What blades are in your backpacking kit??

Just back from taking some high school boys on 4 day, 3 night trip across the Pemigewasset Wildnerness. One trail gained 1100' in 0.8 miles.

Ounces add up to pounds.

I was over-knifed with my Mora Companion.

I used my Learherman PS4 Squirt for gear repair several times (boys are spazes and should not touch equipment).

I'm not criticizing, but if people are hauling around big knives, they may be having a grand old time but they aren't backpacking as I understand it.
 
Right now my two main walking knives are my skeletool CX and spyderco Roadie. covers most of what I need. I'm often tempted to carry along a fixed blade, but it really depends on the conditions I'm in, since it wouldn't see any use in all likely-hood. ounces to pounds it sure is. Since most of the places I'm going its LNT rules, and I'm supposed to be modeling that, its hard to justify carrying much more. And the reality is that while a fixedblade might make some survival tasks easier, they are by no means the end all and be-all, so that has to be part of the balance.
 
pinnah said:
Just back from taking some high school boys on 4 day, 3 night trip across the Pemigewasset Wildnerness. One trail gained 1100' in 0.8 miles.

Ounces add up to pounds.

I was over-knifed with my Mora Companion.

I used my Learherman PS4 Squirt for gear repair several times (boys are spazes and should not touch equipment).

I'm not criticizing, but if people are hauling around big knives, they may be having a grand old time but they aren't backpacking as I understand it.
Click to expand...

You are right. What is enjoyable to you may not be enjoyable to others :thumbup:
 
Long ago, I carried a SAK, an original BuckLite, and a Lexan "plastic" knife.

For the past several years, I usually carry a fixed blade from 3" to 5.5" and carefully consider the weight versus the activity and duration. Examples of what I take include Scrapyard S5LE, WarDog, and Scrapivore; Bark River Canadian, Lil' Canadian, Kephart, Bird & Trout, and Trailmate; Busse Pork Shank, HACK Warden, SwatManDu, and B4; Spartan Ares and Horkos; Cold Steel SRK, OSI, MiniTac, and Spike; Spyderco Aqua Salt (first run, uncoated); Becker BK15, 16, or 17. Some would consider these unnecessary; some would consider them much too heavy; and some would consider them too light or not enough. Opinions vary. :)

Next I have a Spyderco folder which totally depends on the activity or my mood: Pacific Salt, Spyderhawk, Tasman, Native, etc.

In the first-aid kit, I have either a Leatherman PS4 or a Victorinox Classic or Rambler. I like the Victorinox better for some reason, but the PS4 provides the pliers that can be so useful.

Then, I consider whether I plan or might need to build anything or use a wood stove. I like having a Silky Super Accel or Ultra Accel. If not, I like to have a Victorinox Farmer or Fieldmaster with a saw. Sometimes I take one, sometimes I leave that 3 to 9 oz. behind.

I only take a tomahawk, hatchet, or axe if I'm intentional about playing with it on a short trip, which I do not perceive is the OP's point.

:thumbup:
 
I have changed my load out many times over the years but as of now my backpack consist of........

1 - Gransfors Burks Scandinavian Forest Axe

1 - Corona 10 inch Folding Saw

1 - Boker Plus Vox Rold in D2 steel and G10 handle material but I have no problem with going back to a KA-BAR USMC MMII and I may go back to one soon or a stacked leather handled MKI.

1 - U.S. made Uncle Henry (Schrade) Senior Rancher
 
I take a Victorinox Farmer and a Fallkniven F1 all the time.

When I motorcycle camp I have a little extra weight allocation, so I add a Dustrude bucksaw or a Wetterlings hatchet depending on what wood I expect to find.
 
BillyJoeBobJim said:
Long ago, I carried a SAK, an original BuckLite, and a Lexan "plastic" knife.

