Good knife vs multi-tool

kerouac · Jun 16, 2015

so i've got a nice fixed-blade gerber knife that i've travelled with for a long time, but i left it in alberta and now i'm in the east gearing up to hit the road.

needless to say a big solid knife has been very good to me, i use it for everything from gutting fish to spreading peanut butter on bread. it's given me a sense of security in sketchy places too.

but watching shows like survivorman has got me considering buying a good leatherman. i don't have enough money for both so it's one or the other at this point.

which would you choose, if you could have only one or the other, and why?

wizehop · Jun 16, 2015

Man you can get cheaper models (still leatheman brand) at home depot for around 25-35 bucks. No reason why you cant have a multi tool and a knife.

Westy · Jun 16, 2015

I'd go with the multi-tool. Knife, can opener, scissors, pliers (good for warming up a can of food and you can use the pliers for a handle and eat right out of the can, a life saver when sewing heavy material to push/pull the needle), a file, a small saw, and of course screwdrivers. One of the cons of picking the multi-tool is keeping in mind the knife won't be very durable so you'll have to take care not to abuse it to the point of failure. Also a large knife is a lot easier to come by cheap or even free somewhere along the way, I would say a multi-tool isn't that easy to come by very often or very cheap. My 2bitz. Good luck bro.

Kim Chee · Jun 16, 2015

I never carried a blade (but damn if I didn't find some in catchouts).

Multitool.

'Cuz, multi...duh.

greengenes · Jun 17, 2015

I just go with what I'll be able to hang on to. I had a badass hobo tool but forgot it at a gas station. Now I have one of these though:

Odin · Jun 17, 2015

I've got three multitools (cheaper beat up ones... though the gerber has sentiment...), an old folding gerber kinfe with a fucked groundup edge from the desert, a baton, a rusty machete... and probably the usual tools around somewhere... pliers, can opener, Gungnir... exct...

Kal · Jun 17, 2015

I have had leather man tools before good tool to have around. Right now I just have a knife and it is also a good tool to have around but I would rather have a muti tool knife.

kerouac · Jun 17, 2015

thanks for the replies guys

i really like the idea of having a set of pliers that can clip through wire and chain link fences, that alone has me leaning towards the multitool. plus the almighty can-opener.

i'll check out the selection at home depot for sure. i've mostly scoped out multitools at camping stores and they're always too pricey.

Kim Chee · Jun 17, 2015

kerouac said:
thanks for the replies guys

i really like the idea of having a set of pliers that can clip through wire and chain link fences, that alone has me leaning towards the multitool. plus the almighty can-opener...

I haven't hacked a single fence, but I'm guessing your multitool knife will not last too many cuts.

Over, under or through has been my method to breech fences.

I do like the multitool though.

Deleted member 9332 · Sep 27, 2015

7xMichael said:
I haven't hacked a single fence, but I'm guessing your multitool knife will not last too many cuts.

Over, under or through has been my method to breech fences.

I do like the multitool though.

I don't think people would be using their knives to cut a fence, I think they meant they would use the wire cutters which are located underneath the gripping part of the pliers. Not sure it would be a good idea to do that with most multi tools anyway, they'd probably break the wire cutters.

Kim Chee · Sep 27, 2015

nanoperception said:
I don't think people would be using their knives to cut a fence, I think they meant they would use the wire cutters which are located underneath the gripping part of the pliers. Not sure it would be a good idea to do that with most multi tools anyway, they'd probably break the wire cutters.

This is kind of what I was saying except for the obvious part about cutting a fence with a knife.

Of course you can't cut heavy galvanized wire (chain link) with a knife blade.

...and as I said, I'm pretty sure the multi-tool would not last too many cuts (with the wire cutter, of course).

