[bratch]

Stealing another gun theme: What are the knives that everyone should have?

[DSRUPTV]

Buck 119 special = 1911 of knives
Buck folding hunter = 30/30 leveraction of knives
USMC Kabar = AR-15 of knives

[Erich]

I don't have one myself yet, but I'm increasingly drawn back to looking at the Hideaway knives.

http://www.hideawayknife.com/main.php

Personally, I'm not all that impressed with the "custom finished" aspect (I own a few very nice custom knives, and I don't find the Hideaway price to be the amazing bargain that I hear others shouting about), but the design looks superb. Any knife that I can keep in my hand while I do other things . . . plus that's SouthNarc endorsed . . . wow.

[mtnbkr]

Buck 110
Schrade Old Timer 80T
Some sort of swiss army knife (real one not chinese import)
Schrade Sharpfinger (carbon steel model)

On the high end, a CR Sebenza.

Chris

[hillbilly]

A tomahawk.

A machete.

hillbilly

[Pawcatch]

An Eriksson mora for an everyday fixed blade.
Russell green river knife for hunting and buckskinner events.
Helle Nying for fishing and small utility purposes.
Okapi lockback for EDC.

[4v50 Gary]

A tomahawk.

A machete.

hillbilly

OK, I have a tomahawk head (still have to carve the haft and drill it out to make it into a proper pipe), a machete (it's so dull I blugeoned a pigeon to death with it) and what's a hillbilly knife? Is that some sort of scalping knife or something you cut up corn for when making moonshine? :neener:

More seriously, I think a good K-bar or Navy Survival knife, a good BoyScout knife (spoon & fork) or a Swiss Army knife is about all you need. A tomahawk & machete are nice to have too. :)

[Valkman]

On the high end, a CR Sebenza.

Good knife, but even better to me is a Strider folder. My next Strider is the AR - it's a massive folder you could cut a car apart with. :) I have a Strider MTL-SS which is a fixed blade you could use in any situation and count on it to save your life if need be.

I guess I just vote for Striders - a few of them is all you'll ever need! :)

[bad LT]

Definatly a k-bar - American classic still going strong after 60+ years.

[poilu]

1)emerson la griffe
2)benchmade afck
3)crkt ryan plan b
4)shrade shrarpfinger with sheath by
"on/scene tactical"(discontinued but
but reincarnated as the camillus
sharpfinger)
5)coldsteel 5 inch culloden(discontinued)
6)schrade lb7 bear paw(discontinued)

[scbair]

1) American-made 3-blade stockman, with high-carbon blades.
2) Ka-Bar, or another USA-made equivalent (solid, heavy-duty fixed blade, 5" to 7" blade length).
3) Heavy-duty, top-quality, one-hander lockblade

My favorites:
1) Remington "Green-on-Yellow" 3-blade stockman (no longer produced, I think).
2) Blackjack 1-7 (original Blackjack vintage; a hair-popper, for sure!).
3) Spyderco Manix

While I have a decent assortment of usin' blades, I could get by with these, if I absolutely had to.

[Colt46]

Chop the hell out of anything. Pretty intimidating when worn on the hip too.

[Joe Demko]

An Old Hickory butcher knife.

[13.45]

victorinox or wenger swiss army knife

[hso]

Gosh, ALL OF THEM! or at least it looks that way around my house! :D

Ok

Everyone should have a SAK like the Soldier or Tinker or Hiker.

Everyone should have a small fixed blade like the Mora or the Sharpfinger or ...

Everyone should have a large full tang fixed blade like the Chicago Cutlery/Old Hickory butcher knife or the BKT Campanion or Busse or ...

Everyone should have a large chopper like a Tramotina machete or a Kukri or Finnish brush hatchet.


Or ... ALL OF THEM :rolleyes:

[Rupestris]

1) American-made 3-blade stockman, with high-carbon blades.
2) Ka-Bar, or another USA-made equivalent (solid, heavy-duty fixed blade, 5" to 7" blade length).
3) Heavy-duty, top-quality, one-hander lockblade

1, got two. An Old Timer/Schrade by Hoffritz and an Imperial (Pre Schrade)
2, Got one. Camillus AF Survival version dated 1968
3, Got Several.
:D

My suggestion fora must-have, Becker BK-7

[Ash]

Woodmans Pal beats a Kuhkri every time.

A real deal SAK and a nice fixed-blade round out the mix. Backpacking, I use a Woodmans Pal for chopping and fire-pit digging, a Case fixed blade with 4 inch blade for food prep and lightered splitting, and a Wenger Tradesman SAK for everything else. A Sharpfinger would work as well as the Case, and SAK's are a personal preference. The Woodmans Pal, or Woodman's Wet Dream (WWD) as my hiking buddies call it, is better than a machete in many respects, but a kuhkri or machete would fit the bill almost as good.

Ash

[Ash]

But why carry a lock blade and a fixed blade at the same time?

