Travel Knives

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pachiderm

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Mar 25, 2014
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So, I'm planning a trip to southern Utah in about a month to see Zion, Arches, and Bryce Canyon, and I am wanting to take both a folder and a fixed blade for the journey. I am unwilling to put one of my nicer knives in checked luggage as I've heard horror stories about knives disappearing from bags or getting "removed" by the TSA. I am therefore on the lookout for a relatively cheap but well made fixed blade and folding knife that I won't mind getting lost. I'm open to suggestions for any combination that adds up to under $100 (bonus points for suggestions that fit the theme of a trip to the American Southwest). The current combination will likely be a Sog Seal Pup and a Sog Trident with desert digicam and copper tini. I'm not usually a big fan of SOG but the Seal pup is a steal at $44 and the Trident is a good buy at $50-ish, and I wouldn't be too upset about losing either of them.

Also, just general travel knife thread. Post what you take with you when you travel, along with how you make the decision of what to bring and what to leave behind.
 
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First, I wouldn't worry about putting knives in my luggage. I do this all the time, and I travel by air a dozen times a year. I've never "lost" a knife. Second, if you have to travel without a knife, then buy one when you arrive. You have a perfect excuse to do so. Just look for the local "Big 5" and take your pick.

Bryce is OK, best at sunrise and sunset for photo's. Zion is now like nature Disneyland, with all travel in the park by tourist bus, so they pretty much ruined what it was 40 years ago. Arches is nice, and I'd stay in Moab (if you can find a place). Do take the hike out to Delicate arch, but take a lot of water (gallon minimum). You're going in high tourist season, and it's going to be very hot (over 110 in the daytime). If you're not used to that beware; sunstroke can kill.

Last, my travel knives vary, but usually I have a medium Congress, a Case Back Pocket, and or a Pease or W.C. Davis fixed blade.
 
Kershaw Link and Kershaw Diskin Hunter, both under $100 and made in the USA.
 
maybe an esee izula. I've never owned one but i have seen some and they seem like the would hold up to abuse. and you could put a nice paracord wrap on the handle to make it more comfortable.
 
Based on your SOG choices i would go with;

Folding:
Boker + kalashnikov for $30; doesn't have the fancier spring assist or "arc lock", but I love the wood inserts > rubber handles.
Fixed:
Schrade SCFH31 - 8cr13mov - for about $20
That a decent combo for $50, leaves you more $ to travel with, or buy something else for the " collection" ;)

Or a bit less aggressive looking may be more suitable for an out of towner to draw less attention;

Folding:
Boker + Titan 3.75" lockback w/ light weight titanium handle for around $30
Fixed:
Boker + TUF Gen 2 - 4.75" w/ a nice micarta handle for around $40

Or Go real big with
Folding:
Boker + M-type 5" (BIG) framelock
Fixed:
Schrade Extreme Survival - 6.4"
Both for around $40-45...

I'm a bit biased since I'm not a fan of SOG quality in general, and also aus8 is my least favorite of the mid-tier alloys; it gets sharp, but in my experience dulls too quick. 8cr13mov gets real sharp too and I've had better luck with it...

440c on the other hand, which all of the other knives mentioned above are made with, it is still my favorite steal, and Boker+ does a pretty good job with it. Schrade (Taylor) isn't too horrible with it either usually (reason I don't own a Kalashnikov is because i already own a s&w (Taylor) border guard in 440c, so it would be redundant with the same design only an inch bigger, great blade though), but they can be more hit or miss. 440c travel blades give you better all around durability then aus8, and if they're not lost, you still get Quality steel out of the deal... My 2 cents.
 
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Colorodo said:
Kershaw Link and Kershaw Diskin Hunter, both under $100 and made in the USA.
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That's a solid route too... I honestly thought about them as Kershaw is my favorite bang for the $ brand, but chose instead to 1st go along with his SOG chosen "knife styles" but in a better quality steel for a lesser price, and then stuck with 440c (being my personal favorite american classic steel. The original "super" steel before they got all fancy) .

I really wish Kershaw would do more with 440c in their american made blades...
 
I say take what you want in your checked luggage. When I put a knife In checked bag, I wrap it in a ziplock bag, roll it up in a sock and stuff it into a shoe. I then I put the shoes in a cheap plastic bag and tie the bag shut. No problems yet.

If I was gonna spend $100 I would say a RAT 2 and one of the new Gerber Strongarms.
Test out that Strongarms for us in this adventure, take lots of pics and tell us how it did.

Went to Zion 10 years ago and it was beautiful. Hot. Drink lots of water.
 
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eisman said:
First, I wouldn't worry about putting knives in my luggage. I do this all the time, and I travel by air a dozen times a year. I've never "lost" a knife.
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That would have been my answer up until last week, when a brand-spanking-new Case bird hunter was stolen from my TSA-locked checked bag. Still, I do a lot of air travel, and this has only happened to me once.

