Need help choosing a camping knife

[sebwas]

I was hoping I could get some input from you guys. I'm looking for a good quality camping knife, preferably under $60. It will be used for typical camping chores and whittling. I was thinking about purchasing a Buck 119. They sell them at the local walmart for $35. All the reviews I have read for it are positive, but I was hoping to get some input from some of you guys that own or have owned the knife before buying it. Thanks.

 

[Bob W]

Think about the kind of "camping" you're interested in. Car camping? Backpacking? Campgrounds? Hunting and fishing?

Then think about the sorts of cutting tasks you encounter while participating in your flavor of camping. Cutting tarp guylines, cleaning game, filleting fish, chopping wood, picking spinters, etc.

Now consider what types of knives would be best suited for those tasks. Also consider weight, size, and legal concerns. If you need a 12" fixed blade, then you do and the extra weight and cost is worth it. But if you don't need one, then it's wasted weight and it's displacing other items from your pack that you could need more. If you're staying at a "motel without walls" (aka "campground") and using fire pits, then taking a hatchet is a good idea.

I've lived and worked outdoors for years in the desert, mountains, and forests. I've never needed anything more than a small pocketknife. I've carried an Opinel, BuckLite, and my current favorite is a Hunters Scalpel from AG Russell.

For the type of camping I do, the Buck 119 is complete overkill, but I would consider the Woodsman.

Good Luck in your search!
-Bob