Pocket knives - a discussion

alban lusitanae · January 2018

Hey mates

I was looking for a replacement to my pocket knife and wanted to know what are your choices. Im a victorinox guy, i normally manage to glue the blades for lack of cleaning before the swedish steel get even a dent, even after 10 years running. Victorinox is just getting on my nerves because they manage to have 300 variants and none with the exact tools needed.

So... Tell me about your choices, may be better. :-)

Cheers

mik3d3nch · January 2018

I carry a sheath knife. Have done all my life. I use a variety of pocket knives of the Leatherman cheap knockoff variety, some businesses here in the USA give them away as souvenirs for using their products (mostly agricultural stuff).

A sheath knife saved my life once, its still stuck in a cliff face in Cornwall where it saved me from falling to my death. I now carry a Kabar copy but a good one, excellent steel holds an edge well.

alban lusitanae · January 2018

No others? :-)

Saboteur · January 2018

Thought the law changed in the UK and we aren't allowed to carry em any more.

Saboteur · January 2018

Correction : carry a knife in public without good reason - unless it’s a knife with a folding blade 3 inches long (7.62 cm) or less, e.g. a Swiss Army knife

Although again if you don't have a good reason for carrying one even a swiss army knife can get you into touble if you are searched by the police.

guesser · January 2018

Saboteur wrote: »

Although again if you don't have a good reason for carrying one even a swiss army knife can get you into touble if you are searched by the police.

What constitutes a good reason though? Cutting through string? Peeling fruit? Helping horses in distress?

If you can't think of anything better when put on the spot than "stabbing people in the neck when mugging them goes wrong" you probably deserve to be charged. :)

alban lusitanae · January 2018

Yeah well its normally the same here, but cops are not caring about swiss army knifes up to medium, most people like to carry one. Normal sheath knife or large victorinox... Yeah you have some explaining to do

F_Clowder · January 2018

I've had the same Swiss Army knife in my pocket since 1992. Never been stopped or searched by police. My keys are attached to it. Before that one, which has the convenient ringlet to attach things to it, I had a small regular pocketknife for whittling. Still do that when I go camping. For whatever reason, I enjoy carving out of dead or fallen limbs. Very calming and fun hobby. Only do it a few times a year though. Never make anything artsy, usually end up making miniature planks for aome reason. It's actually challenging to make square things out of bits of wood which can have natural curves to it.

mik3d3nch · January 2018

Me too F_Clowder. I keep trying to whittle myself a nice tobacco pipe whenever I find the right shaped fallen bough though I also carry one of those wire saws with a ring at each end, its amazing how well it cuts but does tend to jam. Walking sticks or quarter staves is another thing I use the knife to carve. Dunno why, I've got quite a few of them, those the dog hasnt swiped and chewed up.

It was Scouts that imbued me with the whole carry your survival kit at all times mind set. Its actually come in very handy on several occasions.

dm_boozefreek · January 2018

I had a pocket knife, but my ma confiscated it from me in 1988 when I tried to stab my best friend with it when we'd had a falling out :))

He was older and bigger than me, I was just evening the odds :D

alban lusitanae · January 2018

F_Clowder wrote: »

I've had the same Swiss Army knife in my pocket since 1992. Never been stopped or searched by police. My keys are attached to it. Before that one, which has the convenient ringlet to attach things to it, I had a small regular pocketknife for whittling. Still do that when I go camping. For whatever reason, I enjoy carving out of dead or fallen limbs. Very calming and fun hobby. Only do it a few times a year though. Never make anything artsy, usually end up making miniature planks for some reason. It's actually challenging to make square things out of bits of wood which can have natural curves to it.

Which of the Victorinox pocket knives? Just curious (I can help find the version you have with some clues. :) )

mik3d3nch wrote: »

Me too F_Clowder. I keep trying to whittle myself a nice tobacco pipe whenever I find the right shaped fallen bough though I also carry one of those wire saws with a ring at each end, its amazing how well it cuts but does tend to jam. Walking sticks or quarter staves is another thing I use the knife to carve. Dunno why, I've got quite a few of them, those the dog hasnt swiped and chewed up.

It was Scouts that imbued me with the whole carry your survival kit at all times mind set. Its actually come in very handy on several occasions.