For the past several years, I usually carry a fixed blade from 3" to 5.5" and carefully consider the weight versus the activity and duration. Examples of what I take include Scrapyard S5LE, WarDog, and Scrapivore; Bark River Canadian, Lil' Canadian, Kephart, Bird & Trout, and Trailmate; Busse Pork Shank, HACK Warden, SwatManDu, and B4; Spartan Ares and Horkos; Cold Steel SRK, OSI, MiniTac, and Spike; Spyderco Aqua Salt (first run, uncoated); Becker BK15, 16, or 17. Some would consider these unnecessary; some would consider them much too heavy; and some would consider them too light or not enough. Opinions vary. :)

Next I have a Spyderco folder which totally depends on the activity or my mood: Pacific Salt, Spyderhawk, Tasman, Native, etc.

In the first-aid kit, I have either a Leatherman PS4 or a Victorinox Classic or Rambler. I like the Victorinox better for some reason, but the PS4 provides the pliers that can be so useful.

Then, I consider whether I plan or might need to build anything or use a wood stove. I like having a Silky Super Accel or Ultra Accel. If not, I like to have a Victorinox Farmer or Fieldmaster with a saw. Sometimes I take one, sometimes I leave that 3 to 9 oz. behind.

I only take a tomahawk, hatchet, or axe if I'm intentional about playing with it on a short trip, which I do not perceive is the OP's point.

:thumbup:
Click to expand...

Haha yup, the topic of what makes a good 'pack knife' can get pretty polarized. I'm sure there are more than a few who consider using my little 2.63" Izula as a main hiking/backpacking knife laughable. Just depends on the trek, other gear, and the person.

At any rate, is the Pacific Salt you carry serrated?

I usually have my Delica 4 when I set out, but I'd be interested in swapping out for my diving knife (a serrated Atlantic Salt). It would definitely have more utility in a medical emergency than my Delica 4 or the tiny Leatherman scissors on the Style PS. For most general use, opening food packages, cutting cordage, fondling I'd assume it would do fine. Plus it's literally 'rust-proof' although VG-10 is no slacker either. When would you usually carry your Pacific Salt?
 
My own setup is usually along the lines of:

-Fixed blade, full tang knife(I've used Marttiini Takepuukko since I was in our army), which I use for woodwork as camp knife. No really need for having knife like that, but makes me feel better that it's not going to snap or anything(I actually managed to break few mora knives during my conscription, so I'd guess I'm just hard on my knives)
-Shorter blade, folding knife(I've used Byrd Cara Cara since I was in our army), that I use for food prep and such
Along with those, I usually bring Fiskars axe, and collapsible saw
 
GREENJACKET said:
IMGP7786.jpg
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Um, what happened to that Mora 546? It looks decidedly non-factory.
 
Its a Roe ball knife, for unzipping when skinning out. Below a random link, but its not a bleeding knife. Works on fish too.
http://www.monarchcountryproducts.co.uk/mora-roeing-bleeding-knife

These vids sort of sum it up, though there are loads of ways to process game and I'm not suggesting this is the only way; not all bad though:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxUIqidClkU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxUIqidClkU

Anyhow it was just to show that Larder knives have their place too. I like Victorinox. When the forum concentrates on chopping wood, then its a good thing to indicate that professional knives are far more specialised and far more efficient. Thats all.
 
SWCCy said:
I'm sure there are more than a few who consider using my little 2.63" Izula as a main hiking/backpacking knife laughable.
Click to expand...
Not me. When it's my son and me on the trail together. He carries his Izula, and I carry my Vic Farmer. With those we're set.
 
I usually carry my Cold Steel Recon 1 or Spyderco Endura. For more extended trips, such as a 10 day canoe trip in the Allagash wilderness waterway, I'll probably carry my customized Bk14 or my Buck Bucklite small.
 
Depends on the area but typically a SAK Farmer, a fixed blade (many in my rotation) and either a Silky Pocketboy or GB axe. As much as I like axes I tend to opt for the lighter weight of the Pocketboy on most occasions. I would take a Spyderco Catcherman if there were fishing involved and might take a machete instead of a saw or axe in some locales.
 
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