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What's a good knife for camping?

2K views 23 replies 18 participants last post by  Admin 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Been camping a lot lately and started buying useful supplies.
Hammocks, tents, fire starters, etc. but also need an all purpose knife.
Something that I can have on me in a sheath off my belt, but doesn't get in the way.

Does anyone here have experience with any of these "tools" [link removed]
 
#4 · (Edited by Moderator)
Swedish Mora knives take and keep a keen
edge with their laminated carbon steel
blades. They are made tough, inexpensive
and available in modest sizes. Useful
for woodworking as well.

Unless you're willing to spend a fair amount
for a premium stainless knife, I have found
that stainless steel blades don't hold an edge
nearly as well as carbon steel blades.

Opinel of France makes some charming and
useful folding knives with carbon steel
blades. Also inexpensive.

You can spend a lot on a nice knife, obviously.
A large knife may be useful for chopping
kindling and pounding tent stakes but awkward
to handle for eating or whittling.
 
#5 ·
I always carried a Vietnam era surplus Ka-Bar. It had a leather sheath with a small sharpening stone in a pocket. Still have the knife, not doing much camping these days, though. Unless the Sheraton counts. 8^).
 
#8 ·
A leatherman multi tool is nice to have in your backpack. For a real camping knife, go with a medium sized Bowie knife, (8-9"blade) or one of the K-bar Marine knives. You want something big enough but not gigantic. Strong and heavy enough to do some chopping when needed. As stated above, stainless stays pretty, but carbon steel stays sharp. My personal hunting knife is a 8" carbon Bowie with the clip sharpened. For general camping use I use my K-bar. For camping you also need a real good hatchet, an older Stanley hammer head with hickory handle is perfect for camping.
 
#10 ·
What kind of camping are you guys doing that you need a 9" full tang bowie knife?

- Gilley23
Just regular old camping. Need kindling, might need to make some tent pegs. Will need some marshmallow sticks. May need to cut some fire wood or even clear a spot for your tent. I have a real nice 12" Bowie, but that's overkill for camping. ;-)
 
#14 ·
What ever you decide I'd lean towards a blade of high carbon steel for ease of sharpening in the field if you need to. Stainless is great for boat parts and milking parlor equipment but not for an edged tool,too hard to touch the edge up in the field. Is also suggest a small steel to keep in your kit bag and a small combination grit oil or water stone. As for a knife something about 8in over all length is a good solid choice,fixed blade with a nice sheath. Kbar/Ontario knives are great. Espicsly if you can find one with a little vintage to it. I carry a schrade sharp finger with high carbon steel blade. It's at least 25yrs old. It was given to me when I was about 10 or so when I killed my first deer. Has always been there when I needed it and I can get it sharp enough to shave with. Another option is find your self an old hickory butcher knife. They were made by Ontario and had high carbon blades and hardwood scales. Walmart used to sell them but I've not seen one in quite sometime there. I have several good friends who camp about 200 days out of the year and they carry old hickorys in the field.
 
#15 ·
I HAD a K-bar "copy" for a while, fellow made it from the leaf spring of a blown up 3/4 ton truck….someone else liked it more than I did…..( last time I actually went camping..Uncle Sam was paying the bills..)

Have a leatherman Wave sitting on the desk beside me. Much else to use than the K-bar…
 
#17 ·
What kind of camping are you guys doing that you need a 9" full tang bowie knife?

- Gilley23

Just regular old camping. Need kindling, might need to make some tent pegs. Will need some marshmallow sticks. May need to cut some fire wood or even clear a spot for your tent. I have a real nice 12" Bowie, but that s overkill for camping. ;-)

- papadan
...Might need to recreate the movie The Grey and fight off a pack of wolves…just messing with you, papadan….. :)
 
#18 · (Edited by Moderator)
I don't camp but I hunt a bunch and I always carry a buck 113 in a sheath and either a buck 110 or 112 in my pack. When Im not hunting I carry my 112 in my pocket and have very much used and abused my EDC. I love that the knives I carry are made here in the USA and backed by there warranty. Plus if you break the blade doing something stupid you can send it back to buck and they'll replace the blade and clean up the rest of the knife for $10. To me they can't be beat
I recently got a buck 119. Its a really nice knife but I pretty much bought it just to have it. For the most part its to big for my needs but is a real quality knife
If you visit bucks website they do sell some knives and hatchets that are made for camping.
Be very careful buying from ebay. Their are Chinese copies that are a forth of the cost that have a fake buck box and name on them
 
#19 ·
When backpacking I find that a large knife is not needed for anything. I keep a sharp paring knife in a small sheath on the front of my shoulder strap. It cuts string and such and helps in food prep. And it's always available and doesn't weigh in at much.

And no, I don't keep a large one for protection. Yes there are rare instances of issues but people who would put on a 50 lb backpack and hike all day uphill often aren't your serial killer types.
 
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