do you carry knifes on hikes.

[Moondog55]

Forget the knives, I just want a good machete.
Or, for routes like this last weekend, a small bulldozer . . .

Hard to put a D-4 in your back pocket tho

[doogs]

I take survival very seriously and a good knife is a part of that.

I find, these days, many people tend to scoff at these sorts of claims. Usually based on the likelihood of it being needed. In some ways, Bear Grylls has done no favours for the survivalists, but I don't think many would disagree that Bear has well demonstrated just how useful a good knife can be. When its needed, you'll certainly be glad you've got it! The same argument can be applied to PLB's and first aid kits.

I agree, even though I may have appeared to scoff earlier in the thread I just don't think you need a stupid big knife when a small sharp one will be sufficient to amputate a limb if needs be!! Anyone who decides to take on a wild pig with a knife deserves to be mauled for their stupidity IMO.

[Strider]

I take survival very seriously and a good knife is a part of that.

I find, these days, many people tend to scoff at these sorts of claims. Usually based on the likelihood of it being needed. In some ways, Bear Grylls has done no favours for the survivalists, but I don't think many would disagree that Bear has well demonstrated just how useful a good knife can be. When its needed, you'll certainly be glad you've got it! The same argument can be applied to PLB's and first aid kits.

I agree, even though I may have appeared to scoff earlier in the thread I just don't think you need a stupid big knife when a small sharp one will be sufficient to amputate a limb if needs be!! Anyone who decides to take on a wild pig with a knife deserves to be mauled for their stupidity IMO.

Stupid big is definitely overkill, but a 4" blade is a good handy size for most tasks.

[Travis22]

EDC is a Hinderer XM-24.

Fixed blade is one of my knives by Shane Sibert. Usually in the 8-10" cutting edge range. But sometimes ill go down to 4-6" just depends where and for how long im out.

Nice to see some other Aussie's with good tastes in knives ie. Chris Reeve etc. I used to collect Strider knives, had over 50-60 of them some years ago but for personal reasons gave up most of them barring a few cherished favorites.

Travis.

[22F]

A ZT mate?
Nice! I was looking at one before I bought my Strider, but wasn't able to get my hands on one. A wee bit harder to acquire such things at the moment, given the Customs re-interpretation of the law.

Makes me wonder about capitalising a knife making business being a sustainable business...

I just googled Sibert, thought I'd heard the name before over the years. He looks like he puts out some top work mate.

[Travis22]

Hi 22F,

Your talking about the Hinderer XM-24? No its not a ZT, its a Rick Hinderer XM-24.
Sadly in Australia i dont think there is enough demand for anyone to live comfortably as a full time knife maker without something else to supplement their income.
Having said that Australia already has a few great makers.

These days i will only by Shane's knives, its my way of kicking the expensive habit. If i can get one a year from now on id be a very luck and happy man. Shane's order books these days are into the 5-6+years and he will not take orders for his folders. Sadly this has seen the secondary market price of his knives skyrocket. What sold for $500 5-6years ago sells for $2000-3000 today. Ive been a massive fan of his for about 12years now. IMO he is a great bloke and one of the best makers in the world today.

Travis.

[Onestepmore]

http://www.australianbladeforums.com/vb4/

Keith Fludder is local to us - makes some beautiful pieces
http://knifemaker.com.au/

[photonaturally]

makes me want to go hiking just so that I can legally carry all these knives

[Buck91]

Hey guys I'm new to this site just signed up. I read this post before about folding knifes being imported. I've had some experience in this matter so thought I'd share.

Most folding knifes are now illegal to import, customs will seize any knife that can be opened in one hand this does include using the thumb hole like you get on spyderco knifes and also thumb studs.
However that being said I have imported around 20 folders mainly spydercos and only a few where seized. I just imported 2 benchmade pardue 527, they got through fine surprisingly. I believe it's up to the officer at the time they will make the call on if to seize it or let it through. It helps if you tighten the blade pivot too just to be safe. After all who wants to lose $100 or more.

[Lindsay]

Hey guys I'm new to this site just signed up. I read this post before about folding knifes being imported. I've had some experience in this matter so thought I'd share.

Most folding knifes are now illegal to import, customs will seize any knife that can be opened in one hand this does include using the thumb hole like you get on spyderco knifes and also thumb studs.
However that being said I have imported around 20 folders mainly spydercos and only a few where seized. I just imported 2 benchmade pardue 527, they got through fine surprisingly. I believe it's up to the officer at the time they will make the call on if to seize it or let it through. It helps if you tighten the blade pivot too just to be safe. After all who wants to lose $100 or more.

Hi Buck, welcome to the forum. Here is what I said in another thread about knife imports. It will tell you all you need to know:

OK, time to set the record straight on knife imports. I work for Customs and Border Protection (as we are now known) and I can say that the importation of a one handed opening knife such as the Spyderco pictured in Joomys post is perfectly OK. What is not allowed is any form of assisted opening, spring, gravity, inertia etc. The new fact sheet does state that 'single handed opening knives and parts' are not permitted, however this is misleading. The regulations ie: the law, is very clear. The Prohibited Import regulations 1956 Schedule 13 item 16 states : "Single handed opening knives, being knives that have a blade folded or recessed into the handle which is capable of being opened by gravity, inertia or centrifugal force

This does not include thumb assisted opening such as the Spyderco. In fact I bought a SAK Trailmaster on line fairly recently.

