Know nothing about knives - HELP! what should I know?

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GlockFan1954

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I had a gerber I got for free - it worked cutting open packages, in the woods etc. It was 3 inches, really fast to open. Now I've lost the thing.

What should I get now? Should it be serated (partially?). Auto or manual? Price range? Brand? I want something I can carry daily for useful things like boxes, or for when I go camping/hiking should I need it.
 
You can never go wrong with a good (Victornox) Swiss Army Knife! :) I've carried one for at least thirty or forty years! :what:
 
I actually carry a TINY swiss army knife my dad gave me. It stays in my backpack for hiking/school. Never really use it except the occasional package.
 
Buck is still the best

CM154 Steel is difficult to better currently. Great prices are still available on Buck knives through many Internet dealers. I like my Alpha Folding Hunter with American steel. Sharp is the Key. Holding an Edge makes a real knife. cliffy
 
Ok, we hear you that you'll use it most of the time opening boxes, but what type of boxes?

Heavy cardboard, fiber tape, staples or printer paper reams with plastic bands?

What have you used a knife for camping/hiking in the past.

It doesn't do you any good to have someone recommend a $150 sharpened prybar when you can afford a $60 folder for office cutting.
 
by any nice sized buck, or gerber of decent carry size serattions dont matter.. i do suggest a single blade folder with at least a 3 or 3.5 blade
 
I"ve grown to like my Kershaw Storm II. It's pretty big and heavy for a folder, but it's tough. Holds an edge well enough. The tip is not a screwdriver (don't ask).
 
May I suggest a Carton Cutter?
http://www.acehardwareoutlet.com/(qw2awpayp1a4uz3ccb02gvyw)/ProductDetails.aspx?SKU=998007485

Seriously, you work hard for your monies and this Carton Cutter uses a single edge razor blade, and when it gets dull, flip it over to the other edge.
When that blade is toast, slap another one in and good to go.
These are not expensive, and for boxes, really do work well.

Now you can get you whatever you want for your other tasks.
You are worth it.
Heck, you can get more than more knife if you do a Victorinox Swiss Army selection.

Maybe a Classic SD for key ring, and this will handle all sorts of everyday chores and compliment it with a Vic Soldier, Farmer, Alox Bantam...

Compliment it with Case Sodbuster Jr with CV blades.
Get that nice bone handled knife by Queen, Shatt & Morgan, Moore Maker...etc., you have always wanted.

Whatever you want, you deserve it.

The Carton Cutter is a handy, inexpensive workhorse that is proven.
If you lose it, tear it up, what do you care?
Just grab another one and go on about your business.
 
SM!!! Are you smart or something?!?! Say it isn't so!!

Im gonna go out on a limb here... Listen to SM. Buy and or find for free the right "TOOL" for the job. Nothing is more sicking than losing an unetched police issue Spyderco that you have had for 11 years. The one you lost more than once, like the day you went to two stores, three different parking lots looking for, only to find it in in an ankle deep puddle you parked your 53 foot tractor trailer in. Ahh sooo glad to have found it that day. To bad years later you lost it for good.
 
Can you legally carry a small fixed blade? Do you need/or want a one hand opener? How do you feel about SAK's or traditional slipjoints? Do you want to stick with the 3" blade length of your lost Gerber? Price range?

I like hiking/camping myself and spend as much time in the woods as I can.This is my EDC combo...a Vic Hiker (almost the same as a Tinker but with a saw instead of the scissors). And a small BK11 fixed, 1095 CV carbon steel,flat ground,3.25" blade, very tough knife. Small light and flat it hides well for in town carry.

Both work great for normal EDC or in the woods work. Cost for both combined is at about $65.

100_0614.gif
 
Thanks todd - that's a pretty neat combo.

I've thought about a smallish fixed blade like that since it's probably ideal for many woods/camping functions like chopping down small trees gutting fish sharpening stakes etc.

I don't know about the legality of them unfortunately - I'm in TX can you carry one? I think the legal max length for any blade is 5" (wouldn't want that big anyway).

My swiss just has 2 small sharp blades, cann opener, cork opener, on of those things you can drill with (forget the name) and scissors. I'd really like one with a saw and pliers. I think it's actually the same size as yours so it's a "tinker"

How much does a bigger/fancier swiss go for? I'd like to keep it under 50
 
SM!!! Are you smart or something?!?! Say it isn't so!!
Click to expand...

