What knife should I take to South America?

A

axtalan0

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Jul 18, 2008
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Hi gentlemen, I'm new here and I need some advice from those more experienced than I.

In Sept. I will be going to South America for about 3 mos time. It will be a backpacking trip, mostly staying at hostels, possibly some camping. We will hit 4 countries while there: Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, maybe Bolivia.

So we will face diverse environments: jungle, mountain, desert, and big cities. I will take a Leatherman tool, my girl is bringing a swiss army knife. I want to bring a real knife along for camping, survival, emergencies and "just in case."

What would you recommend? Folder or fixed? Stainless or carbon? Small, medium, large? Sawback or not, etc, etc. Keep in mind we will be in cities a lot of the time, so I don't want to be carrying a "weapon" so machetes are out. And it shouldn't be too heavy! My budget is about 100 to 150.

If you recommend a certain brand, please specify which model. I would appreciate any and all feedback. Thank you in advance.
 
Check out the RAT Cutlery Forum. As far as a knife, I'd recommend a RC-4.
 
agreed with XD45.

a RAT RC-4 will do the trick.

make sure u have a back up folder, spyderco native if u wanna go cheap.
 
Sounds like a good combination

Obviously there is a large list - have a look at the EDC thread and can see what people carry

But the situation you describe is roughly what the Ritter version of the Griptillian is designed for. Though the non Ritter version is essentially the same but much cheaper - sligtly different metals and blade shape. Comes in two sizes 2.91 and 3.45 inch blades. Also designed not to be too tactical in look and attract unwanted attention but very strong and razor sharp and quick one handed open

RC-4 is a great knife and a fixed blade would complement from the utility side, especially for camping. A large Kabar is cheap and very good in that context. However to carry in the cities on the belt I would have thought a fixed blade would attract unwanted attention; and as UN forces have found being perceived as armed (but not well enough) can be a real downside. Are some of the towns you going through still controlled by bandits these days? They were a few years ago. It sounds like you will be on the regular routes which are used to foriegners.

Personally I avoid serrated unless there is a particular purpose - as harder to sharpen and don't dice carrots as well. On the survival thread you will find reviews of knives - very few reccomend saw or serrated back

Spyderco guys like the delicia, endura or paramilitary.
I have new Delicia beside me now - just arrived from the US and an Endura on the way. I would still go for the Griptillian

But there are many good options in the price range you are talking about -it will come down to what you like. You really have already covered off the necessities vey well with a SAK and multi tool.
 
axtalan0 said:
I want to bring a real knife along for camping, survival, emergencies and "just in case."
Click to expand...

A large locking SAK like this one will handle anything you might need and you'll save some dough to boot. I once backpacked through central Turkey for three weeks, tent camping all the way and carried just a SAK Adventurer. It handled everything I threw at it with ease. That thin sharp blade was great for food prep and since it locks and ain't exactly small, it gave at least a little comfort that it could be used as a last-ditch self defense option in a serious pinch. Also, if you make a friend down there or run across a good soul who could use a good knife, you can leave a SAK with him and not feel too much of a financial pinch. With that in mind, btw, I'd definitely not bring any knife that'll hurt too bad to lose. Remember, if a less-than-honorable immigration official or federale takes a liking to your knife or Leatherman, whether or not it's legal or not is not going to matter, it'll be gone.

Now, with the possible bad scenarios laid out, I don't think you'll run into any problems. Have a great trip and be sure to let us know how it went, how your gear performed, etc.

Oh, one last thing. Since you'll be trekking for so long, might be a good idea to bring a small sharpening device of some sort.
 
A SAK is definitely a "real" knife. I would second the opinion for a large locking SAK, like the OHT, or something similar.
 
Can't disagree with that. A SAK is all you really need - it is basically what I carried OS most of the time- and my brother who did 2 years in South America carried no more and he did serious travelling and hiking. The ones described here are even bigger and sturdier.

Another option if you want to be percieved as utility is to get one of the leathermans with one handed opening blades

this could be an option http://www.leatherman.com/products/knives/k502x-k503x/default.asp - a 503 model it is a bit like a one hand opening knife potioned as a multi tool, and has a clip for pocket or belt to keep it handy. The blade looks like it has a good shape to it - that you could use in the kitchen of any hostel or camp without raising too many fears

The question is wheter you want to take more than a standard Sak (which I understand) but I don't think you will get much increase in real utility.

To be honest I'd ditch the normal Leatherman and possibly take the 503 or large folder if you want the comfort of soemthing a bit bigger. I never really needed pliers when travelling. Though a second SAK like the ones described is also a great option
 
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Don't take anything that will break your heart if it gets stolen.

