do you carry knifes on hikes.

[Mark F]

I must admit to coveting the baledo and have heard good things about the Mora blades, but my priorities are elsewhere. To me a knife is for cutting up lunch , string and other minor tasks, not batoning wood for a fire.

I am a gram weenie and I've tried various knives over the years but not ventured into the specialist knife area. While I always have a Victorinox Classic as part of my kit for the scissors or those out of a Swiss Card, I have tried:
Victorinox Picnicker -80g - lock blade with useful accessories. Good for travelling but too heavy for my liking.

This was swapped out for an Opinel No 7 - 35g - 7.5cm blade - it works well as a folding knife and relatively cheap. Sharp and easily sharpened.

Recently replaced by a Victorinox paring knife - 20g (with sheath) - fixed 8cm blade serrated or plain available - cheap ($7.95) sharp and my current favourite.

[melinda]

Mark F,
I use the Opinel No 7 as my canyoning knife.
Figure if I really need it, it is big enough to cut a 9mm rope!

[Spartan]

My small collection of work knives:

1. Gerber Mk II (worn on my webbing).
2. Cold Steel 'kukri' (attatched to my pack).
3. Victorinox 'Rucksack' Swiss Army Knife (carried in my pocket).

I carry only the pocket knife when bushwalking.

All the best.

[nq111]

Spyderco Dragonfly Salt (34g). Never rust or fail, light enough not to worry.

Good knife, but amazing how little I need it in the bush . Indeed I have done most walks historically (including week + versions) without any knife no problem.

[cherish]

I carry a Becker blade as a survival knife and a homemade survival kit, even on a simple day walk. I am hoping never to need it but for that one in a million chance I do, it's in my pack.

[Strider]

I carry a Becker blade as a survival knife and a homemade survival kit, even on a simple day walk. I am hoping never to need it but for that one in a million chance I do, it's in my pack.

How would you intend to use it? You might be better off with a space blanket and a loud whistle.

[puredingo]

I'd say the the space blanket and loud whistle would be part of his survival kit? And as for the applications of a knife, Strider, well there is quite a few.

I go with the old sayind "I 'd rather have a knife and not need than need a knife and not have it"

[SteveJ]

If fishing I have a small knife in my kit to fillet

You've obviously never caught a big fish!

Call that a fish, this is a fish

[Strider]

Yes I agree - I always have a knife on my person. The whole "survival knife" fad is a bit of a joke though.

[pastuseby]

I always carry a sharp knife. These day it is a Leatherman and before that a Swiss Army. Occasionally carry my cane knife for a bad spot of lantana. Once I was caught halfway down a 60m abseil with a jammed belay and no knife to cut me loose. I spent 20 minutes wishing that I had a knife. Now it is a part of the survival gear. Note: I believe it is illegal to use an axe, machete, or chainsaw in a National Park, don't know about carrying though.

[cherish]

I'd say the the space blanket and loud whistle would be part of his survival kit? And as for the applications of a knife, Strider, well there is quite a few.

I go with the old sayind "I 'd rather have a knife and not need than need a knife and not have it"

Yes, it has two man space blanket that could double up as a shelter. Firestarters, one handed sparker thingy, loud whistle, mirror, etc. The knife is more for cutting branches for splints, firewood, etc if needed.

I subscribe to that saying as well, hence why I have one. i also carry my survival kit on my person in case I lost my backpack for whatever reason. I also carry leatherman Wave on my belt for small things.

[Shiner]

I always carry a sharp knife. These day it is a Leatherman and before that a Swiss Army. Occasionally carry my cane knife for a bad spot of lantana. Once I was caught halfway down a 60m abseil with a jammed belay and no knife to cut me loose. I spent 20 minutes wishing that I had a knife. Now it is a part of the survival gear. Note: I believe it is illegal to use an axe, machete, or chainsaw in a National Park, don't know about carrying though.

National Parks prohibit the possession of chainsaws inside their boundaries.

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=13519

[Travis22]

Most parks are ok with chainsaw possession in their boundary provided the bar and chain are removed. I'm sure they don't publish that but if a ranger see's a saw we've found he's happy if it's stored as such or he'll ask for it to be made that way.

Anyone going anywhere in the high country without a chainsaw in their vehicle is ill prepared IMO.

Travis.

[Zone-5]

Victorinox 'Tradesman' slide lock blade in leather holster.

[quicky]

I pre-cut all food, have all medical supplies ready to go...and so on and so forth...so I rarely see my knife being pulled out of my ditty bag....I use a fold-able safety razor...weighs about 4 grams.

This is all I carry for all my UL pursuits and haven't needed to use it in the last 3 years:

folding safety razor.jpg (4.34 KiB) Viewed 23828 times

Each to their own I guess.

Enjoy

[Gadgetgeek]

I carry a knife or two (or three) as a matter of habit. Partly its a bit of a woobie, but a useful one. Over time, I've taken to carrying smaller knives, as I've found that they do everything the big ones will do, at a fraction of the weight. All of my knives are survival knives in my mind. They will all be useful if and when I need one to help me survive. some of the much smaller ones require more skill and thought, but are useful none the less.
I always carry off my pack, usually on my belt of in a pocket, as its my theory that only time I'm really going to need my knife is if all my other gear is gone. I also carry something to help start a fire, even though I will probably never need one as stove is easier and better, but there is always that chance. And since nothing I do ever goes according to plan, I plan with rather large margins of safety.
Right now the knives I use most commonly are ESEE-3, Becker bk-13 and Vic Huntsman.

