light weight and affordable knife

[ben guss]

Hi all,
I'm in the market for a knife for general use and specifically for backpacking. I need something that is ok in the wet climate of the NW and will not break the bank. Thus far I'm looking at two different knives the opinels and the mora classic 1s. I know ones a fixed blade knife and the other is a folding but what i'm really after is the light weight, flexibility and affordablity.

The handles of both of these will need to be treated, but I'm not seeing other options.

With your collective wisdom, can you point me to a blade that will fit my tall bill?
Thanks,
Ben

 

[dogstar]

Well, I think you're on the right track. Mora makes stainless versions (check out the Companion MG Stainless, the Companion F, the 746, the 546). Opinel has stainless versions, too. Interestingly, both Mora and Opinel use Sandvik stainless steel. I think with either of those options, you can't beat the price/weight/performance ratio. A less stellar, but USA made option would be the Bucklite Max series, both in Fixed blade and Lockback folder.

 

[Angus McGunnigle]

Well, I think you're on the right track. Mora makes stainless versions (check out the Companion MG Stainless, the Companion F, the 746, the 546). Opinel has stainless versions, too. Interestingly, both Mora and Opinel use Sandvik stainless steel. I think with either of those options, you can't beat the price/weight/performance ratio. A less stellar, but USA made option would be the Bucklite Max series, both in Fixed blade and Lockback folder.

I second this. For folders look at a kabar dozier folder. Great knife for twenty dollars.

 

[SURVIVAL&WEAPONS]

Own both, both can do the job but sometimes you would prefer a fixed blade in a situation if that situation has ever happened to you i say get the mora. But you can get both for under $30 shipped why not get both ? If you're a folder guy the opinel is for you its a work horse and will hold up dont let it fool you.

 

[Norse_Nightcrawler]

Becker BK24.
Light weight, corrosion resistant D2 steel (i have no problems with 1095cv in humid enviroments though, so a BK14 or 11 should be fine too), and ,well duh, it's a Becker
One of the tweeners should fit the bill pretty well too though. The coating does a good job of protecting the blade from rust.

 

[WRGreen]

+1 on the KaBar Dozier folder; lots of bang for the buck there. The A.G.Russell Hunter Scalper or Deer Hunter might fit the bill for a fixed blade, and his satisfaction guarantee is hard to beat.

 

[Bob W]

Both the Opinel and Mora are excellent choices for backpacking and hiking. I'm not thrilled with the stainless steel on those two product lines though, if you insist on stainless for rust prevention.

For a tad more money you can buy some really neat knives with much higher-grade steel from AG Russell. The Featherlite is a locking one-hand-opening folder, very lightweight and slender, with several different configurations and carry options. Even the lowest option, AUS8, has a hardness of 57-59rc, which seems to be harder than the stainless that Opinel uses.

My personal hiking and backpacking knife is an AG Russell Hunters Scalpel. $20, AUS10 steel, locking sheath, and now available in orange. At 0.5 oz, I doubt there are many usable knives out there that weigh less. The AUS10 is hardened to 59-60rc.
If you want something a bit larger, there's the Bird and Trout with the same sheath design. Three steel choices, depending on how much you want to spend. If it were me, I'd spend the extra for the ATS-34 or D2.

 

[jackknife]

I'd go Mora in a heartbeat. Going backpacking, I'd rather have a light weight fixed blade than any folder, and the Opinel has an an Achilles heel in wet climates. The wood handle swells when wet, and while this can be controlled to some extent with oil and grease, but not eliminated. After a while, the Opinel can get very difficult to open and close. Plus, do you really want to be out in the boonies with just a folding knife over a fixed blade?

Mora, the best choice. Light, rugged, and cuts like the dickens.

 

[Mora2013]

I have both and like both.

I hate to say it, but for me it depends on local laws. For camping tasks, i would prefer the fixed blade more. However, the mora, since it is a fixed knife, is open carry in California. And such, it stays for use only where I permanently live. The opinel travels with me in a backpack since a folding knife can be concealed carry.

In wet climates, I think it would be good to make an easy open notch for the opinel. And get a bigger one like an 8,9, or 10. I think of smaller ones for edc, and bigger ones for backpacking/camping.

