Alright guys I have recently been switching my edc back and forth between friction folders and traditional slipjoints. Something that weighs on my decision is use in cold weather, aka the issues that comes when trying to open a slipjoint with gloves. How do you cope with this. Also how easy are slipjoints to clean when used in something like field dressing.
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Traditionals in cold weather
- Thread starter fluKeKe
- Start date
It all depends on the slip joint.
Some, like the Buck 301's and 303's, have springs that are not that strong. If the leather on the glove is not that thick, sometimes you can get enough of a nail impression to open the knife. Others, like a single blade barlow or daddy barlow or sodbuster, can be pinched open with gloves on. SAK's and most of the rest you have to take a glove off. In this respect, I've found that friction folders have an advantage in that you can sometimes knock the heel of the blade against your other gloved hand and the blade will pop out a bit. Opinels have the handles shaped for this.
Of course, if I'm going to be out in freezing weather and I know I may need a knife, a small fixed blade is a great thing to have. I do believe that this is why our knife loving cousins in Scandinavia, have such a love of the puuko type of knife and don't even deal with folders that much.
As far as cleaning after dressing game, again if depends on the knife. A two blade Texas jack or sodbuster is going to be a heck of a lot easier to clean out than a SAK like a tinker. It can be done, and I've done it. But mostly it was an experiment in nostalgic minimalism. All the old guys I knew growing up all carried a sheath knife for game. They all had a pocket knife of some kind that was their 'everything' knife, and the sheath knife was reserved exclusively for game. They ranged from the Little Finn style of knives made by Case, Kabar, Western, and a few others, to the German made stag handle Edge Brand knives that had those great one piece stag handles in the old country style. I never saw a folding knife used for game processing until Buck came out with the folding hunter. I have to hand it to them, a folder is not a great knife for dressing game, but they created a whole new knife market that they ruled for many years.
Carl.
Some, like the Buck 301's and 303's, have springs that are not that strong. If the leather on the glove is not that thick, sometimes you can get enough of a nail impression to open the knife. Others, like a single blade barlow or daddy barlow or sodbuster, can be pinched open with gloves on. SAK's and most of the rest you have to take a glove off. In this respect, I've found that friction folders have an advantage in that you can sometimes knock the heel of the blade against your other gloved hand and the blade will pop out a bit. Opinels have the handles shaped for this.
Of course, if I'm going to be out in freezing weather and I know I may need a knife, a small fixed blade is a great thing to have. I do believe that this is why our knife loving cousins in Scandinavia, have such a love of the puuko type of knife and don't even deal with folders that much.
As far as cleaning after dressing game, again if depends on the knife. A two blade Texas jack or sodbuster is going to be a heck of a lot easier to clean out than a SAK like a tinker. It can be done, and I've done it. But mostly it was an experiment in nostalgic minimalism. All the old guys I knew growing up all carried a sheath knife for game. They all had a pocket knife of some kind that was their 'everything' knife, and the sheath knife was reserved exclusively for game. They ranged from the Little Finn style of knives made by Case, Kabar, Western, and a few others, to the German made stag handle Edge Brand knives that had those great one piece stag handles in the old country style. I never saw a folding knife used for game processing until Buck came out with the folding hunter. I have to hand it to them, a folder is not a great knife for dressing game, but they created a whole new knife market that they ruled for many years.
Carl.
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Folders are a little harder to clean when field dressing, but not all that hard. Try to keep the game away from the joint though. I've used folders on game, but do prefer a fixed blade.
As far as cold weather.... proud blades, Easy Opens, arced handles (IE Sodbuster) work pretty good. You could get a Svord Peasant friction folder.... That's a cool one handed traditional option.
As far as cold weather.... proud blades, Easy Opens, arced handles (IE Sodbuster) work pretty good. You could get a Svord Peasant friction folder.... That's a cool one handed traditional option.
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I have no experience with field dressing (hunting is not allowed here in Germany to the public - only hunters with permissions by the authority can do that).
But I have a lot of experience with lumbering (making firewood etc etc) - that´s the only thing I wear gloves; I mean when working with chainsaw etc.
Usually I don´t have to open a knife there. And if I have to - mostly the K55K Mercator follows me there and that´s pretty easy to open, even with heavy leather gloves.
Being honest, I´ve never tried to open an american traditional while wearing heavy gloves - just because I don´t need to.
But I think, it´s not that easy, especially when there are more blades on the knife. It might be hard to open it then not having a good grip on the nail nick / long pull.
But the only experiences I have in this case is with the K55K Mercator and there it works good.
But I have a lot of experience with lumbering (making firewood etc etc) - that´s the only thing I wear gloves; I mean when working with chainsaw etc.
Usually I don´t have to open a knife there. And if I have to - mostly the K55K Mercator follows me there and that´s pretty easy to open, even with heavy leather gloves.
Being honest, I´ve never tried to open an american traditional while wearing heavy gloves - just because I don´t need to.