Hey, I am just a Black Lab, with a Laptop and 'Net access. My role is to be the traditional, practical member around here in exchange for dawg treats and steak bones.
*handsome black lab grin*

GlockFan1954,

In reference to knife law, bookmark this site:
http://home.netcom.com/~brlevine/sta-law.htm

Since you are bookmarking, do this one as well.
Handgunlaw.us
http://www.handgunlaw.us/

Todd,
Post a picture if you will of your small fixed blades.
I did not check TX knife law.

GlockFan1954,
Still that small fixed, if legal, might be something that would fit one of your tasks.

HTH

*woof*
 
Thanks to the Chinese imports, you can get a good medium-duty knife for really cheap.

There are thousands.

Buy several, and just replace your daily knife when you break/lose/get-tired-of it.

If you need a knife that can be used as a tent peg in armor-plate, there are some of those around too.
 
I would avoid partially serrated blade. In my opinion they tend to get in the way so either go all the way serrated or have a smooth blade.

I use as my general everyday carry a Kershaw Blur and a Swiss Tool X. Both can be bought for $50 or under and the last gives you all the wonderfulness of one of the best multitools that I use quite regularly in my job.
 
like chopping down small trees
Click to expand...

For a smallish fixed (as stated- not sure how small this means), this may be a little bit of a stretch. Yes, it's possible. But i guess there's 2 schools of thought on this:

1) Get a really cheap knife b/c you'll be beating on it and you don't want to trash a nice one.

2) get a really nice/$ knife since this activity is really pushing the limits of a small FB knife.

Batoning wood is certainly possible. If it's going to be a common occurrence, i think you should look into either a LARGER FB knife or a hatchet.

I have an ontario RAT 3 that i will occasionally employ for this task myself and i sometimes think that's a stretch. Just not sure you're gonna get away with anything smaller than that.

To that end, a really nifty FB that i've been carrying a lot lately is the Boker Edit.
 
My little Becker necker is smaller than a RC3, and it will baton. But like you I think its pushing it.

Which is why my SAK has a saw.
 
many woods/camping functions like chopping down small trees gutting fish
Click to expand...

Those are on the extreme ends of the spectrum and a single knife probably won't do either job very well (or will be horrible at one of the two). A good camp set is a small pointy knife (fixed or folding doesn't really matter) for the dozens of small choirs and a medium sized (3-4") fixed blade for the few choirs requiring a beefier blade.

You can get a perfectly well suited set for this, the smaller of which would do well as your every day knife, for under $150 and easily find a pair of knives under $100 to do the job. With a little effort you could spend $75 and be good to go.
 
I got this one on ebay for $24, mint condition, from a reputable seller

http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/stores/sport-goods/swisschamp-300.jpg

We'll see in 10 or so days! Some places sell them for over $80 so I figure it's a great deal. It should solve most of my needs - it even has wood saw. I could even use the magnifier to start a fire (after I use the other tools to get a fire bundle !). I'm excited to try it out. I'm mostly happy it was so inexpensive - and all the reviews I've read are outstanding some people have had their swisschamp for 20 years.
 
You can never go wrong with a good (Victornox) Swiss Army Knife! I've carried one for at least thirty or forty years!
Click to expand...
Yeah mine has been through a ton of abuse and still cuts through whatever I need cut as if it were a lightsaber. yeah, it's that good. :cool:
 
Man, I love your knives. The only reason I don't have one is because I tend to beat the crap out of them, and I'd feel terrible abusing such a nice tool. Trixie sure is cute.
 
I suggest the Spyderco Tenacious. The Spyderco round hole (instead of thumb stud) may seem really weird at first, but it's actually quite fast and secure. Your thumb won't slip off, unlike a thumbstud (on occasion).

http://www.spyderco.com/catalog/list.php?blade=8Cr13MoV

The Spyderco Byrd line is inexpensive, yet pretty good on quality. Both the Tenacious and Byrds are inside the above link.
 
I'm a big fan of at least two knives for camp/woods stuff. I tend to go for a very large chopper and a smallish knife for delicate work and cooking.

It's been said, but box-opening and camping might really call for different blades.

John
 
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