Any basic sak or leatherman will do what you have to, if you need anything more, buy it off the local economy or trading post. You may not want to carry something that attracts the wrong kind of attention by screaming rich tourist. If its something that the local peasants can't afford, it can be a target for theft. If you have a sak like described, the only other knife you may need will be the short machete that is the personal knife of the back country. A 12 inch Tramontina or other popular brand will be available with a nice leather sheath for an amazingly cheap price. Buy one and use it.
 
You are pretty well set with a Leatherman and a good SAK. But if you want a fixed blade as wel, I recommend a Fallkniven F-1.
 
The RC 4 is a hell of a knife and I would feel comfortable with it. That being said you are going to be in a city enviroment I would probably go with something like a SAK with a locking blade or a small locking folder like a Spyderco Para mil. Another idea would be the yellow handled griptilian variants, you do not want anything that could be percieved as some type of weapon. A leatherman Skeletool adds very little weight and could be pared with a Vic Farmer that combo would cover most cutting needs not covered by a locally purchased machete. There are many options open to you, just remember not to take anything you are not willing to part with.
 
Thank you all for your responses and recommendations. It has really helped to narrow down my choices. I researched all the ones you guys recommended, and also looked over in the EDC forums (some people must have heavy-duty pockets!!).

Some of you also raised good points, I hadn't thought of, like carrying a back-up folder and a small sharpener, and about my knife possibly getting "confiscated" by authorities for reasons other than legal!

My plan is not to carry it on my belt, but hide it away somewhere deep in my backpack, unless we are really way out in the wilderness. We will try to steer clear of 'bandit country' and stick to recommended trails.

As for my choice, I initially wanted a fixed blade, and the RAT RC-4 and Bark River Bravo looked very nice, but the more I thought about it, I guess I will get a folder, for weight and 'less-threatening' reasons, since about 2/3 of the time, we will be in cities. 2 recommendations caught my eye the most, one being the Wenger Ranger 57, since it has locking blades, and one handed operation, the other being the Griptilian, as I like its blade shape, the yellow handle, and according to my research, the manufacturer has a pretty solid reputation. I'm actually tempted to get both.

And yeah, I wish I could take a kukri, but like someone said, if i really need to, I could buy a machete there. Paradoxical as it may sound, I genuinely hope I won't actually have to use my knife for anything.

Now, does anyone have any pointers on how best to impress all those fine Brazilian ladies?? Just kidding!

Thanks again everyone!

Tom
 
Sounds like you have found your path

I like the idea of picking up a(nother) knife there - great souvenir, very easy to explain, and stands out less. Who goes to France and does not come back with an opinel (or Laguiole) especially from the buckets in the farmer markets? - (Note the Tour de France went through the home of the inventor of the Opinel last night - go Cadel)

And getting many women is easy - you already have what you need - passport and bank account. However the women you want may not be part of that group - besides female backpackers are easier to get to know (unless you spend a lot of time in seedy bars or are lucky on the buses) and tend to want to do the same things especially, if not already escorted, with a safe guy. Hostels are a real mixing pot

Are you a "safe" guy?

Have fun
 
"What knife should I take to South America?"
-axtalan0

Dude, the question should have been, "What knives could I buy from South America?"
Whilst travelling (especially backpacking), there is nothing better than what you already figured out yourself, namely an SAK (a locking blade model would be an advantage) and a Multitool.
Latin America has domestic knife manufacturing capabilities too.
So, depending on the situation and if need be, buy local and make "do, as the Romans do".
Or should that be said in Latin?
 
Since you will be camping and willing to tuck a fixed blade deep into your pack, you should be looking at a knife that will handle all the mundane choirs of setting up a camp site for the night. Specifically for food prep and limb cutting/chopping etc. To me that would require something with a longer thinner type blade that would be equally at home in the kitchen dicing as on the trail.

This is an example of what I have in mind (maybe not quite so long). And it seems it’s local.

http://cgi.ebay.com/RANZ-100-HANDma...ryZ43325QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

My current EDU/EDC is a full size Griptilian in D2 plain edged drop point (mod 551). I'd have that in my pocket down there also.
 
Like others said, I'd take something you can afford to lose/get stolen. I'd recommend buying a machete in a market when you get to your first destination, especially if you are doing any real bushwhacking/backpacking. If you're in a city most of the time, you might be better off finding a camping store or market at your destination and buying a cheap folder or fixed blade and sharpening it with a small keychain sharpener that you take along, rather than taking a nicer one from the States...
 
Mnblade made a good point about the immigration officials. They will take your stuff just because.
For a fixed blade I would go with what Horndog said. About the OHT and the machete. For a small fixed blade I would go to the local market and pick a decent parry knife made out of carbon steel. That way if you loose it you will not care and it easily replaced again.
 
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