Newbie Needs Advice with First Knife...Help!

C

Centropolis

Joined
Aug 3, 2005
Messages
1
I am looking for my first serious blade for general camping and backpacking purposes. However, I am not looking to spend a fortune on it. Maybe about $40 or $50.

Can you guys suggest a general all purpose good quality knife? Also, I do not know any knifes specialty stores around my area so please suggest something that maybe easier to find......like I would have no problem finding them on eBay or something.

Thanks.
 
I'd take a look at Swiss Army Knives (with wood saw) and Buck knives. Both should be readily available at Target, Wal-Mart, Big5 or Sport Chalet. You can check out some online dealers like OneStopKnifeShop or New Graham. I've also gotten a good deal from Ragnar's Ragweed Forge. If you're looking for something light and easy to pack maybe a Ka-Bar Dozier ($20) or a Benchmade Fecas Gamer ($30). Moras are a good bang for your buck ($10). There are quite a few inexpensive blades out there that actually work.

Frank
 
Lots of folks have different ideas of what they mean by backpacking/camp knife. A Victorinox SAK is usually a good choice, the ones with saws (yeah, they actually work) are worth looking at. Others want a fixed blade, a Buck 119 is a good choice there. A Becker BK7 is another good choice.

It really depends on what you are expecting to do. Are you going to have a pack full of prepared food? Will it be a one day short hike? Will you need fire wood?

List some of the chores you expect it to do and you will get some better advice.
 
spyderco delica....3"

spyderco endura...4"

get plain edge not serrated edge......


but i seriously think you should get a multitool like a leatherman wave or victorinox swisstool if you're going to have only one thing on you.....i like multi tools better than swiss army knives but YMMV
 
I worked at Philmont Scout Ranch for ten years, backpacked and hiked recreationally, and worked for twelve years as a field archaeologist (desert, mountains, forest, etc.). For all of that time a midsize Opinel (less than $10) was my only carry knife. It easily accomplished every cutting task ever encountered. The Opinel knives have been the standard for Eurpean hikers and workers for a hundred years.

In college I took 21-day desert survival course in Utah. The instructors only knife, and one of the few things he carried at all, was an Opinel. My knife for the course was a Bucklite, and it did very well too.

As an experiment, I've recently switched to an AG Russell Hunter's Scalpel ($20) to save weight. It's only 8/10ths of an ounce, perfect for hiking. I also think that a fixed blade will be more hygenic for preparing food, picking splinters, etc.

Serious backpackers remove the cardboard centers from TP (if they carry TP) and cut the handles off of toothbrushes to save weight. I can't imagine packing a Buck 119 very far. I'd rather carry extra food, water, or camera film instead.

The AG Russell FeatherLite One-Hand-Knife, BuckLite, or Spyderco Delica would be excellent choices for lightweight locking folders.

If taking a poll of backpackers, I bet you'd find that most carry a Swiss Army Knife of some sort.

Good Luck in your quest,
Bob
 
Ok, now for the truth. If I was going on Survivor and could take one item, it would be my Fort Turner Hammer Pole Tomahawk. I know this is the knife forum, but I have to come clean. This IMHO is the greatest survival tool in the world. Razor sharp, hand forged quality. You can cut, hammer, chop, kindle, kill and dig with the same tool. I made a leather belt sheath for it and it carries very well.

If I HAD to go with a knife it would be the Cold Steel Oyabun. One, because I like to torture myself with heavy gear (frankly, if your using it for camping, you probably have you car within ten feet of you anyway). Two, the nine inch blade is very sharp, strong and durable which lends itself to kindling, prying and machete work. It comes with a nice weatherproof sheath too. It's $55 at the right place online.

I have a Victorinox Tinker, but have only ever used the blade section in the camp site or on the trail, though the leather awl comes in handy when I have to put a new notch in my belt due to rapid weight loss.

Just remember, here's nothing like having a solid piece of steel when you need it.
 
1-3713.jpg


A Victorinox Huntsman can be your best choice.
 
My own experience and training leads me towards fixed-blade knives for camping and hiking. That being the case, there are lots of good choices in your price range... what sort of hiking and camping are you talking, in terms of length of stay, other gear brought, weather and terrain expected... ?
 
