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hillbillywannabe
Feb 24, 2012, 10:47 PM
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I am thinking of giving a lady a knife. What kind of knife would you ladies be most likely to use, and carry? This is not a knife that would be restricted to climbing.
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clee03m
Feb 24, 2012, 11:16 PM
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Piranha Knife by Trango
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notapplicable
Feb 25, 2012, 9:14 PM
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Not a woman but...all the climbing specific knives I've seen are not very function everyday knives, whereas any pocketknife with a retention clip can be a functional climbing knife. CRKT, Benchmade & Kershaw make solid tools. 6.5 - 7.5 inches is probably good. Just remember the difference between male and female hand sizes. Just because it feels good in yours, doesn't mean it will feel good in hers.
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squierbypetzl
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Feb 25, 2012, 11:54 PM
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hillbillywannabe wrote: I am thinking of giving a lady a knife. What kind of knife would you ladies be most likely to use, and carry? This is not a knife that would be restricted to climbing. Victorinox or Wenger multitools. They're not as rugged or strong as fixed blade or work-specific knives, and they'll require some care (avoid grit, occasional drop of oil to really take care of it) but with a little ingenuity you can get just about any job done. ed: forgot to add: I gave an ex a small Vic. pen knife for her key chain. It has a surprisingly bright led bulb and ball point pen that she says have saved her on more than one occasion.
(This post was edited by squierbypetzl on Feb 25, 2012, 11:56 PM)
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granite_grrl
Feb 26, 2012, 3:57 PM
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clee03m wrote: Piranha Knife by Trango You know this is a neat little knife but I have two problems with it: 1) It requires to be put on a biner to ensure it remains closed. I don't really like using the biner for too much stuff while it's on there and I don't like the idea of carrying and extra biner just to carry this knife. 2) I don't find I usually need a knife. The times I need it the most is when I'm out ice climbing (it's nice to have the option to cut up a cordo for things like v-threads or rapping off trees) and it's just too fumbly with a pair of gloves on.
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kiwiprincess
Feb 26, 2012, 7:30 PM
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I have had a Victorinox climber for 20 years. It has scissors for toe nails, a can opener for camping, a bladeI use for Cutting camoping and picnics at the crag, Beer opener that I use alot. There are heaps of models But I carry this more than my heavier type leatherman . which has a Useful extra feature of serated blade (for tat) mainly due to the scissors feature. If you got a slimmer model than what I had, you may be able to hang it around your neck. I think there is a model called the soldier that is really slim but it didn't have scissors.
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clee03m
Feb 27, 2012, 4:36 AM
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I made a little sturdy knife jacket out of coach's tape and keep it in the zipped pocket in my chalk bag along with my emergency head lamp. I do sometimes worry about it coming open, but so far so good. I don't do any true alpine or ice climbing so can't comment on how it handles with gloved hands...
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granite_grrl
Feb 27, 2012, 12:22 PM
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clee03m wrote: I made a little sturdy knife jacket out of coach's tape and keep it in the zipped pocket in my chalk bag along with my emergency head lamp. I do sometimes worry about it coming open, but so far so good. I don't do any true alpine or ice climbing so can't comment on how it handles with gloved hands... That's a good idea! I might still not take it with me out ice climbing, but I should do something like this for rock climbing.
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donwanadi
Feb 27, 2012, 4:20 PM
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notapplicable wrote: Not a woman but...all the climbing specific knives I've seen are not very function everyday knives, whereas any pocketknife with a retention clip can be a functional climbing knife. CRKT, Benchmade & Kershaw make solid tools. 6.5 - 7.5 inches is probably good. Just remember the difference between male and female hand sizes. Just because it feels good in yours, doesn't mean it will feel good in hers. A knife that size can get you a conviction in many states.