[HungSquirrel]

Kershaw 1550ST Blackout

Your choice of serrated or non. I picked serrated. It's got a nice assisted opening system (not legal in all states). Can be found at your local Wal Mart. Best fifty bucks I've ever spent!


http://store1.yimg.com/I/herbence2teststore1_1831_44158875

[crawfordew]

12" Ontario machete
Frost's Mora Swedish Army Knife
SAK
These 3 will cover pretty much anything I'll ever need a knife for. If you feel the need for a combat knife, the KaBar rounds out my choices. YMMV
Gene



:)

[Omni04]

cudillas CUDA maxx 7.0


google it and you will see what i am talking about ^_^

[Skofnung]

A man needs at least three knives. More is better, but three will do.
Here are my picks:

1) A Medium sized Field Knife- A knife in the Ka-Bar size range. I have several knives in this range, and the Ka-Bar gets the most use. It is a well designed knife.

2) A 3-4" Fixed blade- I like the Frosts Mora Clipper myownself.

3) A Multifunction Pocketknife- I favor the Victorianox Tinker.

Those knives would serve for most everything you would need a knife for.

The next three one would need IMO would be:

1) A Carbon steel 10-12" Chefs knife for the kitchen. Once you use one of these for food prep, you will wonder how you got along without it.

2) A 1" bladed woodcarvers knife. I like my Rick Butz carver.

3) A Lockback Pocketknife ala Spyderco Endura.

You will notice I left large choppers off the list. I find that large knives do not chop as well as small hatchets or tomahawks. Don't get me wrong, I Like big choppy type knives, but they are of less practical use than the ones listed above. I consider them to be luxury items.

In addition to knives, I think a man should own at least one good felling axe and a good hatchet. A pulpwood (boys) axe would be a good thing too, but again, it is a niche tool.

[hso]

HungSquirrel,

Why do you say that assisted openers are not legal in some states?

[Black Snowman]

A good butchers knife. They are damn hard to find these days. Antique shops sometimes have them in the $200 range but I was shopping for one for my Dad for fathers day at a reasonable price and looked for 3 hours online with no luck. I'm sure I could have asked here and gotten a response but I was too frustrated to think straight by then :)

My list: A multi-tool with at least 1 good blade, something fixed, something folding, something small, something big :D

I have a Leatherman Wave, a couple nice Randall fixed blades my Dad gave me, a couple Cold Steel folders that follow me around with my Leatherman, a small early Benchmade frame lock my uncle gave me and a longsword made by Skycastle swords and one of their broad axes too. I also have a Glock e-tool for good measure.

[CRridermike]

i forgot the name but all the ones with a small butterfly logo on the side of the blade, o yeah BENCHMADE. anything benchmade.

[fletcher]

victorinox or wenger swiss army knife

Ditto. Everyone should have at least a basic Swiss Army knife with a couple tools on it.

[Joe Demko]

Ditto. Everyone should have at least a basic Swiss Army knife with a couple tools on it.

Ditto except to note that Wenger is teh suXX0r and Victorinox is teh r0XX0r.

[JShirley]

Woodmans Pal beats a Kuhkri every time.

Since the Pal has no point, that is scientifically disprovable- in other words, for a specific situation, the Pal may be superior, but since there always exists the possibility of additional utility with a point, your quote is not a true statement.

John

[Jim101]

I just got one of these, real nice........

http://www.crkt.com/snaplock.html

Jim

[45R]

A Benchmade :)

[Atticus]

A Spyderco Delica and a Leatherman Multi-tool

[DSRUPTV]

I was given a spyderco by my boss as a christmas. I used it as a work knife because that was the his intent when he bought it for me. The edge only lasted about 3 days. Has anyone else had this problem with spyderco?

[Atticus]

Stonemason?

[DSRUPTV]

lol,,, No landscaping,, the knife probably took the most abuse from cutting sod the second day I had it. I bought a buck diamond because it was inexpensive and used it for at about a month and a half and it is still sharp.

[Atticus]

I use my spydies a lot at work,and they seem to hold up pretty well, but I'm usually cutting cardboard and such. Funny though....I did use a S&W folder to do some landscaping work, and the knife was pretty trashed afterward. Digging in the dirt is about all I use it for now.

[HungSquirrel]

HungSquirrel,

Why do you say that assisted openers are not legal in some states?
The language of knife laws in some states is ambiguous enough that an assisted opener such as my Kershaw may be illegal. For example, Wisconsin.
941.24 (1) Whoever manufactures, sells or offers to sell, transports, purchases, possesses or goes armed with any knife having a blade which opens by pressing a button, spring or other device in the handle or by gravity or by a thrust or movement is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

[Sven]

OK, I'm biased because I do his website, but I think Matt Lamey's knives look pretty damn cool!


http://www.imageseek.com/lamey/showcase.jpg
Matt Lamey Knives (http://www.imageseek.com/lamey/)

[HungSquirrel]

As wonderful as that knife is, I don't think I can afford it. :D

[ReadyontheRight]

1. Get a Glock. :evil:

Big, thick, hard to sharpen blade, but it's a very handy car or camping tool. Bottle opener, root saw, auto glass-breaking handle, thick enough for chopping stuff and under $40. Can even use it as a knife in a pinch.

