What would be a good folding single blade knife (this style) for camping and hiking? It’s going to get a lot of use for scouting so while I don’t want to spend hundreds, I also don’t want a “good value at $10” knife either. Uses include rope cutting and whittling.
Also, anything good as in the field sharpeners/honers? I don’t want to take an expensive stone out in the wild with me but something to keep the edge keen during a week at camp.
There are lot of better, more expensive knives out there, but I still have a Buck 110 stashed in my pack.
I have a bad habit of losing knives so I tend to pick them up when on sale in the $8-10 range. For cutting rope, I find having a serrated section helpful, but it is a pain to sharpen. If you can find one of these CRKT knives on sale, they are really sweet. I think I paid around $12 for the last couple I had. I think I still have one somewhere.
I find a curved blade more useful than the tanto profile that has become popular. I think it is popular cause it looks evil and is cheap to make. The smooth curve is easier to sharpen and cuts stuff better…that corner on the tanto gets dull to quick, because that is where all the cutting happens.
I have a sharpener similar to this that fits nice in a pack and works great for field touch up. I don’t recall the actual brand of the one I have, but I picked the Lansky one to link to because their “universal system” sharpener is what I use at home and it is outstanding.
ETA: look at the combo deal on the bottom of this page
I have a Spiderco very similar to the one linked in the OP but I usually take my Gerber multitool with me. It has an blade that takes a good edge plus many other tools you might find useful in the backcountry such as repairing tents, packs, stoves, etc. I prefer tools that have multiple uses particularly if I’m backpacking. If I’m canoeing, I still take the multitool but also throw in a small ax. For sharpening, I have a small stone (just in case) and if I have to sharpen in the field (rare on a one-week trip) I’m just careful to maintain the edge I’ve established. I have a more elaborate sharpening system at home.
I like the Benchmade knives that use the axisstyle of locking mechanism. It’s ambidextrous and always locks solidly. It also allows the user to unload the tension holding the blade closed so you can flick it out like a switchblade with one hand. This is the best locking mechanism I’ve ever come across. Even as the parts wear it will continue to lock solidly because the mechanism rides up the back of the blade. It’s self adjusting in this respect. I can easily open and close it with one hand.
As far as sharpening is concerned I use a2 angle ceramic stick system. It will bring an edge capable of shaving off the hair on your arm.
+1
Can’t go wrong with a classic Swiss Army knife.
This is a nicely made knife for the money but I have to object to this type of locking mechanism. I’ve had this type of knife fold on me in heavy use which I think camping falls into. If price is a function then I would go with something like a Buck Alpha Hunter or for camping the Crosslock. The blade lock mechanism is a little more foolproof and will not wear over time.
Opions are better sought in IMHO, so-- moved from General Questions.
samclem, moderator
Unless you are slicing up a storm, dressing deer, or really using the knife for true wilderness survival a Victorinox Swiss Army knife or a multitool will be vastly more useful overall in the field than a folder.
As locking folders go the Ken Opnion Kershaw knives are good and well priced.
Whittling falls under the category of “hard use” so you want a knife that has a tough working blade --not too hard a super steel that can split a hair strand twice but not too soft that you can’t even skin a bird.
For the low-price models, the buck 110 as mentioned above. It’s a bit heavy at 7.5 oz, doesn’t have a pocket clip, can’t be opened with one hand. But for field, it’s suited since it has a leather pouch. The standard 420HC blade costs around $50 while a pricier custom with cpm 154 blade might cost $100.
A more modern buck would be the vantage. It’s lighter than the 110, has a pocket clip and can be opened with one hand. The standard vantage has a 420HC blade and costs around $40, while the vantage pro with an s30v blade, costs around $70. I recommend the s30v. The extra money would be well worth it.
