A quality knife or multi-tool is one of the handiest things you can carry in your pack. It’ll help you spread peanut butter, carve a tent stake, fillet a rainbow trout, maybe even save your life. But you have to pick the right tool for the job.
Outdoor survival expert Peter Kummerfeldt will show you how.
THE LOWDOWN
There are several types of knives. Kummerfeldt’s favorite, fixed blades, are no-nonsense knives with a beefy handle and stationary blade.
“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,” he says. “And 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.
Then there are all-purpose folding pocketknives. 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, Kummerfeldt says 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.
You’ll also find specialty knives such as river rescue knives with serrated blades for slicing rope, whittling knives designed for carving wood, and multi-tools, which are compact, handheld tool boxes. Most are built around a pair of folding pliers.
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.
PRICE & QUALITY
You don’t have to spend a fortune to get a quality tool.
“My $15 knife does everything I want it to do,” Kummerfeldt says.
As prices go up, you’ll see small improvements in the quality and size of the blade.
CARE & MAINTENANCE
“The only good knife is a sharp knife,” Kummerfeldt says. “A blunt knife requires you to put so much force on it that it could slip, and you could drive the blade into your leg.”
As needed, run the edge of your blade across a sharpening stone a few times. Wipe the tool clean after every use and lubricate any hinges with a light oil like WD-40.
CARRY IT
Kummerfeldt says 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.
Not sure which gear to buy? Need tips for maintaining your equipment?
I have lots of knives but for utility purposes i use my S.O.G. Flash 2 but i would suggest any S.O.G. knife for any situation. Another great knife is leatherman multitool which is great for a lot of jobs.
i was just on the sog site and i think their best knife is the SEAL Revolver. I would get it but its 10 inches long.
Appalachian Trail makes some pretty good knives that last a long time, don’t cost too much, and are very useful on scout campouts. I bought four knives, two of which are usefull multi-tools, for just $20. I use them all the time.
I think it is a good guide to use if you are going to buy a knive.
like me!
Well i would go with fixed bladed knife like the one i have its a KRIKT they have varry good quality knive and they are pretty cheap too.
Leatherman’s ROCK
ive got a sheffeild and boy is it useful!
Instead of a swiss army knife I also recomend a gerber fixed blade knife
Gerbers are great, im not going to lie, but i had an assited opening knife from them and the safety failed on me after about a month or so. No, it didnt cut me, but it couldve. Im ordering a fixed blade tonight to replace it, im getting the SOG field pup. gerber fixed has some good products, but theyre not grabbing me much.
got a sweet leatherman over 15 tools good blade
i ahve a fix blade knife. would i be allowed to use at scout outings?
no
I don’t think so1
i agree i dont thank so
I just got a gerber curve for Christmas
It depends on what your scout master thinks.
a basic swiss army (like a tinker or spartan) will pretty much do anything you need. keep it sharp and be careful.
i have a navaha muela flip knife. iv bin usin it 4 lik 2 yrs and it went in a river with me and fell off a boulder it was resting on and its like non scratched. i reccomend muela
Old Timer knives hold their edge better than most knives, they aren’t made no more.
I have a gerber suspention multi-tool. It is awesome and only $30.
My knife is one blade and it works well for me,it is very sharp
andworks well and it is my fith knife and itis like my matatey
very sharp and useful!!!!!!!
I have a Swiss Army Knife campers edition it’s the greatest knife I’ve ever had!!!!!!!
I got the benchmade 910 stryker locking blade. It’s sick and it is so sharp.
i have a apelachen trail locking knife.it’s great.
This more of a question the gear guy section in boys life magazine said something about a knife called the gerber curve where would you get it?
Do NOT get cheap no-brand knives. The other day, I was on a campout and someones cheap ol’ swiss army knife imitation broke and all the tools fell out. My real swiss army knife has been lasting for three years ow like it’s new. Only downside is that swiss army knives have kind of flimsy blades, so I use a leatherman now.
ya my friend got a knife @ walmart for $2 but it has served him well for all his scouting years!!!
