Which knife?

[preppingsu]

(this is where all the blokes tell me I'm like a girl choosing her car by its colour!!!)

nothing wrong with that, I did chose my car by its colour.

[The-Great-Nothing]

Opinel blade lengths for 6,7,8 are -

70, 78, 82mm

Cheers

Matt

[12mp82]

Thanks for all the replies - I knew I would get sound advice here! I'm leaning towards an Opinel - they were my first choice so I'm glad to see so many approve. Just need to decide now on a #6,#7 or #8. Any suggestions - v. little info on them on Amazon. Oh, and being a traditionalist and wanting it to be aesthetically pleasing as well, I do like a wooden handle... (this is where all the blokes tell me I'm like a girl choosing her car by its colour!!!)

Please check out the legal aspect of which ever knife you chose though.

What You Can't Have ...
The following items are banned from sale within the UK (although if you already own one you may keep it, but not use it outside of your own property) ... Switchblades, automatics or 'flick-knives', gravity knives, balisongs or 'butterfly knives', push daggers, belt buckle knives, sword canes, disguised knives, or knuckle-duster knives.

Late on in 2004, an amendment to the law was introduced which restricts the sale of any knife which is not readily detectable by the normal methods of detection, ie: either x-ray or metal detection, unless it can be proven that the knife's sole purpose is for the preparation of food. So for instance, the Cold Steel CAT Tanto or Lansky Knife are now prohibited within the UK. These knives are correctly referred to as Airport Knives, but in English law are commonly referred to as Stealth Knives.

In 2006, so-called Disguised Knives were prohibited. You may not buy any knife designed to look like something else, for instance a knife which appears to be a pen, (and it doesn't matter whether the pen works or not, it's still prohibited here).

What You Can Carry ...
The Criminal Justice Act (1988) says that you may carry a knife with a blade length of 3.0" or less so long as it is capable of folding. That means no fixed blade knives

As an example: An Opinel knife with a blade over three inches (about 75mm) is going to be illegal, as it has a locking blade.

But you could and should probably get away with it unless you fit a certain image of a hoody with bad attitude

[ForgeCorvus]

Slight correction there mate

Any knife with a cutting edge over 75mm, or any fixed blade (locking knives are classed under law by precedent as fixed blades) needs "Good Reason" to be carried.

There are non-locking Opinels available (they're missing the twist collar)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Opinel-Non-Lock ... 155&sr=1-1

This is for your EDC?
As a camping or light bush-knife you can have a locker as "Camping" is your "Good Reason"

I carry a #8 (with a reshaped drop-point) as a work knife, I love wooden handles

[12mp82]

I don't need an EDC knife, so don't carry one, when on the camp ground I might have anyone of the many I keep, but a small, fixed bladed knife is the norm.

"camping" isn't an EDC reason to be carrying though.

[ForgeCorvus]

Not unless you're camping every day

I have the type of job where I have to have a safe cutting tool that I can carry in my pocket.... Needless to say I don't drive a keyboard for a living

[12mp82]

Needless to say I don't drive a keyboard for a living

Thankfully neither do I I keep well away from an office as I can, except when the job means one has to be re-fitted

[Colin KC]

...a master cutler...

An evocative & (in the UK) extremely contentious title.

One generally meaning a time served, tested, & accepted by his peers as being able to produce knives of the highest standard.

There is no (for knifemaking at least) standard route to become a master, however there are some who have made for a great numbers of years & whose work commands such immediate respect by other knifemakers & knife users, from around the world that they should be called Master Cutlers...

[mushroom]

Okay... I've gone for an Opinel #8 and a carbide knife sharpener - looking forward to receiving them - will let you now how I get on Thanks for the advice everyone - and I'll make sure I don't carry it illegally!!

[herbal_thought]

Opinel's are spot on lil folders, you can sharpen em with almost anything and use the back as a striker for a firesteel (unless you buy one of they fancy new stainless ones).

Peace, out.