No argument there.

kecleon · Sep 28, 2015

Yeah you won't get through proper fences with a multi tool. After a couple of cuts you'll have ruined it and its really fucking difficult to actually cut it (with the wire cutters) they're meant for like household wire. Right now I've got a Swiss army knife with s can opener and stuff and actual big damn pliers that struggle to go through galvanised wire but I care less about breaking them since they cost like $10. You want like small bolt cutters or some big fucking wire cutters to go through fences. I like having a fixed blade or axe or something but I traded my fixed blade for some stuff.

creature · Sep 28, 2015

well.. if you don't loose stuff...
def multi.

leatherman steel (if it is still the same) def outclasses gerber..

this is pure speculation, but seems like it's a higher carbon-vanadium content, & gerber has more silicon..
gerbers seem to snap at failure, while leathermen seem to deform more, before snapping.

gerbers def have a grainier steel.

in any case, as far as knives go, if you want a cheap, big ass blade of reasonably good metal, you can go into lots of thrift stores & walk out with a hella nice big blade or smaller for 2$ or less... no sheath, but if you want a cooking/cutting tool, they can be damn near as good as any $10 knife, & maybe better.

Desperado Deluxe · Sep 29, 2015

You guys think you could go through a fence with a set of channel locks? Was kinda thinkin about that. Considering its a fairly small tool and can cut through some hefty shit.

kecleon · Sep 29, 2015

It depends if it has long handles and a good cutting part. I'd chose end cutters a bit awkward to use but especially longer handled ones cut real well and usually have skinny handles so don't weigh much. I can cut a fence with pliers but damn is it hard. With bolt cutters it's so easy but they're heavy even small ones.

creature · Sep 29, 2015

hit tractor supply & ask for a 'fence tool'.. assuming you mean barbed wire..
dunno about chain link, but i would think it's a bitch..

also.. please.. fucking *please*.. if you cut a cattle fence, FUCKING FIX IT BEHIND YOU!!

my buddy hit 5 goddamned cows just before i left north dakota.. killed every fucking one of them..
wound up in the hospital where they had to cut his fucking throat to get to get to the front of the vertebrae in his neck.. he's 'lucky', because he's recovering, but he was paralyzed from the neck down, when it was worst.

it was fucked up.

that being said, i think i've seen small compound cutters...

plus, with a *good* blade, a stick saw (hacksaw blade on a ridged shaft) will cut well, too..

ScumRag · Apr 1, 2018

kerouac said:
so i've got a nice fixed-blade gerber knife that i've travelled with for a long time, but i left it in alberta and now i'm in the east gearing up to hit the road.

needless to say a big solid knife has been very good to me, i use it for everything from gutting fish to spreading peanut butter on bread. it's given me a sense of security in sketchy places too.

but watching shows like survivorman has got me considering buying a good leatherman. i don't have enough money for both so it's one or the other at this point.

which would you choose, if you could have only one or the other, and why?

My Gerber mini just broke in two - but I paid 12$ @ Target, so it's totally about the $$$.

My last Leatherman was kind of a skeletool- kinda simple on the design aspect and then this weak ass bottle opener was on one side (which blew my mind cuz fuck, anyone can open a bottle with a damn lighter).

Overall I am seeking suggestions for around 50-75$ if anyone's got opinions to share?

Coywolf · Apr 1, 2018

Gerber Suspention is the best cheaper multitool ive ever owned.

Zaphod · Apr 1, 2018

When I was on the road I carried a tiny little folder. A Kershaw remix maybe? And a P38. A few times I wished I'd had something with a little more blade for carving/whittling stuff so I'm the future I think I'll probably take a my Mora along and a folder that's just a bit bigger. I also have a Camilus titanium knife (it's just 440 stainless with a titanium coating) that I wear on my belt sometimes now that I'm kinda stationary. I've had to pull it on an angry homebum before and he fucked right off hahaha

Also, protip: knives are fairly easy to shoplift

Art101 · Apr 11, 2018

I carry a lockblade and a SOG multitool.My folder is a German made blade.It's light and has served me well.Only drawback is its high carbon,needs to be oiled occasionally.My SOG is solid.Never had an issue with it(besides friends taking a liking to them) it does everything I need.It is a touch on the spendy side.I played around 60 for mine but it's a good piece of kit.

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