Among Hammer's great fire-starting posts and his knowledge base article, he has some great recommendations for knives, almost to the point that I would call him a knife hipster. No steel is too good (we actually intend to publish a full knife knowledge base piece when time allows.)

But what if you're just an everyday guy who needs a knife in your pocket for menial tasks like opening Amazon boxes and gummy bear packaging, removing slivers, tightening tripod adapters, and poking stuff?

For years I have carried a Victorinox swiss army knife in my pocket, since 6th grade when the seminal TV series MacGyver premiered. It has done almost everything I've asked of it, and when I say "it" I mean the knife model. My pocket knife, like Doctor Who, has been reincarnated after dying or being lost many times. My first Tinker is at the bottom of a river somewhere. I'm currently carrying a Camper that I got on sale for $20:



(Glad I haven't pressure washed that moss off my front porch yet.)

I find myself wanting a better lock-blade though. I did find a locking blade Victorinox but it tips the scales in weight and bulk, so it's not my favorite pocket knife. I've closed my non-locker on my fingers only a handful of times when some dynamic maneuver didn't work out like I thought it would. No fun. I also like the ability to single-hand-open like many lockers allow you to do. My locking Victorinox leaves a lot to be desired in this department, utilizing a large "eye" for your thumb instead of a post or tang nubbin.



But... I need the screwdrivers! These are a must. The only piece I've found that has all these is the new Leatherman Crater, though the blade is just a touch on the short side.

I think Portland, Oregon is the pocket knife capitol of the world. We boast Leatherman, Gerber, Kershaw, Benchmade, and CRKT locally, and I'm sure there are more. I'd happily support any of these brands.

What can you guys recommend?

Been carrying a ZT566 for the last year. A Kershaw thermite before that. Really like the zt flippers. But my new job requires something less than 3" blade so I'm looking for a Ned pocket knives too.

I've carried a Swiss Army "farmer" for as long as I can remember. I've had others over the years, but I've found it to have the near perfect set of tools in a compact package.

I've used a locking Buck 112 for 35 years or so. It has made fuzz sticks for a thousand fires, gutted about that many fish, done surgery on a horse or two, and is probably the reason I never felt the need to be a knife aficionado.

I walked into a pawn shop a few weeks after losing it a couple decades ago, and there in the case was another just like it in about the same condition or better I picked up.

I've got a SOG Flash II that a friend gave me a few years ago. I love the spring assist opening, positive open lock, and half serrated blade. It also has a safety that keeps the blade closed when engaged. I've only had it sharpened once in the 4 years I've owned it. It holds an edge well and I'm tough on knives.

I had a small winchester folder that was the perfect size and held a edge pretty good. it didn't hold up to trying to recover a bullet from a log. I now have a CRKT fossil its a good knife just big if i could i would get the small mini fossil or what ever they call it. as it locks good has a good clip and holds a edge very well always shaving sharp.

Leatherman Wave, hands down.

My favourite thing about flying in a private jet was being able to show up with my Leatherman on my belt. And we used it in flight to cut salami and cheese. No cork screw, but that has never gotten between me and a drink of wine.

I've cut hair with the scissors, Sharpened pretty much everything with the file. I've used the pliers a thousand times. Cut roe, cleaned fish, gutted deer, whittled feather sticks, cut weiner sticks, it has never let me down.

If I had one piece of kit after a crash it would be my Wave, no doubt. I own two because I never want to be without one. It was my gift to one of my sons for his 16th birthday. The only time I've ever lied to him is when I told him I wasn't going to use the knife to remove a massive, skin-woven splinter from his foot. He still tells that story.

All that said, I have a Spyderco Navaja that is a great locking folder. Very sharp, nice profile, great ergonomics. If I was going to carry 'just a knife' that would be it. But all the tools in the Leatherman mean it is always on my hip and the Navaja is always somewhere in my truck.

Zane, Zane, Zane......please watch this little video clip, and re-think the "Maguyver" gig: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POJtaO2xB_o

I am a big fan of Bench Made folders. They are hell for tough. Those "Swiss Army Knives" really aren't a very good knife. If you want a GOOD knife, buy a Bench Made folder, that clips on your pocket, and if you feel like you really, really need a screwdriver as well, buy one of a dozen small pocket screwdriver kits that are out there.

Then you'll have a good knife and a good screwdriver.

MTV

Re: serrated blades. How does one sharpen them? With a chainsaw file??

I've had an old Gerber Bolt Action lock blade for about 30 years; still holds a nice sharp edge. I still carry my Swiss Army 'Ranger', too.

Force of habit, I guess.

Alan

Ditto the Wave. I don't carry it much any more though; it doesn't fit well with my customary "get-up" on Sunday mornings and the rest of the week I'm seldom very far from serious tools. There's the little baby Swiss Army knife in my pocket right now. It has a pair of tiny scissors, some sort of a nail file and a short blade that I keep pretty sharp. It boasts a tooth pick and a little pair of useless tweezers too. It opens any Amazon box that I've ever received. I've carried that little thing since I retired 11 years ago. Prior to that it had been the Wave and it's predecessors since Leatherman first came out. No better knife for a tradesman.

