle something, do some primitive fire starting, etc.

Whether it's advisable or not, you can go "just hiking" without a knife.

However, you can't go bushcrafting without at least one knife, 30-40 is better :p
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:thumbup:

I have to say though, that some of us can no longer hump 30 - 40 knives, and have to limit ourselves to 8 - 10.

Old age can be such a bummer.:D
 
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