The wiresaw is cool indeed, though I happen to have the woodsaw on the pocket knife (creepy at times as after 10 years none of the teeth didn't even switch a small place... they cut anything). So you never use a multitool then (it's kind what I was looking for, your multitool versions in your pocket).

mik3d3nch · January 2018

Alban Lusitanae - I dunno which country you live in but here in the U.S. those multi-tools are available in all shapes and sizes from cheap Chinese copies (many of which are quite good) to the overpriced brands like Victorinox and Leatherman. Its amazing what you can buy for ten bucks or so from Walmart but ACE Hardware do a good line in them, some made in India and Pakistan but well priced and generally okayish though the blades are likely to be fairly crap steel. My view is that generally speaking if you know you're likely to use them with any frequency you're better off buying the pair of pliars, screwdrivers, knife that you want, they'll be better tools than one size fits nobody compromises.

zx1 · January 2018

In Scotland pocket knives are usually carried by neds trying to mug you.
One tried to mug my mate a few years ago with a pen knife, my mate smashed a paving stone off his face :))

dm_boozefreek · January 2018

Good! :))

Sad thing is I bet the trampy bast still didn't learn his lesson :))

zx1 · January 2018

I wasn't there but he said later 'his face was in some state' :))

F_Clowder · January 2018

@alban lusitanae OK, I'll start off with just one clue, and if it so happens that there are more than one of this model of knife, then you can ask any follow up questions for further clues.

The flip side has only two tools, one of which is an auger. I'm sure you get it, first try.

alban lusitanae wrote: »

Which of the Victorinox pocket knives? Just curious (I can help find the version you have with some clues. :) )

F_Clowder · January 2018

I also have a Leatherman, which I only carry occasionally when I'm working on projects or when I'm camping.

F_Clowder · January 2018

Hey, have you done anything with ironwood? A friend of mine bought a piece of land on the other side of the river and his hillside has several old ironwood trees and branches down on the ground. He said I could pick anything I want to play with. I know the more eyes/knots it has, the more expensive. I remember a few years ago, the price of walking sticks made of ironwood was based on how many eyes/knots it had, and at that time it was 15$ per. So, the more eyes, the nicer the price.

Any experience with ironwood? Anyone?

mik3d3nch wrote: »

Me too F_Clowder. I keep trying to whittle myself a nice tobacco pipe whenever I find the right shaped fallen bough though I also carry one of those wire saws with a ring at each end, its amazing how well it cuts but does tend to jam. Walking sticks or quarter staves is another thing I use the knife to carve. Dunno why, I've got quite a few of them, those the dog hasnt swiped and chewed up.

It was Scouts that imbued me with the whole carry your survival kit at all times mind set. Its actually come in very handy on several occasions.

AndyC · January 2018

guesser wrote: »

Saboteur wrote: »

Although again if you don't have a good reason for carrying one even a swiss army knife can get you into touble if you are searched by the police.

What constitutes a good reason though? Cutting through string? Peeling fruit? Helping horses in distress?

If you can't think of anything better when put on the spot than "stabbing people in the neck when mugging them goes wrong" you probably deserve to be charged. :)

The exception is mostly there so you can carry a newly purchased kitchen knife home without being arrested and other similar situations (moving home etc)

guesser · January 2018

AndyC wrote: »

The exception is mostly there so you can carry a newly purchased kitchen knife home without being arrested and other similar situations (moving home etc)

I assume it's similar if you can justify that it's a tool of your trade too. If you have a knife in your tool belt with your other house ~~burgling~~renovation implements (and it's not 2AM)...

joefish · January 2018

I usually pack a multi-tool when going on holiday, but rarely carry a pocket knife. Even though they include a blade, I figure you're less likely to be accused of trying to start a fight with some fancy pliers.

I had a lovely Richartz 'PickNick' pocket knife I picked up in Switzerland, though it wasn't cheap. It came from a knife shop that had all the most ridiculous Victorinox variants under a glass case, along with some huge hunting blades all around the walls. It had a rubber studded metal grip, a corkscrew, a knife blade, a chipfork blade with a bottle opener, and a catch so that the knife and fork halves separated. I lost it coming back from the Netherlands; it was still in my backpack at X-Ray so the guard took it off me and lobbed it in the bin. To be honest, it wasn't that practical as if I'm ever packing a lunch, I make sure everything can be opened and eaten by hand anyway...

