How to Buy a Good Pocketknife or Multitool
Opinel’s No.07 My First Opinel Folding Knife ($17, opinel-usa.com) is sharp but without a point. The 3.5-inch blade is made from Sandvik stainless steel, and it holds an edge. The outdoors version ($26, scoutshop.org) also has a built-in whistle to call for help in an emergency.
With proper training, many Scouts can use a knife — a valuable tool for camping or working on a whittling project. A multitool provides multiple blades and other tools. Examples are saws, drivers and even forks and spoons.
A knife is not a toy. If you’re a Bear, Webelos or Arrow of Light Cub Scout, earn your Whittling Chip. If you’re in Scouts BSA, earn your Totin’ Chip. Then you will know how to safely carry and use one of these tools.
The CRKT Minimalist Drop Point ($36, crkt.com) has a 2-inch fixed blade with a tough handle that’s comfortable to hold. The carbon-steel blade sharpens quickly, and the half-ounce durable thermoplastic sheath has multiple mounting options.
KNIFE BASICS
There are several types of knives.
All-purpose folding pocketknives are common in Scouting. Most come with tools such as a can opener, screwdriver, tweezers and, of course, knife blades — all in one compact package. Though they can be extremely handy, a downside is the knife blade doesn’t lock into place, so it may fold up on your hand while you’re using it.
Lockbacks are simple folding knives with a single blade that can be locked. So you get the benefits of a sturdy fixed blade-style knife but in a convenient pocket-size package that can be folded open with just one hand.
Scouts have been using Victorinox Swiss Army knives for a long time. The Victorinox Swiss Army Huntsman ($50, victorinox.com), a multitool with first-aid functions, has a suite of transitional tools, including a can opener, scissors and tweezers — plus large and small blades, saw, awl, leather punch and more. It pretty much has everything you need.
Fixed blades, are no-nonsense knives with a beefy handle and stationary blade. If you need a knife to accomplish the everyday tasks you come across in the outdoors, from whittling on things and cutting materials to spreading peanut butter on your sandwiches, a short, no more than four-inch-long, fixed-blade knife will accomplish all of that. Avoid large sheath knives; they are heavy and awkward to carry.
You’ll also find specialty knives such as river rescue knives with serrated blades for slicing rope, whittling knives designed for carving wood, and multitools, which are compact, handheld tool boxes. Most are built around a pair of folding pliers.
The Leatherman Sidekick ($70, leatherman.com) is a stainless-steel toolbox on your belt. The 7-ounce Sidekick has spring-action needle-nose and standard pliers, wire cutters and stripper, knife and serrated knife, saw, ruler, can and bottle openers, wood and metal file and three screwdrivers.
FOLDING OR FIXED KNIFE? KNOW THE POLICY
Knife policies vary among packs, troops, councils and camps when it comes to what blade types and lengths are allowed. Learn your unit’s policy before buying a blade of any kind. When it comes to types of knives, the Guide to Safe Scouting recommends “choosing the right equipment for the job at hand.”
BLADES
Most blades are made from strong and durable stainless steel. Blades are available in straight edge, serrated (jagged like a saw) or both. Bigger is not always better. A small, sharp four-inch-or-smaller blade can cut just as well as bigger knives but is much safer to handle and easier to maneuver in tight spots.
Stansport’s Folding Knife, Fork, Spoon Multitool ($15, stansport.com) has more than eating utensils. The tool, which separates into wo so you can use fork and spoon together, also has a can opener, corkscrew and chisel all in a belt-ready nylon carrying pouch.
PRICE AND QUALITY
You don’t have to spend a fortune to get a quality tool. Often, an inexpensive knife will do everything you want it to do. As prices go up, you’ll see small improvements in the quality and size of the blade.
CARE AND MAINTENANCE
Knives and multitools can last your whole life if you care for them. Wipe your pocketknife with a damp cloth to clean it, and add a drop of food-safe oil at pivot points to keep it at its best. Use a sharpener to keep your blade sharp.