 

[pinnah]

Hi all,
I'm in the market for a knife for general use and specifically for backpacking. I need something that is ok in the wet climate of the NW and will not break the bank. Thus far I'm looking at two different knives the opinels and the mora classic 1s. I know ones a fixed blade knife and the other is a folding but what i'm really after is the light weight, flexibility and affordablity.

The handles of both of these will need to be treated, but I'm not seeing other options.

With your collective wisdom, can you point me to a blade that will fit my tall bill?
Thanks,
Ben

It really depends on what you mean by "backpacking" and the degree to which you rely on modern stoves and shelters, the degree to which you build fires and process wood and what your food preparation needs are.

Ultra lite backpackers rely on repair tape, simple needle and thread and only need the ability to cut open packages and shape bandages. A simple key chain tool like the Victorinox Classic, Leatherman Micra or Leatherman Squirt PS4 is sufficient. I carry the Micra for EDC but the PS4 for backpacking, as I find the pliers to be useful for some stove repair and very useful for driving a needle through heavy webbing and packcloth.

Outdoor Carry by Pinnah, on Flickr

I carry some foods that require cutting (meat and cheese) or spread (peanut butter). I also occasionally carry a small wood stove (Emberlit) and I always prefer a knife capable of making shavings and feather sticks. I find the Opinel #8 or #9 to be great for these. The Inox blade handles the wet fine here in New England. The Carbon can rust in my pocket when raining (heat + wet). All wooden Opinels require some TLC in the form or Vaseline or Mineral Oil on the joint to keep it from getting way tight in the wet.

Larger Victorinox SAKs make some sense, particularly the larger Trekker sized knives. I love the ergos and blade of the Opinel enough and prefer having the small pliers enough to stick with my 2 tool combination.

The next tool that I add is in the winter. I'll carry a small folding saw, to cut wood for the stove on ski tours. A small fixed blade is a reasonable replacement for the Opinel if the ability to split wood is needed. My Opinel can do it but I wouldn't want to do that with any other folder. The Svord Peasant knife is somewhere between a folder and a fixed blade and can also be batoned.

I reject all hollow ground blades for general backpacking use. I much prefer flat or convex ground blades for working with wood.

 

[pinnah]

I'd go Mora in a heartbeat. Going backpacking, I'd rather have a light weight fixed blade than any folder, and the Opinel has an an Achilles heel in wet climates. The wood handle swells when wet, and while this can be controlled to some extent with oil and grease, but not eliminated. After a while, the Opinel can get very difficult to open and close. Plus, do you really want to be out in the boonies with just a folding knife over a fixed blade?

I've not had real problems with my Opinels in wet weather where "wet" is defined by a day's hiking in pouring rain while pocket carrying the knife. I've done this numerous times. Opinels are finicky in wet/humid conditions to be sure and they do require some TLC in terms of maintaining the joint. But it's never been anything that a simple rap on the heel of the handle didn't handle. Still, if the OP wants a 3" ish folder and doesn't want to deal with a finicky but very light Opinel, I would consider looking at something like the ESEE (designed) Zancudo or Ontario Rat 2, both of which have flat grinds (but that weigh more).

People should obviously carry whatever makes them happy in the woods and for many people, a fixed blade is the happiest thing to carry. When I backpack, I'm happiest with as light of a pack as possible and given my reliance on modern stoves and shelters, a fixed blade (including a Mora) just doesn't make the cut when considered from a benefit/ounces point of view.

It should be noted that I hike for many years carrying nothing but a small Camillus Serpentine Jack (close to peanut) and then for another several years carrying nothing other than a Victorinox Classic. If I went back to that sort of packing list, as noted above, I would probably just stick with the PS4, which I think pretty much maxes out the benefit/ounce ratio (again, assuming reliance on stoves and tents and not fire building).

 

[Brisket]

A whopping 2.2 oz., no wood handle to swell, stainless Sandvik 12C27 and under $30.

