Winter v.s. Summer Knives

S

sodak

Joined
Mar 26, 2004
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Since we've been talking/fighting about big knives, small knives, and no knives, there's one more way to divide this up - winter and summer!

I like some of my slab sided knives in the summer, but in the winter, waaaaay too cold - I reach for my hidden tangs. I also noticed that coated blades don't seem as cold to the touch as un-coated blades. Anyone else notice this?
 
Well, in Winter I much prefer a larger knife with a decent enough handle to easily grip with gloves on, and bulky gloves at that at times. In the 6-8" blade length mostly because i carry a hatchet and sometimes an axe. In Spring through early Fall I carry 4" and smaller knives with whatever handles they have as I don't wear thick gloves, or any at most times.
 
I like the KOA Safety grip handles in winter. However I do most of my hunting duties with Buck Folders and Mora Clippers. My hands are always so cold in ND that I can't tell any difference in coatings. A electric handle would be nie:D I guess I have had frost bite to many times.
 
I also often find I carry a stainless knife in the winter for my shorter walks as I don't have to bother drying it after etc !!!!
 
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12 months out of the year, winter, spring, summer and fall, this knife is always with me. The only thing I change is my chopping tool and my small knife choice. 3 cutting tools always make up my trinity and this one is always there. Hasn't failed yet.
 
My winter knife has a heating element on it so it allows me to spread the butter on my toast faster.

Seriously it is an interesting question, but I've never thought to have different knives based on the season.
Great idea now I have another reason to buy more knives
 
Yeah, in the winter, a lot of knives become much less useful. Metal in the handles is a no-no, so "full tang" is suddenly bad - until it's in a knife that you will always use with gloves on, like you can use a big chopper if you're so inclined. Crinkle coated blades do get less cold, oddly enough. Stainless steel is a kind of a double-edged sword: sure, stainless steel rusts less which may be good because snow can get quite wet, but on the other hand, stainless steels aren't as tough, and in very cold temperatures, toughness is increasingly important.
 
Elen said:
Yeah, in the winter, a lot of knives become much less useful. Metal in the handles is a no-no, so "full tang" is suddenly bad - until it's in a knife that you will always use with gloves on, like you can use a big chopper if you're so inclined. Crinkle coated blades do get less cold, oddly enough. Stainless steel is a kind of a double-edged sword: sure, stainless steel rusts less which may be good because snow can get quite wet, but on the other hand, stainless steels aren't as tough, and in very cold temperatures, toughness is increasingly important.
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I always shake my head when I see knives with aluminum handles. Just imagine how nasty that is in cold weather.
 
I know people like to knock Cold Steel but Kraton is actually one of the more comfortable handle materials I've used, and works well in cold or hot weather.
 
Oh yes, metal handles are incredibly nasty when it gets really cold. It's especially bad in smaller knives that you can actually use for precise work and that have small handles that are harder to use with gloves on. With a huge chopper with a large handle, it's not so bad, although it's still bad enough because the metal tends to freeze and stick to pretty much anything it touches for longer than just a couple of seconds. Not fun.

Kraton and Thermorun are some of the most comfortable handle materials for cold weather use, I agree.
 
Yes, Sebenzas look great but every time when I'm almost ready to buy one the reality check kicks in, telling me that titanium/sub zero deg C/flesh is not a good combination.
 
Just wrap them a couple times with removable tennis racket grip tape. Problem solved.

Skam
 
crud, i coulda had another reason to get another knife for the cold... i already have a great all season one; the Gerber LMF II. stainless, warm grip, and and a strong enough blade to withstand chipping away at ice if i need to make a hole to fish through. - Eric
 
During the winter I am wearing gloves during most of my knife use(in the bush anyway) As long as the handle is big enough to accomodate my gloved hands I am happy.

One of the few times I don`t wear gloves is while field-dressing. But then I just deal with the cold handle until my hands are inside the warm body cavity. ;)
 
I backpack with my Para Military for precisely this reason. I have many knives that would do the trick but an insanely cold tool is hell to work with. I have found G-10 to be a pocket eater, but the trade-off in comfort and temperature is worth the "wear", at least when backpacking.
 
I like my rapala big game hunter in the winter. best grip possible for feild dressing and with other knives I get scared of my numb blood soaked hand sliding up the handle and getting filleted. for summer, I hate the feel of sweaty rubber so if I go hunting Ill probably take my puma bowie or BK-7. (although I rarely go hunting in the summer.)
 
I've dipped my SS small non scaled knives into liquid tape on their handles to the hilts; and they remain grippy, and less cold in Winter. Especially if dressing game or fish barehanded, which I rarely do, as I carry surgical gloves for that to limit frostbite exposure. A Rapala rubber gripped fillet or wood handled Mora also work in the cold better at times.
 
How many people here plan on using any tool in the cold with exposed hands for an extended length of time? The idea of a Christmas Story skin freezing to the metal in an exposed tang or the idea of it transfering cold is far fetched. Sure, it is cold to the touch but if you have gloves on like a practical person would, it isn't an issue.

Having come back from a recent winter camping trip with close to 20 people, no one complained about using knives or axes with gloves on. Even when we had gloves off for tasks requiring bare hands, knives weren't too cold to the touch since they are worn close to the body under a layer or two of clothing.

An all metal handle (like the CRK one piece lineup) can be helped out with a bicycle inner tube. Eliminates direct contact with metal, provides some extra grip and won't leave a gluey residue like tape.
 
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