The spyderco endura you linked us to is more of a city EDC type of knife since it’s light, slim, comes with a pocket clip, and has a thin but scary sharp blade. If you like spyderco knives and need a hard use kind, I recommend the tenacious if budget is tight ($37.) If you’re willing to shell out $150, get the Gayle Bradley folder. The cpm m-4 steel is one of the best knife steels right now. Fit and finish is worth far more than $150.
Happy hiking.
The most important feature to me is a locking blade. Spyderco and Kershaw make good value knives. When I was in the USMC a lot of guys carried the Marine Corps Ka-Bar. While a good knife, it’s overkill for many daily needs - unless you’re in hand-to-hand combat daily, that is. Yes I have Ka-Bars but I preferred carrying a Swiss Army Knife in my pocket when I was in the field, specifically the Victorinox Nomad, in black, with the tweezers and toothpick. Another plus is that it has a corkscrew. Gotta have some wine, right?
I also like Emerson knives, the CQC-7s, but they’re on the pricey side. If you might lose the knife, don’t carry that. I like the Emerson’s “wave” feature that opens the blade when pulling it from a pocket. I usually carry both the Nomad and my Emerson, one in each front pocket. If it were one and only one knife I’d carry, it’s usually the Nomad.
I agree that a multi-tool is great, but find one with a locking blade.
As for sharpeners, get a diamond one such as this. They come smaller and less expensive. They’re at many hardware stores, or even at Wal-Mart.
I love my Buck 110. Had it since 1975. Still, for one-handed ease of deployment, Spyderco, SOG, and Benchmade are tops. If you must use a folder, the strongest locks I have I believe are on my SOG Flash II, or the Pentagon Elite II. The Pentagon’s a beast, but surprisingly useful.
The CRKT M-16 (and M-21) is one of my favorites as well, and the newer models have a double lock system that is very secure. Beware, however, of where you get it. They let WalMart make and market a cheap plastic version made in China for about 15 bucks; not the quality or materials you want. If you like it, order it directly from CRKT.
If folding isn’t mandatory, both Buck and SOG make some great fixed blades, and frankly, I wouldn’t go hiking/camping without one.
As for sharpening in the field? Generally the most you’ll need is a good touch-up, and any of the ceramic rods or pocket diamond stones herewill work.
Best suggestion I can give you is… get them all!
that’s a semi-assist knife. You need to keep it locked if it’s in your pocket. I had the smaller version and had it open in my pocket. that pointy tip is not something you want to experience. I like the knife a lot but I don’t like having to keep it in the locked position. the lock consists of a separate sliding lock that covers the end of the blade when stowed. Hereis a picture of the other side of it with the locking mechanism. The smaller version really opens fast for an “assisted opening” knife. It’s a bit awkward to unlatch the blade and then open it.
I agree. I’ve been carrying a Kershaw Scallion for years. One handed, spring-assisted opening that has never failed, and it holds an edge very well. Comes with a belt clip, but I removed it so I can carry it in my pocket easily. I never lock it, and it has never opened in my pocket.
Isn’t the gravitational field of an opion so weak that it is difficult to detect in any forum?
My work knife is also a Kershaw, and what I’ve notice is that the larger models (like the Leek that I carry now) never open accidentally in my pocket, but the smaller model (I think it was a Chive) that I used to carry did once or twice. YMMV.
I carry the Sog Flash I which is the smaller version of the II. It uses an assisted opening mechanism like the Kershaw Scallion and also has a separate lock for the stowed position. I removed this mechanism as I’ve never had a problem with it deploying in my pocket. It’s my favorite every day knife.
The Sog Pentagon uses their version of the benchmade axis locking mechanism called the arc. Hereis a view of the mechanism exposed. It appears to also be ambidextrous. The difference is that the Benchmade axis mechanism pulls straight down. The advantage of both is that the mechanism loads the blade in the stowed position so it keeps the blade closed.
I used to own a knife similar to the one linked to in the OP. Great knife but I lost it and they stopped making the model I had. So I got this one instead:
I’ve had it about a year now. I highly recommend it.