 

[Poez]

If you want a knife for backpacking and will eventually use it for food preparation, you will be better off with something like Opinel 8 in my opinion. Opinel blade is move suitable for cutting any kind of food, while Mora again in my opinion sucks at anything except for meat, which probably would not be as relevant for your purposes.
That is in case you take a saw and a hatchet with you and are not going to play batoning wood with a knife or something like that.

 

[pinnah]

A whopping 2.2 oz., no wood handle to swell, stainless Sandvik 12C27 and under $30.

Brisket, yes.

My dream would be for them to put that handle on a stock #8 blade. The blade on the Opinel Outdoors is really designed for sailing and climbing in mind. Carl is right in that the wood swell is an issue and a plastic handled version would fix that.

 

[Brisket]

Yes I agree pinnah. I would much prefer a non-serrated edge although I do really like the opening hole over the standard nail nick. I bought one of these a few months ago as I am a fan of Opinels and wanted to try it out. So far I've used it around the place mostly for landscaping duty and it was rather nice to be able to open it up with gloves on.

 

[Radjxf]

Fallkniven F1 ~$100-ish
Mora Companion can be had for under $15@
Spyderco Delica....NOT a fan of cheapo folders.

 

[Mr_Rukus]

I agree the ka-bar dozier folders are my favorite. I have quite a few knives that cost more, but I still keep going back to the dozier.

 

[SwiftDream]

What kind of backpacking trips do you do? What do you use your knife for?

I have backpacked with a lot of knives over the decades and agree with either flat ground or convex ground blades as being the most versatile. You have a lot of good choices.

The Opinel blade will do anything, one of the best cutters at any price. I do consider them a project knife and have to put a few hours into mine before they are ready. First I follow the advice of a French guy who has four decades of experience with them and soak the entire knife overnight in a 50/50 mix of mineral spirits and boiled linseed oil. I use odorless mineral spirits. After it dries for a few days in the hot sun, I also use the Vaseline trick on the pivot area and redo that once a month. I like to keep my knife vertical in my pocket so I drill a lanyard hole so I can clip it to a leash that hangs of a belt loop. I can't even tell it is there.

The premium woods are really stellar, been carrying an Olive wood #8 for years and I am impressed with the Swedish 12c27, a very clean, tough steel that takes on a fine edge. They are not for prying or torking though. Slice with it only.

However I am in the camp that values and takes a fixed blade when going into remote wilderness. A Mora will do fine there but I prefer my old special run flat ground Dozier, a small, dexterous piece but unavailable now. That Dozier D2 does it right for me. I just don't feel right without a light folder in my pocket, hence the light weight and high performance Opinel cutter.

I just received an Opinel #8 in Bubinga wood, just beautiful and have just about gotten it ready to go. The sharpening on this one was really bad, kind of like my Northfield but a bit of work and it is shaving sharp now. The Bubinga is so hard it kind of has a ring to it when tapped. Nice features and color to the wood too. Got it for barely over 20 bucks. I think it might replace the olive wood #8 on the wilderness excursions. For all kinds of food prep or wood carving a good Opinel is very hard to beat performance wise. There are not too many knives that are this light for as long a blade, with such an amazingly comfortable handle and cut so well...I really like the 19th Century flair, just perfect for backpacking.

I have convexed mora blades, not just the edge but the entire blade. They are thin to begin with and when fully convexed they will be a better food processor for hard vegetables. As they come, they are great for wood and meat.

As I said if you convex that sharp shoulder off the scandi grind, the blade does become a much better slicer. That is work but you really need to fill the gaps with J B Weld or something in the wooden Classic Moras anyway. I consider them a project knife too, inexpensive but needing a little extra touch here and there. They also have that old world flair to them.

 

[Shotgun]

Whichever you like more really. The mora is better at bushcrafty things if you're inclined to that sort of thing. The Svord peasant knife is also a good option. For what it's worth, all my blades are carbon steel. Whatever rust does form can be easily scraped off with Usnea or Horsetail but it's not usually a problem. Especially in the summer months.

 

[22-rimfire]

Lots of Opinel love here. I have never owned one and probably should at some point. I like the Mora Companion for your use and maybe a middle sized SAK (93 mm). I love saks. So useful.

The kabar folding hunter is a good inexpensive folder.