(This post was edited by donwanadi on Feb 27, 2012, 4:22 PM)
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sbaclimber
Feb 27, 2012, 7:51 PM
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donwanadi wrote: notapplicable wrote: Not a woman but...all the climbing specific knives I've seen are not very function everyday knives, whereas any pocketknife with a retention clip can be a functional climbing knife. CRKT, Benchmade & Kershaw make solid tools. 6.5 - 7.5 inches is probably good. Just remember the difference between male and female hand sizes. Just because it feels good in yours, doesn't mean it will feel good in hers. A knife that size can get you a conviction in many states. I kinda doubt NA was referring to blade length. (all I can think of now is some climber pulling out a bowie knife, ala Crocodile Dundee... "That's not a knife..." )
(This post was edited by sbaclimber on Feb 27, 2012, 7:55 PM)
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notapplicable
Feb 28, 2012, 2:39 AM
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donwanadi wrote: notapplicable wrote: Not a woman but...all the climbing specific knives I've seen are not very function everyday knives, whereas any pocketknife with a retention clip can be a functional climbing knife. CRKT, Benchmade & Kershaw make solid tools. 6.5 - 7.5 inches is probably good. Just remember the difference between male and female hand sizes. Just because it feels good in yours, doesn't mean it will feel good in hers. A knife that size can get you a conviction in many states. Sba is right, I'm talking about the over all length of a pocket knife. Not a fixed blade knife or the blade length alone.
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notapplicable
Feb 28, 2012, 2:51 AM
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squierbypetzl wrote: hillbillywannabe wrote: I am thinking of giving a lady a knife. What kind of knife would you ladies be most likely to use, and carry? This is not a knife that would be restricted to climbing. Victorinox or Wenger multitools. They're not as rugged or strong as fixed blade or work-specific knives, and they'll require some care (avoid grit, occasional drop of oil to really take care of it) but with a little ingenuity you can get just about any job done. ed: forgot to add: I gave an ex a small Vic. pen knife for her key chain. It has a surprisingly bright led bulb and ball point pen that she says have saved her on more than one occasion. My biggest problem with multitools (which you touched on) is that the knife is usually the least useful accessory on the thing. The blade is usually thin, unstable and made from shit steel. Don't get me wrong, multitools can be useful and I'd put one in my pack or camping tote but I'd never carry one as an every day knife. Of course I don't know the recipient. If the knife will spend most of it's life in a pack or purse, a multitool might just be the ticket.
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squierbypetzl
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Feb 28, 2012, 10:44 PM
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notapplicable wrote: squierbypetzl wrote: hillbillywannabe wrote: I am thinking of giving a lady a knife. What kind of knife would you ladies be most likely to use, and carry? This is not a knife that would be restricted to climbing. Victorinox or Wenger multitools. They're not as rugged or strong as fixed blade or work-specific knives, and they'll require some care (avoid grit, occasional drop of oil to really take care of it) but with a little ingenuity you can get just about any job done. ed: forgot to add: I gave an ex a small Vic. pen knife for her key chain. It has a surprisingly bright led bulb and ball point pen that she says have saved her on more than one occasion. My biggest problem with multitools (which you touched on) is that the knife is usually the least useful accessory on the thing. The blade is usually thin, unstable and made from shit steel. Don't get me wrong, multitools can be useful and I'd put one in my pack or camping tote but I'd never carry one as an every day knife. Of course I don't know the recipient. If the knife will spend most of it's life in a pack or purse, a multitool might just be the ticket. If you need it for carpenters work, then yeah, get a task-specific fixed blade. Unless you're putting your knife through the wringer every other day, a good quality multitool should serve any normal city dweller well. My dad gave passed his multi-tool knife down to me when I was a pup, and I've taken it on almost every trip I've ever been on (forrest, desert, jungle, tundra, beach) and it's almost perfect. The main blade's been through wood, fur, bone, climbing rope, tire rubber, leather, and it's still a decent blade. Obviously I don't use it for things it's not meant to do (McGuiver is but a story) but it's proved handy on innumerable occasions, and the OP did ask for a knife that would not be restricted to climbing use. edit: if not this, what would you consider an everyday knife?
