Folding Camp Knife Suggestions

[EmperorMA]

Hi all - I am looking to see what you all use for camp knives. I want a folder because I usually wear shorts that don't have a good belt or thin nylon pants that use a drawstring when I am outdoors. I fly fish a lot of days and bird hunt a lot of days and go backpacking with my family at least two full weeks a year. I'd love to use this knife for all three endeavors, but am not adverse to getting a couple of different Spyderco knives, if necessary. :D

When we backpack, we might stay in a campground for a day or two beforehand. This makes food prep one of my primary concerns for this knife. Once we get into the back country, we are usually fly fishing in creeks and doing a lot of bushwhacking. So, slicing and cutting branches are two things I need this knife to do.

Blade length isn't a huge concern as my state is OK with anything when you're outdoors. In fact, I'd really like something 3.5" or longer. I just need something that will will slice food, cut branches, cut Cordura nylon, paracord, gut an occasional fish, cut the legs, wings and head off of a grouse or a quail or a pheasant and maybe cut the rope that holds the anchor in a drift boat.

I am looking at Endura, Pacific Salt, Manix, Stretch and Resilience so far but would love to know the collective thoughts here. I am also interested in thoughts about serrated edge vs combo edge vs PE for this application.

This knife needs to be ready to do a lot of different tasks .... some of them very much in the category of "hard use."

If you want to know my preferences in EDC, I have Dfly2 VG10/FRN, Caly3.5 VG10/G10 and am buying Native 5 LWT next.

Any help is appreciated as I am a thinker and hearing others' ideas helps me sort through my own. Thanks!

[TomAiello]

Military?

Or maybe Manix 2 XL.

But if deployment isn't an issue, and it's mostly a matter of how it performs after it's open and in your hand, and you want a larger blade, I'd definitely look at a military.

[EmperorMA]

Tom - Deployment is definitely not an issue with this application. If I need rapid deployment in the outdoors, I will have either a 12ga double in my hands or a Glock on my hip.

This is all about versatile performance over a wide range of tasks after the knife is open and in my hand.

I don't necessarily want a larger blade, but I want to be prepared to hack my through a pretty tough bushwhack if the need arises. I have to be able to slice tomatoes and steak and peppers, too. Especially peppers. :p

[jdw]

My personal preference would be a ZDP Endura but a lot of people prefer the Stretch and the Stretch2 is getting rave reviews. It depends if you want more belly or a straighter cut. I prefer a serrated edge for cutting any kind of paracord, rope, etc. It gets a lot of mixed reviews but I really like the Dyad just to have handy around a campsite. It's the best of both worlds. You get a nice serrated blade and a razor sharp PE. It's not really meant for heavy duty cutting but it's useful for relatively lightweight stuff.

[Doc Dan]

The Manix 2 XL is a nice outdoor knife. It is big and strong. If not that, then the Endura plain edge or a Pacific Salt SE (no rust).

[anycal]

Military is a very capable knife from my experience with it - only folder of its size I have. Hard(ish) use if used wisely. Light for its size so carries good; some hotspots during prolonged wood whittling; excels at food prep - quartered raw chicken with it.

At some point, 4-5" fixed blade may be a better option for what you describe. Perhaps you already have one.

[EmperorMA]

Military is a very capable knife from my experience with it - only folder of its size I have. Hard(ish) use if used wisely. Light for its size so carries good; some hotspots during prolonged wood whittling; excels at food prep - quartered raw chicken with it.

At some point, 4-5" fixed blade may be a better option for what you describe. Perhaps you already have one.

I like fixed blades and have a few really nice ones for specific hunting chores. I just don't ever wear the proper clothing for them when fly fishing, backpacking, camping or bird hunting. I tend to go to areas that are steep and deep .... lightness matters and I don't often wear a belt that will support a heavier fixed blade. Think light nylon hiking shorts or ultralight nylon zip-off pants that only have a draw string at the waist.

[Halfneck]

While I'm a big fan of the Delica, I'm going to suggest the Manix 2 LW. Light weight, strong lock, and an open back so less chance fish & bird guts get in it. For the tasks you expect to face I recommend plain edge.

[Eli Chaps]

Military is a very capable knife from my experience with it - only folder of its size I have. Hard(ish) use if used wisely. Light for its size so carries good; some hotspots during prolonged wood whittling; excels at food prep - quartered raw chicken with it.

At some point, 4-5" fixed blade may be a better option for what you describe. Perhaps you already have one.

I like fixed blades and have a few really nice ones for specific hunting chores. I just don't ever wear the proper clothing for them when fly fishing, backpacking, camping or bird hunting. I tend to go to areas that are steep and deep .... lightness matters and I don't often wear a belt that will support a heavier fixed blade. Think light nylon hiking shorts or ultralight nylon zip-off pants that only have a draw string at the waist.

You might want to give the Spyderco Enuff Leaf a serious consideration. The blade shape would be very conducive to the tasks you mentioned and although it is a bit short, I suspect it is much more usable than a lot of folks think. Hence the name. :) I don't own one currently but am seriously considering it for my oldest daughter as her go-to camping/hunting/outdoors knife. I think it might be small and light enough with the Kydex sheath to toss in a pocket or pack and not warrant belt carry.

