travel knife

R

raul casso

Joined
May 18, 2018
Messages
25
Hi everyone,

I had to go to Russia several times a few years ago. Before going, I had to decide what knife to take (stowed in my luggage). In deciding, I included the following considerations:

1. The knife had to be commercial and replaceable in case it was taken away from me by Russian customs authorities or otherwise lost;
2. It had to hold an edge without need for resharpening for the time I would be there (ten days) and given normal use (eating with it; opening packaged stuff).
3. It had to be benign in appearance--it could not be tactical nor could it look like a weapon because I wouldn't want to be detained by the authorities.
4. It had to be a folder to be discreet--obviously I was not going to walk around Moscow with a fixed blade strapped to my hip.

So, for example, I ruled out my cold steel folders--they look like weapons--tactical all the way. I took a spyderco delica 4 in VG 10 steel instead. It looks like a utility knife; non-menacing given its light blue color and blade shape with that ridiculous looking but functional hole; non-tactical--utilitarian in aspect as opposed to a weapon; and, the VG 10, given the kind of uses I was anticipating, would hold up over the time I would be there. Also, if some Russian cop were to take it away from me (fat chance--the Russians could not care less about an American tourist with a spyderco), I could suffer the loss--spydercos can be replaced; I have other folders in my collection that cannot be replaced.

I live on the border of the US and Mexico. When I go into Mexico (about every other month) I go with my spyderco or a benchmade for the same reasons (as opposed to one of my custom folders that I cannot replace and would hate to lose for whatever reason).

What do any of you who travel and pack a blade do?
 
It would depend on the kind of travel, but I probably wouldn't take a knife with me and would buy something affordable locally that I can either leave behind/gift to somebody there or mail home. Not worth the headache imho.
 
b00n said:
It would depend on the kind of travel, but I probably wouldn't take a knife with me and would buy something affordable locally that I can either leave behind/gift to somebody there or mail home. Not worth the headache imho.
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I actually thought about buying a blade locally but decided against it: I'd have to find a place to buy one to begin with. It's not like you can go to walmart or whatever. And, I might find a kitchen knife maybe--cheaply made, lousy steel, no edge to speak of. I therefore decided to take my own. It was not a problem. Just put it in my bag, checked it in, and had it once there. But, as I said, I took folders (spyderco) that I didn't mind saying goodbye to if I had to. And, when using it in public, nobody raised any eyebrows and neither did the local constabulary. In the meantime, I enjoyed a decent blade while there. And, I brought it back with me. There were no issues. In fact, as I write, that blue spyderco is sitting right there. I have taken it to Russia 4 times, and Mexico and South America many times in the same way. I could not care less if I lost it, but so far, there it sits.
 
If I were me, and I think we can all agree that I'm not, :confused: I'd be more focused on looking up Shirogorov to at least see if they are more affordable over there. As for traveling with, I bring the cheapest, easiest to replace blade I have. Currently that would be my Kershaw Hotwire, (under $10, only from Wally World so easily found elsewhere) or an Opinel. If only because - as proven on my last trip - I have a senior moment and forget the knife is in my pocket and it gets confiscated by security.
 
Personally, the only type of knife I would travel with is a standard, non-locking SAK. In many countries, any type of locking knife is illegal to carry, whether or not it looks benign to knife enthusiasts.

Jim
 
Given your requirements, a SAK, a basic Opinel N°6 or any small slipjoint (UK legal) would check your boxes, not upset the authorities and not upset you if they get confiscated for whatever reason. I still think it's a bit of a gamble to import a knife in a foreign country (CUSTOMS ! WEAPON !) with all the mess currently going on. Buying something local and gifting it to your hosts when leaving has always struck me as a win/win option.
 
raul casso said:
I actually thought about buying a blade locally but decided against it: I'd have to find a place to buy one to begin with. It's not like you can go to walmart or whatever.
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Yeah, unless you are really familiar with the city you are in, finding a knife you're satisfied with locally can be a problem. It can be a very time consuming activity filled with frustration. My choice has been a SAK and they have served me well for this purpose. You mostly need knives for odds and ends in foreign countries for the most part.
 
I'll mail a SAK on ahead to the place I'm staying, and gift it off to the shuttle/cab driver on the way to the airport on the day I leave. Usually a Victorinox recruit since I consider the two layer cellidor SAK's semi disposable. At 17 dollars at the local big box store, the recruit is on a one way trip. In July, we're going to Key West again, a Victorinox recruit is what I'm mailing to myself at the place we always stay at. In the week we stay, it will cut bait, slice limes for vodka tonics, and whatever use I have for it.

Since we go strictly carry on, it won't be making the trip home with me. Last time I gave my SAK to the young Cuban guy that was the grounds keeper at the place. He acted like I had given him a lotto ticket! SAKs make good give-away because everyone in the world recognizes them.
 
I don't travel internationally. When I fly, it is for business trips and I occasionally need some tools in my work, so I pack a SAK and Leatherman in my checked luggage, usually rolled up in a sock and stuck down in a shoe. Either an alox Cadet, Pioneer, or Electrician.

If I were limited to carry-on, and I really needed a knife of some kind at the remote end, I'd go by a big chain store and buy something that would get me through the trip and make a gift of it to one of the people who work at the local company facility I was going to. If it was leisure travel, I'd probably do without.
 
I live in CA, grew up in Michigan. When I go back to visit, when I leave the airport, I'll stop at a sporting goods store and buy a knife. When I'm ready to leave, I give it to my nephew.
 
Car travel, I carry a Matriarch and a Don Hanson warncliffe single 3.3" blade trapper. Protection and heavy duty cutting. My bag has a Leatherman.

When I travel by plane, I pack in the luggage a Matriarch (for the hotel room), a G10 Spyderco Harpy (for the street) and a LoneWolfe Loveless City knife (street carry) plus a Leatherman. I've never had anything taken from my luggage.


If I am going to be gone for awhile, I usually include a more knives. A Benchmade Mel Pardue 530 if the knife laws are not restrictive, or if they are restrictive, another slipjoint. A cheaper custom occasionally as well.
 
i agree that a nondescript, SAK slip joint is the best choice. Just throw it in a bag that's checked in. When traveling without checking bags in, however, you have to improvise while there--wherever that may be--go buy one somewhere. Once, a customs officer in Moscow found my traditional folder in my dop-kit (it was a stockman pattern). She looked it over and then dropped it back in. No big deal. A lockback, even a blue colored spyderco may not have made it through--but at least it does not look like a weapon which helps. In fact, a delica 4 looks kind of dorky. If a cop on the street were to stop you with a delica 4, the most that might happen is he'll take it away from you. No cop is going to want to hastle with arresting an american tourist with a spyderco. A cold steel extra large voyager would be a different matter altogether (I state the obvious). It would not be worth it. I had a customs officer in mexico confiscate a titanium fork from me because it was "pointy." I had not checked in any bags, and had it in my carry on. A fork. the customs officer was female, and rather nice looking. I though to offer her the fork in exchange for some pork but I didn't think that would go over well. She stuck the fork in her porking pocket and gave me a smug look. She knew a good thing when she saw one. She took the fork home with her, and I got porked.
 
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