(This post was edited by squierbypetzl on Feb 28, 2012, 10:45 PM)
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notapplicable
Feb 29, 2012, 5:21 AM
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squierbypetzl wrote: notapplicable wrote: squierbypetzl wrote: hillbillywannabe wrote: I am thinking of giving a lady a knife. What kind of knife would you ladies be most likely to use, and carry? This is not a knife that would be restricted to climbing. Victorinox or Wenger multitools. They're not as rugged or strong as fixed blade or work-specific knives, and they'll require some care (avoid grit, occasional drop of oil to really take care of it) but with a little ingenuity you can get just about any job done. ed: forgot to add: I gave an ex a small Vic. pen knife for her key chain. It has a surprisingly bright led bulb and ball point pen that she says have saved her on more than one occasion. My biggest problem with multitools (which you touched on) is that the knife is usually the least useful accessory on the thing. The blade is usually thin, unstable and made from shit steel. Don't get me wrong, multitools can be useful and I'd put one in my pack or camping tote but I'd never carry one as an every day knife. Of course I don't know the recipient. If the knife will spend most of it's life in a pack or purse, a multitool might just be the ticket. If you need it for carpenters work, then yeah, get a task-specific fixed blade. Unless you're putting your knife through the wringer every other day, a good quality multitool should serve any normal city dweller well. My dad gave passed his multi-tool knife down to me when I was a pup, and I've taken it on almost every trip I've ever been on (forrest, desert, jungle, tundra, beach) and it's almost perfect. The main blade's been through wood, fur, bone, climbing rope, tire rubber, leather, and it's still a decent blade. Obviously I don't use it for things it's not meant to do (McGuiver is but a story) but it's proved handy on innumerable occasions, and the OP did ask for a knife that would not be restricted to climbing use. edit: if not this, what would you consider an everyday knife? I've owned midgrade Victorinox and Gerber multitools and was disappointed with the blade on both. I didn't use either at work very often since I carry a folding razor knife on the job. Right now I carry the knife below (non-serrated version). It has a retention clip, easy open blade and a reliable blade lock. It costs like $70 and is strong enough do what I need it to but cheap enough not too hurt if/when I break it and have to get a new one. Those are pretty much all the things I look for in an everyday knife. Edit: Thought about this some more after signing off last night and wanted to qualify my reasoning a bit. For me, easy open blades, blade locks and retention clips are important features on a knife. Both for safety and functionality. They also allow the knife to serve as a defensive weapon. So I have a knife that can do 65% of what your average mutlitool can do (tighten screws, serve kitchen duty while camping, open cans, clean under my fingernails, pry loose flakes off a route, cut webbing, etc.) but I have more versatility in how I carry it, a safer blade design and a slim, ergonomic handle that feels good in my hand. Those a benefits I experience everyday and, IMO, outweigh not being able to fix the occasional bike chain or tighten the occasional nut.
(This post was edited by notapplicable on Feb 29, 2012, 3:30 PM)
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squierbypetzl
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Feb 29, 2012, 6:58 PM
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I see. I can't say I disagree with you, but the discrepancy seems to stem from our different understanding of "knife" in this context. You seem to mean a "blade" knife, I understood more of a "tool with blade included" knife. I'm not trying to convince anyone to buy anything, in fact I almost wish you wouldn't because I'd feel I gave a brand free advertisement but I still think a multitool is more useful in a city setting and for casual climbing use. A basic vic. multitool is small enough to add onto a key chain, has tweezers, blade, nail file (hang or broken nails suuuck), scissors; others include an LED bulb and ball point pen.
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notapplicable
Feb 29, 2012, 11:31 PM
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squierbypetzl wrote: I see. I can't say I disagree with you, but the discrepancy seems to stem from our different understanding of "knife" in this context. You seem to mean a "blade" knife, I understood more of a "tool with blade included" knife. I'm not trying to convince anyone to buy anything, in fact I almost wish you wouldn't because I'd feel I gave a brand free advertisement but I still think a multitool is more useful in a city setting and for casual climbing use. A basic vic. multitool is small enough to add onto a key chain, has tweezers, blade, nail file (hang or broken nails suuuck), scissors; others include an LED bulb and ball point pen. Ah. I was thinking the question was more folding vs. fixed vs. multitool? But seeing as how the OP hasn't even posted again, I'm gonna say we may have over thought the question anyway.