[walkon]

Gerber utility knife always on or around me. Years ago I laughed at my mate for always carrying one but gee this has proved useful getting me out of all sorts of predicaments. Nearly cried when I broke it.

[Jaala]

I do, without fail. Many obvious reasons.

[slparker]

swiss army knife: not because it is a particularly good knife (opinel no.7 carbon for that purpose) but because it has tweezers (for splinters/first aid)and an awl (for pack/boot repair).

[walkon]

Looked up your swiss army awl and I've to say its pretty neat. My gerber has lots of utensils but not that, very happy with the knife blade on the gerber though and the plier jaws lock into postion. Which is a must if you use them at all and like to keep your fingers

[thejungleisneutral]

I too carry a knife while bushwalking, but it's never a sheath knife unless I'm doing a base-camp style trip in which case I'll use my Mora or an old skool Ka-Bar.

My go-to for a basic bushwalking knife is a Leatherman Wingman. Despite the semi-serrated blade it cuts salami fine, the pliers are part of my pack repair kit along with a bit of tie-wire and cable ties, the scissors work well, and the clamshell-packaging-ripper, is far more useful out-bush than I would have thought.

[Tuna]

That's all that we really want deep down, a good knife to cut up the salami...



20grams

[walkon]

That's all that we really want deep down, a good knife to cut up the salami...



20grams

Lol that's just about right. Surprised myself a couple of bushwalks ago and actually cut a rope. First non food related, normally salami and cheese, I've had to cut with that particular knife ever

Edit: I forgot that the knife had cut elastoplas tape a couple of times

[Strider]

Gerber utility knife always on or around me. Years ago I laughed at my mate for always carrying one but gee this has proved useful getting me out of all sorts of predicaments. Nearly cried when I broke it.

Which one mate? I've always been interested in the EAB.

[GPSGuided]

Broke a knife? Impressive!

[THREEPOINT]

Car Camping I have a very old Rat 4 which I love - for walking I take a Kershaw Half Ton folding knife which is relatively light.

And yes, so far it has only been used to slice food and cut up the occasional bit of cord for makeshift clotheslines

Still wouldn't go without one, though. People don't actually use PLB's much either, but they may well save your life one day!

[walkon]

Broke a knife? Impressive!

Gerber utility knife always on or around me. Years ago I laughed at my mate for always carrying one but gee this has proved useful getting me out of all sorts of predicaments. Nearly cried when I broke it.

Which one mate? I've always been interested in the EAB.

I actually broke the jaws. In the middle of doing a break down repair, I had the plier jaws locked into a part with a three foot bar in between the handles. You could say that I exceeded the gerbers operating parameters to say the least. I bent the jaws one way, then went to the back of the job and repeated the process, as the job came loose the jaws broke. It was certainly cheaper than getting a mechanic in, $180 callout plus ongoings and more importantly down time. I was honest with gerber in america and they sent me a new pair for $60 which was unbelievably cheap.

The gerber pliers are definitely not UL, mine are called 'gerber diesel' something or other. Gerber plier jaws lock in the out position unlike the Leatherman which just fold out, so you can lever things out with the jaws as they don't fold in on you. I can't recommend gerbers working multi tools highly enough.

Oh yeah, I did once break a knife blade on the multi tool. I had it under a circlip and was hitting the pliers with a mash hammer to get the clip out. The blade broke when I tried to straighten it back. I don't normally treat my tools like that though sometimes you just have to do whatever it takes. That pair is hanging on the wall in my shed, Hall of Fame like lol.

[JIM1]

I carry the three,

Swibo 5in boning knife
Muela 4in skinner
Old timer stockman

I also hunt so out of habit they come on non hunting walks.

Pure and simple, I can butcher any beast with the two larger knives, I've been on trips before where this has allowed us to extend our stay and enjoy the outdoors for longer.

On a normal walk I don't often use them but if things turn for the worst then besides food shelter and water you want your tool to do the job and do it well, I've never carried "hunting knives" because in my opinion there useless for any outdoor activity and at a small weight gain I'd rather have the tool for the job than something that may not stand up for multi use, especially if your counting on it.

[mikethepike]

I 'never' get foot blisters but a couple of years ago I did with two days of walking to go and was asounded to find that I didn't have a single piece of sharp edge to cut it with. Painful lesson!

[sambar358]

Interesting comment on the "chainsaw ban in NP's"......must be a NSW NP Reg I'd suspect....no such ban down here in Vic for our NP's. I've had quite a few ANP rangers drop into camp for a brew and to warm their butts by my campfires over the years and never had one mention a chainsaw ban.

Down here most 4WD's would have a saw on board for tree clearing on tracks and if it was up to the Parks Vic staff to do this task every time a tree fell over a track then there wouldn't be too many tracks open in the mountains after a big blow or fresh snow-fall. I've had to cut my way out of remote country several times after big snow or winds working for hours with the chainsaw clearing trees off a track to get out.....sometimes meeting another couple of fellas in the middle who''ve been doing the same to get in. Nothing too unusual about that down here....NP or not.....Parks wouldn't have the resources to do this sort of work anyway these days so essentially they rely on Park visitors to do the job for them most times. Certainly....bans exist for firewood collection in NP's apart from deadfall wood used at a campsite for cooking/warmth....but a blanket ban on even the carriage of a chainsaw in a Vic NP.....certainly not. Cheers

s358