Whats your field carry knife? Thoughts?

[Blackhawk]

How well do the 420HC blades from Buck take an edge? Hard to do or easy? Im not that great at sharpening. But still learning. Also anyone give some edge holding & sharpening on 1095? TOPS makes a knife in the USA I'm interested in getting.

Johnny

[t.r.]

Buck 112 or Buck 105 knives have served me well for more than 3 decades!

TR

[Rifleman]

How well do the 420HC blades from Buck take an edge? Hard to do or easy?

I sharpen my Buck before deer season and it holds it's edge through gutting, skinning, then about halfway through butchering the first deer. Then I'll take a few minutes to get it sharp again; and then again after butchering, (just so I know it is sharp in the field.)

[gundownunder]

I used to carry a USMC KA-BAR and a small KA-BAR skinner but I found that more isn't always better.
These days I carry a Puma old timer, and if that isn't enough I go and get a chainsaw or an axe.

[OldWin]

My dad was never one for big knives for hunting. He gave me a Buck 102 when I was a kid that I still carry. I gave one to all three of our boys also. Dad was right in that they work great for working game and aren't in the way the rest of the time.

I've been looking at a lot of knives lately for more general purpose or "woods loafing" chores. I've seen some real beauties but the more I think about it the more I think I will just carry my 102 and my old Snow and Neally Hudson Bay axe. It's rigged for a sling and is very handy.

[cshold]

In the field I usually have this little gem around my neck for a
backup for field dressing. Handmade & razor sharp.

[Old Ironsights]

Everyone I have seen was a piece of junk.

It's a really great idea, but IMEX the implementation is poor...

Of course, forget the no-name knockoffs, but I'd like to find a Leatherman style tool that will stand up to Fencing and Blasting as well as fixing an old PC.

(Note - I LOVE my Leatherman/RadioShack Micra. Itnis the PERFECT Geek Tool. But I want my Wave or whatever to be a bit more durable than something designed for sub 14 ga wire....

I have not seen any multi-tool that is designed for heavy work since their purpose is being small and light. They were originally designed for fixing bicycles on long trips, such as the one that Tim Leatherman took after graduating with his engineering degree. He found the tools of the time to be less than ideal for his purposes and developed his own tool to rectify the situation. Handling steel wire such as barbed wire is not really a realistic goal of a small pocket tool. If you want a better knife blade, then check out the Leatherman Charge with the 154CM blade. That steel is about as good as stainless can get. As far as wanting a folding, small, light pocket tool to stand up to fencing and blasting, well, the design limits and material limits sort of get in the way.

I think I have found the "right" Leatherman... the MUT.


Available in Armorer & EOD, with replaceable hardened wirecutting blades/blasting cap crimper, slitter blade, Bronze carbon scraper, front-sight tool, gun disasembly punch/C4-punch, cleaning jigg sockets, etc. PLUS a really nice semi tanto/fishbelly blade design and a "hammer".

Not as many Tools as a Surge (no scissors or file...) but has the tools I use most and is designed around HARD milspec use...

The MUT prototype was used for 6 weeks by a group of Marines, Soldiers and Corpsmen in Afghanistan. It was used to maintain M4s, M16s, M2s, M240s and M249s. Everyone loved the shape of the bronze carbon scraper. the punch came in handy as did the shroud cutter. One of the first guys to use the tool was a Chief corpsman that used the shroud cutter to expose a wounded Marines’s leg after an IED strike.

Soldiers commented that the tool had the tools they most used on their Gerbers while adding useful weapon maintenance tools. Another plus is the ability to replace worn cutter blades and the bronze scraper on the spot.

The made in America MUT- Military Utility Tool – is just that, a military tool. Sure, it’s a gun tool, too. But, it’s got some serious field utility built in. It’s highly polished and useful tool that can adapt to nearly any task with the proper accessory bits. You should see the MUT in AAFES for $120-130.

And the best bit? ...

The hammer piece even looks like the shoulder thingy that goes up.

[Malamute]

I have a Leatherman PST II. It's small enough to comfortably carry in my pocket, I don't think I'd want a larger one. I pocket carry it most of the time now, at first it was just when I carried my pistol belt. I dont like messing around with taking things on and off my belt when putting my gunbelt on, so it stays in the pocket now.

I thought they were pretty goofy when I first saw them, but when I laid hands on one for a while, I liked it. I was wanting a pair of pliers to carry to pull porky quills from my dog, the faster you pull them the less they hurt coming out. The extra tools were just gravy. No, they aren't a heavy duty tool, or even the "right" tool for most jobs, but being handy, is the tool that gets used the most. I don't try to cut fence wire, or even use the knife much. I'd be happy to swap the knife for another useful tool, as I always have a real knife (or 3). Hate the serrated part of the blade, that's just wasted blade to me.

[Grizz]

In the field I usually have this little gem around my neck for a
backup for field dressing. Handmade & razor sharp.

I like that a lot. What is the purpose of the notches in the blade? Looks counter-productive to me, just wondering.

[Blaine]

It would make a dandy wire stripper.....

[Grizz]

It would make a dandy wire stripper.....

I would like to fathom its purpose. It looks to me like it would hinder slitting hide and opening abdomens, but would like to know if that's true or false.

[cshold]

I asked the maker the same question.
No reason, he just likes to add some artistry to his knives.
I've found that there's no hindrance whatsoever.
I've never needed much more than half the tip end of the blade anyway.

[Malamute]

The little Gerber LST is always in my pocket, ...I did lose one to TSA...

I've heard of people losing things to TSA. Does anyone ever carry a prepaid mailing envelope to mail things home that they may not let you take on a plane (or forgot you had)?

[Blaine]

The little Gerber LST is always in my pocket, ...I did lose one to TSA...

I've heard of people losing things to TSA. Does anyone ever carry a prepaid mailing envelope to mail things home that they may not let you take on a plane (or forgot you had)?

I lost a little 2" Old Timer folder to them....I'd had that pup for 20 years . I tried to give him my card, and twenty bucks to mail it to me.

[C. Cash]

I really like this knife.....it's offered as a kit from Track of the Wolf. Tycer got this one from me, and I liked it enough that I am making another one.