Need help selecting a knife

M

mharris

Joined
Feb 9, 2006
Messages
4
Hi, I just joined primarily to get some help in choosing a knife, and once I get one, learn to properly care for it. I've had a couple simple Swiss Army knives when I was younger, but I didn't care for them properly. I'm on my way to getting my commercial pilot's licence and hope to find a job in Northern Ontario flying in the bush. I'm looking for a knife can easily be carried in a pocket or on my belt without getting in the way in case it's not possible to get the survival gear out of the plane for whatever reason.

I'm looking for a folding knife or multitool with a locking blade that is available in Canada. The knives I've been looking at so far (due to availability) are the Buck 110 folding hunter and the Swiss Army Trekker and Rucksack. What would you recommend?
 
If you want a multi tool get more then one. Maybe get a leatherman Ti then get another Victorinox that doesn't have what it has since the Ti's sheath can carrry two extra small knives or a flashlite
 
I would suggest the Victorinox One-Hand Trekker or a Leatherman Core multitool.


The OH Trekker is very sturdy and the one hand opening is a plus. The wood saw works great and the locking screw driver is nice also.


The Core is an excellent multi-tool featuring locking serrated and plain edged knife blades, a file with metal saw, a wood saw and hollow ground screw drivers.




- Frank
 
Welcome to bladeforums.

I agree with Cheung, the leatherman Xti is a great tool, and you can stuff some helpful extras in the pouch. It comes with a pocket clip, so you could also wear it attached to a cargo pocket and have a big SAK in a pouch on your belt.

Most of the big multitools become uncomfortable if your sitting with them in your standard pants pocket. Thay are also hell on the material.

Take Care,
Jeff
 
Get a multitool , the leatherman charge is a good one and a stonng folder like the buck 110..
 
I would go fer the buck and a leatherman. I had a bad experiance with the surge so i took it back, but i would trust my life on a leathernman. I have a vic rucksack i love it. though i used it on one of the doan fire starter it dulled the blade pretty quick, but its pretty easy to sharpen it. What ever you pick make sure its top quality.
 
Go rent a movie called "Snow Walker". About a Canadian bush pilot. You might like it.:D

Myself, I'd go with the Vic Trekker and a leatherman. Get yourself one of those pilot survival vests. That way if you don't have time to grab your survival kit, you'll have plenty of gear on you.
 
A good combo for you to look at would be a Leatherman Wave or it's equal.
The nice thing about a tool like this is a working blade at the ready with one handed access. And for #2 I would lean more toward a Reeve Aviator with maybe a WSI key chain Hot spark in the handle. The Aviator has a pancake sheath that should be comfy walking or sitting all day.
Just my thoughts welcome and good luck.

Helle
 
I'd suggest a minimum of 2 pocketknives; one a "tool" type knife or a multi-tool like the Leahterman types, plus a large, lokcing folder. The tool knife is just that: a min tool kit that's on you all the time. These type knives/multi-tools are surprisinly handy on a daily basis, especialy around machinery. The large, locking folder would do all the hard work your tool knife can't do.

Personally, I carry 3 knives: the locking folder, an SAK (Swiss Army Knife) and a multi-tool. So of the knives yo've suggested I'd reccomend *both* the Vic Rucksack and the Buck 110, plus a Leatherman type tool.

Also, make sure to put together a small kit that is always with you. It should cover the basics of fire (as simple as a matchsafe of strike anywhere's), food (a small fishing kit and snare wire/cordage) and shelter (a large garbage bag, and/or Mylar blanket). This sort of gear can easily be carried in your poackets (spread around) or in a small pouch on your belt. So long as you have this minimum of gear, AND the knowledge to use it, you should do fine.
 
Don't forget duct tape and cordage. You'll want to reinforce the tie down points on the drum liner/trash bag and have something to string it up with.;)
 
make sure you take some dental floss and some good quality fishing line, with you. does not take much room, and both are usefull.

alex
 
the becker necker wouldnt be burdensome to carry i dont think . pretty tough and cuts well.
 
Lots of good ideas.

Have you condered a small fixed-blade knife carried as a "necker" (sheath suspended from light strap around your neck)? I don't know if your harness permits such a carry. The small fixed-blade is stronger and also lighter for an equivalent blade than most folders. Go that route and you have many good choices. For some reason, it's easy to find a small production or semi-production fixed-blades with blades superior to those found on production folders and multi-tools. (Although one hears rumors of special runs of SAK's with S30V blades.)

