Knives

[Moondog55]

If you want a really light diamond knife sharpener try the old style "Diamond Deb" diamond nail file
or a small bit of 800grit wet&dry paper glued to a paddlepop stick, actually with the stick 1200 on side one and 400 on side two works well

[Strider]

I noticed that Opinel now have a specific "outdoor" model with a plastic handle and in-built emergency whistle and lanyard.
http://www.opinel.com/uk/tradition/multi-fonctions

I couldn't resist so I bought one from eBay Germany for around A$31.50. Note that the only place I could find them was on German eBay. I was going to buy a classic wooden handle model but the English eBay seller took too long to answer a simple question (and still hasn't).

I will still buy the classic model in due course as well as some of the other nice knives discussed here.

Regards,

David

This looks really good, even has Sandvik steel! But the one thing that puts me off buying one is the serrated blade

[bushwalker zane]

This looks really good, even has Sandvik steel! But the one thing that puts me off buying one is the serrated blade

Same with me, I don't like how some knives have that. It doesn't seem substantial enough to be actually useful. My El-Cheapo knife has it, and I don't like it!

[doogs]

I use a Vitrinox paring knife. I can't see the point in getting a specialist "outdoor" knife unless it makes you feel more of a man of course...

[bushwalker zane]

unless it makes you feel more of a man of course...

Manly manly manly, grunt, snort, spit.

[doogs]

unless it makes you feel more of a man of course...

Manly manly manly, grunt, snort, spit.

LOLZ! That's it

[Moondog55]

Well in my very humble opinion.
Outdoor knives usually come with a sheath, and as a professional who works with razor sharp tools I can tell you that margin of safety is worth the extra money. I use dozens of those little V'nox knives a year and while they are good they need a sheath to be safe in either the pocket or the pack and the secondary thing is the sheath protects the sharp edge.

[north-north-west]

I can't see the point in getting a specialist "outdoor" knife unless it makes you feel more of a man of course...

I'm in favour of anything that lets me feel more of a man. As long as it's a man I fancy.

[Nuts]

Tramontina steak knifes are great for general bushwalking duties. They are serrated but stay sharp for a long time, years (I shortened and rounded the blade and handle on ours with a grinder)
Unless you have something with a heavy blade you wont be buying it for battening and that anyhow.. so something made for cooking that also uses high quality steel.
I have a boker rhino (pic somewhere on here), you could fell a tree with it but it is heavy (even with its short blade) but the most use it gets is on cucumbers, cord bits, so on.

You could make do with a razor blade if your worried about looking manly

[bushwalker zane]

No matter what knife you have, I think if it's coupled with a good beard you'll be considered manly enough. And hey, I'll be off track in the wilderness, no one will see me if I have a cute, pink knife! I just want something that is sharp, will stay sharp and won't fall apart when I put it to the test. It'd be nice if it could cut tomatoes too

[Moondog55]

LOL Real men cut their tomatoes with an axe, preferably a 5lb Kelly Tasmanian competition axe with chromed blade

[bushwalker zane]

Now I just need a decent rag to clean up the mess. Ideas?

[doogs]

Now I just need a decent rag to clean up the mess. Ideas?

Now you are thinking along the right lines !! I keep my knife wrapped in a rag in my (plastic) first aid kit. Excuse the euphemism but it size doesn't matter, its knowing what to do with it and a sheath is probably a good idea! And I use mine professionally

[Moondog55]

A cheap and easy sheath is a piece of folded milk bottle gently heated in the oven and a toilet roll on the outside wrapped in gaffer tape.
Here's one I made earlier.

[taipan821]

I have a Excalibur pocket knife with a 5 inch blade that I use for general cutting tasks. It has been mistreated (I took it as a blade when i snorkel) abused etc and still is better than it's replacement. picked it up for $15

[Kinsayder]

Has anybody tried a Benchmade knife? They look quite serviceable.

[JOCKs]

Benchmade are very reputable, never owned one myself (too pricey). I own afew Spyderco and SOG knives couldnt be happier. Spydercos 8Cr13MoV steel rusts like hell, mainly surface rust, but hitting it with fine steel wool will remove it. The copper bushes held up without any signs of rust at all ! My SOG twitch 2 has served me loyally for 2 years without a hickup. The cryo treated AUS 8 stainless holds its edge very well, but still takes on surface rust.

[cdg]

I carry an Eickhorn PRT folder, three and half inch blade, half serrated. I also carry a gerber multitool - bought it around 1993ish and still going strong. I have replaced some of the tools on it with ones I made myself (such as the housekey that folds out!).

I do not like folders that dont lock open, as they are very dangerous. The Opinel is especially dangerous as it has that sliding ring - which is known to fail. The injuries can be very savage.

[Strider]

Spydercos 8Cr13MoV steel rusts like hell, mainly surface rust, but hitting it with fine steel wool will remove it.

That would be Sanrenmu's 8Cr13MoV - they are produced for Spyderco under contract.

Never had any rust issues with mine

[McGinnis]

I've got an array of knives of all sorts, but I have to say that my favorite for hiking is a Gerber Freeman Hunter (drop point, not gut hook variety). It's as tough as they come, holds an edge well, but most importantly it's just damn nice to hold.

It's not the lightest, cheapest, most compact, or sharpest knife I have, but it's still my go-to.

[Strider]

Morakniv has just brought out the new Companion Heavy Duty. Looks awesome!

http://www.moraofsweden.se/adventure/co ... vy-duty-mg

[quicky]

If I prepare correctly, I rarely need a knife. Even if I follow my thoughts through to conclusion...I rarely need a knife.

So, I thought I'd test this out, and for the last 6-12 months, I have only carried a Dermasafe blade. It's surprisingly strong for its size and construction.

Dermasafe

Dermasafe blade.jpg (24.39 KiB) Viewed 15541 times

...so far, I've pulled it out once to practice making shavings for emergency fire starting.

Weight... 8 grams. Cost, about $2.50 each from the US.

BTW....it's uber sharp.

[LandSailor]

There is always the roll your own option

[bushwalker zane]

There is always the roll your own option

Wow

I wish I had the knowledge and skill to do something like that!

[madmacca]

There is always the roll your own option

That is hard core!!!

[shane]

Fallkniven

World's best, but will cost you $200 to $300.

Their general purpose survival knife is the A1z, about $300 when I bought mine.

[Strider]

This little beauty arrived yesterday - Enlan EM-01. Amazing quality for $12 posted!

[Jack o]

I use a Victory Outdoor Knife made by E Goddards of New Zealand. These high quality knives are relatively light weight for the pack, very robust, hold a good edge, easy to sharpen, inexpensive and come with a quality oiled leather scabbard.

http://www.victoryknives.co.nz/index.ph ... Itemid=179