What are the most practical multipurpose (single blade) knife designs?
You can check the answer of the people under the question at Quora “small knife designs“
About Iris
Written by: Iris
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What are the most practical multipurpose (single blade) knife designs?
You can check the answer of the people under the question at Quora “small knife designs“
About Iris
Depends what you want it for. “Multi purpose” can mean different things in different settings, and to different people.
I have a skinning knife in my pack, a folding survival blade for my pocket or belt, and a sheathed monster single blade survival knife. That knife, for me, should double as a hatchet, wedge, awl, saw, bone splitter, pry bar. I should be able to hack wood, pull out a flint, and start a fire with it.
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I am in no way a survival expert, but what I learned in my survival school ( I am not military, and do not pretend to be at their level) But my instructor was… lived in the Jungle for years. The first season of “survivor” was in Malaysia and they called him to be a consultant.
He declined because it was all scripted fake BS, But the one thing that stuck is never go into the jungle (or forest) without a parang (small machete)
He is no longer military, but the one that people call when a forester is missing. He is search and rescue.
I always carry my “prang” (called “natta” in Japan if I am hiking.
As for multi purpose, I can build shelter, get water from a bamboo tree, chop wood for fire, etc. None of this can be done with a pocket knife.
Oh, an actually it is illegal for me to carry that knife, but I live in the countryside and everyone has one. If I was in the big city…. there is a regulation about how large your knife can be, just that in the countryside it is considered normal to carry one.
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For what? Kitchen? In the city? In the forest? On the farm? How much $$?
Not fully understanding California/San Francisco knife laws I can’t tell you for sure that this will be legal for you but my favorite all-around single blade knife remains the Canadian Belt Knife #1 from Grohmann’s Knives in Canada. The belt sheath is open-top, friction only, but deep and secure. The blade isn’t very long but “just long enough” to get almost any job done, short of butchering an elk. It’s quick and easy to pull out, open a box, and drop it right back into its sheath. Due to the shape of the blade, it is not very “threatening” except to the looniest CA pacifist.
If you want a less obtrusive or pocket knife, I use those up, so my choice would be to continue carrying the CRKT 6850 Ignitor. It is a utilitarian workhorse. But, probably its best feature is the assisted opening system which can open the knife normally or with a significant slap-bang, sure to irritate some pacifists and get them shouting and pointing, “Switchblade!!”. With a little practice, you can pull this from your pocket and open it with a bang in one smooth move. Lots of fun.
Authentic XYJ Since 1986,Outstanding Ancient Forging,6.7 Inch Full Tang
I have over 300 blades. I’ve been collecting them for decades. MY choice for the best blade designs ever are the following 2:
The Cold Steel Bushman.
This blade is forged from a single piece of SK-5, high carbon steel. It’s impossible to break and takes a razor edge easily. The handle is hollow and there’s a hole for pinning it on a spear. I keep mine wrapped in paracord for additional grip.
But my favorite knife of all time is definitely the USMC Camillus Ka-Bar.
The only thing tougher than this knife is the Marine carrying it. I believe Camillus used 1095 steel for this one. Quorans, feel free to correct me if I’m wrong.
Either of those 2 knives would be a welcome addition to an outdoorsy person’s kit. Hell, I’ve used the Ka-Bar as a kitchen knife when I got my first apartment. Worked good as a spatula as well.
Stay safe. Stay sharp.
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As an everyday, no matter what I’m wearing knife i carry a small (3″ blade) folding lock blade from Walmart. It was given to by a friends young son, and I know that little boy feels so proud every time he sees me pull that knife out. But beyond that, yeah its cheap, about 6 bucks at Walmart, but its done everything I’ve needed it to do as long as I freshen up the…
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Personally I think it’s going to be a personal preference, I have several knives and it would be difficult to choose only one. But I do really like my Mora with carbon steel blade, I have used it to strike a spark into char cloth starting fire and it’s easily sharpened. I also have a Becker BK2, it is a very heavy and robust knife unfortunately not as easily sharpened but vertually indestructible, but you need a ferro rod to strike a fire. Always practice with your fire making skills as I am a firm believer that being able to get a fire is key to survival since with fire boiling water and food prep and safety and security comes with it.
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If it’s a folding knife it has to lock. Any non-locking design has the potential to close on your hand while in use.
I prefer a straight-edge knife (non-serrated). Easy to sharpen and maintain. I also like a fairly short blade to fold and clip in my pocket. I reach for my knife many times during the day without thinking about it. The convenience makes it practical and handy.
Spring Assisted Knife – Pocket Folding Knife – Military Style
Scott, I can only speak about one design for myself. The Bowie knife. I’ve used mine to whittle kindling for building a fire, used it to cut patches for my muzzeloading rifle and pistols, used it to dig weeds out of yard, and explain at reenactments that some troops carried these for fighting.
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What are the most practical multipurpose (single blade) knife designs?
