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How to Buy a Good Pocketknife or Multitool

Opinel's No.07 My First Opinel Folding Knife

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.

CRKT Minimalist Drop Point knife

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.

Victorinox Swiss Army Huntsman knife

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.

Leatherman Sidekick

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

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.

Work Sharp's Pocket Knife Sharpener

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.

Gerber's Armbar Trade

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.

31 Comments on How to Buy a Good Pocketknife or Multitool

  1. HippieScout151 // July 27, 2010 at 8:51 am // Reply

    My knife just has one 3-inch blade and it works great. I love it!!

  2. If you are looking for a really good swiss army knife, try the cybertool lite. It has 20 tools on it.

  3. go with a spring assisted knife they r better

    • HippieScout151 // July 27, 2010 at 8:56 am // Reply

      and…NO

      • Skinny Willy // July 31, 2010 at 5:54 pm //

        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

  4. joe schmoe

    try a traditional pocket knife

  5. i am looking for a swichblade were would i find one?

  6. cutco knives are the best they never rust and they are used in the millitary. also known as ka-bar

  7. I use a Cutco Pocket Knife, not only does it not rust, but it’s way cheaper than the suggested knife in the July issue, (Spyderco Salt 1) the best part is it’s made here in the United States, and guarenteed forever. I typically call my local cutco office and they send it back and have it sharpened every year, although I must admit it doesn’t ever need sharpened.

    • Hey Sweet,
      does Cutco make multi-tool pocket knives? My Swiss army knife has a saw,scissors,tweezers,and even a magnifying glass!If your camping its really nice to have a multi-tool knife.Oh and how much do Cutco knife cost?Just wondering what the cost was because I collect knifes and might look into buying one 🙂

  8. CRAZY for OATMEAL // June 27, 2010 at 3:41 pm // Reply

    I got a small pocket knife from selling popcorn at boy scouts. It is not a high quality knife, but it does not have to be a high quality, all i use it for is a camp out once in a great while. SO, don’t buy an expensive pocket knife if you don’t use a O.K. pocket knife once in a great while

  9. Swiss army knives are very reliable and they do not rust easily.They are so convenient with the tooth pick and tweezers that I wear(a small one)on a necklace.I have always been very pleased with every Swiss army knife that i have ever bought!

  10. i bought a 3-set of mossberg knives and they r awesome

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