What would you carry for Boy Scouts?

When I was an Assistant Scoutmaster in an Arlington, VA, troop, I carried one or another folder, usually something with a locking blade about 3.5+" long and, at camouts other than Scout Camp or Camporees, I carried my 6" Randall Hunters' Bowie. I did not carry the fixed blade at Scout Camp, although it was locked in a footlocker, or at Camporees because the Scoutmasters asked that I not do so as they did not want to attract unwanted attention. As it was, almost every boy in our troop had Tote-N-Chip and carried one form or another of a folder. My son had a CS SanMai Folding Tanto that I had given him and several of the others had either similar CS knives or, later, Spydie Enduras or Delicas. Byt that time, I had graduated to, first, a Spydie Police and then an Endura and finally, a C15 Spyderco/Terzuola Clipit and its eventual replacement, the StarMate.

Regarding folders, I wonder what Scouting honchos would do if a kid pulled out a CUDA MAXX 5.5" or even a 7" at a Camporee or at Scout Camp? :D
 
Besides my SAK I would probably carry my "Be Prepared Kit".
I took a wallet that had a zipper around the perimeter and cut out the insides. In the kit I carried:
Thin plastic signalling mirror
Large book of cardboard safety matches.
Small lighter
(2) party popper string initiated charges
(3) alcohol preps
(3) bandaids
4" piece broken off mill bastard file. The end worked as a scraper, the sides as metal file.
(30 ft) nylon polyfiliment fishing line wrapped around end of file as a handle
4" piece of broken hacksaw blade with fishing line handle.
(2) fishing hooks.
small sewing kit with needle, 4 colors of thread, and safety pins
tin of aspirin
miniature pad of paper
forgery kit (miniature mechanical pencil and 4 colors of lead, short ballpoint refills-4 colors, 3 kinds of eraser)
And of course a small multiblade pocket knife, typically a scout knife with the side panels removed.

This was more my spy escape kit than anything. One primary use for the matches and the file was to make match head powder as a propellent from home made guns that were fired via the party popper charges.
 
If a fixed blade knife was pulled out while at one of our Council's camps (they are not allowed on Council camp property) I would tell the boy to pack it away immediately and not to pull it out again. Failure to do so would result in a call to his parents who would be asked to take him home. There would be some discussions with the Scout to follow.

If the fixed blade knife was pulled out while off of Council property, then as long as the boy has a Totin Chip card, the blade was a reasonable length, and he was using it responsibly, then I would have no problem with it - so long as the blade length met local laws.

Fixed blade knives are not barred from Scouting, and I myself have no problem with proper use of fixed blade knives, BUT a Scout is obedient and MUST obey rules and regulations, which include Camp rules and local laws.

Of course some Troop Committees may not agree with my view. If the Troop's rules forbid personal use of fixed blade knives, then both the Scout and I would both be obligated to follow that rule. We'd both have a right to voice our objections keeping in mind that a Scout is friendly, courteous, kind, and obedient.

One would also always have the option of finding another Troop or Crew whose rules more closely match their views - if such a Troop or Crew exists within the area.
 
i carried a victorinox. it has the scout sign on it. i also carried a cammilus and also has the scout sign on it. but the tool i carried most was a leatherman. it comes in handy.
 
King Grinch said:
What would you carry for the Boy Scouts? Would it be fixed or folder? Would it be both. Things to take into comsideration:
Click to expand...


Do you mean dispatching them or preparing them for the grill?
 
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