I always carry a knife on safari as well as a Leatherman. How could you do this without a knife?

I have been n a half dozen safaris and always carried a pocket knife and a sheath knife I am also one of these knife kooks and carried a damascus version of the old Marble knife,

The best knife I took once was the Cutco fluorescent handle hunting knife. My son wore it. We shot a hippo and it was decided to decapitate the head. The trackers started sharpening their knives on the rocks and tried to get through the thick hide with sawing motions. I gave them the Cutco and it went to the spine in just seconds and was like cutting through butter. The trackers stood around and stared at that knife in amazement. Should always carry a knife.

I am with some of the other posters. Carrying a big ole fixed blade knife is one thing...actually using it on a safari hunt is another. I prefer something multifunctional for small problems that may occur. For this I carry a Leatherman and a Deluxe Tinker Swiss Army knife. Also a Benchmade folder. These three will do 99% of what I need a knife for. When I was in Zimbabwe the skinners used my Leatherman to disassemble and skin 2 buffalo.

Leatherman and Swiss army knife. Used them for all sorts of things. Leave the skinning to the crew. Like Mark said, stay out of the way.
A big sheath knife is for the leopard hatband set.

quote:

Originally posted by jorge:
I think most of us who love our guns, hunting and the outdoors are "knife kooks" as well. Below is my modest collection, the one on top flew with me during my entire career and the one on the bottom has accounted for many African and domestic field dressings:


And recently, one of the guys that work for me's brother is a custom knifemaker in Florida. He GAVE me this sweet little Damascus bladed Hippo-toothed handled one. The picture does not do it justice:

Jorge- I must say that all your knives look brand new. The stiching still is snow white on the sheaths.

The two middle ones are. As for the stitching, Oxyclean and a brush work wonders...

I carry The following when hunting:

1. Victorinox Climber and a EZE-LAP DIAMOND model M sharpener in a homemade elk leather sheath on my pants belt, so it's always with me. The scissors have come in handy many times, as has the corkscrew.

2. A Leatherman tool - different models - is worn on my cartridge belt or CamelBack.

3. I used to carry a large sheath knife on my cartridge belt but two years ago I switched to a tactical folder by CRKT, model M16-14ZSF combo tanto blade designed by Kit Carson. This is carried in a sheath on my cartridge belt. It is an incredible knife and has taken the tails from 3 elephant. The more I use it the more I like it. A one handed knife that has double flippers/hilt and AutoLAWKS which make it a true fixed blade when opened.

Many years ago I had a young PH in RSA ask me why all Americans carried big knives. I tried to explain to him that when we hunt in the Rockies or Alaska there is no cell phone service and we are hunting in true wilderness, where a good knife becomes an essential survival tool. I'm not sure he got it, but maybe you have to be there.

Gents:
I brought my favorite knife with me on 13 trips to Africa. On #14 I left the knife (and camera) home and did not miss them. I'm working to travel as light and simple as possible. A knife is a proper accessory an any hunting belt but in Africa they are window dressing.
Cheers,
Cal

quote:

Originally posted by jorge:
I think most of us who love our guns, hunting and the outdoors are "knife kooks" as well. Below is my modest collection, the one on top flew with me during my entire career and the one on the bottom has accounted for many African and domestic field dressings:


. . . .

The knives in Jorge's top picture all look like Randalls to me. I have one like the first that I took to Zambia, a Randall Model 1-7, along with a couple of smaller ones. I bought mine at the old Abercrmobie & Fitch store on Madison Avenue in NYC back in the 1960s. I deliberately aged to corrode the blade and sanded up the leather grip for better handling. I did use it, but only as detailed below.

I am about as urban as they come, these days, but I grew up in a place where we spent much time in the woods and my father was a farm kid, so camping, etc. were utterly normal and we thought little of it.

Two stories made a lasting impression on me. My Norwegian immigrant grandfather told one about working with a harvesting crew in the Dakotas where someone needed a knife. They turned to a Finn, because as everyone knew, "Finns always have a knife." Sure enough, after some grumbling, he produced his puukko.

The other was the account of Henry Charles Christopher Wolhuter's adventure in 1904, where a fairly similar knife came in handy. We all know it, so I won't recount it here.

In my case, John Knowles, our PH, told me not to use my Randall for skinning or to let the skinners touch it, because the mud and sand on the animals plus the skinners' habit of frequently sharpening on any nearby rock would really mess it up.

I did put it to use, though, upon shooting my first buff. The LH 700 .375 H&H bolt action froze after the first shot and the buffs all took off in a cloud of dust – fortunately away from us. We ran after them with me pulling frantically on the bolt, feeling like a complete idiot.

Someone here observed that the problem may well have been some extra spicy factory loads, not unknown for Remington in that period, and not the rifle itself. I don't know.