2. Benchmade folder.
3. Buck fixed blade
4. KA-Bar (I need to get one)
5. Sharpened entrenching tool

[Diamondback]

- Vic Swiss Army knife: classic pocket utility

- Schrade Old Timer carbon steel Trapper or Stockman: classic slipjoints

- Buck 110 or Schrade LB7: classic large Lockbacks

- carbon steel Opinel: classic folding utility

- Spderco Endura or Benchmade Griptilian: classic one handed opening locking folders

- any good 3"-4" drop point fixed blade in the Loveless style: classic hunting and utility

- any good forged 8"-10" Chef's knife: classic cooking, food prep

-regards

[Third_Rail]

HungSquirrel, you're right about the "other device in the handle" bit. When it says spring and you use a bar under tension, it's exempt. At least MA has that right!

[Greymoor]

Lets see . . .

I usually carry an Old Timer as my left pocket knife. This one gets the small dirty chores and such. I have a Chris Reeve Sebenza in my right pocket. This on is for cardboard, packages, rope, etc . . . If I am camping or hiking I add a Busse Satin Jack on my belt. Tough as nails and its 6" long 3/8" thick blade gives it good cutting ability while retaining strength to do harder tasks. If cutting brush I will have a 18" Siripati Khukuri or 15" Ang Khola Khukuri. The Siripati is sleek and quick allowing light brush to be nipped in a jiffy. The Ang Khola is built like a tank for those heavier chopping tasks.

I also have various other knives but the ones above are part of my duty roster :D I will see if I can find some pictures. . . . Here we go

The Old Timer 340T

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=22378&stc=1

The Sebenza, bottom one

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=22379&stc=1

The Satin Jack

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=22380&stc=1

The Siripati

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=22381&stc=1

The Ang Khola

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=22382&stc=1

[Toddinator716]

if you just want a knife to have but not really for self defense but for having fun with too ide deff go with a balisong

[Japle]

I have over 50 knives. I carry two, a CRKT Mirage with the Wharncliff blade and a small Swiss Army.
There are exactly 9,862,496,882 different knives currently being produced and EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM IS SOMEBODY'S FAVORITE!!

I will continue to ignore most of them.

John
Cape Canaveral

[svtruth]

I know I'll leave some out, but not counting the kitchen cutlery:
Three blade Gerber, 41/2" closed, carry daily
cute little 2 blade Buck, 11/2" closed, carried to office, preretirement so i didn't scare the horses, and wear out nice pants
Camping, a 41/2" fixed blade, laminated blade, carbon steel, sharpened in one taper from edge, no roll off
On the boat, Case lockback, semi-serrated blade and a tool, can opener, wire stripper, shackle key, etc. opens one handed and each blade has a different serration on back so you can get tblade you want with out looking. Only works right handed.
In drawer, a bunch of nice, or sentimental, or miscellaneous blades

[Ash]

Haven't looked here in a while. The Pal does have a point, it's curved back. As far as using on the trail, in the woods, clearing brush, it is always better than the kuhkri.

Ash

[Rupestris]

Greymoor,
I see you are in Michigan. Why don't you turn that busse over to me so I can add some "character" marks to it.
Its a little too pristine for my liking. :neener:

[Texian Pistolero]

1)Swiss Army knife of choice. (Victorinox or Wenger.)

2) Lock blade Gerber of choice (like Gator, or smaller).

3) Gerber Mark II fighter to do the dirty deed.

4) three blade carbon steel stockman for MOST chores.

5) Ontario machete for those "Kodak moments".

6) And yes, a Ka Bar to accesorise.

[chaim]

Knives everyone should have.....I'm going to go with catagories since there are too many good knives that can go in each.


These catagories can be filled going the cheap route ($5-15), medium route ($20-100) and expensive route (how high do you want to go). I think having something that fits each catagory in the medium route will work best for most people-

-A 2-3" tactical type folder for self defense. Face it, there are times that you may not be able to get to your gun (or you may not be in a carry state) and there are other times that for one reason or another a knife is the better option. I have about half a dozen in this catagory that sometimes double for utility use (I know, never use a defensive knife to open something).

-A 2-4" single blade, or a multi-blade, pocket knife for utility use. A nice multi-tool can substitute.

-A 4-8" fixed blade camping/hunting/hiking/etc. knife. I have a couple of these.

In addition to these knives, a few other blades that could be useful-
-A machete for clearing brush from a campsite
-A camp axe and/or hatchet for firewood
-An entrenching tool with a sharp edge for various camping needs



Brands?-
I like so many. I think Gerber makes a great knife for a very reasonable price. I love Kershaw knives. I think Puma and Boker make great knives. The old Ka-Bar is still the standard for knives of its kind. There are dozens of popular brands that if you read up seem to be quite good in the mid-price range. If you want to go the cheap route I like my two fixed blade Winchesters (though I have no illusions that really put to work they'd have any longevity).

[Citadel99]

Can't believe more of you didn't mention a Case knife. That's just a standard. Maybe it's a southern thing...

Mark

[chaim]

Oh yeah, I have a Case knife that I like a lot. I don't use it much though- it has several removable blades so I kind of got it because I didn't have anything like it not so much because I needed it. I will probably get a smaller Case pocket knife with a Stag, Elk or bone handle.

[JohnBT]

A Polish Army knife...for winning bets around the campfire or down at the local watering hole - nobody believes that there is such a thing. Mine looks about like a SAK, except for the Polish eagle on it and the Made in Poland on the large blade.

