most important knife to purchase

[gearguy141]

poll Q says it all , im trying to decide which to buy.

[Whiskey]

It really depends on your environment and intent. Simply put, you cant go wrong with a largeish fixed blade.

[maldon007]

For what use? Or are we talking "first knife" type deal?

[gearguy141]

For what use? Or are we talking "first knife" type deal?

hey, and this is for a prep sort of thing i had my frist knife many years ago. i have a few hundred dollars lying around so id figure id invest...

[Merovech]

None of the above.

Get a Leatherman, thats the most important knife to purchase.

http://www.leatherman.com/product/Wave

[Ajira]

Medium to large fixed blade... it can work as a make-shift machete, spear, and with some practice you can do reasonably fine work with it too (pinch holding of the blade)

[MaconCJ7]

I voted for large fixed utility, but "large" is a relative term. I'm not a big fan of huge knives. A 3-1/2"-5" blade will fulfill most needs. I find large knives (7+") to be too large for a lot of things. Usable yes, but not nearly as safe for some things. Quite often I find myself holding the blade, even on smaller blades (fixed and folding), in order to do fine work. Effective, and safe enough if you pay attention, but there is always a higher risk of cutting yourself.

If you're planning on going out and refining your combat skills against a bear, you'll want a larger blade. I just find them overkill for most camp/work projects.

[sworbeyegib]

Merovech nailed it. A quality multi-tool will be a thousand times more used to you almost any day out of the year. My carry knives change rapidly, but my leatherman wave is a constant in my life.

[squinty]

Merovech nailed it. A quality multi-tool will be a thousand times more used to you almost any day out of the year. My carry knives change rapidly, but my leatherman wave is a constant in my life.

This ^.

[BullOnParade]

Wave!

Also, you don't use your knife as a spear, ever. Ever. Use your knife to sharpen a piece of wood. Or use your knife to make a notch in a piece of wood for a piece of napped flint. Never lash your knife to a stick.

[Red_Snow]

None of the above.

Get a Leatherman, thats the most important knife to purchase.

http://www.leatherman.com/product/Wave

If a person could still buy the Wave as pictured, I would agree 100%. But, ever since the redesign I have been searching for the new "perfect" multitool.

I still have my "OG" Wave, but refuse to keep using it like I used to for risk of breaking a tool and winding up with one of the new models as a replacement.

But yes; multitool >>>> all other options listed.

[Nickthezombiehunter]

You said you have a couple hundred dollars lying around, ok, well let us help you spend it. Get a leatherman of your flavor, wave is pretty standard and then get a ESEE fixed blade. RAT4 is good mid range knife.
http://www.eseeknives.com/knives.htm
If you look around, I just went on smokeymountainknifeworks, you can spend just under $200 for both.
Bam, there you go. A well made multitool and fixed blade. Go forth and conquer

N

[MaconCJ7]

I'm not disagreeing with the versatility of a multi-tool, but it's not better than a knife, when what you want is a knife. It's a mediocre knife, it's a mediocre screwdriver, it's a mediocre file, etc. I love a good multi-tool. It's a useful set of tools in a small package, but I wouldn't trade in my designated tools for one. Certain ones have decent blades, but none of them are good at being knives.

I like Nick's suggestion though. Get both.

[Doctorr Fabulous]

Split the difference. Good multitool+Mora. Mutlitools are kind of over-rated IMO, since4 I never use anything but the pliers, screwdrivers, and occasionally the bottle opener.

[Dawgboy]

I don't know why so many of you like the leatherman... After the 2nd time I snapped a blade (and then removed a steel chip from my hand), I stopped buying them...