(Beyond your topic, but a 35mm film can of cotton smeared with petroleum jelly is a monster edge in fire-making.)
 
Welcome to the forums. For good products available in Canada, I would reccommend looking here:
http://www.sworddepot.com/Brand_Names_cid325.html

As for the knife... Take V's advice and grab the Rucksak, a folder, and a multi-tool. Leatherman Ti models are fairly lightweight, and have a good tool selection, but there are lots of options.

As far as the knives go, I would also add a small fixed blade, if you can get away with it. I know it may seem excessive, but we are knife knuts, after all.

Knife choice? How about a Spyderco Mannix for a folder, and a Fallkniven F1 for a fixed? Any full sized spyderco, Kershaw or Benchmade would be a safe bet. I prefer a one hand opener to the Buck 110, but it is still a great choice.
For less expensive knives you could look at CRK&T, or similar quality entry level brand. I have been steering clear of Gerber the last while, as I just don't like the quality.

Want to stay Canadian? Buy a Grohmann with the flat grind option.
 
Thomas Linton said:
Have you condered a small fixed-blade knife carried as a "necker" (sheath suspended from light strap around your neck)?
Click to expand...

If you wear these outside your clothing they can catch and snag and are just annoying flopping around, if you wear them inside it is illegal in canada, so are pretty much all folding knives due to intertial openings of course. I prefer folders over neck knives due to the fact that neck knives in general usually go so far to make them light that the ergonomics end up horrible.

What you end up buying, you can usually get it *much* cheaper if you buy from a discount online US based internet store. Buying locally in canada is often 2:1 or more in price, even taking into account the higher shipping, buying outside is usually a much better deal. The only concern is customs taking folding knives which is a real concern though low probability.

I have a Rucksack, if you carry it then another folder isn't of significant benefit unless you are looking for a knife you can be much rougher with, in which case I would get the Paramilitary.

-Cliff
 
Cliff Stamp said:
I prefer folders over neck knives due to the fact that neck knives in general usually go so far to make them light that the ergonomics end up horrible.
Click to expand...

Hence my suggestion: a small fixed-blade worn "as a 'necker.'" My current favorite is a Helle. It's strictly a matter of weight/comfort as to what I will wear necker-style. A MMKW bowie would "probably" be too heavy. :D


Too bad about the legal problems. I always carry mine under the outer layer in Winter to keep it warm and from flopping around. But how often would one be searched while flying a general aviation aircraft? Plus, LEO's seemed pretty reasonable about such issues last time I was way north. (That's where I got the idea of a gill net in a PSK - an OPP officer, and it's surely illegal in Canada.)
 
Thomas Linton said:
But how often would one be searched while flying a general aviation aircraft?
Click to expand...

In general it is very rare, I generally carry piles of knives, it isn't a practical concern for me, just noting the issue. Generally only bali's and auto's are problematic to carry because everyone "knows" they are illegal so they attract attention fast if you use them. Similar if you have slick one handed openers and crack them out fast, most people think they are auto's. The easiest things to carry are traditionals like SAK's and Buck's because they are regarded as knives not weapons. It is silly, as are a lot of weapon laws, you can carry a 3' machete but not a 2" auto.

-Cliff
 
Going with a multitool and a folding knife seems the general consensus. Of the Charge Ti, XTi, and Wave, what advantages over the others does each tool have?
 
As mentioned you shuld consider 3 knives
Leatherman Tool of your choice, Syderco Manix, and a small fixed blade(Dozier, Swamp Rat, Tops, Ontario, Coldsteel to name a few make great dependable blades)
Best thing is to see what you feel comfortable using and carrying..
Welcome and GoodLuck
 
Welcome to the forums mate and you 'aint Robinson Crusoe' for the reason you joined.

Most bush pilots I know pack a LM supertool on their belt, situated at the side so it doesn't snag in a seatbelt or harness. If you wanted to go more than that then I suggest a lightweight folder IWB (In Wast Band) at the small of the back.

A Spyderco rescue model would be practical here. A chopper was downed off our NW shelf a few years back and one of the passengers tried to cut the painter line from the raft to the airframe with a Buck 110. He slashed the pontoon on the chopper instead and it flipped, almost taking out the raft and all those in it. Too much sensitive rubber around for pointy knives i reckon.
 
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