Recent Comments

How to Buy a Good Pocketknife or Multitool

Opinel's No.07 My First Opinel Folding Knife

Opinel’s No.07 My First Opinel Folding Knife ($17, opinel-usa.com) is sharp but without a point. The 3.5-inch blade is made from Sandvik stainless steel, and it holds an edge. The outdoors version ($26, scoutshop.org) also has a built-in whistle to call for help in an emergency.

With proper training, many Scouts can use a knife — a valuable tool for camping or working on a whittling project. A multitool provides multiple blades and other tools. Examples are saws, drivers and even forks and spoons.

A knife is not a toy. If you’re a Bear, Webelos or Arrow of Light Cub Scout, earn your Whittling Chip. If you’re in Scouts BSA, earn your Totin’ Chip. Then you will know how to safely carry and use one of these tools.

CRKT Minimalist Drop Point knife

The CRKT Minimalist Drop Point ($36, crkt.com) has a 2-inch fixed blade with a tough handle that’s comfortable to hold. The carbon-steel blade sharpens quickly, and the half-ounce durable thermoplastic sheath has multiple mounting options.

KNIFE BASICS

There are several types of knives.

All-purpose folding pocketknives are common in Scouting. Most come with tools such as a can opener, screwdriver, tweezers and, of course, knife blades — all in one compact package. Though they can be extremely handy, a downside is the knife blade doesn’t lock into place, so it may fold up on your hand while you’re using it.

Lockbacks are simple folding knives with a single blade that can be locked. So you get the benefits of a sturdy fixed blade-style knife but in a convenient pocket-size package that can be folded open with just one hand.

Victorinox Swiss Army Huntsman knife

Scouts have been using Victorinox Swiss Army knives for a long time. The Victorinox Swiss Army Huntsman ($50, victorinox.com), a multitool with first-aid functions, has a suite of transitional tools, including a can opener, scissors and tweezers — plus large and small blades, saw, awl, leather punch and more. It pretty much has everything you need.

Fixed blades, are no-nonsense knives with a beefy handle and stationary blade. If you need a knife to accomplish the everyday tasks you come across in the outdoors, from whittling on things and cutting materials to spreading peanut butter on your sandwiches, a short, no more than four-inch-long, fixed-blade knife will accomplish all of that. Avoid large sheath knives; they are heavy and awkward to carry.

You’ll also find specialty knives such as river rescue knives with serrated blades for slicing rope, whittling knives designed for carving wood, and multitools, which are compact, handheld tool boxes. Most are built around a pair of folding pliers.

Leatherman Sidekick

The Leatherman Sidekick ($70, leatherman.com) is a stainless-steel toolbox on your belt. The 7-ounce Sidekick has spring-action needle-nose and standard pliers, wire cutters and stripper, knife and serrated knife, saw, ruler, can and bottle openers, wood and metal file and three screwdrivers.

FOLDING OR FIXED KNIFE? KNOW THE POLICY

Knife policies vary among packs, troops, councils and camps when it comes to what blade types and lengths are allowed. Learn your unit’s policy before buying a blade of any kind. When it comes to types of knives, the Guide to Safe Scouting recommends “choosing the right equipment for the job at hand.”

BLADES

Most blades are made from strong and durable stainless steel. Blades are available in straight edge, serrated (jagged like a saw) or both. Bigger is not always better. A small, sharp four-inch-or-smaller blade can cut just as well as bigger knives but is much safer to handle and easier to maneuver in tight spots.

Stansport's Folding Knife, Fork, Spoon Multitool

Stansport’s Folding Knife, Fork, Spoon Multitool ($15, stansport.com) has more than eating utensils. The tool, which separates into wo so you can use fork and spoon together, also has a can opener, corkscrew and chisel all in a belt-ready nylon carrying pouch.

PRICE AND QUALITY

You don’t have to spend a fortune to get a quality tool. Often, an inexpensive knife will do everything you want it to do. As prices go up, you’ll see small improvements in the quality and size of the blade.

CARE AND MAINTENANCE

Knives and multitools can last your whole life if you care for them. Wipe your pocketknife with a damp cloth to clean it, and add a drop of food-safe oil at pivot points to keep it at its best. Use a sharpener to keep your blade sharp.

