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.
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looks like good stuff. single blade knives are good for doing the dirty work
I havev my dad’s 50 year old boy scout knife and it is my sharpest knife
I went to smoky mountain knife works and went out side to the blacksmiths shp an made an awsome railroad spike knife the old fasion way with a hamer and anvil
I have a Kershaw burst ($20), a victorianox officer Suisse ($40-50), classic blue handled
Scout knife ($0), a random multitool, and a random lockback knife.
Swiss army knives for life! Go Scouts!
Meh… there not too bad. Most have non locking blades which always comes back to bite me.
I found a $1 dollor locking blade at walmart the brand? ozark trail 3 in a half inch blade and it’s serated to. also has a clip & a black heavy duty handel. good knife easy to open and easy on the wallet to.
No offense but those knives are junk. I own a knife restoration company and I buy those knives so I can practice taking them apart and removing rust. The blade is extremely wobbly and the locking mechanizum is very cheap and unreliable. I would get another knife if I where you.
Ya listen to knife expert. I had one of those Walmart knives once…
I accidentally dropped mine and the blade flew out
well….for one buck that’s still pretty good
doctorawesome247, make me.
I got one to I tried to cut a weed with it the knife broke.
well i dont think that they are that weak. but they are very cheap non the less
I just got a custom S30V steel, engraved, rubber handle Buck Alpha Hunter!
my dad got me a spyderco knife i want to keep it in my room but my dad says i’m not responsible enough so he keeps it his room.what can i do so my dad thinks i’m reponsible?
You should do stuff like doing things without being asked and be extra careful with it when he is around
If you have your Toten Chip then show all the things you’ve learned by earning it. Also be very serious when he lets you use it and maybe after time he’ll understand that your responsible.
i found a knife while hiking and it has scratches on the blade. What should i do to fix it?
scratches on a blade cant really be fixed.
Unless you buff them out
#folding110hunter by buck is by far the best!
The all in one tolls are great for camping.
Swiss Army Victorinox; use it for life.
This article was helpful. Thank you.
Do not get boy scout knives they are horrible quality!
Why are they horrible? Mine has never eve b roken on me and what you say is hard to beleive, unless you were whittling on rebar or something.
The steel is low quality compared to a similarly priced knife. Though BSA does have a full replacement warranty.
leatherman multitools rock ( I got a sidekick it rules)
i like gerber knives because of the type of blade and strength of the blade
Gerber is cool
I have gerber knives from 1987, 1998, and 2013 and they are all still fully functional. If you want a GREAT quality knife, buy gerber (or a buck knife) 🙂
i love marine gerber knife i all so love to hunt
Kabar and buck are both companies that make more than one model Of knife. And also kabar is older than buck it has just had several names.
Of course they make more than one knife! Buck and Ka-Bar are equally good companies however I believe Buck has been around longer
Buck Knives: 1902 Over 75 models.
K-Bar Knives: 1898 Over 100 models.
I like the Swiss Army Tinker Boy Scout Edition. And I also like the Boy Scout Huntsman (Swiss Army).
I have a yellow & green knife which says “Venturing BSA” on the blade anybody know what brand it is?
if it doesnt say on the bottom of the blade then assume that it is a Chinese off-brand
You think you are so cool! >:-O
I got a mora scout knife
its fixed bladed with a 3 and 7/8 inch blade
it also has a nice brass studed leather sheath
$30 new on e bay!
I found it on Amazon for $16.00. sounds like you got ripped off. moras are a good brand though.
My knife is a bear grylls sheath knife and it works just fine!
I have a benchmade 530 $89 at rei
i like a verity of knives from my benchmade to my cammileus i love them all
swiss army. period.
I agree not only are they usefull they are easy to use. End of story period.
you cant use a swiss army to baton, or skin a deer, how bout break plexi glass! No matter how functional swisses are remember they cannot do everything. If you are headed into the wilderness, ( i dont mean to some public campground!) a heavy duty folder or or fixed blade is the way to go.
agreed. i have a variaty of small knives and multitools and i find that i prefer small multitools with pliers, file, screwdrivers, a knife or two, etc. as opposed to large knives or multitools.
Amen
i prefer Gerber pocket kines because it come with life time warranty and the trust able
Try a Leatherman.They are Great!
totally try a leatherman sidekick