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overlord
Mar 1, 2012, 10:28 AM
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well. for a knife to carry when climbing... i would suggest a folder that can be opened one-handed with both hands, has a decent locking mechanism and is not too heavy. something along the lines of spyderco endura. if your main cutting task will be cutting cordage and slings and such, get a serrated blade, if not, a straight edge is better (easier to touch up and better for delicate tasks).
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squierbypetzl
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Mar 1, 2012, 8:46 PM
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notapplicable wrote: squierbypetzl wrote: I see. I can't say I disagree with you, but the discrepancy seems to stem from our different understanding of "knife" in this context. You seem to mean a "blade" knife, I understood more of a "tool with blade included" knife. I'm not trying to convince anyone to buy anything, in fact I almost wish you wouldn't because I'd feel I gave a brand free advertisement but I still think a multitool is more useful in a city setting and for casual climbing use. A basic vic. multitool is small enough to add onto a key chain, has tweezers, blade, nail file (hang or broken nails suuuck), scissors; others include an LED bulb and ball point pen. Ah. I was thinking the question was more folding vs. fixed vs. multitool? But seeing as how the OP hasn't even posted again, I'm gonna say we may have over thought the question anyway. Seems to be the case. I wonder which he bought.
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coastal_climber
Mar 4, 2012, 10:25 PM
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bought mine a leatherman multitool and she uses it lots
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dr_feelgood
Mar 7, 2012, 6:01 PM
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This one. Pops up on Steep and Cheap every once in a while too.
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pinktricam
Mar 7, 2012, 9:13 PM
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hillbillywannabe wrote: I am thinking of giving a lady a knife. What kind of knife would you ladies be most likely to use, and carry? This is not a knife that would be restricted to climbing. Look no further and get her Kershaw's Ken Onion Leek: ...and stick to the plain edge, NOT the serrated edge.
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donwanadi
Mar 7, 2012, 9:36 PM
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dr_feelgood wrote: [image]http://thedarkblade.com/wp-content/uploads/SOG-Fusion-Spirit-Knife.jpg[/image] This one. Pops up on Steep and Cheap every once in a while too. That is a dagger. It is very effective for stabbing flesh. Not so effective as a utility knife. For these reasons, they are illegal in many states (including more weapon friendly states like Texas).
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smallclimber
Mar 8, 2012, 5:02 PM
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donwanadi wrote: dr_feelgood wrote: [image]http://thedarkblade.com/wp-content/uploads/SOG-Fusion-Spirit-Knife.jpg[/image] This one. Pops up on Steep and Cheap every once in a while too. That is a dagger. It is very effective for stabbing flesh. Not so effective as a utility knife. For these reasons, they are illegal in many states (including more weapon friendly states like Texas). I agree that several of these knives look like they should be illegal! I find it's best not to carry a knife, it takes up valuable room in your pack where your mobile phone should go. After all, in an emergency such as stuck rope, hair caught in belay device, need to cut webbing for rap anchor, it's very important to be able to get out your phone and call for help......
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pinktricam
Mar 9, 2012, 1:25 PM
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smallclimber wrote: donwanadi wrote: dr_feelgood wrote: [image]http://thedarkblade.com/wp-content/uploads/SOG-Fusion-Spirit-Knife.jpg[/image] This one. Pops up on Steep and Cheap every once in a while too. That is a dagger. It is very effective for stabbing flesh. Not so effective as a utility knife. For these reasons, they are illegal in many states (including more weapon friendly states like Texas). I agree that several of these knives look like they should be illegal! I find it's best not to carry a knife, it takes up valuable room in your pack where your mobile phone should go. After all, in an emergency such as stuck rope, hair caught in belay device, need to cut webbing for rap anchor, it's very important to be able to get out your phone and call for help...... That's the funniest post I've read all day! Excellent sarcasm.
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smallclimber
Mar 9, 2012, 3:58 PM
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I'm glad you realized, I was half expecting to be flamed!
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