Recomend good knife for hiking

Gerberblades

Gerberblades

Joined
Dec 31, 2006
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A dear friend of scouting in my sons troop is leaving , and I would like to get him a nice knife, we don't want to spend over 150 dollars, but I want a nice knife that I can have engraved on the handle. I have a Grip by Benchmade, that I am happy with but It cannot be engraved on. Prefer a knife around 7-8 inches in legnth.

Thanks
GB
 
Get him a RANGER RD7 for about $100, plus a few $$$ for shipping, and you have plenty left over to have that knife engraved.
 
If he's in Scouting, he probably needs a good folder. Fixed blades are officially only "discouraged" by the BSA, but they aren't allowed in many troops or at district activities. Also, things of value at Scouting activities tend to become 'lost', so I wouldn't spend a bunch of $$.

My point, an expensive engraved gift knife and a hiking knife should be two seperate things.

AG Russell has some nice Barlow knives that could be engraved on the bolster.

A Swiss Army Knife (One Hand Trekker would be great), Opinel, or lightweight lockback like the AG Russell FeatherLite would be perfect hiking knives.

Happy Shopping,
-Bob
 
An AG Russell Premium scout would be a great choice. You can get his initials engraved on it as well.
 
Case has a license to sell "Official" BSA knives. They have several patterns, some with bolsters that could be engraved, like the stockman or trapper.

-Bob
 
I recommend the SAK farmer, a great woods knife and its engraveable. I think it will be just the ticket a fine keepsake and a great user, for the price you could get him two or three.
 
cb4life_30 said:
I recommend the SAK farmer, a great woods knife and its engraveable. I think it will be just the ticket a fine keepsake and a great user, for the price you could get him two or three.
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Amen! Get him a Farmer for hiking and - with the money saved - get him a keepsake. BTW, here's a link where you can buy a Farmer online and have them engrave it (Swiss Knives Express offers custom blade engraving for your Swiss Army knife. For only $9.95 we will etch-engrave your name or initials directly into the steel blade and then add custom scroll work to the left and right. This beautiful etching is permanent and made to last a lifetime.).
 
accessories but do have scissors which are the most useful and used tool on a SAK. The Victorinox Mountaineer and Ranger are very nice. I've got a Victorinox Fisherman my wife gave me about 20 years ago. Very nice hiking knife. Just pick one of the full-size SAKs with scissors. I find the corkscrew invaluable as well, but that's a personal choice and, anyway, they are so small as to be useful primarily as a backup when you forget your real corkscrew.
 
I'd recommend an Anza Knife. You can get his initials custom heat treated into the blade.

Cool knives and quality also. Well respected around here.
 
Bob W said:
"If he's in Scouting, he probably needs a good folder. Fixed blades are officially only "discouraged" by the BSA, but they aren't allowed in many troops or at district activities...A Swiss Army Knife (One Hand Trekker would be great), Opinel, or lightweight lockback like the AG Russell FeatherLite would be perfect hiking knives." - YIKES!


PLEASE - ditch the Swiss Army or Opinel suggestions. Yes, a lockback. I can see no good reason why anyone would want to buy a non-locking folder, but if you must, it's your fingers you risk. Giving one to an inexperienced kid is irresponsible. And since, IMHO, a knife is all about the blade & blade quality, if you're going to spend decent money (over $50) on the thing & then more to have it engraved, purchase something with better quality steel than a Swiss Army or Opinel. It'll be a big deal to him & a teachable moment: show him how to use it safely & care for it properly. Perhaps a reminder, too, of where NOT to carry it (many school boards will turf you out for carrying, no excuses).
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PLEASE - ditch the Swiss Army or Opinel suggestions. Yes, a lockback. I can see no good reason why anyone would want to buy a non-locking folder, but if you must, it's your fingers you risk.
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Uh, the Opinel does lock, as does the SAK I recommended.

IMHO, a knife is all about the blade & blade quality, if you're going to spend decent money (over $50) on the thing & then more to have it engraved, purchase something with better quality steel than a Swiss Army or Opinel.
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Maybe you missed the point of my original post. Lightweight, inexpensive, locking knives such as the Opinel, One-Hand Trekker, and Featherlite are perfect for hiking. I recommended different knives for expensive gifts.

Expensive gifts and Boy Scout hiking trips don't mix.

Lighten up.
-Bob
 
Digery said:
I can see no good reason why anyone would want to buy a non-locking folder, but if you must, it's your fingers you risk. Giving one to an inexperienced kid is irresponsible.
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1) Fella, I carried a slipjoint for a whole lotta years as a boy and a man and never cut myself due to it being a slipjoint. I like locking blades and carry one frequently, but saying that "giving someone a slipjoint is irresponsible" is an incorrect statement.

2) And who said the kid is irresponsible? I saw nothing in the original post that supports that surmise. I've known lots of boys (and men) that I would not trust with a butter knife. I have known other boys (and men) that I would trust with very sharp tools. Depends on the boy and if Gerberblades judges that the boy is responsible, I will take it that he is.

3) For that matter, re-reading the original post, it could be the scoutmaster who is leaving. Gerberblades never said it was a boy he was buying a gift for, merely " a dear friend of scouting in my sons troop".

4) as Bob W points out in his later post, both knives he suggested have locks.
 
knarfeng said:
... re-reading the original post, it could be the scoutmaster who is leaving. Gerberblades never said it was a boy he was buying a gift for, merely " a dear friend of scouting in my sons troop".
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I was just going to write that. The original post says: "A dear friend of scouting in my sons troop is leaving , and I would like to get him a nice knife ..." From that I surmise that it's an adult who has been involved in scouting who is leaving, not a boy. ('Course I may be wrong ..... it's happened once or twice! :D ).
 
PLEASE - ditch the Swiss Army or Opinel suggestions. Yes, a lockback. I can see no good reason why anyone would want to buy a non-locking folder, but if you must, it's your fingers you risk. Giving one to an inexperienced kid is irresponsible. And since, IMHO, a knife is all about the blade & blade quality, if you're going to spend decent money (over $50) on the thing & then more to have it engraved, purchase something with better quality steel than a Swiss Army or Opinel. It'll be a big deal to him & a teachable moment: show him how to use it safely & care for it properly. Perhaps a reminder, too, of where NOT to carry it (many school boards will turf you out for carrying, no excuses).[/QUOTE]


Oh my. I like lockbacks, and own many, but I see nothing wrong with non-locking knives in the hands of a responsible person. I've never known anyone who was cut due to the fact that his knife didn't lock. Some of the SAKs do lock.

What's wrong with the steel in a SAK?? They usually come sharp, stay that way for a long time, and don't rust. Easy to sharpen when required. That defines good steel to me. The tweezers come in handy for splinters which can be a lifesaver when hiking (the object of this exercise). Customer service is outstanding as well. They (Victorinox or Wenger) have replaced broken scales with a new knife in some cases. Ditto for broken scissors. SAKs are really hard to beat in their niche.

And again, the suggestion was for an adult leader, and again, Opinels lock.
 
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