“A sharp knife will work for you, while a dull one works against you,” says Kyle Owens of Work Sharp, a company that makes sharpeners.

Work Sharp's Pocket Knife Sharpener

A great knife deserves an equally great sharpener. Work Sharp’s Pocket Knife Sharpener ($15, worksharptools.com) is small enough to stash in your pack, with a diamond sharpening plate and ceramic honing rod that have built-in angle guides so you can get a perfect edge on your pocketknife.

CARRY IT SAFELY

The smartest, safest place to stash your knife is in an easy-access spot in your backpack. You’re asking for trouble by wearing a fixed-blade knife on your belt. If you fall, the knife could rotate inward and you could land right on the blade.

Gerber's Armbar Trade

At only 3.1 ounces, Gerber’s Armbar Trade ($50, gerbergear.com) has eight essential tools, including a knife, saw, awl, driver, pry bar, hammer and bottle opener, packed into a surprisingly small and effective pocket clip tool.

TREAT YOUR KNIFE WITH RESPECT

Treating pocket knives with respect not only ensures your safety, but also keeps others safe. Here are a few major no-no’s:

  • Throwing a knife
  • Using a dull or dirty blade
  • Handing a knife to someone blade first
  • Cutting while others are within your “safety circle” (arm’s length)
  • Carving into something that doesn’t belong to you
  • Cutting toward your body

Using a knife requires responsibility. Bear Scouts can start carrying a pocketknife after completing the Whittling Chip requirements. Members of Scouts BSA must earn their Totin’ Chip, which also gives them the right to carry and use axes and saws.

50 Comments on How to Buy a Good Pocketknife or Multitool

  1. Benchmade knives are great. They get a little pricey, but htey do have models of $30 or less. I have a Benchmade Benchmite II knife which costs around $35.

  2. When buying a knife, choose a Swiss Army knife with the scissor tool. It can come in a lot of handy. First of all, you can use it to clip hangnails you might get when collecting wood. Also, you can use it to cut fishing line on fishing trips and twine while camping so you do not dull the actual blade. On the topic of dulling blade, DO NOT I repeat DO NOT whittle with this knife because it will dull the blade so fast you won’t know it hit you, especially if the knife is some cheap genaric brand. Thanks for listening.

  3. Don Quixote de la Mancha // December 19, 2008 at 6:14 pm // Reply

    I have two knives that I use a lot. One is an Old-style scout knife and one is a good quality swiss army knife that I bought at a day camp.

  4. I think a good survival knife should be between 4 inches and 7 inches

  5. Multitool Guru 1 // December 11, 2008 at 10:13 am // Reply

    This article is obviously somewhat outdated-especially the part where it says that multitool blades don’t lock. Maybe the wimpy Swiss Army knife blades don’t, but all the multitools I’ve ever bought have lockback blades, pliers, and screwdrivers.

  6. I have one Leatherman multi, two Gerber multis, and an El Cheapo lockblade that I picked up in Columbia. I broke the Leatherman, but you can’t beat that 25 year warranty. El Cheapo is actually my favorite, but I use multitools more often, so I carry my Gerber. The Gerber is pobably the sharpeest knife in the house- still.

  7. buck knives are they way to go

  8. I have a G 96 that my cousin gave me when we were hunting

  9. i keep a swiss camper, but prefer lockbacks. saving up for a leatherman skeletool.

  10. leatherman is the way to go wave has a 50 year warenty

  11. I’m going to get an Explorer knife soon.

  12. I got a pretty good swiss a walmart that comes with a smaller one.It’s pretty good even tho I lost the small one

  13. I have a Buck knife that does everything I need it to do.

  14. i have a pocket nife just a small one that does everything that i need.I only paid $15 for it

  15. Andre the giant // November 4, 2008 at 10:19 am // Reply

    I have a small bush craft knife that has always worked well I recomend one

  16. I have a one-blade $4.99 knife that I bought in the sawgrass holiday park, and it has been very sharp throughout the two years that I have had it . I do not reccomend buying cheap knives in souvenier shops, but sometimes there are some good quality knives in unlikely places. Always try to find something that you do not have to save up for years for, but still is a brand name quality knife. I never like to spend more than $30 on knives. Also, valor is a great knife company that I reccomend.

