What's your "go to" pocket knife?

[MossRoad]

I've been carrying the same knife, just like this picture, for almost 26 years. Its a Victorinox single bladed florist knife I got when I worked for a wholesale florist. Extremely handy.


When I was a Cub Scout, I carried my Cub Scout knife like this. Still have it. Funny how times have changed. It used to be an honor to carry a Cub Scout knife to school clipped to your belt. I remember many times a teacher asking "Hey, can I borrow you knife?" in class. Nowadays, your kid is going to get expelled and a trip to juvy hall if they bring a pocket knife to school. Very sad indeed.

When I go fishing, I still take my Boy Scout fishing knife.

But my absolute favorite is my Hackman bilisong like this I bought from some outdoor catalog back in the early 80s. Its a folding version of a Finnish fishing knife. Unfortunately, it folds like a butterfly and now is illegal to carry on your person. Kinda silly seeing how you can get knives that flip open 10 times faster with the flip of a finger. I bought two of them and gave one to my wife (girlfirend at the time) before we left on our first camping trip. Its a little large... I use it in my garden as a trowel and it will hack vines and roots in one swipe. The red plactic handle has held up well. Mine is all worn and gnarly now, but the wife's is still on mint condition. :thumbsup:

 

[EE_Bota]

My go to knife is the one I will have with me, and that one is the baby Gerber with the synthetic handle. It is very small, and very light, and I attach it to my key ring so I will always have a knife.

 

[EE_Bota]

Interesting thread. I like a good knife. My grandfather was a great knife sharpener.

.

I suck at sharpening knives. To teach me, he'd no doubt have to beat me first. I try and try and I have more sharpeners than knives. I know now it is not the sharpener, but me..

I am thinking of using a box cutter with replaceable blades and just getting over the shame by use of denial.

 

[JDgreen227]

My go to knife is the one I will have with me, and that one is the baby Gerber with the synthetic handle. It is very small, and very light, and I attach it to my key ring so I will always have a knife.

My boss gave all his employees one of those for a Christmas gift one year and I regifted it to my wife as it was so small I knew I would lose it.

About sharpening knives, back about 1985 I purchased what was called a Wen "Wet Wheel" sharpener from Monkey Wards...it does a fairly good job at sharpening small blades but is really slow.

 

[EE_Bota]

I wonder sometimes just how often somebody uses the can openers or bottle openers on their "Boy Scout" type knives. Mine has both but they have never been unfolded. Maybe I am a minority but to me a knife is basically used as a knife and nothing more.

I've got a Craftsman multi-tool that has locking pliers, and I always make sure it is with me when I am camping. I can lock on a fish hook to give it heft and hold it steady as I tie it on the line, etc. And the shape of the pliers is perfect for grabbing a hook in a fishes mouth for easy removal. It has a nice file and screwdriver blade, but the bottle opener is lousy, and I drink expensive beer on the trips, so the opener does matter.

This year, I used the can opener to open all the cans...we forgot a good opener, and it did chew through the cans fine.

I wish it had a magnifying lens like on the Swiss army knives...I can't see that well without my classes, and a lens would help.

 

[bstrom]

I suck at sharpening knives. To teach me, he'd no doubt have to beat me first. I try and try and I have more sharpeners than knives. I know now it is not the sharpener, but me..

I am thinking of using a box cutter with replaceable blades and just getting over the shame by use of denial.

You could learn it. Some cheap knives just don't sharpen well and expensive ones with very hard steel are hard for me too. However it's all in the angle and not rocking it from that angle. Make a sweeping motion towards the point if it is a curved blade as you pull or push it across the stone and listen for a "swishing noise". An old timer taught me to listen for the right sound. You can also do a circular motion across the stone on each side. It just takes some practice and locking your wrist so it doesn't rock. It's easier to show someone than explain it of course. I like the ceramic or diamond stones, no oil needed.

 

[EE_Bota]

You could learn it. Some cheap knives just don't sharpen well and expensive ones with very hard steel are hard for me too. However it's all in the angle and not rocking it from that angle. Make a sweeping motion towards the point if it is a curved blade as you pull or push it across the stone and listen for a "swishing noise". An old timer taught me to listen for the right sound. You can also do a circular motion across the stone on each side. It just takes some practice and locking your wrist so it doesn't rock. It's easier to show someone than explain it of course. I like the ceramic or diamond stones, no oil needed.

I've tried about all I could think of, but I never did try to listen too. I will give that a try. It does make a bit of sense. Thanks for the advice.

 

[JDgreen227]

Don't laugh but I have had good success at sharpening small knife blades (and touching up utility knife blades) using an new 8 inch fine tooth bastard file. Hold the file handle in one hand and with your other hand run the knife blade from top to bottom at about a 5 degree angle like you are trying to shave a slice off the file.

 

[JRobyn]

Gerber Magnum "LST" Jr. Gerber Magnum LST Folding Knife 3.46" Plain Blade with Nylon Sheath - Knifecenter.com
Really is "light, strong, tough". I've carried the same one for over 20 years. Use and abuse it every day. Lost it once and had to find a replacement. Then found the original, so now I have a spare, but the original is still perfect although a bit worn down from many sharpenings.

 

[bearcreek paul]

I have had good luck with the lansky sharpening system. You have a choice of three angles. For serrated blades the easy lap does a nice job it's made in Carson City Nevada.