Otherwise, I use CR knives daily for most everything including one Sebenza for hacking on plants in the yard and such, and a clean one for out and about. My real beater knife is an ancient six-inch Case XX that gets hauled around in my tackle box and used to pound on tent pegs and stuff. I bought a CR one piece, but haven't gotten around to throwing it in the tackle box yet. :)

John

[Guyon]

Some basics:

A good fixed blade. Lately, I love the Bark Rivers in A2 steel.

A slipjoint folder. Case, Uncle Henry, Old Timer, Queen are all good choices. There are plenty of more expensive choices though--Hen & Rooster knives, for example.

A locking folder. At the top of this list has to be the Buck 110 folding hunter. Little big for pocket carry though. I also really like my little Benchmade 705. Many folks would put their Sebenzas in this category.

Something black and tactical (a subdivision of locking folders maybe?). I favor the Spyderco Para-Military. A close second (and in some ways, a better knife) is my Benchmade 710.

A hunting knife (if you hunt). For me, Buck Vanguard (in ATS-34) or Cold Steel Master Hunter or Spyderco Moran top the list. I have others, but those are my favorites.

A fillet knife. (C'mon, don't tell me you don't fish.) I just use the Rapala brand knives, but there are lots of choices here.

SAK. My current carry is the Victorinox Rucksack. My wife carries a Victorinox Work Champ with just about everything under the sun on it. I like the Vics over the Wengers.

A keychain knife. Totally useful in a 1000 ways every day. Lately, I carry a Spyderco Jester.

A machete. Yard work, fieldcraft, opening coconuts, whatever. There are plenty of good cheap machetes out there. I like the Tramontinas. A little more expensive, but higher quality machetes, are the Martindales.

Fieldcraft / Utility knives. Not sure if this is a separate category from fixed blades, but I have a couple of Beckers that are great knives for camping. A little big for backpacking but great for car camping.

That's my two cents.

[milcaztra]

SAK or similar small pocket knife.

Bigger pocket knife. CRKT Kasper, Benchmade, or others. Ultimate top end is the Sebenza or a custom.

Multitool, like a Swisstool or Gerber.

4-5" Small fixed blade. Many choices.

7" fixed blade. KaBar, Becker or many others. Higher end includes Mad Dog, Strider, Busse, Randall, etc.

Larger. Machete or HI khukuri.

[No_Brakes23]

I have a number of "Winchester" knives that my dad got me from Wal-Mart, one is a psuedo leatherman, one is a locking ambi-folder, and one is a wee pocket knife. The "leatherman" has decent tools on it, but all of them betray their cost. Plus they are made in China.

I found a SpyderCo Endura on my first deployment back in '98 but have since lost it. I miss that thing.

Right before I got out of the Corps back in January I stopped into the uniform shop and picked this up:
http://tinypic.com/2bo8wj

Now I just need to replace the missing SpyderCo, (The WalMartchesters are a poor substitute,) get a real multi tool, and a good camp tool.

<edit> I just got a Gerber Paraframe II today.
http://tinypic.com/2cj5z7
It seems every bit a solid as my old SpyderCo Endura. I almost got the Chameleon II but it was difficult to open one-handed. The Mini-Fairbairn was nice, but a little smaller than what I wanted. I didn't realize Gerbers were so inexpensive.

I have no idea on what a good hatchet/tomahawk/camp tool would be.

[fistful]

fixed blade with single guard, 4 to 5 inch drop or spear point, or semi-skinner, 1/8" thick

another, similar knife, but a locking folder, 3 3/4 to 4 1/2 inches long

small pocket knife

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

machetes and leatherman-type tools are good to have, but this thread is about KNIVES, not chopping tools or fancy pliers.

But why carry a lock blade and a fixed blade at the same time? The thread title refers to ownership, not carry. Still, it may be sensible to carry one of each.

Can't believe more of you didn't mention a Case knife. To many of us, a Case knife is a knife made by Case. To what do you refer?

[Greymoor]

Rupestris :D

Those pictures were taken soon after I bought the Busse. It has a bit more "character" now. Abused? No, but it has given good service and shows some sign of that duty ;)

I have a couple other Busse's that are safe queens. They only come out to be cuddled now and then :uhoh:

The worst part is that being in Michigan there are only so many opportunities to use a large fixed blade that will not send the sheeple running. When I camp at some state parks I have received some looks when people notice the Satin Jack strpped to my side. I imagine if they saw my pistol I would have received a more extreme reaction :what:

[Cosmoline]

After a few years homesteading in Alaska, here's what I'd suggest:

A mix of Opinel folders, kept razor sharp and covered with oil--
$10 to $15 each

Some cheap Finnish fish knives
$5 each

A good high-carbon butcher knife, also kept razor sharp and covered with oil-$35 to $55

A heavy cleaver
$65 or so

A mid-range folding knife for your pocket and general use. I like Case XX
$50

Save your big money for your axes. They are far, far more important than knives. Not to mention more powerful. I have Swedish axes that would slice a high-end art knife in half with a smile.

[lee n. field]

Swiss Army Knife. Then they'd stop asking me to fix their stuff|open their packages all the time.