  17. Cool! Thanks for the advice, Mr. Kummerfeldt! I have a 3-blade knife. I don’t know what brand it is, as it doesn’t have a logo on it. It has a cool safety feature on it: all the blades lock in place when they’re open, so they won’t shut on my hand. It also has a compass, which is kind of annoying because the needle always points toward the blades. It’s cool, though.

  18. I have a genaric gerber and it works like a charm but can be a little lose so i have to tighen up the blades so dont get generic knifes they break like crazy. Buy name brand.

  19. I have a little blue knife with one blade that works well but I should try a stronger one.

  20. i have a Columbia River lock back single bladed knife, it rocks. i personally dislike multi tools, i prefer lock backs. if you want a good quality knife for under 25 bucks, then get this one at Walmart. anywhere else it costs like 55 bucks, if you do get this knife, be sure to oil it every once in a while.

  21. that was good edvise!by the way,my dad has a mulitool.your edvise rocks!!!

  22. Hey are we alo

  23. The Buck Whitaker multitool is great. It has the perfect blade for anything that you’ll actually need to do in Scouts. It’s always in my pocket.

  24. boy scouts rule!!! // September 17, 2008 at 8:56 pm // Reply

    Don’t buy swich-blades or single blade knives.(the more things in it the better)

  25. I use a Cold Steel SRK that is a real knife not some knife for a little kid. I carry it on my belt and have never had it come in on me, that is the stupidest thing I ever heard.

  26. i suggest the benchmade 530sbk

  27. master angler // September 8, 2008 at 9:34 pm // Reply

    i now have a geber one-handed lockback that is my constant companion

  28. I like Gerber (usually more expensive) Remington, and just recently i’ve been using Maxam. I love that one.

  29. i own a rambo knife(more like a machete)

  30. I have a leatherman that cost 130 bucks it totally does the job

  31. buck knives rock

  32. frost cuttlery is the best

  33. Smith and wesson SWAT tactical Tanto blade… Looks really cool, really sharp, and good mechanics. Pretty cheap too, 16 at Big 5. Too bad my friend broke mine.

  34. I use a $10 ozark trail knife. it’s amazing with a 3.25 inch blade. i bought it at Wal-mart:)

  35. i have a wegner

  36. i got a knife from a boy scout popcorn sale a couple years back and its been doin evrything i want ever since

  37. i have tried so many knife brands but i still like a good old timer

  38. I have a gerber mini paraframer 2.

  39. boyscoutsofamerica // August 3, 2008 at 9:37 pm // Reply

    i own a columbia river lockblade with a saftey.

  40. i hav an awsome duloth tradeing lock blade

  41. it is cool

  42. bookworm225 // July 5, 2008 at 7:26 pm // Reply

    i have a BSA whittling knife. it does the job good. i reccomend buying it.

  43. kidtech15 // July 5, 2008 at 6:24 pm // Reply

    i personally believe that victorinox ( the makers of the ORIGINAL swiss army knife) are by far the best and most convenient. i carry mine everywhere- except school

  44. zakattack // July 2, 2008 at 5:47 pm // Reply

    leatherman are a very good quality knife. Im only in highschool and i use it where ever i go except school. I purchased a leatherman wave and i think its one of the best investments i made. i also bought a leatherman squirt so i could keep it on a key chain

  45. master angler // July 1, 2008 at 9:21 pm // Reply

    i love to collect swiss army knives.The one i probablly use the most is my huntsman

  46. I have had my Wal-Mart brand knife for about 3 years now and i keep the thing nice and sharp and clean and it seems to work the best for me. i think i bought the knife for under 10 bucks so if i finally lose the thing im not out much.

  47. i agree

  48. I have a Leatherman.

  49. I collect knives. right now I have sixteen. my favorite one is a camoflouge lockback. I bought for 5 dollars about three months ago and I still haven’t had to sharpen it!

  50. surviverman // June 26, 2008 at 10:31 am // Reply

    Leatherman and Swiss Army rock!

Leave a Comment

Please don't use your real name.