Knives you bring when you go on vacation

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BRAVO2ZERO

Joined
Jun 6, 2012
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55
Hey guys,

Say your going to a place where the weather's hot, the air is humid and the drinks are cold. What knives would you bring if you were going on vacation to this tropical paradise?

When I go to Thailand again this summer I'm thinking about bringing my Spyderco Paramilitary 2, my Benchmade Adamas 275, my Swamp Rat Ratmandu and my Busse NMSFNO. Oh and if you think my choices are overkill, I spend most of the time away from the city on my families farmland.

Looking forward to seeing your picks.
 
Spyderco Pacific Salt (black on black pe), as most of my vacations tend to involve the ocean/salt water :)
 
Unfortunately, when I go on vacation, I also have to take a 'Knife Holliday'. The wife and I have been on a Cruise kick for the last decade or so, and we take a couple a year. The cruise lines won't allow any knives to be brought onboard ship. I found this out the hard way a couple of times when my baggage was held in the security area. They held my knives for the duration of the cruises, and I had to pick them up as I left the ship on the last day.
 
If I'm flying and checking in bags, then I'll pack a SAK. Otherwise, I go blade-free. It does leave a certain empty feeling when that happens...
 
Usually, I will bring about 5-6. So far, I don't go out of the country; and rarely go out of state. I usually bring a few dress-knives, a SHTF do-anything heavy duty type knife, and a few of my favorites.
 
A lot depends on the local laws, but I don't bring anything that I would get super upset if it got taken away. I will usually take something small and not threatening, like a slip joint or small kickback such as a spyderco ukpk or ladybug
 
I tend to bring my Spydie Salt... no one seems to want to steal that thing... If I go international I tend not to carry, had a near bad experience on my way home from Thailand (post).
 
If we fly somewhere that usually means to a place with questionable laws so I will bring an older Leatherman tool with the interior slipjoint blade. If we are flying to a place where the laws are more reasonable I will carry an inexpensive folder since it will be in checked baggage plus I will carry the Leatherman just in case I need any of its tools.

If we are driving then I will bring one of my good folders that satisfies local laws plus a cheap backup folder, and also the aforementioned Leatherman.
 
bdmicarta said:
If we are flying to a place where the laws are more reasonable I will carry an inexpensive folder since it will be in checked baggage plus I will carry the Leatherman just in case I need any of its tools.
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They allow the leatherman aboard flights?
 
My regular holiday choices in the past few years have been (depending on destination), Victorinox Hunter, (Victorinox) Mauser Officers Knife, Wenger World Scout Knife, Spyderco Co-Pilot, Spyderco Byrd Crow, Cold Steel Roach Belly, Cold Steel Finn Bear, Kuhn Rihon picnic knife. Gerber Patriot, Cold Steel Ultralock Tanto, Cold Steel Ultralock Clip-point. I'll usually have 3 of these with me.
 
If I'm traveling (flying) domestically, I Fedex myself a care package. Last year when I went to Europe I left everything behind. Once I got in the eu I bought a disposable...
 
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Tropical country= buy a machete for $5. Use it while I'm there and leave it with someone as a gift when I leave.
Last time I brought a Vic Soldier and gifted it to a good friend. I don't normally like SAK's as my daily carry , but they make a good travel knife.
Only alox aluminum scales for me.

I found any knife even resembling something " tactical" ( ie; opens fast , looks high-tech ,etc) attracts attention unless used very discretely , at least where I've been.
That's vacation , like the op asked. Domestic is pretty much anything I want.
 
Usually my SAK Climber, its pretty much universally accepted as a tool, not a weapon, and is legal in the vast majority of places I'd go. Plus, it is extremely useful, and if I'm vacationing, I want a light and convenient multi-function package. If I really need something else, I'll pack a Ladybug Salt in SE, its pretty friendly too, and can cut really well, but as a locking knife it is not legal in as many places as a SAK. If you're really roughing it, buy a local machete, use it, and gift it when you leave. It puts a deposit in your karma bank account.:D
 
I've heard horror stories about police trying to extort $ out of tourists over knives even if they are within the 'legal' limits.

I'd probably play it safe and bring a SAK.

nvm.. I totally missed this:
BRAVO2ZERO said:
I spend most of the time away from the city on my families farmland.
Click to expand...
 
BRAVO2ZERO said:
Hey guys,

Say your going to a place where the weather's hot, the air is humid and the drinks are cold. What knives would you bring if you were going on vacation to this tropical paradise?
Click to expand...

I faced this exact question last summer. We were going to Key West Florida for a cousins reunion. There was going to be fishing, kayaking the mangroves, drinking, swiming, sight seeing, did I mention drinking?

I mailed a SAK recruit to myself where we were booked in, and picked itup when I got there. It did everything from cutting bait to slicing limes for cold gin and tonics. The screw driver blade did a minor repair on a rented motor scooter. When I left, I gifted it too the grounds keeper at the guest house we were at. He loved it.

I never take any of my "good" knives that I have personal attachment to when traveling. If I don't mail something to myself, I'll just supply myself locally and give it to someone when I leave. No problems that way with things disappearing from baggage.
 
Lots of individual preferences here. I see the point in bringing just a SAK though. Something replaceable with less sentimental value. Leaving the more "offensive" looking blades at home seems like a good idea.
 
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