[Hardware]

I don't go anywhere without my SOG powerlock. As far as multitools go this is it. Although I did buy it because of the plier mechanism, not the knife itself. It's a heavy piece though and I've given up carrying it on my belt. It tends to pull my pants down. :uhoh: About the only thing it is missing is a fork and a spoon.

I like the Gerber A/F covert for a folding knife.
Fixed blade field knife I have a Buck drop point skinner.
Fixed blade fighting knife I like the feel and heft of the KaBar. It's a legend because they got all the important stuff right.

Other stuff I like;
Smatchet. Damn impressive when this is riding on your hip.
Ontario machete. This one's thick enough to not bend if you have to lean on it. Might get a bit tiring if you had to cut brush with it all day.

And for DSRUPTV, Buck puts an appleseed edge on their knives, hard to do without a sander, but instead of two intersecting planes the two faces of the blade each look like an arc. Makes a very tough, long lasting cutting edge but about the only way to get it back once it is gone is to send the knife back to Buck. Your Spyderco probably didn't have this advantage.

[Soap]

-Swiss Army Knife
-Multitool
-Lockback or frame lock folder w/ pocket clip
-4" fixed blade
-7-8" fixed blade
-Machete or preferably, a kukri

Specific ones I've chosen are:

-SAK Soldier
-Leatherman Wave (purchased before I knew he was giving cash to the Dems)
-Benchmade Pinnacle frame lock
-Watson Drop Point
-Ka-Bar
-Ontario Machete, will be buying an HI at some point or a custom Smatchet

[Soap]

Cosmoline- Do you use the Gransfors Bruks axes? Whenever I move out of IN, I plan on getting one.

[warriorsociologist]

I've owned others...but after my first GB axe, I decided to use nothing less.

[Air,Land&Sea]

The bare minimum is a Spyderco Manix and a Polkowski custom fixed blade.

[GW]

Mad Dog ATAK II
Benchmade 710
Buck Mini tool

[onecruiser]

Simple, a Buck 110 for cutting, and an Estwing hatchet for wacking and a Buck 105 in the watch pocket for nibbling.

[HighVelocity]

Spyderco Police

[GunGoBoom]

I kinda like Cosmoline's choices & reasoning

Everyone please go back and edit to add links to all these knives so I and others can check them out! :)

If everyone owned everyone else's "must-haves", then everyone would own at least 75 knives - which wouldn't be a bad thing - just sayin.

I'm no expert on knives by any stretch of the imagination, but for everyday pocket folder carry, I like the ones that are super quick to open, which are either the spring assisted ones (Kershaw 1560, Kershaw Ken Onion lines, new SOG folding line), full auto ones, or ones with a large button on the back side that you can press down on to get them open, like the CRKT M16, etc.

Why are kukhris angles inward - what's the point?

I also think that Gerbers are a good value. I also have one of those cheapie Winchester knives & multi-tool - for the incredible price, they are *not* too bad at all.

[Didorian]

I personally carried with me in Iraq, three knives at all times. (Alright, usually four, but I've got the three covered.)
My four were; My heavy duty, Becker CU7. Then I had my quick utility and general purpose pocket knife, Buck Odessy. Then I had my multipurpose knives. I had my Swiss army knife (Victorinox Officier Suisse) Which was my true multipurpose knife. And then I had my Gerber multiplier, which I basically used just as a portable set of pliers. Now in the real world, I still carry the Buck and the Swiss Army on my person. The Becker resides in my trunk.
But those would be the three that I would carry. Becker, Buck, Swiss Army.
Now it's true.... If I can carry a hatchet, or a woodsman's pal, then I'd probably replace the Becker with a Ka-Bar, just for weight dispersal. But if I had to go with just three blades. Three KNIVES. Then those are my three.
:D

[Vern Humphrey]

For my whole career, I carried two knives, a Swiss pocket knife (the biggest one I could find) and a Randall Model 14 Bowie.

[Nematocyst]

Howdy all,

Ok, so i've arrived at the knife convention late. Hope everybody hasn't gone home yet.

To prep for the party, I've spent the night reading multiple threads on THR (including this one of course; twice), several on BladeForums, and a bunch of knife maker web sites.

OK, first a list of what knives i have now, then a couple of hypotheses & questions about what i'm going to add to the tool kit next.

EDC now (at least when backpacking, but always nearby):

* SAK (2). One mine, the other was my dad's. Don't know the specific models, but neither have scissors, both have standard blades, a couple of screwdrives, can opener, bottle opener. Mine's got a cork screw & tooth pick, and a little 1.5" diameter lanyard of nylon twine; it hangs on the outside of my pack so I don't have to dig for it. More important to me than, um, my childhood photo albums.

* SogTool (http://www.sogknives.com/tools.htm): blades, quality drivers, leather punch, file, wire-nose pliers. What you want when your pack rips, or the frame breaks, or the snowshoes fail, or the crampons get bent up. My only gripe: I've never quite used it enough to be able to open it with speed. I always have to rediscover the secret to getting it open, because "open" always requires that the pliers come out first. (Good thing it's not a fighting knife; I'd have died years ago. :o

* Puma Hunter's Pal (http://www.pumaonly.com/pages/6397.htm) (circa 1969). A bit scraped up, sheath somewhat the worse for wear, but still sharp as a razor. Great kitchen knife for small stuff, or when you just need a short fixed blade. Was AMAZED tonight when checking what they sell for now. (Street is at least $100 less than MSRP.) Glad to still have it.

