Vacation knives

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315

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My two daughters and I leave this coming Saturday for a trip we’ve wanted to do for a long time. We will hit Zion, Bryce, The Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, Monument Valley, Moab and Arches and eventually end up back at the airport in Vegas. If I can swing it I wouldn’t mind trying to squeeze in the nascar race on the 16th. I’m thinking about taking two knives on this journey.

1st is my Victorinox Small Tinker. I’ve carried it around the world and similar to Shanghai McCoy in Rooster Cogburn it’s “seen every...ting...done every...ting”, well, not really but I like that scene.

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The second knife I’m thinking about is my 66 Calf Roper. Since we are hitting several National parks I thought it might be fitting. The jigging on this always reminds me of carvings or something you would see in a National Park lodge.

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Just sort of curious if any of you have a rhyme or reason for the knives you take on vacation?
 
The only two vacations I have specific knives for is beach and any flying ones. Going to the beach, I stick with stainless in case of contact with salt water. Any time I have to fly, I toss my little buck stockman (forget the model number) into my checked bag, it’s cheap and easily replaceable, in case it gets lost or stolen. Other than that, it’s whatever I feel like carrying the day I leave.
 
I feel like there is always a complex calculus when selecting a knife for a vacation. If I am taking a plane, I always factor in replacability. Not necessarily cost, but can I replace the knife. If I am going to be in the bush, maybe I take something valuable, as long as it can be replaced. The second is legality. When I visit my in-laws on the East Coast I make sure to pack non-locking little knives because I don't want any legal trouble. And then if I am going to a conference, I usually want something small and cute, unless its an archaeology conference, then I can carry whatever I want and I won't be alone.
 
Typically for me it has been an alox cadet. Thet’re relatively cheap, easy to replace, thin, and lightweight. The bottle opener/screw driver comes in handy. Stainless means I don’t need to worry about saltwater. If I bring it to the lake or beach, I could even swim with it in my pocket and it doesn’t matter.

This summer my family and I went to Costa Rica for vacation. We had a great time and the Cadet came in handy. Unfortunately, on the way home we took a different airline and I didn’t realize we had to pay to check bags. At the last minute, I decided to carry on my bag, not thinking about the knife inside. So, TSA ends up with the knife and my 5 year old son is crying as we walk away because they “stole” my knife. Once he calmed down, he told me I don’t need to worry because he is asking Santa to replace it for me. So, I have that going for me, which was thoughtful of him. If “Santa” comes through, I’ll have my vacation knife once again.
 
Sacto said:
Typically for me it has been an alox cadet. Thet’re relatively cheap, easy to replace, thin, and lightweight. The bottle opener/screw driver comes in handy. Stainless means I don’t need to worry about saltwater. If I bring it to the lake or beach, I could even swim with it in my pocket and it doesn’t matter.

This summer my family and I went to Costa Rica for vacation. We had a great time and the Cadet came in handy. Unfortunately, on the way home we took a different airline and I didn’t realize we had to pay to check bags. At the last minute, I decided to carry on my bag, not thinking about the knife inside. So, TSA ends up with the knife and my 5 year old son is crying as we walk away because they “stole” my knife. Once he calmed down, he told me I don’t need to worry because he is asking Santa to replace it for me. So, I have that going for me, which was thoughtful of him. If “Santa” comes through, I’ll have my vacation knife once again.
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Sounds like you better make sure Santa comes through so that little boys heart doesn’t stay broken!
 
I never fly, so that is both a liberation and an obstacle :confused:

It's always hard to decide on what to take on a holiday - takes more time than packing :D

But I've got it down to One Fixed one Folding. But, which? :D Usually a small Fixed and usually a single-blade locking or 2 blade quite large say Churchill or Eureka type knife.
 
I don't fly! It's not because I'm afraid to fly... it's because I'm afraid to crash.
Still, when I travel I bring one of the knives I carry to work. These knives are non-locking and have a blade under 2-1/2", so I know they will be legal wherever I travel. It will usually be a little Buck stockman or a GEC #14, something along those lines. It's plenty of knife for my cutting needs while away from home.
 
The last time I travelled, I tossed a SAK Waiter and my G10-clad Case Peanut into the checked luggage. I was a bit nervous, though, as our only checked luggage was my daughter's Pack-N-Play. I put the knives in a Ziploc bag and zip-tied them to the interior frame. They survived the trip there and back without a problem, though!

My first thought was to bring my Alox Rancher and my everyday Peanut, but after considering: a) their mode of transportation, b) the SAK being discontinued, and c) the huge sentimental value of my green Peanut, I decided to leave those two at home.
 
For years my standard travel complement were these two: my Buck 110 should any "serious" cutting tasks arise (like a picnic where I needed to cut bread, cheese and/or fruit) and my Vic Woodsman (similar to Huntsman) for everything else. (I once used the Woodsman to harvest some "souvenir" pieces of bamboo in the Caribbean. :eek: ) I still think that's a reasonable philosophy, although now that I'm more into knives I tend to carry a wider range starting with my Vic Rambler, a peanut, then something a bit larger (mini trapper, swayback gent, medium stockman, etc.) and topping it off with a "large" knife such as a full-size trapper, tribal lock, or even my Kershaw Link.