[Frosty709]

You said you have a couple hundred dollars lying around, ok, well let us help you spend it. Get a leatherman of your flavor, wave is pretty standard and then get a ESEE fixed blade. RAT4 is good mid range knife.
http://www.eseeknives.com/knives.htm
If you look around, I just went on smokeymountainknifeworks, you can spend just under $200 for both.
Bam, there you go. A well made multitool and fixed blade. Go forth and conquer

N

I love my ESEE 4, and my Leatherman

[Nickthezombiehunter]

I don't know why so many of you like the leatherman... After the 2nd time I snapped a blade (and then removed a steel chip from my hand), I stopped buying them...

I'm more of a Gerber fan, always have been. But I know all many people have that brand association with Leatherman and multitool. I like the sliding plier head vs the fold up on the leatherman. It's never let me down. I broke the nylon carry case before anything else.

And yes I do have a ESEE4! It's my primary knife on my gun belt with a Gerber LMF in my BOB.

[Frosty709]

Another option for a multitool is a Swiss Tool. They're good from what I've read and been told. May pick one of those up for a full sized tool, since the Juice CS4 isn't all that big.

[Maverick299]

I'm not disagreeing with the versatility of a multi-tool, but it's not better than a knife, when what you want is a knife. It's a mediocre knife, it's a mediocre screwdriver, it's a mediocre file, etc. I love a good multi-tool. It's a useful set of tools in a small package, but I wouldn't trade in my designated tools for one. Certain ones have decent blades, but none of them are good at being knives.

I like Nick's suggestion though. Get both.

I agree. IMHO a multi-tool is a convienant way to carry around 15 tools that all suck! I do have a few, and they ride around in the truck and BOB incase of a last resort, but I would be pretty hard up to reach for a multi-tool for a average day to day project.

Since you mentioned you have a few hundred to spend, go with a Bark River knife and don't look back.

[skelco]

I get more use out of a fairly basic Swiss Army knife than anything

[KentsOkay]

+1 to the multitool camp. I use my Skeletool's pliers, knife, and screwdriver (i bought the 1/4 bit extension/adapter, easily tripled the usefulness of my Leatherman) more than any knife I've owned.

Quality multi tool of your choice + carbon steel 4-7 inch fixed blade + hatchet = pretty much every problem solved and staying solved.

[ninja-elbow]

Split the difference. Good multitool+Mora. Mutlitools are kind of over-rated IMO, since4 I never use anything but the pliers, screwdrivers, and occasionally the bottle opener.

This combo ... and/or what both Merovech and Macon said.

In the city, I use my lil Leatherman all day every day. In the woods I use it and either my Mora or my Helle Viking pukko, both with blades hovering at 4 inches.

BUT... this is the "Other Weapons" page, so let'sthink about using a hand weapon listed above to defend ourselves. I picked assisted opener as that is what I carry (Hissatsu folder) as my back up to my pistol EDC. Easier to concel and use if I get jumped and am grappling around and cant draw my pistol.

[VinnieD]

What purpose is this for? EDC? Camping? Emergency? SHTF? ZPAW? I find myself agreeing with the multitool folks. In everyday use you'll be finding your multitool the most valuable thing you carry, and useful in every aplication.

After that I'd say look into your situation. Folders are better for EDC among the general public. Fixed blades might be more useful for camping though. A machette is useful for camping, hunting, and other outdoor type activities, and they're cheap enough that you could get one on top of your other purchases.

But regardless a multitool will be a faithful companion that will serve you well in any situation.

[Boondock]

Split the difference. Good multitool+Mora. Mutlitools are kind of over-rated IMO, since4 I never use anything but the pliers, screwdrivers, and occasionally the bottle opener.

This combo ... and/or what both Merovech and Macon said.

In the city, I use my lil Leatherman all day every day. In the woods I use it and either my Mora or my Helle Viking pukko, both with blades hovering at 4 inches.

Ditto what others recommend. Sounds like you can afford multiple, functional options.

For example, a classic Swiss Army knife ($20), a CRKT fixed blade ($27) for the Altoids tin, and a pair of pliers ($4).

Bushcraft on the cheap. But I still voted for a fixed utility.