What folder would you guys take on a hike?

If 2 knives the folder would be my GEC Western Outlaw & probably my JK Knives "The Tool". But if only one knife and it be a folder, then one of my Buck 110s.

#76 Western Outlaw in stag:

outlaw.jpg


"The Tool" (what a great custom knife!)

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What a great question! I'd take my Helle Dokka. Comes with a great leather belt sheath. I read somewhere that the Dokka was Helle's first folder and what a fantastic knife. Folded it measures 4 5/8". It opens into a full size Helle and locks open when fully open it measures 8". And it's a scandi grind.
 
what I actually carry most often is a vic huntsman -- but if we were limiting to an American pattern slip-joint, either a USA/camper/scout knife or my Schrade Buzzsaw Trapper.
 
Hmmm, a Scout knife of some sort. I took along my Camillus "Demo" knife on a weekend trip last February, did everything I needed it to do.

demo.jpg


I did have a peanut along too though...;)
 
On a hike I grab whatever knife I want, chances are I won't be using it as I tend to stick to the trails. On a camping trip my Victorinox Huntsman II is coming with me. After that knife or any SAK with a saw, after that though if your limiting me to more traditional knives I take anything that I consider a good knife in terms of quality, ergonomics, etc. Though if I owned a scout knife that be on top of my list so I have the bottle/can opener with me along with something I can attach the knife to so I don't lose it.
 
I did a lot of more than one week backpacking trips
I was self contained including a stove and fuel
So I did not need a knife for wood fires or any other wood skill

A simple SAK covered all my needs
A SAK Classic kept sterile in my FAK
As backup knives that I never used, a Gerber Sportman, then an Opinal, then a Bucklite

Now adays
A SAK Huntsman, it has all the bells and whistles including siccors and a saw
And as a backup, a Mora Scout SS in a robust leather sheath or a Mora #2/0

For a woodsie outing of more than one day and no fixed blade
A Queen Cattle King (a 4 1/4" stockman in D2) gives me three very different blades at very good lenghts for real work
And adding a EF DMT folding stone
And a SAK Farmer for the usefulness but not without the Stockman
 
Man, I've really been running this through my mind since its been posted. I just can't figure out what I'd take.

I subscribe to the Kephart school of thought. Camping equals axe, fixed, and folder. Day hike is folder and smaller fixed.

I'd like to think my folder would be something two bladed. Maybe a trapper, but I've never had one so I don't know if that would work or not. Maybe a custom with a clip and a drop point blade. Regardless, I think I'd like to start carrying a folder with two full size blades, whether in a trapper frame or different.

I do need recs on a good mid size axe, but I'll post over in the axe sub forum for that.
 
Had this one on me for a work day at our hunting club last Saturday - ended up hiking the north end of the farm when I was done working. This Buck carries so lightly on the belt that you cannot tell its there (have a nylon Buck sheath for it). It did fine and was equipped with plenty of blade for whatever needed cutting - it has become my unintentional hiking knife. OH

Bucklite_112_-_1980.JPG
 
If I'm in the sticks for a week, it usually includes bushcrafting (real or exercises) and also the need to clean panfish/critters. My Vic Harvester or Rancher has me covered, or one of my many 4" stockmen, at least from the folding traditional knife end of things.
 
medicevans said:
I subscribe to the Kephart school of thought. Camping equals axe, fixed, and folder.
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Camping of that sort is a ton of fun!! That's what I pack when car camping. Beyond that... it depends on things like the land management policies (are fires and wood harvesting allowed) and practicalities (no wood above treeline) and mode of travel (canoe or by foot and how far).

Old Hunter said:
This Buck carries so lightly on the belt that you cannot tell its there (have a nylon Buck sheath for it).
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My cousins from VT are generally horrified by their "southern" cousin. I live in Massachusetts, so I'm instantly suspect just on that count alone. And when I showed up to deer camp wearing leather hiking boots and a small backpack.... well!!!

When I'm hiking, I have a pack. Always. It might be a small fanny pack with my small "10 essentials" kit, but I have a pack and the pack has a waist belt and the waist belt fits tight around my waist. For me, I can't hike with something on my belt. So it's either a lighter folder in my pocket or something in my pack.

No right or wrong answer to any of this obviously. So fun and interesting to hear people reflect on what "hiking" means to them and how that shapes the different knife choices.

As they say on the AT, we all get to (or at the end of day, have to) "Hike Your Own Hike". HYOH.
 
Everyone has their own right answer and this one is mine, well one of these;

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A Scout/Camper pattern was my gateway knife and to this day I find it to be the answer for our two-week backpacking trips we like to indulge in often. I use mine for culinary purposes mostly, slicing salami, cheese, zucchini, apples, cucumbers or what have you. There are no water sources where we go so we can take fresh foods with no weight penalties as we already have to carry all of our water.

Slicing;

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We do dry all of our own foods for longer range preservation and like to add canned meats and that is where the can opener comes in;

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The screw driver is good for adjusting tension on trekking pole locks and the awl is just handy all around. But I do take a SAK Classic and do not concider it a knife. I know Colin Fletcher went from a full sized Marbles fixed blade on his Thousand Mile Summer to a SAK Classic in his adventures after that and some folks definitely do consider it if knife but for me it is a perfect lightweight manicure tool and of course the scissors go a long way further. I keep them sharp with a small medium/fine stone.

SAK-classic-750-77.jpg


I go two week in remote country with those two knives as folders do much better in desert sand than fixed blades where sand gets down in sheaths and really messes up blades, edges and scales. It seems to self clean with traditional folders as I use Otter’s Gunslick to lube the joints and that does not attract sand like oil if the excess is cleaned some. There are times when I do add a fixed blade but usually a Scout/Camper pattern and the SAK classic will do everything I want.
 
Any one of these will work well for me. Well, except the Queens on the bottom. I haven't had the chance to re-profile and sharpen them yet. So I'll bring a Silky along if I need a saw instead of them. ;)



Tom
 
SwiftDream, I love your pictures. You really kicked it up a notch. The A.G. Russell model is a looker.
 
kimsalls said:
SwiftDream, I love your pictures. You really kicked it up a notch. The A.G. Russell model is a looker.
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Great pictures! Makes me want to run out and get a scout knife!
 
^ Nice. A lot of pics of those belt sheaths popping up lately, look pretty good :thumbup:
 
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