One traditional knife to travel

[Angry Waiter]

I would probably land on a SAK, one that has tweezers.

 

[Rsmith_77]

Lol I honestly figured Id see alot of pioneers/SI's
And stuff like buck 112 or 110s

Lots more stockman knives than I expected

 

[Will Power]

Looking at all the different situational possibilities, I would agree with Bruce and Jeff. A medium or large Stockman would have a good combination of usefulness, while not being offensive if needed in public venues. I would trust any of the major manufacturers, but really love this one!

View attachment 2118099

Genuine beauty, but would HATE to lose such a knife on a trek.....

 

[Hammer67]

My thinking is similar to Will Power - I don't fly unless I absolutely have to, and I tend to gravitate to more rural areas and avoid big urban centers. A cross-country trip for me would certainly involve camping and hiking along the way. I would have to have a compact fixed blade with me, if I'm just traveling with one knife.

An Ahti/Martiini/Kellam puukko would fit the bill - practical, useful blade shape, lightweight and not so expensive that I'm going to worry about it.

....but for a little additional blade length and ruggedness, my Jääkäripuukko 110 would probably be my top choice - my, "go anywhere, do anything, don't worry about it" fixed blade.

...and if I'm allowed to add a second knife to that, it would probably be my Victorinox Bundeswehr pocket knife.

Working knives that I know I can rely on, but don't have to worry about.

 

[Old Engineer]

Back when I was a little younger I may have carried this one when we traveled .

But in fact , I know that I carried this one every day for 40 years

But we went to Glacier and Yellowstone in 2018 I carried enough knives with me to change out knives every day . On the way we stopped in North Dakota to see paulhilborn .

Harry

 

[kamagong]

I agree with Will Power on his choice of the laguiole. I was thinking about this same topic just the other day when I was inspecting my most recent addition.

It's a modest knife, nothing particularly remarkable about it. But if it got lost or confiscated during my travels, the sting would be less than if the same happened to my Dauvillaire, Joyeux, or even my Fontenille-Pataud.

 

[Jiki]

The OP said one knife.
Here is my selection.

3 blades = 3 edges so extended use between sharpening. I can do any task that I need in a camp setting with this knife including whittling for some campfire entertainment. I carry a 170 mm pocket boy saw on all my day hikes already, therefore most of my cutting needs are campsite related anyway.

 

[Modoc ED]

Sowbelly

 

[Bastler]

Lol I honestly figured Id see alot of pioneers/SI's
And stuff like buck 112 or 110s

Lots more stockman knives than I expected

My first thought was Buck 110, or maybe a 102, at least, where it's legal. I would want a plier based multitool to go with it. I don't consider that to be a knife, but rather a tool with a knife blade attached.

 

[5K Qs]

Well, I'm a seasoned backpacker who has packed through secontions of the AT, NCT, CDT, and the PCT. I've been all over the US and have spent much of my life exploring forests and mountains alike. The only knife I have ever carried is a Mora and I have never felt underprepared.

Which Mora model do you carry for backpacking?

 

[drj211]

Genuine beauty, but would HATE to lose such a knife on a trek.....

Agreed! I hate to lose any of them, but this one always makes the trek a little more joyful!

 

[osoverride]

Which Mora model do you carry for backpacking?

The Companion model.

 

[Rsmith_77]

A fine choice
It's even in the name "the companion"

 

[5K Qs]

The Companion model.

Thanks for the reply and the pics.
When I got into this "knife life", I decided I'd just stick to folders and I intentionally ignored fixed blades. But somewhere along the way, I became interested in "inexpensive work knives from around the world", and as I went down that rabbit hole, I discovered that in Scandinavia this often meant fixed blade knives. So I occasionally look at examples like Mora from Sweden and Marttiini from Finland.

To me, it's an interesting coincidence that one of the Mora models I look at most often is a carbon steel Companion, and the one whose looks appeals to me most is that green/black model you showed (even though my "practical side" says I should go for a more colorful model if I'm intending to carry it hiking in fields and forests). But I've also been looking lately at a model called Mora Basic 511, which is also carbon steel, but a shorter blade than the Companion, and what looks to be like a more rudimentary handle.

- GT

 

[Bloodloss]

I'll take this one. LTWK Large Pouter.
It's a whole lot of knife in a small package. Lightweight and easily concealed in the waistband or front pocket.

https://imgur.com/tUnLQQM

 

[GaiusJulius]

Anything that has a blade, really.

I’d take two knives if I could, a Swiss Army knife mostly for the myriad extra tools, and a jackknife or stockman of some kind. It would probably be whatever I had in my pocket when I set out.

 

[Jiki]

Thanks for the reply and the pics.
When I got into this "knife life", I decided I'd just stick to folders and I intentionally ignored fixed blades. But somewhere along the way, I became interested in "inexpensive work knives from around the world", and as I went down that rabbit hole, I discovered that in Scandinavia this often meant fixed blade knives. So I occasionally look at examples like Mora from Sweden and Marttiini from Finland.

To me, it's an interesting coincidence that one of the Mora models I look at most often is a carbon steel Companion, and the one whose looks appeals to me most is that green/black model you showed (even though my "practical side" says I should go for a more colorful model if I'm intending to carry it hiking in fields and forests). But I've also been looking lately at a model called Mora Basic 511, which is also carbon steel, but a shorter blade than the Companion, and what looks to be like a more rudimentary handle.

- GT

Not to derail the thread too badly.
The Companion is an excellent knife as osoverride has proven. I keep one in my pack all the time. As for the 511, you may not find a better value in a knife. Around Christmas time you can usually find a 3 pack for under $45. I keep a 511 in the car, in my go to work pack, and one in the shop. It is super sharp and for under $15 I don't worry about breaking it. Subsequently, I beat the crap out of the one in the shop often. It is tough as nails and sharpens right back up.

 

[Fodderwing]

Tapadero

 

[Boattale]

View attachment 2119021

 

[315]

Based on your original reference to hiking I’d Take a Swiss Army knife along. I always have a Huntsman in my vehicles, but if I could just have one along and wanted to keep it as small as I thought I might need I’d take a Camper. A couple of blades for all my cutting needs and a few tools that should pretty much deal with what I might encounter.