“A sharp knife will work for you, while a dull one works against you,” says Kyle Owens of Work Sharp, a company that makes sharpeners.
A great knife deserves an equally great sharpener. Work Sharp’s Pocket Knife Sharpener ($15, worksharptools.com) is small enough to stash in your pack, with a diamond sharpening plate and ceramic honing rod that have built-in angle guides so you can get a perfect edge on your pocketknife.
CARRY IT SAFELY
The smartest, safest place to stash your knife is in an easy-access spot in your backpack. You’re asking for trouble by wearing a fixed-blade knife on your belt. If you fall, the knife could rotate inward and you could land right on the blade.
At only 3.1 ounces, Gerber’s Armbar Trade ($50, gerbergear.com) has eight essential tools, including a knife, saw, awl, driver, pry bar, hammer and bottle opener, packed into a surprisingly small and effective pocket clip tool.
TREAT YOUR KNIFE WITH RESPECT
Treating pocket knives with respect not only ensures your safety, but also keeps others safe. Here are a few major no-no’s:
- Throwing a knife
- Using a dull or dirty blade
- Handing a knife to someone blade first
- Cutting while others are within your “safety circle” (arm’s length)
- Carving into something that doesn’t belong to you
- Cutting toward your body
Using a knife requires responsibility. Bear Scouts can start carrying a pocketknife after completing the Whittling Chip requirements. Members of Scouts BSA must earn their Totin’ Chip, which also gives them the right to carry and use axes and saws.
Ask the Gear Guy
Not sure which gear to buy? Need tips for maintaining your equipment? Click here to send in your questions for the Gear Guy. Selected questions will be answered here and in the printed magazine.
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letherman is what it is all about
Agree
I 2nd that!!!!
Same
agree
i like multitools but they get dirty to fast
GET A MAGLITE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
right company, wrong product. if youre going to give money to maglite, spend it on flashlights
my Gerber Evo Jr has a flipper in the back just push your finger down on it witch is connected directly to the blade and it opens it is a lot safer and is not mechanical so i can control how fast it opens i its A WHOLE BETTER
i have crkt (clubia river knives and tools) its awesmone
it actually spelled columbia river knife and tool
i got a clean cut blade and a saw blade
get gerber diesel multitool its great
i say that boys should have there own knife for free
AMEN.
No. boys need to pay for their knifes. if you buy something with your own $$ you are going to be more carefull with it then if it was just given to you.
i need a good knife
i suggest u get a GERBER there all pretty good however i think the PARAFRAME is a great knife at a great price
Buy a Swiss army Farmer
i have a brook hunter mo-tool axe, great tool but awkward,and big
Where can I get a kabar?
i got a tiwan k-bar
get a GERBER
dont get a gerber! (chinese made)
OK just cause it made in china doesn’t mean its bad its just made to Gerber specifications some really good knives are made in china so just because its made in china does not mean its bad OK may i ask what knife you have random person in the comments
Gerber still makes their best knifes in Portland OR.
I have 6 knives some of them are a sog seal pup,butterfly knife, and a spyderco.
thats cool!!!!!!!!!
Where can I get a good old fashioned boy scout knife?