I ended up solving my problem by battering open the bolt with the hilt of my Randall. Just as good as a mallet.

Maybe others haven't had any reason for carrying a knife on safari, but I did.

I humped all over SA with a wonderful Arno Bernard warthog-tooth scaled knife.

On my next trip I'll take something like a Swiss mini-Champ or midnight manager and a small multi-plier. I found digging out acacia thorns a bit cumbersome with the Bernard...that, and a few proper torx heads for a decent screwdriver. /sigh.

I love having the nice knife but in the end it just wasn't necessary.

I'm a copycat I guess. I also carry a folding Diamondblade in my pocket and a Cutco sheath knife. Both of them in their own way are the most useful and sharpest knives I've ever run into.

Gents: Think of a knife like money... it's only useful when you need it! Otherwise, just having it is simply a security blanket.

I am a newbie compared to a lot of you guys (10 safaris down) and I have not taken a knife until the last safari a few weeks ago, and that was a tiny keychain swiss army. I don't plan on doing any pigsticking and I don't skin anything (leave that up to the skinners). I just never needed one that I can recall. A leatherman possibly, knife no.

I made my first trip to Africa just recently. I took a Victorinox Camper and a Blind Horse Maverick Colt which is a short (2 7/8") fixed blade. The camper came in handy mostly to open beer bottles, tighten a screw, and adjust a scope. The small fixed blade I used to cut my cigars and cut sausage at lunch one day. These two were certainly adequate and the Victorinox would have done everything I needed a knife for. BTW, this is generally what I carry deer hunting here and the little fixed blade is plenty long enough to gut and skin a whitetail or a feral hog.

My favorite hunting knife is my Puma White Hunter, but I don't take it to African safaris. It is overkill for Africa since I'm with a hunting party. This knife is best for my solo archery hunts.

My favorite African safari knife is the Gerber Gator. It folds and has a large sticky rubber handle. Great if I happen to get involved in a giant gutpile. Priced right and has good steel. I bring several and leave them behind.

OKC folder and a Buck paklite gut hook. The PH will have the big knives and saws in the truck and the trackers the axes.

Always have at least a folder in case you need it to eat lunch.

At home or working I carry a Benchmade Griptilian.

In Africa or hunting here, one of a pair of Charles May Slitters...

And I have needed a knife while hunting in Africa. Ever have to gut, cape and quarter a buff with only a dull machete?

"PUMA waidmesser" - my Rabbit's foot - no true need (might serve in a catfight ) :

quote:

Originally posted by Hunting For Adventure:
I am a newbie compared to a lot of you guys (10 safaris down) and I have not taken a knife until the last safari a few weeks ago, and that was a tiny keychain swiss army. I don't plan on doing any pigsticking and I don't skin anything (leave that up to the skinners). I just never needed one that I can recall. A leatherman possibly, knife no.

We are all products of our environment. Mine was Naval Aviation and with that background, no matter where, I NEVER leave the pavement without AT LEAST:
knife
compass
Bic lighter

It just does not feel right to go hunting and not have a fixed blade knife either on my belt or in the backpack. One has rarely been needed on any of my African trips but it was nice to know it was there.

Since we are also discussing pocket knives, about a year after my father passed away I was visiting my mother. She placed my father's Zippo and his pocket knife (both instantly recognized by me) on the table and said to choose one. I took the knife.

Another note, when my grandfather gave me a pocket knife on Christmas about a million years ago he told me to never lay it down anywhere. Always put it back in my pocket after using it. Otherwise it might be forgotten and lost. He was right. As usual.

I bought a Buck "Personal" model in 1970 at the PX at Fort Benning GA. I paid $6 for it and still have it. I bring it with me to Namibia and use it to cut the tips off my mopane bee repellent sticks (Montecristo Cuban cigars)

you are going to laugh at my choices here ..

i have two box cutters with me all the time and a bunch of spare blades
i also have a havalon , i think they are awesome , and then i have a set of vegetable pairing knives , all VERY utility - each cost about $2-4 they are all NSF russel international cutlery knives

then a very important piece of gear is my "pull through" sharpener , nothing worse than trying to cut up a buff , ele , hippo or something big with blunt knives ..

heres a post i did a while back with pics and these are still my choices the only addition is the havalon ....

http://forums.accuratereloadin...301032621#1301032621

My Dad was a life long hunter, and a Chief of Surgery at a Boston area hospital for almost 40 years. His "hunting knife"? An old fashioned scalpel blade, often without the holder. He could gut then skin a deer in no time with it, often with very little blood on his hands. It was amazing to watch him do it.

cold steel master hunter

I've been on 3 African hunts and I leave the skinning, etc. to the professionals. I do carry a Swiss Army knife w/ 4 inch blade, corkscrew, & toothpick. I usually use all three " tools" on each hunt.