My foldable utility knife, with pushbutton blade replacement, is the most multi-purpose knife I own, and it is practical. I use my utility knife more than any of my kitchen knives, and if I needed it for self-defense, I could do that too.
I could use it as a survival tool. While it might not be the A-number-1-best it could do in a pinch, just don’t go up against a bear with it, and if you are challenged by a sow boar nursing her young, find the nearest tree, and figure on staying awhile, and pay better attention to your environment next time.
In a pinch, I could use it to dress a squirrel for the bar-b-que. Though not very sanitary, even if I changed the blade, I could use it to cut food into smaller pieces. Honestly, people who never eat before washing their hands, and eating utensils have never been hungry.
Well, that’s my opinion.
Pocket Knife Spring Assisted Folding Knives
The Buck 119, or if you prefer a slightly longer blade, the Buck 120. You can butcher anything up to an elk with them, either will kill a man.
Military knives: USMC Kabar; the Fairbairn-Sykes No. 1, if you can find one and have really deep pockets. Otherwise, the F-S No. 3. Carry both, the Kabar is a fighting knife, the F-S is a really nasty dagger whose design hasn’t been improved upon since WW2. Generations of bad guys have learnt about them the hard way at the hands of the SAS, SBS and Marine Corps.
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You asked a really broad question without meaning to I think… With so many different categories of knife there are too many to make a single choice. I’ll give several examples of what are, in my opinion, the best and most functional designs for a single blade in multiple situations…
In a town with strict knife laws, or perhaps the UK with even more restrictive laws you’d be best off with a modest slip joint knife. Any single bladed Case, Boker or other similar knife would work. For a higher quality option the Benchmade Proper fits the bill nicely.
In the US or other locales that allow a more robust locking knife, I think a sturdy drop point is the most useful blade shape. A good belly for slicing, a hardy tip for puncturing and scoring plus a locking blade that increases the safety while in use.
For camping or the outdoors, a thick blade over 5″ but under 9″ is the most common choice. Usually a drop or clip point for multiple uses or for skinning, these knives are usually some kind of tough steel and should have a full tang for durability.
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You failed to specify whether you mean kitchen, around the yard, everyday carry, or what, so I think I’ll throw in an answer for you.
My all-around knife is a custom piece that I made years ago when I was still a custom bladesmith. Its 7.5 inches overall, with a 3.5 inch single edged tanto point blade. The handle is wrapped with black silk cord over black ray skin (Japanese style). The steel is laminated 1040 and 1095 steel, forge folded into a nice Damascus pattern – I only have to touch up the edge and point a few times a year. The sheath is a vertical belt type in oil tanned black leather, and it’s on my hip from the time I get up till I go back to bed.
Why this one? The steel is very tough and holds a razor edge, unless I goof and hit steel when cutting. If I need to punch it through anything for any reason, it’ll go through 18 gauge sheet steel easily. Its strong enough for light prying. It cuts through tape, boxes, leather, and just about anything else I could generally need it to. If I need it for defense, its more than adequate. I’ve processed game animals (from squirrels to deer) with it. Its a great steak knife. It will even handle chopping for any tree branches or similar up to 2 inches thick.
Finally, if I’m being sized up by a potential mugger or such, they tend to look at that “serious knife” on the belt of a serious looking guy and then look for easier targets.
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For multipurpose, a blade ground to a wider angle is most practical. It won’t cut boxes as well, but it won’t blunt as easily, either.
MOSSY OAK 14-inch Bowie Knife, Full-tang Fixed Blade Wood
Jack knife because it folds up into a semi case and keeps you from getting cut. Some are made from stainless steel or German Steel and stay sharp for the longest time. The outside is made from Deer antlers and look great not smooth so you can grip it well. Some come with an additional smaller blade to in addition, clean your nails before you go to eat.
Gerber Gear 22-48485 Paraframe Mini Pocket Knife, 2.2 Inch Fine Edge Blade
Anything with decent edge, decent, and steel that closes and slides into your pocket. A knife is worthless of you don’t have it on you when you need it.
I recommend a lockblade. These can be had from Schrade for about $30 and up, and from Buck knives for $80-$140. I’ve carried both, buck is harder to sharpen but keeps its edge longer, Schrade is easier to sharpen but dulls quicker. Both are amazing for the money.
Knife nuts may enjoy carrying more esoteric or better looking blades…for them, I say buy what you love to own. If you just need something that cuts when you need it, and folds to stick in your pocket…see above!
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One of the most practical is the Ka-Bar combat knife, used for many years by the U.S. armed forces. It was realized early on by the military that this knife was not as good for killing people as, let’s say, a Fairbairn dagger. However, it was much better as a utility knife for making camp. The blade is long enough, and heavy enough, that it can be used for chopping. The handle is comfortable in the hand, and the blade is straight, so the knife is good for slicing food. It has a pointed tip, which helps when poking through various materials. The end of the knife, near the tip, is nicely curved, so you can use it as a skinning knife if you choke up on the blade (grasp the blade from the back, about midway along its length). The shape of the blade also makes it easy to sharpen. If I could own just one sheath knife (and didn’t have a hatchet or machete, or any other such tool), it would be this one. Mind you, I actually carry a somewhat smaller and shorter sheath knife when I go camping, since I do indeed own a hatchet and a machete , as well as a filleting knife, a skinning knife, a saw, etc. — but you asked for a multi-purpose knife.
