The ATC’s Appalachian Trail store now offers a 3 inch long stainless steel pocket knife with 7 attachments (screwdrivers, knife, scissors, openers, nail file). Does anyone out there know if this is a good quality knife that they sell? Is there anything else in a pocket knife that I should be looking for?
C-Giddy
Hey, Giddy, I met a SOBO who carried a small 2" blade all the way from Maine to Springer. He showed it to me, said it was all he needed. I’ve carried a swiss army knife on all my long distance hikes and never used more than the knife. It’s staying at home this time round (wise not to take on the plane anyway). When you think about it, when you could you possibly need a screwdriver? Stumps me to.
Ross
Ross
HI C-GIDDY,
I wish I could comment directly on the ATC knife. There may be a problem with its blade length in some AT states. I think Massachutes and Connecticut limit knife blades to around 2 1/2 inches for concealed carry. Or maybe even if you have it in your pack? Hope you get some good feedback on the knife question.
David
the tiniest of pocket knives is fine. i think i maybe used mine a few times to cut the cords on my tarp.
as far as the legality of blade size, there is zero chance of you being hassled by a cop - assuming of course you’re not planning on brandishing this knife at someone.
mindlessmariachi
But does it have a corkscrew? You never know when you might want to open up a bottle of wine…
Ardsgaine
Most of us get by with a small multi-tool (Leatherman Micra type) that weights 2 ounces or less.
Peaks
I have one, it’s…shall we say, a lesser quality piece. I think the blades are aluminum. I can’t even cut myself with it. Ards?, I have one with a cork screw, a must have. Swiss Army Tinker I think is the model.:cheers
BW
Not sure what model mine is. It says ‘Camping’ on the side. It has two knife blades, a bottle opener, a can opener, an awl, toothpick, tweezers and a cork screw, which I’ve never actually used on the trail but have used many times at home. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever used anything but the blades while camping.
I’ve had it for 17 years now. My wife gave it to me for our first Christmas together to replace a non-Swiss brand, multi-tool knife that I dropped into the Apalachicola River on our first camping trip. 
Ardsgaine
I never put my pants on that I don’t put my knife in my pocket. Flame and I thru-hiked with nothing but a small 2 bladed Old Timer. High carbon steel blade. I would recommend not getting a stainless steel blade. I have never found one that will stay sharp. You may notice that tool cutting edges are always made of high carbon steel. Everything from chisels to planning heads on jointers. I carried a small 1 inch square of wet/dry sandpaper in 220 grit and used it as a sharping stone. I kept it sharp enough to shave (If you notice my pictures on the journals you’ll see I didn’t shave). I could have brought home a pack full of big knives, multitools and dull Swiss knives if I had just picked them up in the shelters and campfire pits where people discarded them. I don’t recall ever needing any of the tools found on a Swiss knife. If you don’t use it every day don’t carry it. Have a great hike C-Giddy
Papa Smurf
“I never put my pants on that I don’t put my knife in my pocket.”
Heheh! That reminds me of my dad. Me: “Dad, do you have a knife I can use?” Him: “I’ve got my pants on, don’t I”
“I would recommend not getting a stainless steel blade.”
I agree. The Swiss I have is stainless, and it won’t stay sharp. The one I lost had regular steel blades. I liked it better, but don’t tell my wife I said that.
I also have an Old Timer with two 3" blades. It’s a much better knife, but I carry the Swiss camping because she was so proud of having gotten it for me–and who knows, one day I might run up on a group of people with a bottle of wine and no way to open it.
Ardsgaine
Ardsgaine, now you come to mention it there was that time in the Sirrea we bought a few bottles of wine. Couldn’t have gotten to the good stuff with out the trusty swiss army knife. Maybe you’re right.
Ross
P.S Alcohol and altitude don’t mix, although, if you like your drink, it’ll cost you less to reach that place.:cheers
Ross
There are so many “Swiss Army” knives and multitools around. What brands have high quality knife blades? My Leatherman seems to get dull very quickly, much more so than my (heavy) Buck pocketknife.
Bunchberry
“Couldn’t have gotten to the good stuff with out the trusty swiss army knife.”
There ya go!
You could always get the stuff with the twist off caps, but I don’t recommend it.:x
“P.S Alcohol and altitude don’t mix”
In more ways than one, I imagine. It would be my luck I would stumble off into the woods to take a leak and end up at the bottom of a cliff. :tongue
Ardsgaine
i’ve also got the “swiss army” knife that says “camping” on the side. Snapped the damn corkscrew off, and both it and the cork got stuck in the wine bottle!! (thank god this was not on the trail; i’d have really been stuck).
Come to think of it though, i think i did at one point make some tin can stoves with that knife…it was like the old “ginsu” knife commercials, hacking thru cans!
mindlessmariachi
Ardsgaine, my dad said the same thing about his knife. If he had his pants on he had his knife. I taught my son the same thing. He is almost thirty and every Xmas he wants one of my old knives I collected over the years. I normally carry a 3 bladed John Primble, but the Old Timers are hard to beat. They are made by Schrade Walden. If it says Schrade+ on the blade it is stainless. Even some Old Timers are stainless. I’ve never bought a stainless that would keep a good edge.
I have to admit we carried a small corkscrew. It was small with a hollow handle that you kept the screw in. It worked great when we were in town. Never used it on the trail. With Flame and I sharing all of the essentials we could splurge on the corkscrew. happy trails
Papa Smurf
An expert woodsman explained to me recently why, as some have mentioned above, some blades don’t “keep their edge”, or even have one in the first place: Of course, quality of blade material is important, and some manufacturers (like Buck) are well known for good ones. What I didn’t know is that blades are usually sold machine-sharpened at a 20-25 degree angle, which is not very sharp. So, one must hand-sharpen a store bought blade (bevel) down to 10 degrees if they want it sharp and to stay sharp. Most often, people sharpen using one or two grits, cut some paper, feel a sharp blade, and stop. But soon enough, that blade loses its slice, because they are cutting with the burs of metal produced from the sharpening, and not with a true 10 degree blade. When those burs are pushed over or dislodged by cutting, you’re back to the grit. One must grind the blade, hone it in with a nice even bevel to 10 degrees, strop it, and then repeat to get a blade that will keep its edge. Stainless steel works fine if you do it right. Island Mama’s blade couldn’t be more sharp, and it stays that way -scary. :eek:
Tha Wookie
Just got a small folding knife (“Winchester” brand) at Walmart. Cost under $6.00 in their camping section. Has a 2-3 inch blade, scissors, file, screwdrivers, corkscrew, awl, etc. Only weighs 1.8 ounces. Seems relatively durable.
Brutus
Ilike the Buck Hartsook Neck Knife. Blade is 1.88 inches long. Its a little knife but easy to get to and lightweight, and good for everything an average hiker will need (cutting food, cheese, meat, rope, etc.)
Chaplain