EDC next: as above, but add at least one of the following, again at least on pack trips:

1) Spyderco Endura (http://spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=5)

2) Spyderco ParaMilitary (http://spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=34)

If anyone would care to write a bit about the differences between the Endura & the PM, I'd enjoy reading it, especially if the later is really worth $100 more than the former.

3) One of these new SOG knives (http://www.sogknives.com/home.htm) . Wow, check those out. <emoticon = hungry guy in a donut shop>

At the moment, I'm partial to the Trident (http://www.sogknives.com/Folding/SOG-Trident/TF-2.htm), but there are several others there that are pretty rad, too. I just found them tonight, so haven't decided on the most useful one for my purposes (which, in turn, are now under reconsideration).

{Added via edit later} This just in: the SOG Seal Pup (http://www.sogknives.com/sealpup.htm). Wow. Very interesting.

I thought (or fantasized :rolleyes: ) briefly about a Ka-Bar Next Generation (http://www.agrussell.com/knives/by_maker/e_through_k/kabar/kabar_next_generationcombo_edge_and_kydex_sheath.html), but for now, it seems not the right knife for me. Too large. I'm more interested in survival/utility knives than "fighting knives" at the moment - got no skill and too little time to devote to learning fighting skills - but I'm open to reasons that the NG could be useful anyway.

Same goes for the Gerber Trident (http://www.gerbertools.com/Gerber-Silver-Trident-Double-Serration-6995.htm). Pretty awesome tool, but I'm having trouble justifying it for the same reason: looks like a fight knife. But what a wickedly beautiful knife. :evil:

Information, ideas & suggestions welcome.

NemA~

[RnR]

I agree, let's revive this thread!

Well, I'm not going to recite every edged device I have, but here are my favorites that are used nearly every single day...

For tac wear: the Gerber AR 3.0 (http://www.gerbergear.com/product.php?model=5842) - (Also get a Microlon Precision Oiler for the lube points)
For dress-up: the SOG Gentleman (http://www.sogknives.com/gentleman.htm)
For utility: the original SOG Paratool (http://www.sogknives.com/para.htm)
For the kitchen: various (4" & 6") Spyderco Sermollans (http://spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=66) including the essential Mini-Paring (http://spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=68) along with a Gerber 3" Balance Plus Peeling/Paring blade

And then get you a good Mora for a basic field/yard knife, backed up by a Gerber hatchet and you should have the "basics" covered.

Good cuttin'!

[Valkman]

Right on, Citadel99! I got unterested in Case when I went to the Blade show but did not start buying them until last weekend. Now I have 4 Seahorse Whittlers, 2 Russlocks, a mint '78 stag Trapper and a few others. Lately I carry a Emerson CQC-8, a Swiss Army knife and now a Case, 'cause you never know when something needs whittlin'! :)

[Sir Aardvark]

Benchmade AFCK with the D2 steel blade.

[Gandalf]

My EDC.
Chris Reeve Sebenza
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/44Magpie/DSCF0207Small.jpg

[fistful]

In the words of Napoleon Dynamite: "Lucky!"

[dpesec]

Well I carry 2 all the time.
A Swiss Army Kinve, and a Kershaw 1660. I've just orfered a SOG TF-5 which might replace the KErshaw, or might be in addition to :evil:
When I fly I have my AF survival knife and a Gerber Boot knife. Although I'm thinking about getting a KaBar too, just in case.

I have other floders that I would never carry.

[9teen11]

A Strider folder
A Mission MPF1 all titanium knife; either drop point or tanto.
A Kershaw Bump.

[c_yeager]

A Buck 110 and a Swiss Army Knife should be issued to every single American on their 16th birthday. I wouldnt gladly see my tax dollars spend in that fasion.

[deputy tom]

I'd say everyone needs something along these lines...

1. Swiss Army Knife with lots of tools(Champion or similar)

2. small fixed blade(shrade Sharp-finger)

3. large fixed blade K-Bar or equal size

4. machette or CS LTC

YMMV.tom. :)

[Nematocyst]

Finally bought one today.

Feels good. Sharp as a razor. I like the rigid kydex sheath, and the handy way of putting it onto my belt without having to loosen my belt.

Cost me $117 because I bought it in a local shop instead of online. But it's worth it.

Nice to have another camp knife. I wanted a fixed blade. They're so handy in the kitchen, and for general camp use.

Nem

[lawson]

daily carry: ka-bar TDI for defense, leatherman multitool, sometimes a CRKT M16 or a Camillus Cuda Arclite neck knife.

camping: Becker Brute, Cold Steel tomahawk

[Black Majik]

Benchmade Griptilian or Minigrip.

[mindpilot]

Microtech Auto OTF Double Action....Accept no substitute as they are 2-2-0
Second to None
http://store1.yimg.com/I/bestknives_1870_77493892

[hso]

I see we've gotten carried away since the thread started.;) Must be Santa Syndrome.

Some nice knives and some silly ones, but I see the majority of folks suggest similar knives over and over again.

The SAK. Regardless of how many gadgets, I think it's mentioned more than any other.