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I’m going to answer something like the Swiss Army Picknicker knife. It’s the one I own, and with the exceptions of lacking a Phillips screwdriver and having one too many can openers, it’s a pretty good compromise.
I like that the question limits the choices to single-blade knives, which already strikes me as practical. I have never understood why so many pocketknives have more than one blade. Come on, one of the more practical considerations of a multipurpose knife is limiting its bulk and weight. Adding a second blade increases both for not much gain.
Anyway, the Picknicker knife has a good locking blade about 3.5 inches long. This is on the long side for a pocketknife, but better too long than too short.
Despite the longer blade, this knife isn’t uncomfortably large for routine pocket carry. It’s also not very bulky, the way many multipurpose knives are. Yet it still has a number of features, including a toothpick, tweezers, some kind of punch I guess it would be called, and the already mentioned corkscrew along with a couple of can openers (one of which doubles as a screwdriver).
The tradeoffs in the designs of these kinds of knives is always between features and bulk. The Picknicker is a comfortable compromise for me. However, I suppose if I were shopping for a new knife today, I’d first scour the market for something a little smaller. After my search, I’d probably still buy the Picknicker, but for me practicality foremost involves ease of carry, and only secondarily features. I already skip some features (Do I really need a saw?) and might skip more to reduce bulk, but somewhere between these poles is a compromise.
Of course, I’m answering for pocketknives that are routinely carried in, duh, pockets. If you’re asking about a knife to throw into a toolbox or a hunting or kitchen knife, my answer doesn’t apply.
.
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I would say , a heavy duty full tang knife. I was never a fan of saw back knives. I think they are a waste. I have an RAT 7 which is full tang, micarta handles , and the blade is coated. It’s made by OKC. I am very happy with it. This is just my opinion ,of course.
Smith & Wesson Extreme Ops SWA24S 7.1in S.S. Folding Knife with 3.1in
I use the main blade on my Swiss Army knife for all kinds of tasks. Lately I’ve been using it to strip insulation off of copper wiring. In a pinch, the tip can be used to remove some smaller Phillips head screws. I use it in ways I’m sure Victorinox never imagined.
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The two best folding knives are the Buck 110 and any Swiss Army Knife you like. The Buck 110 can do anything you need a camp/hunting/work knife to do. Swiss Army Knives are available in all kinds of configurations.
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Scott I have found that multipurpose tools do a fair job, but do not do any job really well. So I can’t recommend a multipurpose knife.
I carry three knives, woodsrunners have been carrying three knives for at least 300 years. A good hunting knife needs to be able to skin & field dress an animal, it also has to be able to butcher this animal. A butcher knife does a very good job as a hunting knife. My legging knife is a lot shorter than my hunting knife, & it is a back-up to the hunting knife in case it gets dulled on bone, it is also a good back-up defence knife. My clasp knife is for camp chores, making a kettle hook & making trap parts. Anyone who is serious about running the woods & survival, will always carry more than one knife.
Knives have a purpose, & no knife should ever be used for chopping or batoning. A tomahawk is made to do the heavier tasks, including helping to butcher a large beast, or cut the legs off a rabbit or construct a primitive shelter. It is also very good for defence & offence & if you learn how to throw the tomahawk, it is a good back-up for hunting.
Keith.
Keith H. Burgess
A Woodsrunner’s Diary
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Zelite Infinity Damascus Chef Knife 8 Inch, Japanese Chef Knife
An old-school Bowie or Ka-bar will do you very well.
First picture is a Ka-bar, second is a Bowie after the Ka-bar pattern. Both extremely useful.
In fact, any trench knife is designed for heavy-duty, multipurpose use. Take the WWII M3 design:
The point is a bit more specialized toward fighting than the clip point of a Bowie or Ka-bar, but overall, this is a knife I’d use every day. In fact, it’s one I intend to make sometime soon.
I’d definitely recommend a Ka-bar.
Tac-Force- Spring Assisted Folding Pocket Knife
Balisong (Butterfly Knife)
Switchblade
Karambit
Even your SAK (Swiss Army Knife) is really practical and multipurpose.
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Look through the Randall Knife catalog. I’m sure you will find a knife that fits your definition of the most practical knife design.
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The Swedish Mora or Finn Puuko are very similar simple blade designs meant to do everything a man in the woods or at home would need. They are mirrored by similar knives across the world; trade knives, etc. A 3 to 5 inch, drop, trailing, or clip point fixed blade is what you want
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