Loaner knives

ManRay

ManRay

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Joined
Oct 9, 2014
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725
Whats your preferred knife to hand to someone that needs to borrow a knife for camping chores or the like?

needs to be:

-Cheap
-easily replaceable
-easy to use

I think mora knives work well in this role, as well as many victorinox offerings.
 
None. If it is cheap, they can buy themselves. If it is expensive, they should buy themselves.
 
sharp_edge said:
None. If it is cheap, they can buy themselves. If it is expensive, they should buy themselves.
Click to expand...

meh, I try to be generous as not everyones priorities are buying knives. I'm not going to hand them a $200+ knife however.
 
Have a Kershaw Camp 10 and 12 I use as loaners.
Also have a couple Glock knives I loan as well.
 
Kitchen tasks then take along some kitchen knives, they are cheap enough (Victorinox).

Moras are cheap and capable, and most importantly replaceable. Good for group teaching, but I don't rate them for longevity. Part of the learning curve is the responsibility that goes with a knife, be it use, maintenance and respect. Can't instil those values with something that seems almost disposable.

Anything powerful like an axe or big blade shouldn't be leant out without full instruction. I have spares of what I use, and I'll oversee their use. I can't see the point in lending a piece that I wouldn't use; where is the education in that?

People with little experience with blades often put more damage on them. When fixing the damage I learn as much from that than I do from my own use wear and tear.
 
I treat my knives like my expensive snap-on tools ... if you have to borrow it more than once , you should really buy your own . Id get a handfull of harbor freight razor knives or some straight razor blades , they do the job and not expensive .
 
My problem with lending a knife out has many angles. The first is too many times someone has said o wow this knife is sharp. Umm yea. Non knife people really dont know how to handle a knife or much about knives. If i give them a slip joint i get worried they will close it on themselves in use. Most of my locking folders are treated like my truck. No one drives it but me.
 
A mora or a leatherman. That's about all that I will loan out. If chopping, they can use a hatchet... not my knife.
 
Seems to me every time I lent a knife to someone they are bleeding AFTER I tell them to be careful IT'S SHARP!! They have to check for themselves.
I stopped lending knives. If someone needs one I'll ask the what they need it for and usually wind up cutting what needs to be cut myself.
Same thing with my custom pool cues and bad ass air rifles.......nope.
Joe
 
BladeScout said:
Beat up Opinel.
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My first choice in a loaner knife. My number 9 now just belongs to my old job. The 8 I bought to replace it goes to my current staff more than me, and I keep extra SAKs and a spare Leatherman to give out at will. I run tripping programs at summer camps in Colorado so my staff often need knives.
 
I recently acquired a few Buck Bantam BBWs which, despite costing almost one and a half to two times more than my SRMs, Enlans, S&Ws and Schrades, was downright mediocre in every aspect. They have since been relegated to being my so-called "loaners".

Nobody except my closest of friends get to handle my SRMs, Enlans, S&Ws and Schrades in spite of them costing <$20 because those knives have consistently proven themselves to be capable of performing well above their price point and I hold them in very high regard.
 
I usually hand them one of my "beater" Ron Lakes:

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If they don't have their own knife they can use their teeth, IMHO. This prevents damage to the knife and to the borrower.
 
Bucklite.
Becker.
Ozark Trail.
Cold Steel.
Vicnox.
Plenty of inexpensive and serviceable options, depending on what it will be used for.
 
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