Guy Gear
Pocketknives and multi-tools buying guide
A quality knife or multi-tool is one of the handiest things you can carry in your pack. It’ll help you spread peanut butter, carve a tent stake, fillet a rainbow trout, maybe even save your life. But you have to pick the right tool for the job.
Outdoor survival expert Peter Kummerfeldt will show you how.
THE LOWDOWN
There are several types of knives. Kummerfeldt’s favorite, fixed blades, are no-nonsense knives with a beefy handle and stationary blade.
“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,” he says. “And 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.
Then there are all-purpose folding pocketknives. 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, Kummerfeldt says 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.
You’ll also find specialty knives such as river rescue knives with serrated blades for slicing rope, whittling knives designed for carving wood, and multi-tools, which are compact, handheld tool boxes. Most are built around a pair of folding pliers.
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.
PRICE & QUALITY
You don’t have to spend a fortune to get a quality tool.
“My $15 knife does everything I want it to do,” Kummerfeldt says.
As prices go up, you’ll see small improvements in the quality and size of the blade.
CARE & MAINTENANCE
“The only good knife is a sharp knife,” Kummerfeldt says. “A blunt knife requires you to put so much force on it that it could slip, and you could drive the blade into your leg.”
As needed, run the edge of your blade across a sharpening stone a few times. Wipe the tool clean after every use and lubricate any hinges with a light oil like WD-40.
CARRY IT
Kummerfeldt says 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.
Read 72 comments about “Pocketknives and multi-tools buying guide”
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Comment page: « 8 7 6 5 [4] 3 2 1 »
June 1st, 2008 at 5:59 pm
Kershaw chives are in!
May 30th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
hi i think big 5 is the way to go i got an $50.00 knife there for $15.00
May 30th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
helpful , though i would like to know the features
May 29th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
They are the best, and can always get you unstuck or out of trouble
May 29th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
I think gerber knives are the best, they are sharp, and stay sharp.
May 28th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
You can get them at Wallmart you know.
May 28th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
Leathermans are the best knives in the world. The metal is good. I reccomend the Leatherman Blast Multi-Tool, and the Leatherman e301. Both are locking and the e301 is single blade, although it does have carabiner/bottle opener. I have both and they are very good. They stay sharp and sharpen easily.
May 28th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
i have a leatherman folding nife, locks in place, liteweight great for serious user. I recomend Leatherman brand nifes.
May 28th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
For my Bar Mitztva i got a really good knife that folds out into pliers
May 27th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
My knife is real helpful for carving sticks and surviving in the wild