[Travis22]

Only problem is Lindsay is ANY folding pocket knife can be opened using gravity / inertia / centrifugal force if the operator is proficient enough.



Travis

[Buck91]

That is true I've had a spyderco delica 4 seized and you can't just flick that knife open. So like I said some officers must use the hole or thumb studs to see if they will open easily. Another knife I've had seized was a spyderco native 5 and a spyderco persistence. All seized from the same guy :@

[Buck91]

Anyone know about importing them in parts ? Have on the customs form knife kit? Or something similar would that be an okay way to pass customs drama free?

[Buck91]

Here are some of my knifes I've imported. Got lucky with the bechmades.

[Rico]

Anyone know about importing them in parts ? Have on the customs form knife kit? Or something similar would that be an okay way to pass customs drama free?

Importing parts of restricted folders not is the same as importing the whole knife. Even unsharpened or plastic "flick" knives are treated as the real deal, because you may be able to modify them.

Rico

[sthughes]

Apart from a little Leatherman PS4 or similar I had never carried a knife, but recently decided to get a fire steel and came across the "Light My Fire Swedish Fireknife". Basically a Mora Sandvik 12C27 stainless steel knife with a fire steel in the handle. It's been really handy. Biggest issue is that it is very sharp and kinda sliced my light nylon chopping board into bits on the last walk, plus it's a bit intimidating to lick clean!

[Bluegum Mic]

I have the same knife and find it great (and agreed its mighty sharp).

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

[Strider]

And being a Scandi grind, very easy to sharpen too

[Solohike74]

Usually it only comes to mind for cutting the salami I take for eating.

However, recently I was confronted by an undesirable at Horse Camp Hut in KNP. He had followed an acquaintance of mine in from the Guthega Power station. I had walked to Horse Camp from Valentines, having previously toured from Round Mountain to Valentines.

Bozo (undesirable) had limited kit, plenty of booze, and was extremely intoxicated. Bozo is an itinerant person, according to my acquaintance. Fortunately my acquaintance had the physical constitution to send bozo packing.

Apart from that I hitchhike and may arrange my camp knife and other items so they're accessible in the event of needing something for personal protection.

[MichaelJ]

I used to carry a cane knife when struggling along overgrown tracks in the forest up here in North Queensland - there's not much that you can't do with a really sharp cane knife, and the hook on the back of the blade is great for dragging branches etc out of the way. Otherwise in drier country I carry a Hunter's Pal made by Puma, a beautifully balanced little fixed blade knife with German steel and a staghorn handle. Have to admit that I hardly ever use it for hard work - would not want to scratch such a nicely made knife! Seems silly to carry two, but I just use a Buck folder for most jobs around the camp.

[Giddy_up]

I carry a custom knife by Barry Gardner, very functional and easy to sharpen.

[Travis22]

Beautiful knife Giddyup.

3-3.5" cutting edge is a perfect size general camp knife IMO.

Did Barry do a nice leather sheath for it too? (Love to see a pic).

Travis

[Giddy_up]

Here you go Travis.

[perfectlydark]

I need to downgrade my knife..5inch scary looking heavy thing. Love it but its a bit over the top, unless fishing

[headwerkn]

Current hike kit is a Leatherman Skeletool CX on the belt and a basic cheap all-purpose kitchen knife and scabbard in the pack. Will probably replace the latter with one of those swanky LMF knives this summer (assuming Santa doesn't bring me one beforehand!).

For fishing hikes I also take a Mojito thin-blade filleting knife... for hunting a Buck Zipper, a Swiss made synthetic handled boning knife (who's name escapes me right now) which I actually use 80% of the time now and X-tactical machette that gets used rarely for anything, but looks impressive...

Cheers, Ben.

[wayno]

[Genesis]

Leatherman here, heavy but a great tool, over 15 years old and looks and works as new!

Genesis

[David M]

I agree, even though I may have appeared to scoff earlier in the thread I just don't think you need a stupid big knife when a small sharp one will be sufficient to amputate a limb if needs be!! Anyone who decides to take on a wild pig with a knife deserves to be mauled for their stupidity IMO.

The guy in America who did have to cut off his own arm when he got stuck, literally, between a rock and a hard place, used a Leatherman.

As far as I know, his story is not on the Leatherman website where users write in with stories as to how their Leatherman got them out of a difficult situation...

[Strider]

I agree, even though I may have appeared to scoff earlier in the thread I just don't think you need a stupid big knife when a small sharp one will be sufficient to amputate a limb if needs be!! Anyone who decides to take on a wild pig with a knife deserves to be mauled for their stupidity IMO.

The guy in America who did have to cut off his own arm when he got stuck, literally, between a rock and a hard place, used a Leatherman.

As far as I know, his story is not on the Leatherman website where users write in with stories as to how their Leatherman got them out of a difficult situation...

That would be because it was a cheap knockoff and not a genuine Leatherman. There is a photo of it in his book.

[melinda]

Baladeo 15grams! Beautifully made!
Super sharp!

Baladeo

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