It probably wouldn't have happened if I'd buried the knife in the bag -- the other three knives were untouched. But I bought that knife on the way to the airport and quickly tucked it in the bag before locking it ... my sticky-fingered little friend simply opened the bag and there it was. Normally, I bury the knives, stuff them in a shoe, etc.

As far as the original question goes, I travel everywhere with an Opinel and a Kabar Dozier folding hunter in my checked bag -- both inexpensive.
 
The seal pup is a great idea but I would go with an Ontario Rat 1 or Utilitac II for a folder.
 
If possible I recommend 2 separate trips to southern Utah.

You can make a loop in the southwest and see north rim of Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, Dam at Lake Powell, Zion, Bryce, Grand Staircase/Escalante, Capitol Reef, Natural Bridges. This is plenty to see in one week.

Then make a trip to Moab and see Arches, Canyonlands, Fisher Towers, Kane Creek Canyon and other sights around Moab. Canyonlands is divided into 3 different zones that aren't connected and you can spend a day minimum in the Island district and another day minimum in the Needles district. We go to Moab, spend a week there, and there still isn't enough time.
 
You can put knives in your checked luggage. When I took a trip to Aridzona last month, I brought my fixed blade with me. You just need to pack it the right way.

I sheathed my knife, wrapped it in packing paper, put the knife in its box, and taped the box shut with shipping tape.

It was halfway through the flight that I realized I had no knife to cut away the shipping tape.

Here's a link to a TSA guide for packing hunting equipment.
 
A multi tool always comes in handy while traveling. You could pick up a Leatherman Sidekick to stay on budget and have money left over for a fixed blade. As for a fixed blade, I just checked out Condor and they have a variety of sizes and designs at reasonable prices. You could put together a nice package to take along for close to your budget and come home with a few decent knives for your stable.
 
Go to America's largest retailer beginning with a W

Buck Paklite 143 fixed----$20 & a Camillus Hustle folder----$25-------that way you're not out much if someone at the TSA has sticky fingers

Heck, for that kind of money, you could buy a backup for each and still be under $100

Both are decent knives
 
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Angus McGunnigle said:
I say take what you want in your checked luggage. When I put a knife In checked bag, I wrap it in a ziplock bag, roll it up in a sock and stuff it into a shoe. I then I put the shoes in a cheap plastic bag and tie the bag shut. No problems yet.

If I was gonna spend $100 I would say a RAT 2 and one of the new Gerber Strongarms.
Test out that Strongarms for us in this adventure, take lots of pics and tell us how it did.

Went to Zion 10 years ago and it was beautiful. Hot. Drink lots of water.
Click to expand...

I've thought about that. I've also thought about an SRK since Knifecenter has them for $50 right now. How does Gerber's 420HC compare to SOG's Aus8?

Rat Finkenstein said:
Get a victorinox SAK and a mora.
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Any suggestion for which Mora?

bdmicarta said:
If possible I recommend 2 separate trips to southern Utah.

You can make a loop in the southwest and see north rim of Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, Dam at Lake Powell, Zion, Bryce, Grand Staircase/Escalante, Capitol Reef, Natural Bridges. This is plenty to see in one week.

Then make a trip to Moab and see Arches, Canyonlands, Fisher Towers, Kane Creek Canyon and other sights around Moab. Canyonlands is divided into 3 different zones that aren't connected and you can spend a day minimum in the Island district and another day minimum in the Needles district. We go to Moab, spend a week there, and there still isn't enough time.
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That sounds like good info. I'll keep this in mind for my trip, and possible revisit
 
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A buck 119 and a victorinox spartan or a climber can be had for less than $100. Plus it would be a lightweight pair, which always rocks when hiking.
 
In addition to purchasing knives you care less about than the ones you want to take; you can mail the preferred knives to your hotel/etc ahead of your travels. I'd say insure for full replacement value, maybe pack another (collapsed) box inside to help simplify return shipping and give the hotel/etc a heads-up you have a package coming that will require a signature.
 
I normally carry a Victorinox Mechanic or Soldier when I travel. So I recommend some sort of SAK. Don't carry a fixed blade much.
 
The last time I flew with knives, I kept it "cheap"

When I got to the other side, I checked right there at the baggage return. All there, safe and sound. I counted, and it ended up being $1000 in knives.

Nothing really expensive. I just kept adding knives while packing. Most were production slipjoints. One custom, but not an expensive.


That could have been a bad unpacking.


I would take a couple of production knives. A folder or two, and a fixed blade of your choice.

You'd hate to have to cut your own leg or arm off with a multi tool, with a dull blade!
 
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