Accompanied with a Dragonfly or Delica, I think would make a fine setup.

Aside from that, I'd strongly consider an Endura in VG10. I love ZDP189 but the VG10 will be quite forgiving in the outdoors. The Endura is something of an underrated tank and if I was still tromping around in the woods I would definitely carry one. Get one of the bright blue or orange handles so you can easily locate it and I think it would work quite well. At ~$70 it is really hard to beat.

[VashHash]

I'd recommend one of the aqua salts. Light weight and the G clip attaches to any pants with or without a belt. For added security you can wear it IWB. If you're needing to hack your way through brush I'd really say use a fixed blade. It's also really low maintenance which is good in the field.

[SC_PATRIOT]

What you are suggesting is what i currently use now. Back 20 years ago when i was learning the gear i wanted in outdoor camping these models by Spyderco werent around ie, Manix XL, Military, Para for that matter. Either way now you a abundance of good folders and fixed from Spyderco. What i use with great results when i go canoe camping, Manix 2 XL in S90V. Granted these were an exclusive but the s90 holds up and the Manix 2 in any configuration is rock solid on lockup. Backup and fine cutting is a PM2 in M4. Pretty soon ill be trying out my Bradley Bowie to see how the PSF27 does in the field. Also looking to try Native FRN for backup and smaller task in Maxamet as well.
Just figure out a combo you like and go with it. For me it also comes down to blade steel and shape for the task at hand. Would like to hear what you go with. !!

[sal]

Hi Emperor,

Welcome to our forum.

sal

[SpyderEdgeForever]

Welcome to the forum emperor. I would consider the Aqua Salt to be a perfect camp knife, for around the campsite cutting chores.

[greencobra]

i don't think there is any question for a hard use folding camp knife.....manix 2xl. that's what i got mine for. i'll tell you, from one who loves the endura/delica & mili type knives, out in the wilderness, you're gonna wish you had more knife. there's a bunch of you tube vids showing folks out in the wild batoning with this knife. not too many folders you can do that to and the knife lives to fight another day. you can still put your lightweight delica or endura in your pocket but pack the big boy folder, the xl, as well.

[Evil D]

My first gut feeling is to suggest a Military, it will do everything you're asking without any problem at all and depending on what you're willing to pay there are a lot of steel options (some of them you'll have to get 2nd hand which means you'll probably pay a premium). But, if corrosion resistance is a concern then a Pacific Salt may be the better option.

You didn't mention field sharpening, do you carry anything with you to maintain your edges? This may be a huge deciding factor since edge retention is a big factor in a knife being able to do the wide variety of tasks you're looking to do. There are a couple ways to look at this...you can get a S110V Military that will hold an edge better than just about anything, but it will also take more to sharpen if you fully dull it. On the other hand, an H1 Pacific Salt won't hold an edge nearly as long but will be far easier to sharpen in the field, but will require that sharpening much more often.

Personally, my #1 choice would be a 52100 Military. The steel is going to rust if you don't care for it, but a little patina and some vaseline will help to keep rust at bay, and the steel is really easy to get sharp. Another great choice would be the M4 Military if you can get your hands on one. It too will rust but not as easily as 52100. M4 isn't nearly as easy to sharpen as 52100 but it's tough and it's a great middle ground between edge retention, toughness, and ease of sharpening.

I'm definitely a Military fanboy, no doubt about it, but I also think you would be served very well by a Pacific Salt so consider both. The one thing about the Pac you may consider is reprofiling the tip. If you PM Surfingringo here on the forums he has some pics and I'm sure can help you out. Basically the tip isn't very sharp on those knives, and for cleaning game you may want a sharper point for piercing and such. It's a very STRONG tip, just not very acute.

[Chinook3]

I recommend the Pacific Salt Serrated, and grab a SharpMaker while your at it. Pretty sure this bad boy can take care of said needs. Have fun!!

[rodloos]

My difficulty when camping is in narrowing down the list of knives I want to take with me, there are so many good choices. If you anticipate being wet much of the time, H1 of course would prevent rust, but anything in S110V is also pretty rust-resistant, and holds a good working edge quite awhile.

As far as bang-for-the-buck, I don't think anyone has mentioned the Resilience yet. It is a lot of knife for the money. I have taken mine kayak-camping and have been happy with its performance in food prep and fire prep tasks. Lots of good choices, Military, Para Military, Manix 2 (and XL), Endura, Farid K2, Tuff, Pacific... I sometimes carry a light neck-knife when I'm camping and wearing a swimsuit or shorts with no belt. So many good possibilities...

[qazy]

Im getting Military M4 as my camping folder.

[Surfingringo]

If corrosion resistance is an issue or if you want serrations then get the pacific salt. Otherwise, the Military is your knife. Lightweight and very comfortable carry for such a large knife.

[adamlau]

Military in CRU-WEAR or M4 and a Tri-Angle Stone Medium (204M) for freehand touch ups by the fire.