Some people might say Case knives.. but theyre losing quality. and theyre expensive.. I would say get a victorinox swiss army knife. The swiss army farmer pocketknife is a good knife but it isnt considered a boy scout knife, but it will last a lifetime. I carry a Great eastern cutlery stockman pocketknife (a lot of birthday money)
How do u think CASE knives are losing quality
Ok it may be exspensive but get a swis champ model. it has 33 attachments including a ballpoint pen and a small spatula. lokin for smaler? cant help ya there 🙁
you could buy a imperial kamp king they are nice (i have one) and they are cheap on e bay the official boy scout knife is based on it or you can buy old fashioned scout knives at almost any scout shop
i have 10
Switchblades are completly legal and BSA doesn’t like them because they don’t trust younger scouts to not be instinctive and start fighting with them. So to those of u such as hippiescout115 and replyer befor u start spouting off, u should do ur research. In the case of sheath knives, they are completely safe if kept in their sheath when not being used
no the switch blades are federaly illigal
i want a swichblade
if you want a fast draw knife get the kershaw volt you press the flipper and opens really fast and the steel is really hard its Rockwell hardness is 58-60 its reliable and practically a switchblade buts perfectly legal blade stay sharp for a long time and its shavein sharp
i have a 7 inchblack hawk survivil knife it does its good and good
but it was 125 dollorsbut it relay is worth it. unbevlible sharpness.
-Survivor Expert
I use a united states marine Corp 7 and a half inch kabar
i use navy seals scuba 1 ft long scuba nife
Marines have onaly the best.
Military hardware never fails to impress me. I have an Army Ranger Knife in my pocket as I am writing this.
i want a switchblade but sadl they r illegal 🙂
you could get a spring assist they are nice
the knives that i like are Gerber, they are very reliable and i have kept my 2.5 inch Gerber and it still works very well. As long as u sharpen it after every other campout it will last you forever.
i might have the same one as you! how many functions does yours have? mine just has one
does anyone remember that article that was written about a waterproof, no-slip knife? I think it was called the ladybug or something
The 100% rustproof (scientifically proven) knife is made with H-1 Japanese steel. Spyderco is the only manufacturer that I can find that makes knives with H-1. They are pricy about 100 bucks, so if anyone knows of a cheaper alternative that would be great.
firefly
ya its a spyderco i think they are high quality but actualy a pretty long blade ( my dad has one for work) the main thing is they are all serrated good for some things but bad for whittling
The Esee Izula is a great knife, I use it for everything. It is a fixed blade knife, so it is much sturdier that the average pocket knife. The knife is meant to be worn around the neck (with sheath) for fast access. It is great for jobs more commonly associated with scouting, such as cutting rope, being used with fire starting tools, etc., and also is good for hunting and fishing.
My knife just has one 3-inch blade and it works great. I love it!!
If you are looking for a really good swiss army knife, try the cybertool lite. It has 20 tools on it.
i love swiss army knives they r lite and have a lot of tools on them they rock i use 3
NO
I am with Shorty not HippieScout151 I like swiss army knives & I collect them.
go with a spring assisted knife they r better
and…NO
I am with you HippieScout151 spring assisted knifes are dangerous & the spring’s could break or the spring is too powerful & if your whittling it could break the wood & cut Your fingers & retract back in & not come out, or the spring’s is not strong enough & opens up while it is in your pocket & could cut you.
i disagree the kershaw volt is very reliable and does not open in your pocket it is quick draw and is easy to open it holds a edge for a long time and is perfectly legal it has a nice design and is an overall nice knife
in the kershaw volt the spring pushes against the part of the blade that pivots so it actually keeps it closed until its opens to about 20 degrees it is a very nice knife 27$ i reccoend it
joe schmoe
try a traditional pocket knife
YOU GO MAN!!! I LOVE YOU!
i like the traditional pocket knives THE BEST i dont have the volt and i want a case knife for my birthday
i am looking for a swichblade were would i find one?
dude-there illegal
knifes are not illegal dude
Switchblades are illegal if your a scout, but knifes are not illegal, so Sora you must eve read it wrong.
@traiango
switchblades are illegal
if your a scout but they are usually not illegal.
swichblade are illegal if there over 4 inches
switchblades are only illegal in some states and are frownd apon by the bsa i have 1 no 1 cares at my summer camp
not in oregon
BSA doesen’t allow switchblabes!
Their called Switchblades not Switchblabes & BSA doesn’t allow them because you just push a button to open it so people got their finger cut when opening it up.
usually you can find some good ones on bladeplay, but they’re somewhat expensive