Knives Practical Traveller/Adventurer Uses

B

Banshee

Joined
Oct 13, 2001
Messages
402
Just gotta ask this,

Been watching a couple of those travelling / adventure programs (etc. Trailblazers, National Geographic, Lonely Planets, Destinations)

Notice that when segmets with knives is shown it is almost always Spyderco's knives either Delica, Military or Endura. They were shown opening some kind of fig or pine fruit, cutting tape around the croc's jaws and as flint with a magnesium fire starter and cotton in parraffin.

Seen a couple of shows (etc. Ananconda, The Edge - excellent show, Vertical Limits) featuring Spyderco's and Buck's knives used. My question is how often are other blades used in travel / survival / adventure conditions for the everydays folks. By everyday folks I mean non-knive person. Anybody have done a survey on the avalibility of other brand of knives avalible in camping or sports equipment stores which are the main place a non-knive person will look for an everyday travel multipurposes knife. Also has anybody done a survey on whether the average person with or without a fixed idea on a travelling multipurpose knife will choose if given a choise on equal size (and equal price knives).

Is it more often than not they will choose a Spyderco's or Buck's knives ????

Just curious.

oink....oink...Bob
 
Don't foget the SAK>

I would bet that those three cover >80% of real knife use in the field.
 
Yeah, most of the travelers that I've met up with use the SAK. It's great for travel but I prefer the more robust Wave. I like it's screw drivers better too.
 
I lived in the Czech Republic from 93-98 and knew and worked with lots and lots of internationals from all over the world. I literally did not know one person who carried a knife other than a SAK ... not one.
 
The SAK is the most useful couple of ozs. worth of equipment you can have in the field.

n2s
 
Guys I have to admit the average SAK is the most common, utility, non-menacing knife in the market and most often than not travellers will have one in their backpack, waist pouch & etc..somewhere but what about locking folder. No bet that shows like Macgyver and Boyscout troupers etc. provide the average SAK with countless of free publicity.

My point is with all the various new knives in the market like CRKT (value foe money), Sebenza (workmanship quality), Benchmade (great locking mechanism), Microtech (radical new blade shape), Schrade, CASE & Gerber (common) and MOD (strong & robust)why are everyday people are more prone to use the Spyderco & Buck knives for travelling, wilderness utility and adventure backup blade. Is it because of the marketing, hypes, tradisional, first to introduce pocket clips & one-hander, word of mouth, quality, avalibility or value for money ????

Oink....oink...Bob
 
I would imagine that these folks carry a Spyderco or Buck because they're not only great values, they're cheap and easy to replace. I know I'd about keel over if I dropped my Sebenza down a well in some third world country. Wouldn't even blink if I lost the Delica the same way. There's probably a store around the corner that carries them -- even in someplace with 14 consonants in the name.

Chad
 
Facts be known, I'm relatively sure most people don't know any better of even care about premium steels/blades. I tend to believe most people go to the local gunshop or WalMart and select anything that looks like it would fit their needs and budget.

In my area, WalMart stocks the largest supply of knives anywhere. There is but one local gunshop that stocks a very few "premium" production knives - those being Spyderco and Benchmade. To see anyone sporting a Spyderco, Benchmade, or other of the "better" production knives is rare to say the least.

During the hunting season, I pay particular attention to what I see other hunters carrying for bladewear. (Take note I live near the Camillus, Case, and KaBar plants) I seldom see another hunter carrying a fixed blade, and when I do, it's usually a Buck 119 or a Case Finn. Most of the hunters / trappers / fishermen I see are carrying a Buck 110 or one of it's knockoffs by Camillus, Case, or Schrade.

Now we have to take note, those 110's and knockoff knives by Camillus, Case, and Schrade are dam* good knives. Subsequently, the hunter (and maybe even his family and friends) see the great performance from that decent blade. When they need a new one or replacement or additional knife - they go buy the latest offering from the company thats serviced them so well for so long.

Facts be told, even I rely primarily on my Buck 102 Woodsman and Victorinox SAK for 99% of my cutting chores.

Mike
 
Another vote for SAK - have just about never met travelers - and here am refereing to us backpackers/ budget travelers - who carried anything but. It is the one blade you can comfortably carry and use openly just about anywhere.

A bit OTT: are SAK's still available in duty free shops? They are gone in American duty free's since 9-11, but has anyone noticed if they are still available in other countries?
 
You just can't be without a SAK (hee hee).
In addition to it I would add a locking folder of some sort.
 
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