Lock Blade Knives

A Lock-Blade Knife allows you to lock the blade in the open position.  This function allows a folding knife to be temporarily turned into a Fixed-Blade knife.  This prevents the blade from folding during use, which is a huge safety feature.  Lock-Blade knives also tend to be meatier than traditional folding knives, allowing for rougher use in the outdoors. 

Brief History

Lock-Blade Knifes have been around since the 15th Century and there are many designs.  They really became popular in the US when Buck Knives released their Lockback Knife now known as the Model 110 Folding Hunter in 1963.  Commonly referred to as "Buck Knives", there are now many different Lock-Blade options available from many different manufactures. 

Locking Knife

A locking-blade is much safer for whittling and carving wood and therefor preferred for these tasks over a traditional folding knife.  There are also MANY quality options to choose from as popularity of locking-blade knives has surpassed other knives.   

Do note that these may be considered illegal in some Cities as well as some Countries where it is considered a weapon.

Note: Ones that auto-open should not be brought on scouting events.  These are illegal in Washington State.

Serrated vs non-Serrated Blade

Some blades come with a serrated edge. 

• Serrated will stay sharper for longer

• A non-serrated blade is easier to sharpen and is easier to carve with

• In scouting and for survival, a non-serrated blade is preferred

Knife Choice 

There are thousands of knife options out there.  So how does one go about choosing a knife?  Consider:

• Reputable Brand 

  • Brand name matters

  • US or European Made is generally preferred

  • Chinese made knives are hit and miss

    • Some are SO low quality, they are dangerous to use

• Style

  • Traditional lock-blade

  • Non-serrated edge 

  • Round belly 

  • Avoid unconventional blade shapes

• Price

  • You can find a quality knife for under $25

  • Expensive knifes will get lost or damaged just as easily as a $20 one

A Scout doesn't need a $100 knife.  But since the knife is the more important survival tool in a scouts possession, our scouts deserve a knife that isn't junk.

Reputable Knife Manufactures 

Some of these companies source parts and knives from abroad (China), but are know to be generally reliable. 

• Buck Knives $ to $$$

• Gerber $ to $$$

• Opinel $ to $$ (not traditional US-style)

• Kershaw Knives $ to $$

• Columbia River Knife and Tool Company $ to $$$

• Cold Steel Knife and Tool $ to $$$

• Boker Manufactory $ to $$$$

• Victorinox $$ to $$$

• Spyderco $$ to $$$

• Benchmade Knife $$$ to $$$$

• Emerson Knives $$$ to $$$$

• DPx Gear $$$ to $$$$

Cold Steel Finn Wolf 

A few lock-blades are designed for Bushcrafing.  This is in part due to the need for batoning, which isn't good for knives with a hinge.  The Finn Wolf is NOT designed for batoning, but the nice Scandinavian style blade is good for carving and other non-impact bushcrafting.  Price is very reasonable at around $35 

BRK Designed by ESEE

These aren't the legendary knives made by ESEE with their unconditional ESEE Warranty.  They are more economical knives designed by Jeff Randall and Mike Perrin from ESEE, produced by Blue Ridge Knives, and manufactured in Taiwan.  These, like their Ontario RAT competitors (same designers), make for reasonable knife options designed for light bushcraft activities. 

Multitools

• Most quality multi-tools incorporate a locking blade

• They also come with a wide range of other useful tools

• Good quality multitools can get very expensive

• If you love Swiss Army Knives, they have lock-blade options too

• Discussed in our Multi-Tools Section

Blade Material

Most lockblades and pocket knives come with blades that are made from some type of Stainless Steel.  Stainless Steel is generally "tougher" and shouldn't rust.  For Scouts and most adults, Stainless Steel is the preferred type of metal for knives.  

Other options are available for specialty and high end knives.  These include Carbon Steel alloys such as 1084, 1095, D2, SK5 and many designer alloys that impart a complex mix of toughness, hardness, strength, rust resistance, sharpenability and edge retention.  Many experienced outdoorsman prefer Carbon Steel knives over Stainless Steel ones.  They allow for a sharp edge that doesn't dull easily and some allow for flint on steel fire starting (important for Lewis and Clark).  The downside of high carbon steel is that they rust if not maintained and may break if heavily abused - such as using the blade as a crowbar. 

Recommendation:

• Stainless Steel Blades

  • These can get wet or put away dirty without rushing away

  •  is preferred for most Scouts

• Carbon Steel Blades 

  • Was once the norm but are a little harder to find these days

  • Allow for finer edges, a plus when carving, making feathers and with fancy food prep

  • Requires you to respect and take care of your blade 

  • Only recommended for mature people who appreciate the utility and quality of a good blade