The Buck 110. Next most offered candidate for a sturdy locking blade folder in an intermediate size.

Kabar, while not my favorite by a long shot, is an icon for the sturdy fixed blade that can be used to as a heavy work knife and fighter.

That tells me that most of you understand that there is no one knife that does everything and that's good.

[scubie02]

I may have posted on this thread before, But I'm just too lazy to wade through 4 pages... =)

I've had some pretty pricey knives at this point in my life, but ended up selling most of them, and with so many other things have gone back to the tried and true, and like classic over the newest wonder boys for the most part (though I often carry a Benchmade mini-griptilian as an everyday work knife--love the axis lock, have other steels I'd prefer, but it does the job)

Knives everyone should have, though?

Should have started out with some sort of Shrade or Old Timer--probably a three blade stockman style and a Sharpfinger

At some point would have gotten a Buck 110 Folding Hunter, maybe a fixed blade--this could be a Buck, or maybe a Marble's with the 52100 blade, handle material up to the individual--stacked leather being somewhat classic, but maple or some sort of stag's ok too.

Some sort of Case with a chrome vanadium blade or blades

[david_the_greek]

hey anybody have reviews/ recommendations involving the sog seal 2000 and or the seal pup/pup elite. My current knife is an almar quick silver with bottom serrations. I love it and it does everything i ask of it and has always performed flawlessly.

[Pilot]

SAK Huntsman or similar

Benchmade 710

AK-47 Bayonet

[JMusic]

Leatherman Micra
Kershaw model 1660vib this is their Ken Onion model with spring asist opening
Spyderco ATS55 This is there big ugly pocketknife with the hole on top for easy opening. Blade looks like a 20 chainsaw.
Buck General
Jim

[Onmilo]

1. A Kabar, everyone should have at least one of these.
2. A Machete or a Kukri, I like the Cold Steel versions.
3. A good pocket knife, Lately I have been using a couple of the Kershaw one hand knives and like them.
4. Swiss Army Knife, best is the Victorinox Champion.
5. Several kitchen type paring knives, I own and use Victorinox and these get used more than any other knives for a myraid of purposes.
6. Several Leatherman folding tools, they come in handy when you need a plier, a screwdriver or a knife to open a box up.
It is amazing how often I use the scissors on my Leatherman Micra and the Victorinox Champion knife.

[JohnKSa]

The little Swiss Army knives. The ones with a fingernail file, tweezers, scissors, a toothpick and a blade.

I use it FAR more than any of my other knives. Probably my most used carry along item.

[Nematocyst]

I see we've gotten carried away since the thread started.;) Must be Santa Syndrome. Ho ho ho!

And today, I added a folder (EDC) to that SOG Seal Pup Elite that I bought a few days ago: a Benchmade 943SBK Osborn (http://www.benchmade.com/products/product_detail.aspx?model=943).

Wow. I never spent that much on a knife in my life. (Well, I don't know what came over me. The knife just repeated over and over, "Buy me. Buy me...", and I listened to it.)

But, it's a good one. Even though I love my little SAK, it's just too bulky for EDC.

This one is very slim, clip, sharper than most of my razors. I got the SBK combo blade: straight front, serrated rear. Only recently learned (from an ex-coast guard guy) that the serrations will cut cord/rope/webbing more quickly.

I considered the Gripitian, which was considerably less $, but this one just wouldn't let up that incessant "buy me". I swear it. It talked to me. Really. :rolleyes:

With a little care, this one should last well beyond me. (But then, so will the Seal Pup.)

Nem

[Dallee]

Have more than I can name quickly.The ones I can always rely upon=
1. Ka-Bar fixed blade for combat(a Warthog in my case)
2. Benchmade folder for emergencies
3. A.G.Russell Funny Folder for EDC
:)

[mtnbkr]

After nearly 10 months, I wouldn't change my list at all.

I currently only own 2 of the knives on that list, but I've owned them all at one point or another.

Chris

[albanian]

"A Spyderco Delica and a Leatherman Multi-tool"

Boiling it down to the bare minium, I agree with the above quote. The Leatherman beats the Swiss Army knives now-a-days so their days are numbered. The Delica or the Calypso Jr. may be the best of the best for a pocket knife.

I would also add a good machete to the list as I find they can replace a ax, Kukri, saw and many other tools. The machete is a very useful tool for many tasks.

I see no reason for a fixed blade so all my knives are folders with the exception of some bowies. A good folder that is larger than the Delica may be a good idea as well. Spyderco and Benchmade makes the best ones for the money. I have owned Sebenzas and they are over rated. A small Sebenza will cost about $300 and for $100 you can get a Benchmade or a Spyderco that is just as useful. It may not be as pretty or have quite the level of fit and finish but it will be about 99% as good for 33% of the price.

P.S., the Sebenza pocket clip is not very well designed. Nobody seems to mention that when they talk about how great the Sebenza is. Also, the blade is hollow ground instead of flat ground. Flat ground blades are better for most cutting tasks. There is nothing a Sebenza can do that a buck 112 or 110 can't just just as well. The blades are very similar and the lock up will be just as soilid in either knife.

[hso]

albanian,

I've owned sebenzas and many (many, many, many:rolleyes: ) other knives and I'll have to repectfully disagree with your assessment.

