wharncliffe for light backpacking?

[redsquid2]

been backpacking since the mid 1970's. i go mostly with groups and mostly with dried/ freeze-dried foods and lightweight stoves. i mostly see people using drop point folders on these trips. noticed one guy recently was using a hawksbill. i used a Buck 112 forabout 16 years and then switched to a lighter Air Sog type thing. i am curious if anybody uses a wharncliffe.

 

[SunsetFisherman]

Yea I have a fixed blade wharnnie made by Gerry Drew, it definitely goes along anytime I'm in the woods. Probably doesn't fit the whole super-light thing but I do find the blade incredibly useful.

 

[Codger_64]

IMHO, for most light duty cutting chores, pretty much and blade style will do. Even a single edge razor blade. For lightweight I use a Schrade SP-3 "Lightweight " It is inexpensive, zytel handled and based on the old Gerber LST. It lives in the mesh pocket of my river PFD and has a lanyard hole that I use sometimes to keep from losing it overboard. Both the Gerber LST and the Schrade Lightweight are easy to find and inexpensive to buy. And come in several sizes and handle colors.

 

[Shotgun]

Scott Gossman makes a modified wharncliffe that is pretty darn good for just about anything. He even likes it for hunting. I had one for a while and I loved the blade shape but I just couldn't warm up to the handle ergos. I have yet to find anything that I REALLY needed a drop point style blade for while out and about so I think it would do just fine. I would go with a modified wharncliffe though with a slight belly like Scott's because it gives you the best of both worlds. A point that is aggressive at piercing but also gives you a bit better ergos for say slicing some salami or cheese etc.

Edited to add a link to some pics of what I'm talking about. Gossman's UNK knife. http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/798163-Unk-rocks!

 

[Hammer67]

Given the nature of this forum, I think people sometimes get the impression that going backpacking/camping with anything less than a 5" fixed blade is courting certain death.

I backpacked and wilderness kayaked for many years with nothing more than a Swiss Army Camper, and it did everything I ever needed it to.

If you're just looking for a simple blade for typical backpacking chores - prepping food, maybe cutting some cord, making some shavings for a fire, etc. just about any blade will do. Drop points are ideally suited for hunting tasks, though they function pretty well for all around use too.

I have several pocket knives with a wharncliffe blade, and for the tasks I'm usually using a pocket knife for, I like them. I see two advantages to wharncliffes - they're easy to sharpen, and they lend themselves to precise tip control. As far as fixed blade wharncliffes go, this little guy is one of my favorites:

 

[redsquid2]

Scott Gossman makes a modified wharncliffe that is pretty darn good for just about anything. He even likes it for hunting. I had one for a while and I loved the blade shape but I just couldn't warm up to the handle ergos. I have yet to find anything that I REALLY needed a drop point style blade for while out and about so I think it would do just fine. I would go with a modified wharncliffe though with a slight belly like Scott's because it gives you the best of both worlds. A point that is aggressive at piercing but also gives you a bit better ergos for say slicing some salami or cheese etc.

Edited to add a link to some pics of what I'm talking about. Gossman's UNK knife. http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/798163-Unk-rocks!

Right! the UNK! I remember seeing that somewhere before. I think I read other positive remarks here on BF.

 

[plumberroy]

Handiest blade I have. Considering it is the product Of a bored hillbilly with a dremel (Me) I am happy with it. It started life as an old hickory 8 in. slicing knife . If I am not at work it rides in my left cargo pocket
Roy

 

[Bob W]

I rarely have ever needed a knife when camping or hiking, but when I have a good pointy tip has often been beneficial. So no, I would not carry a wharncliffe for a primary outdoor blade.

The 'utility' blade shape used on AG Russell's Hunters Scalpel, a spear point such as on a Victorinox SAK, or even a drop point would all be good choices. Perhaps the best all-around shape for outdoor use is the standard Opinel that combines a good belly, flat edge, and a pointy tip all in a single blade.

 

[JG Custom Metal Works]

I've made a few Wharncliffe blades that are very pointy.

I hike, camp with a lightweight MSR stove and freeze dried foods too. It's the only way to go IMO. I also found MSR's water filter works real well to for cutting down on weight. The bottom of it screws right onto a Nalgeen bottle.

I probably wouldn't carry one hiking or camping because I like drop points for skinning. I just wonder what the Wharncliffe would give you in place of skinning ability and whether it would be worth the trade off. I'm thinking not.

 

[Shotgun]

I rarely have ever needed a knife when camping or hiking, but when I have a good pointy tip has often been beneficial. So no, I would not carry a wharncliffe for a primary outdoor blade.

The 'utility' blade shape used on AG Russell's Hunters Scalpel, a spear point such as on a Victorinox SAK, or even a drop point would all be good choices. Perhaps the best all-around shape for outdoor use is the standard Opinel that combines a good belly, flat edge, and a pointy tip all in a single blade.

It really depends on your needs I guess. I've read a few other posters who thought very highly of the tip on wharny blades. I think tradja even preferred it on his PCT hike. But, everyone needs something a little different because everyone has different needs for a knife.

I've made a few Wharncliffe blades that are very pointy.

I hike, camp with a lightweight MSR stove and freeze dried foods too. It's the only way to go IMO. I also found MSR's water filter works real well to for cutting down on weight. The bottom of it screws right onto a Nalgeen bottle.

I probably wouldn't carry one hiking or camping because I like drop points for skinning. I just wonder what the Wharncliffe would give you in place of skinning ability and whether it would be worth the trade off. I'm thinking not.

I don't hunt but I can see the benefit of a wharncliffe. Here's a thread of Scott's UNK(http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/784296-UNK-as-a-hunting-knife-deer-pics) and I've also read one of the posters on here from canada that uses disposeable razor blades.

 

[redsquid2]

Interesting. When I was backpacking as a Boy Scout, for a few trips, I remember just having an orange plastic utility knife. I think it was disposable. All I used it for was cutting nylon cord, and doing a little whittling. Then the Scout Master made an equipment list and required a "Buck, sheath, or pocket knife." So that was when I bought my Buck 112.

 

[neeman]

the British Army clasp knife is a sheepsfoot,
so lots of folks have been using it for light weight camping

 

[redsquid2]

Love it.

Handiest blade I have. Considering it is the product Of a bored hillbilly with a dremel (Me) I am happy with it. It started life as an old hickory 8 in. slicing knife . If I am not at work it rides in my left cargo pocket
Roy