Outdoor Knives & Scissors
Cavers and Canyoneers frequently, though not always, carry a (folding) knife, which is a critical piece of gear for doing any rigging, but also handy for cutting cheese or sausage. There are hundreds available knives out there and many have a favorite that they feel an emotional attachment to.
Strong and reliable rescue scissors, which can cut through most materials, are very helpful in unexpected emergencies.
We have suitable survival / outdoor knives and rescue scissors for outdoor sports in our range.
Types of outdoor knives
- Folding knife
A folding knife (also called a folding knife or folding knife) is, as the name indicates, a knife with a folding mechanism. These types of knives are very suitable for both outdoor sports activities and daily use. Deet knives are often smaller than a so-called fixed knife. Moreover, depending on the size, a folding knife fits in a trouser, jacket or backpack or on your (climbing) belt. - Rescue knife
Rescue knives are suitable for working safely close to the body in emergency situations. Rescue knives have rounded tips and are sometimes fitted with belt cutters.
Serrated or smooth blade?
Knives with a serrated blade have either a complete or a half serrated blade. The advantage of a serrated blade is that it cuts through rope more easily and keeps its sharpness longer. The disadvantage is that serrations are more difficult to grind.
A handy connection is the Key-Bak 48" Retractor or CZ Safety lace for attaching your knife to your belt, your flute to your helmet or your wrench or hammer to your pointed set so you do not lose it in the canyon or cave when you're on the move.
Maintenance of outdoorknives
First of all, no outdoor knife is completely stainless. A carbon steel blade will rust more than a rust-resistant blade, but the latter is also more susceptible to rust than a stainless steel blade. However, you can easily prevent rust by always cleaning and drying after use. You should also regularly rub your knife with wax, paraffin (candle wax) or acid-free Vaseline, so that the knife becomes water-repellent. If you don't have that, you can rub the blade a few times over your scalp as it already has enough grease in it for protection until the next use (be careful not to scalp yourself).
Unlike most other knives, it is very difficult to keep an outdoor knife sharp with a sharpening steel. An outdoor knife is often too hard for a sharpening steel. It is better to use a small sharpening stone instead. If you don't have that, you can even use a boulder to sharpen the blade. Any scratches can be polished out later with a fine whetstone.
For more detailed information about care and maintenance, see: Care and maintenance of outdoor/pocket knives/scissors