The sebenza is a much tougher folder than the ones mentioned. It will handle abuse, abuse I've put them through, that the other knives mentioned will not.

I will agree somewhat with you on price issue, but remind everyone that the 80/20 rule applies here as in most things. That last 20% in performance is 80% of the price to achieve.

All this said, I no longer carry a sebenza and when I carry a knife that I anticipate needing to push as hard as I've pushed a sebenza folder I carry a small full tang fixed blade.

[albanian]

"The sebenza is a much tougher folder than the ones mentioned. It will handle abuse, abuse I've put them through, that the other knives mentioned will not."

I didn't mention any of the $100 knives by name so how do you know which ones I am talking about? For example, I belive that a Spyderco Manix or Para-Military are probably as tough as a Sebenza. I am not bashing Sebenzas because I have found nothing wrong with them and they do tend to lock up like a safe. I know what you are saying about the 80/20 rule but that is my point. I don't think you get really any more quality that means anything between a Manix and a Sebenza. It may lock up a little more solid but the locks are just as strong. It might have some advantage over the Para or the manix but the same is true of those folders as well.

The measure of a knife is not how tough it is but in how well it does what it is designed to do. If the only thing that mattered was toughness, a cold chisel would win hands down.:p

What I am saying is, for three times the price, you expect to get a meaningful improvement in something. It is a matter of debate if the Sebenza is any better at all in terms of useful quality. Blade steels are the same (S30V) so you are getting super premium steel either way. The frame lock is good but so is the back lock of the Spyderco.

If you were comparing a Sebenza to an Endura, you would be rigth but some of the higher end Spydercos and Benchmades are very good indeed. When you consider that you can get the best of them for $100-150, I think that is where the smart money is. A $100 Para-Military may not be twice as good as a $50 Endura but it is noticably better and worth the extra price. A $300 Sebenza is not noticably better than a $100 Para and IMHO, is not worth the price. With a Para, you are paying for higher quality materials and workmanship. You get S30V steel instead of VG-10 on the Endura. You get G-10 scales instead of FRN. You get a full flat ground blade instead of the lesser grind you get on the Endura. You get American made instead of Japan made. There is a real difference there. With a Sebenza, you do get titanium handles which is a nice but it is not worth the extra $200 in my book.

Everybody is free to spend their money how they see fit but in some things, you don't get any more for your money. I think with a Sebenza, you are paying mostly for the name. It doesn't cost three times what it does to make a Manix and you don't get three times the knife. If you like Sebenzas, don't let me stop you. I can appreciate that someone would spend the extra money just to have a knife as flawless as a Sebenza but you can't convince me that it is any better than some of the best $100 in terms of pure use. Sebenzas are flawless and they clearly have a few more steps of fit and finish than a Spyderco or Benchmade but they don't do much for utility. For example, I like the way CRKs bevel the back of the spine on the Sebenzas. It shows an extra step in manufacturing but it doesn;t do a thing for utility. There are several examples like this and the only one I can think of that makes a real world improvement if the fact the Sebenzas are always 100% solid in the lock up and they still open and close smoothly. That is nice but just not worth all the extra cash to me.

[albanian]

I was not bashing Sebenzas at all, in fact, I just bought one of them. Now I have to eat some crow. I have owned them in the past and now I have another one. Maybe if I decide to sell or trade it, I can contact you hso? I'll give you a deal.:)

[JohnBT]

I'm certainly glad I bought both of my Sebenzas before the prices went out of sight. :) ...one for dress & one for digging in the backyard and dirty home renovation jobs.

JT

[Ares]

Ka-Bar
Everyone should own at least one.

[hso]

I didn't mention any of the $100 knives by name so how do you know which ones I am talking about?

'cause I'm a knife junkie (Hi, my name is Mike and I have a "knife problem" ;) )and have dealt in both Spydercos and Sebenzas for over a decade (coincidentialy, even the Manix and ParaMil, amongst almost everything in the Spyderco line). You'll find that I don't talk about knives that I don't have personal experience with unless I cite my sources that are reliable.

Maybe if I decide to sell or trade it, I can contact you hso? I'll give you a deal.

Please do.

[lesjones]

- Tactical folder
- SAK
- Leatherman-type tool - YourBrandHere
- Dress folder - small stockman or the like, something tasteful and non-threatening

Last one is harder. Hunting knife, maybe, or kukri (which I don't have yet).

Also, a keychain knife or utility tool is surprisingly handy. I had been carrying a Victorinox One Handed Trekker (http://www.tadgear.com/edged%20tools/one_handed_trekker.htm) which is sort of a cross between a so-so tactical folder and a SAK. Now I'm carrying a Buck Strider Tarani which is a much better tactical knife but with no tools. I missed the tools, so I put a Leatherman Micra on my keychain.

FWIW, the One Handed Trekker is still the closest thing to my ideal of what I want to carry: a tactical knife plus some tools.

[dm1333]

fiilet knife
a good steak knife
leatherman or gerber for the glove box
gerber ez out


I have a drawer full of knives issued to me at work (USCG) but the only one I carry now is the mini version of the EZ Out. I do carry a high quality Myerchin in my SAR gear but that is for work only.

[cz75bdneos22]

swiss Army knife in any configuration