Outdoor knife

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Pr2460

Joined
Dec 27, 2017
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Im going to a local statepark this week and was wondering what your opinions are on what knife would be the best to bring. My benchmade mini griptilian (thumb stud no serrations), victorinox spartan, and leatherman sidekick were the ones I was considering.
 
Victoronix Spartan, see if it will do all the small chores. I was quite surprised, with my type of camping, that all I needed was my Alox SA Pioneer. Of course I had another 4 inch blade in the pop up trailer, but did not use it, just nice to know it was there. Depends on what activities you plan to do.
 
A Becker BK9, one of the best woods knives ever made!
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cbach8tw said:
Victoronix Spartan, see if it will do all the small chores. I was quite surprised, with my type of camping, that all I needed was my Alox SA Pioneer. Of course I had another 4 inch blade in the pop trailer, but did not use it, just nice to know it was there.
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Thats the one i was leaning towards. Thanks for your input
 
Mini Grip and a Sidekick should handle anything you can encounter.

I use a Bugout and a Wingman myself, which is about as close as it gets to these two.

State parks are pretty friendly spots usually.
 
Or make it a test run, if you can take all three, use them and see which is better for what you want to do. My SA just opened packages, cut string and sliced up onions, not the best but serviceable, a jack of all trades, master of none. I have a couple of Moras now that I want to test out next.

Let us know how it goes.
 
cbach8tw said:
Or make it a test run, if you can take all three, use them and see which is better for what you want to do. My SA just opened packages, cut string and sliced up onions, not the best but serviceable, a jack of all trades, master of none. I have a couple of Moras now that I want to test out next.

Let us know how it goes.
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Functionally most Moras are hard to beat. My personal favorite is the HD for outdoor work. It's carbon steel so I've applied a good wax so it and it doesn't rust.
 
Bring which ever makes you happiest.

Most people who complete the AT or PCT carry something like a Vic Classic, so its hard to argue that anything more than that is needed.

The point of going out is to have fun and if your fun is enhanced by carrying a knife, carry one.

I find that my most common use of a knife is food prep - cutting salami and cheese or spreading peanut butter. I've never needed to make a fire for safety despite regular winter camping. But, making fires where it's sustainable and allowed can be fun.

I carry an Emberlit stove often. It reduces the impact of fires considerably and makes feeding them much easier.

If I carry the Emberlit, I take a Mora Companion, an Opinel saw and a Leatherman PS2.

If I don't take the Emberlit, I carry a light folder and the PS2.

If I had to choose from your pile, I'd pick the mini grip and Leatherman.
 
Pr2460 said:
Im going to a local statepark this week and was wondering what your opinions are on what knife would be the best to bring. My benchmade mini griptilian (thumb stud no serrations), victorinox spartan, and leatherman sidekick were the ones I was considering.
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What will you be doing?

Without knowing that, I'd take them all and a fixed blade.
 
Im not really doing any camping, its just for peace of mind that if i need it ill have it.
 
Smatchet!

And in all seriousness... If you don't plan to use it for anything, take the SAK.
 
I usually just take a SAK and a approx 4 inch fixed blade for camping. For hiking where I likely won't need a knife but its convenient to have one sometimes I take either an SAK or an EDC sized fixed blade.
 
Just get a mora fixed blade to go along with one of those. Cheap and found at most sporting goods stores.
 
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craytab said:
What will you be doing?

Without knowing that, I'd take them all and a fixed blade.
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Even if I knew that, I'd still suggest taking all of them and a fixed blade.

You bought 'em....you might as well play with them.

As others like Lee D Lee D have mentioned a Vic Farmer and 4 inch fixed blade like an F1 are more than you will need.

But you bought more knives than that, didn't ya? Well go play with as many users as you can carry.
 
Pr2460 said:
Im not really doing any camping, its just for peace of mind that if i need it ill have it.
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If you're not camping, I assume that you're going to be doing some hiking, or something close to hiking. If that's the case, then the question of peace of mind can work at a couple of levels.

I keep a daypack with a minimal survival/emergency kit in it in my car and this pack or its contents go with me on any hike. The survival/emergency kit I carry is based on the Mountaineer's "10 Essentials" list. To my way of thinking, "peace of mind" comes from having this list covered and having knowledge of how to use them.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten_Essentials

FWIW, Harvey Manning, the original author of the 10 essentials list, wrote the following in the 2nd edition of Freedom of the Hills as he advocated the use of a boy-scout style utility knife (aka SAK).
"For special purposes a hunting knife is superior, as are double-bitted axes, cavalry sabers, Gatling guns, and dynamite, but a modest mountaineer contents himself with a modest blade."

In this light, your Leatherman alone is enough, as would your SAK (although I prefer having pliers for repairs).

At another level, peace of mind might be carrying more stuff (more clothing, more extra water, more knife) because you are afraid of the consequences if you don't. Here you get into a tension between bringing things that bring comfort and the comfort of your pack as the weight grows. This can lead to a 40lb day pack. There is a great saying on this... "We carry our fears in our pack."

And yet another level of peace of mind is fun. If you like to carry a knife just to play with a knife then peace of mind will only be achieved by bringing that knife or those knives so you don't miss an opportunity to play with them. That's entirely reasonable.

If you don't plan on hiking and you don't plan on camping, then I would suggest carrying whatever you typically EDC.
 
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