wrote on Feb 24^th, 2004 at 8:23pm:

I was kind of wondering the same thing about a machete or sheath knife. ..... I personally couldn't imagine finding a use for a big-bladed knif or machete, much less the desire to lug it around. Guess I am not really the Rambo type camper.

I am with you on a machete, though a bayonet might be handy at times ;)

Seriously, my sheath knife is an old Western brand.  It has a 4” long blade and plays several roles in my outdoor adventures.  In addition to getting covered in deer blood every fall (even if I didn’t kill the deer I still seem to be gutting and skinning – how did I get that job???) it has been on my belt for my trekking.  It is my utility knife for cutting cord for the tarp or making shavings to start a fire.  It is also used (after a good washing) to cut my steak and (hopefully) to gut a trout or two (my canoe partner has a separate fillet knife for walleye if we ever catch one.)  It has been a pretty stout friend.

I like having forceps for removing hooks because they clip to my shirt and they stay there.  No fumbling or looking for them.  Even if I switched to a multi-tool, I would still have my forceps.

I guess I still don’t know what the extra tools on the multi-tool are used for on a canoe trip.


TB