>"I worked at Philmont Scout Ranch for ten years, backpacked and hiked recreationally, and worked for twelve years as a field archaeologist (desert, mountains, forest, etc.). For all of that time a midsize Opinel (less than $10) was my only carry knife. It easily accomplished every cutting task ever encountered."

==========================

Bob W: Just curious, did you never need to open a can of food? Saw through a larger branch? Tweeze out a tick or splinter? Clip toe nails? Fix a camp stove or other piece of gear?

I hear what you're saying on how the Opinel can be sufficient. But when I think of spending any length of time in the great outdoors without a trusty SAK, I get all sweaty and edgy. :p
 
Bob W: Just curious, did you never need to open a can of food? Saw through a larger branch? Tweeze out a tick or splinter? Clip toe nails? Fix a camp stove or other piece of gear?
Click to expand...

Who on earth would carry canned food backpacking???
No, in all of my backpacking and hiking I have never, not one time, had to saw through a large branch. What for?
I do carry a pretty-good first aid kit, with much better tweezers than on any Swiss Army Knife. That's critical when working in the desert - cactus needles suck, especially the barbed Christmas Cholla and the tiny micro-needles on the prickly pear. Nail clippers in the first aid kit also.
The only time I've needed to fix gear, I've managed with my fingers. There was a time or two that I wished for a small pair of pliars. A multi-tool would have worked, a SAK wouldn't.

Like I said though, probably more backpackers carry SAKs than any other tool or knife. I'm not knockin' them.

Best Wishes,
Bob
 
I agree with lil timmy. In your price range, it is hard to beat a Becker... recommend a BK7 (Commonly $45 shipped, used.) Also, add $15 to you budget and get a Vic or Wenger SAK.

Total? $60 :thumbup:
 
I do carry a pretty-good first aid kit, with much better tweezers than on any Swiss Army Knife.
Click to expand...
Actually, the Vic tweezers are OK. I must have been thinking of something else.

-Bob
 
I would take a look at a Leatherman. There are also some "hobo" knives being made that have a builtin knife and fork. It is light enough for the serious backpacker.

If you will be hunting/fishing then you will need something different but Leatherman makes very versitile knives, as does Victorinox.

www.Leatherman.Com

www.Victorinox.Com
 
At the Victorinox site, take a look at the Trekker (previously knows as the One-Handed Trailmaster). A nice utility knife for hiking or EDC.
 
CM-BK7.jpg

becker BK-7.
7" blade, excellent comfotable/indestructible handle, and extreme durability. its carbon steel, however, so it needs a bit of care because it will rust if you just use it and put it away. once you get used to carbon steel blades, however, you will scoff at stainless steel for anything but marine uses :)

you cant beat this for your price range. if you want something even heavier duty look into the BK-9 (9" blade, 1/4" blade stock) or the brute (9.5" utility blade, 1/4" blade stock), but i seriously doubt that you can break a becker BK-7 unless you are deliberately trying to do so. these two are, however, slightly above your price range.
 
If you'd be willing drop about $50, you could pick yourself up both a Kabar Dozier folding hunter (available all over the web for about $20 plus shipping) plus nearly any one of the synthetic-handled Mora knives (fixed blade) from Ragnar's Ragweed Forge: http://www.ragweedforge.com/

That would give you a lot of utility for the buck, IMHO.
 
I like to have a SAK and a fixed blade for hiking. The Victorinox Huntsman and the Farmer are my favourite outdoors SAKs, with the 111mm locking Hunter and One Hand Trekker (PE) following them.

You can get some SAKs at ridiculous prices from Tim and Rich at www.sosakonline.com the used SAKs they offer are always in good working shape and are cheap as it gets.

I love wood handled moras for backpacking. They are cheap, reasonably tough (I've battoned my Eriksson #22 countless times) and easy to sharpen. I buy mine form Ragnar Ragweed's Forge.

If you have any money left, try an Opinel. They are great folder for less than $10.
 
Don't forget to buy something decent to sharpen your knife on. A dull knife is as useless as no knife.
 
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