OK, this provides an excuse to tell this story. Years ago I was at a training session with a group. I don't remember the situation exactly but we had some time off one day and one of the other guys and I ended up watching a movie in my motel room. The hero in the movie was driving a pickup truck and was being chased and must have gotten stranded or for some reason needed to strike out on foot, so he opened the glove compartment and pulled out a fixed blade knife and a compass. My companion started laughing -- "Who carries around a knife and a compass like that?" So I opened my suitcase and pulled out my 110 and my compass...

To this day I still always carry a magnetic compass when I travel. And I fully agree with Will Power Will Power -- "It's always hard to decide on what to take on a holiday - takes more time than packing." :D
 
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If I have to fly for a vacation because it's more than a two day drive, then my default pocket knife is always a small SAK. Since I usually don't travel with carry on, I'll mail it ahead to to myself where I'm staying and give it away when I leave.

Sometimes it's a recruit, sometimes a classic. Most often our flying destination is Key West, so a SAK works out well. They cut bait, slice the little key limes that go in our vodka tonics, and work well on fishing line. Easily replaced at the big box stores for a very nominal sum, and the person receiving it is always appreciative of the recognized red handle with the silver cross. Last trip to Key West I gave the classic to the shuttle van driver that took us to the airport. He loved it.

If I'm just going to California I drive and carry whatever I like including my CCW choice. I fly only if needed. because I don't like the airlines or the way customers get treated. I am a human being, not a sardine.
 
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If traveling for work related purposes, then it is my Leatherman Charge TTI with bit kit, Space Pen, bit extender and, flashlight. If traveling for recreation and nothing too "off the beaten path", I often carry a SwissBianco Yeoman. It has a good range of tools without being too huge and / or scary looking to the locals. This one has served well on a recent trip to Italy. The ballpoint pen and corkscrew serving as MVP's in that game. The copper scales just give it some "man jewelry class" IMO.

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I used going on vacation as an excuse to pick up a Case Mini Copperlock, (cv). I convinced myself I needed a small locking blade that was easily replaced if lost or stolen from my luggage. I’m glad I got it, great little knife that sees pocket time often since the vacation.
 
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We're headed to Maine at the end of the week. We'll be driving and I'll travel with my normal selection for daily carry. I do something similar when travelling by train.
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When I have to fly somewhere I take a peanut in my checked bag. The Case has been to the UK, Italy and the US West Coast many times. The pinched peanut made our last trip to Italy and a recent jaunt to Santa Fe.
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I'll add that I hate flying. After our last American Airlines fiasco, coming back from Santa Fe, I told my wife "if our destination isn't on the other side of an ocean we're either driving or going by train".
Of course she scoffed at me.:eek: I mean it though!;)
 
Most of my vacations involve hiking in the back country. So a fixed blade or a sturdy folder(or both) is the call. Other vacations usually involve flying and I take nothing. It's awful. But so is checking luggage. It's almost as bad as checking luggage and having a knife stolen.
 
Maybe someone said this already but if flying, roll up each knife in it's own pair of socks in your checked baggage. Much less likely to be taken by sticky fingers. Even if you don't wear socks on vacation with shorts, etc. pack em.
 
I'm a big fan of 2-3 layer SAKs when I go on vacation. It can tackle just about anything you may run into and is easily replaceable, lightweight, and universally recognizable and people friendly.
I'd definitely go with the 84mm Tinker :thumbsup:
 
The only place I go to for vacation in recent years is colorado to ride dirtbikes in the mountains, always during the break of race season in OK, so we drive there with a toy hauler. I don't want to go on a plane or anywhere else where a pocket knife is not allowed, and I don't have much interest going outside of CONUS, so it works out.

I just got back from colorado and I brought a nice schrade walden 881 stockman with me as my main knife. I did not have as much need for a knife while on vacation as I do at work, but it was still useful. As always a good stockman doesn't lack. In my edc bag I swapped out some of my usual backup knives for a schrade walden 890 stockman, schrade cut 8874 stockman, an imerial solid bolster cattle and a scout that are worry free workhorses, just in case (which the scout did come in handy for that purpose). The other knives I had and that are pretty much always in my bag include an esee 6, gec 43 and 71, schrade walden 808 stockman, sak super tinker and classic and a leatherman surge with a bit kit.
 
Modoc ED said:
Maybe someone said this already but if flying, roll up each knife in it's own pair of socks in your checked baggage. Much less likely to be taken by sticky fingers. Even if you don't wear socks on vacation with shorts, etc. pack em.
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I also do this. Each knife in its own sock. Just making theft one extra step helps prevent it. Also, people might not want to touch your socks. Some people pack their knives in their underwear in a ziplock...
 
What a great list of destinations for your vacation! I’m jealous. I absolutely love that area. And yes, I labor over what knives I bring on my vacations, I enjoy the planning.
 
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