In my barroom days it was a Shrade locker in a pouch at my belt. Nice knife. I think the blade was maybe 3 7/8ths long or so, with beautiful polished hardwood scales. I think it went over the side while Salmon fishing on Monterey Bay sometime or another. It used to thrill my wife when I would slice the cheese and salami after cutting bait with it. A quick wipe off on my jeans seemed sufficient. To me. I'm still planning to get a nice Puukko sheath knife when camping season starts in earnest. All my friends will feel bad when I show off around the campfire making feathers out of logs.

We need Hammer or somebody to do a video tutorial on knife sharpening for the knowledge base.

Benchmade mini barrage. Hands down the best knife I ever owned. And I put them through hell

Zzz,

One of my favorite subjects. Unlike Hammer though...I have a love of knives that have somewhat little utility. They're more collectors items. I have "several" specialty handle case knives. I also inherited a small collection of case knives. Saying that, many people think it's weird that I don't regularly carry a case. If I do, it's something small like a case toothpick.

What I carry most is a locking knife, usually a bench made griptillian. Still fairly small and light but indestructable. For a multi tool...Swiss army sportsman. Still thin enough to carry all the time. Lot of the SA's are just too wide.

For a "big" knife...usually always in the plane or on my backpack is the bench made bush crafter. Sorry I'm no help on a locking blade, screwdriver.....that actually kind of a tough one to keep thin and light enough.

Bill

Many years ago, I used to carry just about any pocket knife that I happened to pick up or was gifted to me, starting with an el cheapo I got from some of my Ma's friends when they came back to the lower 48 from his being stationed in Alaska. It had plastic handles that had a drawing of Huskies pulling a sled. I still have that knife, though the handles broke off pretty soon after I got it--11 year old kids are hard on knives.

I was introduced to the Buck Folding Hunter #110 on a river rafting trip in about 1977, so when we came home, I bought one. It is still the knife I carry in the woods--none better, IMHO. Holds an edge well, isn't difficult to sharpen, sturdy. The lock is solid--the chances of it coming unlocked are nil. Even after opening cans for a week when I forgot a can opener, it was still plenty sharp. If I were to lose it, I'd get another.

So when I discovered that Buck made smaller versions, I bought a Buck #527 for daily carry. It's no longer in their catalog, but it's similar to their #505 Knight, but with mother of pearl handles. I've had this knife for about 30 years, and although the mother of pearl handles have chipped a little and have had to be re-glued onto the knife chassis a couple of times, it's still a pretty good knife. Sharpening it has gradually shortened the blade a little. Like the bigger Folding Hunter, if I were to lose it, I'd replace it with something very similar. Like its big brother, it's sturdy, holds an edge well, is easy to sharpen, and the blade lock is solid.

When I'm in the field or boating, my Folding Hunter and a good pair of 6" pliers has served me well. On the boat, I often also carry a Buck knife with a locking fid in addition to the blade, which is non-locking. The fid has been pretty useful to splice ropes, although I haven't done that nearly as much as Hammer has.

I have occasionally thought about getting a Leatherman, but much like the Swiss Army knives, they seem to have a lot of things I'd never use in everyday life, or out in the field, either. I don't fault anyone for carrying one, but I just haven't had the need. A good knife and a pair of pliers has been all I've ever needed, other than dedicated tools.

Cary

Zzz wrote:Re: serrated blades. How does one sharpen them? With a chainsaw file??

DMT makes diamond sharpening rods that make quick work. As for opening your locking Swiss Army knife one-handed, try gripping the eye between index finder and thumb pads,and flinging the handle outward and away.

Zzz wrote:Re: serrated blades. How does one sharpen them? With a chainsaw file??

Just sharpen the side without the scalloping as you would sharpen any other knife.

Closest I've ever come to carrying a multi-tool knife was back in my Harley riding days. Like all my buddies, I carried a Buck #110 folder, but I carried a miniature set of channel-locks in the Buck case with it. Came in handy a number of times. I've never thought much of the screwdrivers scissors etc that are incorporated into the swiss army knives etc. For years, I carried a little 2-blade case pocketknife, but I hate carrying stuff in my pockets (for example, my pocket-carried key ring has only 2 keys). I've been carrying this S&W #CK108 folder (a gift from my brother) for the last couple years. It's made in China but is a nice knife, takes & holds a good edge, and is very unobtrusive when carried clipped into my front pocket. Shown with a ruler for scale, and with one of my vintage bobbed-hammer S&W model 36 Chief Specials just for fun.

I always carry one of these, but without the serrations:

http://www.sogknives.com/flash-i-partia ... -pack.html

It's small, light, has a great blade that holds an edge well, has an awesome spring assist for single hand opening and a great locking mechanism.

The Benchmade is an excellent knife, but this thing is so small and light that I never even notice having along it until I need it. It is inexpensive enough that if I misplace it, I'm not kicking myself for the next six months.

I'm not one for having several other tools in my pocket constantly, as I like to keep other tools close by in most situations where needing them is a likelihood.

dudestickle wrote:Benchmade mini barrage. Hands down the best knife I ever owned. And I put them through hell

DITTO

CamTom12 wrote:I've got a SOG Flash II that a friend gave me a few years ago. I love the spring assist opening, positive open lock, and half serrated blade. It also has a safety that keeps the blade closed when engaged. I've only had it sharpened once in the 4 years I've owned it. It holds an edge well and I'm tough on knives.

I too like carrying a SOG "flick" knife in my pocket for general day to day use, but keep in mind that they are illegal in Canada (at least the last time I checked about a year ago) because they are spring assisted.