Vacation knives

You're going to be in Moab already, Canyon Lands is right there. I also recommend hitting Capitol Reef on your way back to Vegas, it is a hidden gem amongest all of those big named parks. We did the mighty 5 last summer and I just had a inexpensive Rough Rider Stockman with me that was no big deal if it got swiped in the air travel.
 
Replaceability is definitely a good thing to consider (especially when traveling by plane), but to be honest, I don't always follow that rule when choosing knives to take on a trip. It's just a risk that you can decide to take (or not), I guess. If replaceability is a factor that's important to you, then I'd second the suggestions of either an SAK or Opinel.

@Modoc ED's suggestion of stuffing your packed knives in a pair of socks is a great suggestion. :thumbsup:

Here are some photos I've taken on recent vacations that show the knives I chose to bring with me.

This past weekend we drove to Arkansas to visit family. I brought my 2016 Forum Knife, as well as a #25 Barlow that I carried one day but never took a picture of, and my Ebony Lambsfoot.

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Last summer we visited my brother and his family in England. Legality had to be kept in mind for this trip, as UK laws require blades to be under 3" and non-locking, but for traditional knives, I didn't find that too difficult to manage. I decided on just one knife for the trip, and went with this spearpoint Tidioute #25 in Ebony. Easily fit the size requirements, while still providing a stout enough blade (that's one of my favorite things about the #25 in general). Since it was the only knife I had with me (and my first trip to England), I took quite a few pictures. :D

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A month of so before that, we flew to Texas for my cousin's wedding. For that trip, I brought along a #13 Whittler and a #71 Bull Nose.

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I thought that made a pretty good traveling combo, providing a nice variety of blade shapes and sizes. The Bull Nose came in handy when it came time to eat at the wedding reception, as by the time we got food they had run out of silverware (except spoons)! The Bull Nose worked great as a knife (obviously), and pretty well as fork, too. :D

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JohnDF said:
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.
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Don't worry John. I walked away from this one. At least that's what they tell me because I don't remember a thing.
 
Headed to Costa Rica this past spring. Lived out of a van for a couple weeks and loved it.

I hummed and hawed about which knife to take and I ended up with a stainless Mora and a Vic Pioneer. I had never given the Pioneer a fair chance and always figured the steel was too soft for someone with such distinguished tastes in cutlery. Well... with occasional steeling and stropping, the blade stayed plenty sharp enough through the couple weeksof camping. Had to pick up a machete from the local ferretaria of course.;)
 
jmarston said:
Headed to Costa Rica this past spring. Lived out of a van for a couple weeks and loved it.

I hummed and hawed about which knife to take and I ended up with a stainless Mora and a Vic Pioneer. I had never given the Pioneer a fair chance and always figured the steel was too soft for someone with such distinguished tastes in cutlery. Well... with occasional steeling and stropping, the blade stayed plenty sharp enough through the couple weeksof camping. Had to pick up a machete from the local ferretaria of course.;)
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I always look for a locally made blade when I travel, it’s much more “legal” and makes a great gift(to myself) when I get back home.
 
Last time I flew, I put an Alox Electrician and an Opinel in my luggage. Worked out fine; they got to New Orleans and back home safely, and I didn’t meet a cigar I couldn’t cut.

Most of my vacations were by motorcycle. I typically packed an Opinel, my small Anza, an SAK or learherman, and my Wirkkaala puukko. The one time I departed from that practice, it came back to bite me. In the interest of traveling light on a trip to Copper Canyon, I brought only a Leatherman. I needed to carve a carb drain plug out of some dessiccated mesquite, and the blade was not up to the task. I don’t think I had ever sharpened it. I made do, but swore never to travel again without a good, sharp knife.
 
Funny thing the Sioux City crash was brought up in this thread. On our last vacation in June, we flew into Omaha (in-laws live in NW Iowa). During the trip they got to talking about that Sioux City crash and we watched some videos about it. They still talk about it regularly there, quite a big deal in their small town.
I only put a little thought into what I'd bring on that particular trip - my daily carry 78. Been in my pocket every day this year save for 6 days when I was in Mexico (didn't want to loose the knife to crooked cops south of the border or to CBP or FWS agents at the border who might mistake it for ivory or something).
Pic during my "vacation" when I was put to work mowing the orchard.
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I always pack a group of knives if I'm going on an extended vacation or trip. I usually limit it to 3. Always a knife with a cap lifter. A bigger bladed knife and a "back-up" to the bigger knife.

Earlier this summer, when we were on our vacation to the beach I took my Beer Scout Knife, my #77 Barlow and my stag #73. With and oil bottle and a strop for maintenance :D. I used all three, not daily but they were all used to cut something or to pop a top.
 
Living in Europe, our family drives to most vacations. Two types: The woods or mountains, or a city trip (Berlin, Barcelona, Munich, Dresden, etc.). For hiking type vacations, I generally bring a Vic Huntsman. For city type vacations, I'll bring my Vic Tourist. Leatherman Wave and an Opinel 8 also come along for use in the apartment/hotel where we stay. The Leatherman for potential fix-its, and the Opinel because the kitchen knives found in rental places inevitably are dull garbage from IKEA. A couple summers ago we flew to Newfoundland, Canada and spent three weeks driving around in a rented SUV and tent camping. The Huntsman handled all cutting, can-opening and beer opening duties, and even helped me fix our gas cooker.

So, to sum up, while I love my various traditional knife-only pocketknives, when travelling I always go with the versatility of a SAK. Add to that that (as has been mentioned a million times) they're universally seen and accepted as a tool, not a sinister stabber.

-- Mark

PS: Many many years ago my dad and I were in Jamaica. Our taxi got stopped by rifle-toting soldiers way out in the middle of nowhere. They searched our daypacks and found my Schrade LB7 lockback. The soldier fingered it, rolling it in his hand and admiring it. He smiled at me, murmured an approving "hmmmmm," tossed it back into my pack and motioned our taxi driver to continue on. The soldier admired that knife so much that, looking back, I wish I'd given it to him!
 
I love your knives that you chose for your trip.
I dont check baggage unless I am taking firearms. On trips to see friends and family I usually borrow a pocket knife from the host. I have also mailed ahead knives for extended trips. On other trips I gift myself a new knife. My last trip to Phoenix I made a quick stop into a Cabelas. My daughter picked out a nice Puma lockback and I got a Kershaw Skyline.
 
ddavis said:
I only put a little thought into what I'd bring on that particular trip - my daily carry 78. Been in my pocket every day this year save for 6 days when I was in Mexico (didn't want to loose the knife to crooked cops south of the border or to CBP or FWS agents at the border who might mistake it for ivory or something).
Pic during my "vacation" when I was put to work mowing the orchard.
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The #78 was also my pick + my fishing knife and the 7" big knife.
The big knife was never needed and the #78 came out handy from the pocket, for some repairwork on the summerhouse.

Regards
Mikael
 
I have not been on an actual vacation in 8 years. A few week-long business trips but that's not the same thing. I'd probably take a SAK in my checked luggage if flying, which I also do on the business trips.

For a driving vacation, I could take whatever I wanted. Still, it would probably be a SAK for general utility, a Case Trapper for al fresco dining, and perhaps a medium stockman for general pocket carry.
 
I guess I never thought about a particular knife to take on vacation. We only traveled by air a few times for vacation and that was pre 9/11 so not as restrictive so I just threw whatever in my luggage. Most of our vacations were road trips so I always had a Buck 119 and a Leatherman Wave by default (they lived in my vehicle) I just carried one slippie that suited my fancy the day we left. I did however for the most part return home with more slippies than I left with. :D
 
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