Knives on tour

What knives do folks use when away touring, Victorinox, Leatherman etc? Also what maintenance do you follow?

My simple Swiss Army of 12 years has near seized after a wet few days by the coast. Advice online is wash & oil but this hasn't made getting the blades out/in any easier.

If it's beyond repair what's hot these days, esp for those travelling light?

I mainly used can opener, big blade, tweezers and hoof clearer thingy (sharp pointy doofer by corkscrew).

Searched for other relevant content but got kitchen knives chat. Ta.

I lost my expensive Leatherman and replaced it with a cheap Gerber Suspension which, honestly, I think is better quality. It's a great all-rounder but a bit heavy for cycling (or hiking).

Any bike-related mishaps are dealt with by one of those fat Lezyne tools which seems to have just about everything (yesterday I discovered it had a valve core extractor hidden in the chain tool!). Consequently I'd like to get a lighter tool that had only a knife, can opener, awl, and pliers, since that's all I really need.

I also have one of those laser-cut credit-card spanners - useful for holding pannier nuts.

Or go old school with an Opinel

I always take a victorinox classic sd. One of the tiny keyring knives. It has the added bonus of being able to pass through airport security when attached to keys as they never seem to notice it...
Never found that I have needed a bigger knife as I can do everything I need to with this one, chop veg, slice cheese etc.
maintenance is use it till it falls apart or I lose it, then buy a new one.

They are beautiful knives but I wonder whether they'd put up with being used as a hammer, batoning etc.

My friend brought one hiking once and the blade got stuck in the handle - turns out if the wood gets wet, it expands and pinches the blade.

That's why I feel better carrying my very tough Gerber when hiking (here in NZ I am often 2-3 days walk from the nearest road so equipment failure is something I try to avoid). Then again I'm probably catastrophising... I've never actually had to do any of those things. Fine for cycle touring in Europe of course.

I always carry a combination of a Leatherman Squirt
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Leatherman-Squirt-PS4-Tool-Black/dp/B003J37BHK

And a separate non-folding knife.

This is my favourite - super lightweight and stays very sharp.
http://www.heinnie.com/fallkniven-f1-survival

Its good to have a sturdy non-folder - cooking, fire-making etc. A folder- even a locking one like an Opinel isn't as safe or nice to use and its not a load of extra weight - although the Fallkniven are expensive - but you will have it for the rest of your days.

I've had SAKs seize before, generally a bit of penetrating oil has sorted things out.

Currently using Gerber Dime (pliers only really) + skinny alox SAK (not sure which model, has like 4 bits that fold out). Would prefer something with bigger pliers and less extra shit really. The Leatherman Freestyle might work if it didn't have the part serrated blade.

+1 for the falkniven F1. Best knife I've ever owned. 5 years on and after heavy use is edged remains un-notched, easy to sharpen to a very good and long lasting edge, full tange, good leather sheaf. It's a no brainer! Best knife ever!

http://www.knivesandtools.co.uk/en/pt/-kershaw-chill-4-closed-liner.htm

http://www.knivesandtools.co.uk/en/pt/-fallkniven-diamond-ceramic-whetstone-dc3.htm#

I just got a Squirt PS4 for $22 usd including shipping, secondhand of course, but a pretty good deal considering how unbelievably expensive everything is here in NZ. 56 grams vs 260 grams for my full-size Gerber. And it's still got the all-important pliers. Perhaps not burly enough for real backcountry expeditions, but awesome for cycle touring.

Cheers, thread.

http://www.crkt.com/KISS

I'd second having a Leatherman Squirt and another knife with a bigger blade. It's great to have pliers and you normally just need the basics. I never felt the need to have anything more and think a big leatherman / similar is probably overkill.

That Fallkniven looks amazing, but at north of £100 it's a bit pricey. Folders are definitely smaller and I think Opinel are great as they're, dirt cheap, sharp out the box and very light. Their one big downside is their propensity to jam if they get wet.

I guess it depends what you're going to use it for, splitting firewood or cutting brie and saucisson.

Looks like a locking blade so no good in the UK.

Locking knives are illegal to carry without good reason, not illegal to carry in all circumstances. So no good if you're going on a bicycle tour of London's hottest nightclubs, but fine if you're wild camping in the Scottish Highlands.