But I think, it´s not that easy, especially when there are more blades on the knife. It might be hard to open it then not having a good grip on the nail nick / long pull.
But the only experiences I have in this case is with the K55K Mercator and there it works good.
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This is what folks around here have in their belt, summer or winter. Works great with or without gloves. As for folders, I just carry what I usually carry.
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Andi, can you elaborate a little more on this? I have to get a license every year to hunt, which on the surface doesn't sound all that different than what you describe. I'm just curious about hunting in Germany.
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I'd agree with that. Nothing beats a good samekniv (read fixed blade) when you need to have gloves on. (PS: Love the seinfeld inspired username)
dannyp
Gold Member
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- Nov 25, 2007
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Good point, Carl. I feel the same way about knife use in cold weather.
Opening a slip joint with gloves is a non-issue for me. I would rather take off the gloves to use the knife anyway. If I was in an extreme cold situation where taking off the gloves could be dangerous, then I would rather have a sheath knife instead of any type of folder.
As far as cleaning a slip joint after field dressing, it depends on a couple factors. The first would be how dirty you get the knife during the process. Someone who has a lot of experience will most likely be able to do it with less of a mess. The other determining factor is the available cleaning methods at your disposal. If you have quick access to a sink with hot water and soap, it isn't a huge deal to clean it up. If you get a lot of blood and/or fat down in the handle and let it dry, the job will be much more difficult.
My personal preference is to use a fixed blade for field dressing, but I wouldn't hesitate to use a slip joint if it was my only sharp knife. Yeah right, like that's gonna happen.
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My hunting knife is a Mora 546G. Dressing an animal is nasty, gooey business. I put the Mora in the dishwasher, and it's done. Very durable Knife.
Hi,
Me, I take my gloves off to use a knife. Even at -30F. So I just carry and use what ever I would normally use that day.
I have seldom used a fixed blade for dressing game. I tend to not like the way a sheath knife often catches on brush and other types of thick cover I normally hunt. For cleaning I just rinse them off and put them back in my pocket and oil the joints when I get home.
Dale
Me, I take my gloves off to use a knife. Even at -30F. So I just carry and use what ever I would normally use that day.
I have seldom used a fixed blade for dressing game. I tend to not like the way a sheath knife often catches on brush and other types of thick cover I normally hunt. For cleaning I just rinse them off and put them back in my pocket and oil the joints when I get home.
Dale
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Same here. I've cut up many an apple and sandwich during lunch break on the ski slopes with a SAK or my old trapper. If you need to make a quicker cut, bite the tip of the index finger and pull off the glove, open knife and make cut, return to pocket, then put back on the glove. Takes no time at all.
-- Mark
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If Im working outdoors I cut off the tips of the thumb, index, and middle finger of my gloves. That lets me finger nails, thread a nut to a bolt, or open a slip joint while the rest of my hands stay (sort of) warm.
If I have any choice in the matter I use a sheath knife for dressing game.
If I have any choice in the matter I use a sheath knife for dressing game.
I'm biased as I prefer the friction folding and locking Opinel to slip joints on any day of the week. That holds when I'm in the woods in the winter. I prefer the Opinel over lock backs too, as the lockring is easier to operate with gloves on.
Regarding fixed blades vs folders for the winter... I can't figure out a way to carry a fixed blade on me in a way that a) won't interfere with my pack and b) won't interfere with my skiing/hiking. Fixed blades go in my pack. Folder in my RFP. I use the latter 99.2% of the time.
Regarding fixed blades vs folders for the winter... I can't figure out a way to carry a fixed blade on me in a way that a) won't interfere with my pack and b) won't interfere with my skiing/hiking. Fixed blades go in my pack. Folder in my RFP. I use the latter 99.2% of the time.
Hammer67
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Depends on the definition of "cold" weather.
In anything down to 0F or so, I have never had a problem with pulling my glove off (if necessary), opening a folding knife, putting the glove back on and doing what needs to be done.
In extreme cold weather, where exposing flesh would quickly lead to frostbite, I would opt for a fixed blade, hands-down.
In anything down to 0F or so, I have never had a problem with pulling my glove off (if necessary), opening a folding knife, putting the glove back on and doing what needs to be done.
In extreme cold weather, where exposing flesh would quickly lead to frostbite, I would opt for a fixed blade, hands-down.
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You know that annoying, digs-in-yer-hip protrusion on a friction folder such as a Svord Peasant?
Well that's really quite handy for one handed opening, say for on the side of the thigh
My standard Svord Peasant has been used to peel coney, pigeon and squirrel. With the most minimal of 'mechanicals' inside, and its open back, its gotta be one of the easiest knives to clean.
Well that's really quite handy for one handed opening, say for on the side of the thigh
My standard Svord Peasant has been used to peel coney, pigeon and squirrel. With the most minimal of 'mechanicals' inside, and its open back, its gotta be one of the easiest knives to clean.