Whilst not always necessary,I take pleasure in joining in.

My 18 year old son, my wife and I had to go down to the Home Office in London to get new visas a while back. When we got to the office it had a metal detector (of course) and we emptied out pockets. Both my son and I had our leatherman's on us (of course). I gave them to the security guy and said we would pick them up after our appointment. He almost had a heart attack and said he would have to call his supervisor.

About 30 minutes later two Metropolitan Policemen came in and asked for me, all kitted up and wearing their stab vests. I saw on his vest a Royal Marine Commando badge. I knew what was coming as Britain is phobic about knives. I addressed. "Hello Marine, Chief Stage, how can I help you?" You could see the relief on his face. "oh, you are American! You guys always have one of these in your pockets. I have to ask though, do you have a reason for it today?"
"Sir," I replied," I drive Land Rovers and live in the country."
"Well, that explains it! Here you go, have a good day."
It was nice to not be treated like an armed criminal just because we were carrying one of life's essential tools. Wasn't the knife of the first tools created by man when he learned to stand upright??

As a country boy, ex para, career military, I always have some kind of pocket knife on my. Like I learned in the infantry, If you don't carry it, you don't own it!

Yes, you were certainly lucky that the policeman agreed with driving landrovers as a good reason! Unfortunately leathermans fall foul of our knife laws because of the locking blade. You can carry a sub-3in folder in public places, but have to show good reason e.g. work tools, hunting, fishing, camping, etc. for fixed and locking blades. I'm surprised leatherman don't make a tool with no blade just for us!

I like to take my own knife just like I like to take my own gun. Can believe many say it is too much to pack. Slips in the rifle case so easy.

+1

quote:

Originally posted by JabaliHunter:
Yes, you were certainly lucky that the policeman agreed with driving landrovers as a good reason! Unfortunately leathermans fall foul of our knife laws because of the locking blade. You can carry a sub-3in folder in public places, but have to show good reason e.g. work tools, hunting, fishing, camping, etc. for fixed and locking blades. I'm surprised leatherman don't make a tool with no blade just for us!

My teenage son disassembled his big leatherman and removed the blade so he could carry it in school. Headmaster checked it out and declared it okay! Thst's m'boy!

I carried one made by my friend just so that I could do this with it at the end of the hunt.......


It rides nicely on the belt......

quote:

Originally posted by juanpozzi:
cold steel master hunter

The Master Hunter may be okay, since it is a simple 4 inch hunting design with a polymer handle. I generally stay away from Cold Steel knives, though some of Lynn Thompson's products are somewhat useful or at least fun. Why? The bigger blade products like the Trail Master do not have a worthwhile tang. To save costs, I guess, they use a piece of wire cable inside the handle and tightened it up by twisting a nut at the end. Check the archives at Blade Forum. It looks good on the outside, but the quality is not there.

That is a far cry from a full tang handle or even a rat tail tang. Check out what Living Ready says on survival knives:

"The phrase “full tang” means the metal knife blade and handle are made from one solid piece of metal. The metal handle is then sandwiched with knife scales to form a grip.

"The alternative to a full tang is a rat tail tang. A rat tail tang is much smaller and narrow.

"A full tang blade is much more robust and stable. It can withstand incredible abuse from demanding tasks, such as splitting wood (often called “batoning” in the survival community)."

- See more at: http://www.livingreadyonline.c...sthash.Y608Q5wn.dpuf

Personally, I view hunting and any similar outdoor activity as a potential survival situation. I like Jorge's idea of including a compass, a fixed blade knife (one of my Sekis has a compass in the handle) and some kind of fire starter, of which his Bic lighter is fine choice.

I have no quarrel with those who use folders, scalpels, Havalons, etc., all of which are fine for skinning and some other purposes. I have all of those, even a Bagwell 3-inch skinner that I scored on eBay as a shocking bargain, but I will also be accompanied by a stout fixed blade like my Randall if I am again in Africa.

Wolhuter's story will never happen to me, as I won't be riding any horses in the dark in lion country, but I will be prepared, just as the Boy Scouts taught me.

I carry a knife 365 days a year unless flying commercially. Feel almost naked without one.
I also don't go without a cig. lighter even though it's been 46yrs. since I had a cigarette.

Anjin

"Never say never!"

I have only been on one safari to Africa. I took a knife but never had any use for it. It sure was nice to have all the hauling/gutting/caping/skinning done by the outfitters crew. I gave the tracker,who also gutted the animals and did some skinning, the knife when I left. It was a good knife but not a expensive one.
If I make it back I will take another-----To give away.

At home I always take a knife with me since I have to do all the stuff myself.

I feel naked without a knife, not that you really need one on safari. However, has anyone ever answered the question: can you take one through Amsterdam?