I have a swiss knife that does everthing i need to do around the house
get a butterfly knife in chinatown…. 3 bucks………
butterfly knifes are fun.the will never break.
or a multi knife for 5 bucks, it’s really good quality.
they will last for your whole lifetime
to BBT i got a 12 function victornox swiss army knife called the tinker at target 4 $13
What is the best kind of Swiss Army Knives made by Victorinox?
i recomend thevictorino
I have two pocketnives they´re both pretty cool, try to go for well known brands like victorinox, leatherman and gerber.
Reccomendations: Victorinox Ranger and Leatherman Skeletool
I want to buy a swiss army knife $30.00 or under. I am 11 years old and want it to last at least 10 years. What one should I buy.
i have a good one wht do i do whith it
My troop won’t allow fixed blades, but i’m trying to change it. here is a reccomendation, the leatherman core.
I have a 20-fuction knife, its awsome!
Leatherman surge is probly the sturdiest tool out there. Compare it to a swiss army knife and it will feel like lead. but you get tons of tools for its weight.
Go for good brands like Clutch&Gerber, i have a small folding multi-tool with pliers and it is Awesome! my cousin also has another one by the same people and it is about $30 and is super light with three blades, a three in. a two in. and a serrated 3 inch blade.
how do you order/buy them? pleas respond
I have a REALLY NICE “Victorinox” 2 blade pocket knife. I got it for $12.99 at Seirra Outpost in reno,Nevada. Some other good places to get knives are at “Cabela’s” and “Bassproshops”. Here’s a tip: Don’t get a cheapie $2.00 knife lying on a mini mart shelf. Invest some money into a good knife. Not all good knives are that expensive!!!
I have a knife with my name engraved in it
Bigger is NOT better, I like my “BUCK” 5″ folding,lock blade,straight edge knife,it comes with its’ own pocket sheath. Easy to keep sharp and use. Cost me $29.95 from outdoor outfitter. Look on line for blades and other useful gear,ie: “Campmor”,”BassPro”,and “Cabela’s”.
were can i get a us military knive?
i gote a winchest pocetknife and it cuts thru 2 inch thick rope in about 5 minuets becase i sit at my table and i sharpen it for 2 hours it can even cut thru a fairly large branch in 20 min see ya pplz
My knife can cut through 2″ rope in 3 SECONDS!!!!! your knife must be dull, you do know that you can ruin a knife by sharpening it to long right??
I have a Swiss One-Handed Trekker. It is a very good Knife. I prefer the Serrated. It is a lock-blade. IT ROCKS
i have 7 pocket knives and they all rock but my favorit are my swiss army knife and my lock back
go to cabelas for a knife they have great deals i got a cabelas swiss army knife for only 5 bucks and it rocks
I have way cool wal-mart knife That i found in the boy scout latrine in camp when I was eating my dinner in there
i have a swiss army knife and i got it on june 6th for my birth day and shortley after like 4 days after was ranked up to weblows ow i almost forgot i got a gardener with the original swiss army knife
I have a SOG flash 2 and its a great knife the spring assist helps with opening, a lock blade makes it safe, along with a open safty keeps it from opening in your pocket it is light and very durable. And best of all its made in the USA!!!!
When backpacking to a campsite that doesn’t have a definitive latrine or other outside toilet, a temporary latrine must be dug and built. Traditional spades and long handle shovels are too tedious to carry on a hike. What is the best and most reliable folding and collapsible spade or backpacking shovel which can be attached to a backpack for the digging of a cathole or temporary latrine at a campsite when no other toilet facilities are within reasonable walking distance of a campsite? Thank you for your advice.
Does the Totem’ Chip Boy Scout Skill Requirements specify the safe use of a long handle axe or a short handle camping hatchet? What is the best camping axe for use in cutting firewood for a campout?
Try the Swiss Tool Spirit S by Victorinox. I have used it for more than a year and it is all I could ever ask. I carry it with me wherever I go. It is a little pricey, but it is definitely worth it!
I am getting a one- handed trekker and which is better the serrated or non
I dont agree with the boyscout law about no sheath knives. I would rather have a small fixed blade than a folder.
i have a victorinox one hand non serrated trekker that has a saw can opener bottle opener and more and nice sized locking blade even though it has tools
i just got a victorinox poketknife at wal mart for about $10