If I have a backpack on me I'll keep my Leatherman Surge in there. If I don't have a backpack, my Leatherman Charge is on my hip.

 

I know you probably what some ones personal experience but there is a lot to be learned about knives on Google.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/home/tools/g3052/best-camp-knives/

 

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.

 

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^).

 

I have an Opinel #8. Inexpensive and a very good performer. You can get them elsewhere but here is Lee Valley's link: http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=31079&cat=1,130,43332,43393

 

mora would be my top pick, k bar 2nd. full tang is the key when you need a good camping knife.

 

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.

 

What kind of camping are you guys doing that you need a 9" full tang bowie knife?

 

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. ;-)

 

Anything made by Dawson Knives will last a lifetime. For something less expensive, the KA-BARs mentioned would be a good choice too. I have several Dawsons and Randalls, and they are the best for my money.

 

My K-bars are my dad's 1950 and my 1976. All other knives I use are my own build.

 

I have the short kabar. It could use a couple more inches but it's good when I need to stab someone in close quarters. Like a packed bar.

 

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.

 

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…

 

Check natdobs' post history. He starts topics, 'what is the best …. ?', and then always links to the same website. Or he responds to similar questions with links to the same website. Spammer. Ironically he switched up websites with this thread but he's still a spammer.

 

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…..

 

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

 

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.

 

If you do not mind folding knives I find William Henry is pretty good. A little on the pricey side but comes with free shipping.

 

Yeah you could always get 4 or 5 of those William Henry knives just in case you lose one LOL

 

$45k for a knife? They guy needs to pull the needle from between his toes.

 

$45k for a knife? They guy needs to pull the needle from between his toes.

- Gilley23

Besides that look at the leftmost screw with those crude lathe marks and uneven edges. My local Ace Hardware has better screws and does not charge for them nearly this much. Ridiculous.

 

This thread doesn't belong in a woodworking tools section.

If y'all want to discuss this, please open a new topic in the Coffee Lounge.