One traditional knife to travel

I first thought alox pioneer.... then, how could I turn down my trusty Case? I guess it'd be a case jumbo stockman in carbon steel. I'd have to have a good oil stone to go with it. I knife like that is a trusted companion. But what if I need to open a can? or... a coke in a bottle? Make down with a rock like a caveman I guess.
 
One knife? Why just one? I normally carry at least two in my right front pocket.
When I was driving the expedited box truck, ocean to ocean, and border to border, I had a Buck 110 or Old Timer 7OT on my belt, a 4 blade Scout or Demo knife clipped to a belt loop, and a couple slipjoints (one was usually a 3 blade stockman or two blade Barlow) in my pocket.

I would keep the slipjoints in my pocket, and replace the 110/7OT and scout/demo/engineers knife with a full size multi tool now days.

My flying days are over I doubt I will ever board another aircraft, at least not in this life, so no restrictions for that mode of travel.
Any long trip I take now would probably be by adult trike, or walking, using a rollator with a seat. I would probably pack a Mora Number 1 or CS Finn Bear in one of the trikes bags or the rollators shopping/tote bag, for iif I needed a fixed blade larger than my neck knife I keep forgetting about.
I don't own a vehicle, and have zero intention of getting one. They cost too much. So does fuel, insurance, registration, and everything else. At most I might add an 2000 watt 48 volt electric motor and a small generator for the battery charger, or a gas conversion engine to the trike.
 
In the late 1970's I travelled internationally with a Fairbairn-Sykes knife made by John Nowill & Sons of Sheffield, but by the early 1980's, I had switched to a smaller belt knife (made by Stuart Mitchell Snr of Sheffield):

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A little later into the 80's, I started carrying this Victorinox-made Mauser Officer's Knife, and carried it for European travel for about a decade.

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In the mid 90's, my main knife for travel was one of the larger locking Vic SAKS, the Hunter. I would also often take a FB with me, usually a Swedish Army Knife, basically a Mora. I continued to carry both into the 21st century, but as restrictions increased on carrying knives, depending on my mode of travel, and destination, I sometimes left the Mora at home, and carried either a Wenger World Scout Knife or the big Vic Hunter. I also started carrying a Cold Steel Finn Bear at some point, and a Vic Climber, as the other SAKs had locking-blades. I spent some time travelling to and from Ireland, and would sometimes carry a Gerber Patriot. Another belt knife I carried was a Cold Steel Roach Belly.

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I didn't travel overseas for a decade before last Xmas, when I carried a small Lambsfoot, and a Vic Climber. My typical travel pack during that time for short trips away consisted of a Lambsfoot, an Ulster Scout Knife or Vic Farmer, and a small fixed-blade.

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I'm going to Bulgaria in May, and with few restrictions on knife carry, I'm thinking of taking my Bradford Guardian 3, a Lambsfoot, and a SAK, possibly the Wenger World Scout Knife I was travelling through Europe with 20 years ago :thumbsup:

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Lol
It's just a hypothetical

Who am I to tell someone that has travelled extensively that a second knife is unrealistic weight if they have already done it
 
Lol

It's a fun game that makes you think. I almost never have just one knife. It is also humorous that the internet experts immediately roll over your parameters with their more intelligent decisions.
 
I still think for me, the best choice would be a pioneer (Wenger SI?)

Big enough blade for most uses, some tools to help make life easier
I like the bail on the SI to clip to my belt if I think it's necessary, but I can do they same with the pioneer keyring
Almost entirely non threatening to random people or cops if needed in an urban area.

The only area where it would lack is... large fire making capabilities and the 1/1,000,000 chances I need a weapon. But then that's true for nearly any knife one would take on such a trip
Probably not the greatest choice for skinning but necessity is a great teacher if it came down to that 😁

And as I think Will, stated, it's entirely stainless which I imagine would be a great convenience on a trip like this
 
A guess a lot of it depends on where you're travelling, what you're travelling for, how you're travelling, and where you're staying. I carried different knives in Beirut and Belfast than I did in Boulogne and Bruges :thumbsup:
 
If I was really backpacking across Europe or Asia, or riding my motorcycle across the country, I'd have something like this with me. That's if I could really have just one.
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My choice for the above kind of adventure, would include something like this Winkler sheath knife. I'd feel pretty confident with these two tools.
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Most of my travels the last couple of decades have been much more civilized, mostly travelling through Italy. I've had a small knife similar to my pinched peanut, which seems acceptable just about everywhere. In fact, the last two times it has been the pinched peanut, which did everything I needed done, knifewise.
If I had my druthers, I'd likely pair it with a small sheath knife, and feel confident I have my bases covered.
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Peregrin said:
If I was really backpacking across Europe or Asia, or riding my motorcycle across the country, I'd have something like this with me. That's if I could really have just one.
r6SDe99.jpg


My choice for the above kind of adventure, would include something like this Winkler sheath knife. I'd feel pretty confident with these two tools.
l5VZUAy.jpg


Most of my travels the last couple of decades have been much more civilized, mostly travelling through Italy. I've had a small knife similar to my pinched peanut, which seems acceptable just about everywhere. In fact, the last two times it has been the pinched peanut, which did everything I needed done, knifewise.
If I had my druthers, I'd likely pair it with a small sheath knife, and feel confident I have my bases covered.
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I think those are really great choices Gary, I don't remember you showing the Winkler before :cool: I always forget about the Boker Sportsman knives, might have to pick one up sometime :thumbsup:
 
Had to make this very decision a few years ago when I drove from VA to Wyoming and back, and my choice was the Buck 301 stockman. Figured I would have three blades to reduce the need for sharpening, and I kept my Leatherman Wave in my suitcase in case a multitool was needed.
Many times I carry a SAK Tinker when on the road but decided the stockman would be better suited for playing cowboy :)
 
Jack Black said:
I think those are really great choices Gary, I don't remember you showing the Winkler before :cool: I always forget about the Boker Sportsman knives, might have to pick one up sometime :thumbsup:
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Thanks, Jack! I bought the Winkler when they first came out. I think I'd have a hard time finding something it couldn't handle. That Boker is a really nice piece. Great stag, and a good selection of useful tools.
 
In 83 I rode my Harley from Pittsburgh to the West Coast and back.. 3800miles in 3 weeks.. The only knife I had was a BUCK 112 on my belt.. I seem to remember it served me well..🤔
Harleys gone and the BUCK is put away!! Just sayin..
John :)
 
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Jiki said:
Not to derail the thread too badly.
The Companion is an excellent knife as @osoverride has proven. I keep one in my pack all the time. As for the 511, you may not find a better value in a knife. Around Christmas time you can usually find a 3 pack for under $45. I keep a 511 in the car, in my go to work pack, and one in the shop. It is super sharp and for under $15 I don't worry about breaking it. Subsequently, I beat the crap out of the one in the shop often. It is tough as nails and sharpens right back up.
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Thanks for the informative testimonials about your Mora models.

- GT
 
Peregrin said:
If I was really backpacking across Europe or Asia, or riding my motorcycle across the country, I'd have something like this with me. That's if I could really have just one.
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...........and, if the motorcycle trip was going to plan, all you'd need to use is the corkscrew and the bottle-opener 🍻🍷
 
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