I've looked for replacement Richartz knives as I love the grip, and there are plenty of tool variants. I just don't seem to be able to find them to buy in the UK. Though I do wonder if that may be down to nanny-state rigged search engines.

alban lusitanae · January 2018

F_Clowder wrote: »

@alban lusitanae OK, I'll start off with just one clue, and if it so happens that there are more than one of this model of knife, then you can ask any follow up questions for further clues.

The flip side has only two tools, one of which is an auger. I'm sure you get it, first try.

alban lusitanae wrote: »

Which of the Victorinox pocket knives? Just curious (I can help find the version you have with some clues. :) )

A corkscrew you mean... that narrows it down to oh around 30 of them :))

mik3d3nch wrote: »

Alban Lusitanae - I dunno which country you live in but here in the U.S. those multi-tools are available in all shapes and sizes from cheap Chinese copies (many of which are quite good) to the overpriced brands like Victorinox and Leatherman. Its amazing what you can buy for ten bucks or so from Walmart but ACE Hardware do a good line in them, some made in India and Pakistan but well priced and generally okayish though the blades are likely to be fairly crap steel. My view is that generally speaking if you know you're likely to use them with any frequency you're better off buying the pair of pliars, screwdrivers, knife that you want, they'll be better tools than one size fits nobody compromises.

Portugal. Well I can assure you that I have never resharpened the Sandvik blade on a Victorinox :) there are no good spinoffs of the Vics or Lethermans around here. You pay 40€ for one, but one lasted me 12 years, weekly use. Until I misused and glued the blades by sheer stupidity.

F_Clowder wrote: »

I also have a Leatherman, which I only carry occasionally when I'm working on projects or when I'm camping.

Which Leatherman? The Vic Camper (or more likely the Ranger) is actually my current target.

F_Clowder wrote: »

Hey, have you done anything with ironwood? A friend of mine bought a piece of land on the other side of the river and his hillside has several old ironwood trees and branches down on the ground. He said I could pick anything I want to play with. I know the more eyes/knots it has, the more expensive. I remember a few years ago, the price of walking sticks made of ironwood was based on how many eyes/knots it had, and at that time it was 15$ per. So, the more eyes, the nicer the price.

Any experience with ironwood? Anyone?

Can't find those around here, we have some imported Brazilians though, such as the awesome pau-santo. Not easy to work with though. and highly expensive

joefish wrote: »

I usually pack a multi-tool when going on holiday, but rarely carry a pocket knife. Even though they include a blade, I figure you're less likely to be accused of trying to start a fight with some fancy pliers.

I had a lovely Richartz 'PickNick' pocket knife I picked up in Switzerland, though it wasn't cheap. It came from a knife shop that had all the most ridiculous Victorinox variants under a glass case, along with some huge hunting blades all around the walls. It had a rubber studded metal grip, a corkscrew, a knife blade, a chipfork blade with a bottle opener, and a catch so that the knife and fork halves separated. I lost it coming back from the Netherlands; it was still in my backpack at X-Ray so the guard took it off me and lobbed it in the bin. To be honest, it wasn't that practical as if I'm ever packing a lunch, I make sure everything can be opened and eaten by hand anyway...

I've looked for replacement Richartz knives as I love the grip, and there are plenty of tool variants. I just don't seem to be able to find them to buy in the UK. Though I do wonder if that may be down to nanny-state rigged search engines.

https://www.google.pt/search?dcr=0&ei=RQFpWs_gJeLNgAbJsZDYCw&q=richartz+picnic+knife&oq=richardz+picni&gs_l=psy-ab.3.0.0i22i30k1j0i8i13i30k1.180928.185006.0.187636.14.14.0.0.0.0.302.1623.1j7j1j1.10.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..4.10.1615...0j0i131k1j0i67k1j0i30k1j0i10i30k1j0i13k1j0i13i10i30k1j0i13i30k1j0i19k1j0i13i30i19k1j0i13i5i30i19k1j0i13i5i30k1.0.uinjfdADFF8

then use therealoutdoors.co.uk store in the searches I think this is what you want

Pocket knives - a discussion

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