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
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I have alot of knives but my gerber is the best,u should buy one
i got a gerber tempo is that good?
buck is the best, the grip and blade are incredible.
I think gerber knives are the best my grandpa has had his for several years and it is still great!!!!!!!!
i use my dads cub scout knife, i think it is vintage and they dont make the color or the decoration on it anymore
i love multi tool kives
Schrade knives are the Bomb
Swicth blades are the best
dont make us go through that debate again!!!!
Victorinox has THE BEST pocket knives EVER. I’ve had mine for 4 years and it’s still great.
Leatherman has really high quality knives with many awesome features!!!
I agree with flute
man and legoman22
get a browning 3.5 inch folding lockback i have had one for 4 years and still works like new.
does it really? i strongly doubt that!
I don’t!A good well taken care of knife can last you decades!
wincheser is the BEST u should get 1
i own ka bar knives that i use for canping with the scouts is that to big to use
For marines not boy scouts
I agree with Anonymous! Ka-Bar is a good company but their knifes are more for fighting then anything! Like you said “For marines not Boy scouts.”
Gerber has great knives. check out the gerber paraframe 2 partially serrated
swiss is the best
NO MUTLI TOOL KNIVES ARE
same thing ddog!!!
i’ve got an old lockback llbean knife
GO BEAN
they naver fail to impress
I just got a Gerber single blade locking knife and it is the best!!!
nice i used to have one but then i got an army ranger knife
I am saving up for a 45 dollar gerber tool.
Get a SOG or don’t get anything, I have a trident a field pup and their multitool, the field pup even saved my life.
i have a jagwire multi tool and it great
GERBER AND LEATHERMAN ARE GOOD KNIFES
I AGREE
I THINK THE KNIVES AT REMMINGTON ARE PRETTY GOOD
i find the bst knives by going to bass pro. my fav. is Gerber multi knife. becaus has alot of multi tools.
I have three knives.a gerber lockblade, a generic leatherman and a multi-tool.when i’m whittling i use the gerber and for other stuff the leatherman and multi-tool.
I just bought an m16 knife from crkt for $25 and it is the bomb! Well maybe not the bomb because those are dangerous, but buy any m16 knife model. They’ve got a double lock and is almost impossible to have to fold onto ones hand. It’s the shizzle!
get an aegis from SOG. IT IS AWSOME
I prefer single blade lockblades the only multi tool I’d get would be
a military grade leatherman
get the leatheman wave black oxide with bit kit it is so worth it it is an amazing knife with an amazing warrenty
I prefer single blade lockblades