The Gun Counter

A friend is going to Alaska for a wilderness camp/hike (with a guide) this coming spring. They're putting together their kit, and the guide wants them to have a camp/utility knife (each) in the 4" blade range.

Most of what I'm familiar with for that task (as described) is 5.5 - 7".

Intended usage would be opening food packages, smoothing branches (trimming off smaller branches/twigs), possibly stripping bark, and 'whatever else' comes up. Its not a hunting expedition so no skinning or cleaning expected (and if there was it would be the guide's to do) but they might be doing ersatz shelter constructon too.

Also since a Pukko (Puuko?) knife has come up before here and elsewhere with a sterling rep for utility, any recommendations for a vendor? The last place I bought one 10 years ago no longer carries them.

Whichever ones they narrow the choice down to (or I aim them at) will still get referred to the guide just to be safe. I don't want them feeling bad about the purchase if the guide thinks their cold steel camp knife (or whatever) is a POS even if its really adequate.

Trying to keep the budget under $100 apiece if possible. Lower better since it leaves more for the other necessities.

No need to spend anywhere near $100.

http://www.amazon.com/New-Swedish-Mil-M ... 092&sr=8-2

I have two of these. One is on permanent kitchen duty as a paring/small utility knife. The other I keep in my Jeep. Razor sharp out of the package and it's very easy to maintain the edge.

One caveat. It isn't stainless.

If that is important, I can't personally recommend these because I've never held one, but they get great reviews: http://www.amazon.com/Mora-Sweden-Craft ... 092&sr=8-3

If their guide is knowledgeable and they show up with a Mora knife (like suggested above) he/she will nod approvingly and suspect that your friends know what they are doing.

A Mora will never fail you. As an all around utility knife, it's pretty much ideal.
Personally I dont like the stainless blades, I prefer the carbon or laminated blades. I think that once you loose the edge on the stainless it's very hard to get it back, but not so with the other blades.

I think that once you loose the edge on the stainless it's very hard to get it back, but not so with the other blades.

I can't speak for the stainless. But the carbon blades on mine are very easy to sharpen. I'm mediocore w. whetstones. I usually sharpen my knives with an electric Chefs Choice 120 (which I love). But the Scandinavian grind on the Moras make hand sharpening very easy. Which is a bonus when you are in the field and not supremely skilled w. a stone.

The only complaint I have ever heard about a Mora is that the blade is thin. While it is true that the blades are thinner than is the current fashion, a knife really isn't a pry bar!

As for sharpening, I have become a fan of convex edges. A leather strop with some compound keeps the edge sharp with just a few strokes every time you use it. Rarely is a full sharpening in order.

Buck Folding Hunter 110 or equivalent. If that's not good enough for the guide, they are some sort of snob and/or rambo wannabe type. There's very little that you need a "camp" knife for, that a regular pocket knife will not handle. In Alaska or anywhere else.

Cold Steel makes the Roach Belly from 4116 Krupp stainless, which holds an edge better than 420 or 440 S/S.
EDT has one, that I gave her as a general purpose sheath knife, and she reports that her boyfriend borrowed it a few weeks ago to skin and dress a deer. She said he was favorably impressed with it.

That's a nifty looking knife, Termite. I just ordered one from Amazon for $12 and change. I'm going to compare it to my Moras.

P.S. Who is EDT? Elder Daughter the Third?

Thanks all.

NPR, I expect they'll be getting fixed blades based on the guide's recommendation. Maybe its just because they're simpler; I haven't spoken with the guide, just my friend. I have a couple of older 110s though and I do like them a lot.

You don't need the super uber wunder pal-machete-kukri-mongo hacker for camping in Alaska? Damn... that was going to be my excuse for buying one