I'm sick of travelling and leaving my knives at home. I do a lot of international travel to weird places where a knife can be useful for many things beyond self defense.

I'm looking for something small (sub-2 inches to be on the safe side of any local laws), somewhat concealable (though pocket-clip is good enough), and cheap enough that if I go somewhere and Customs does have a problem with it, I can toss it / have it stolen without feeling too bad.

I'd love to take my Lagriffe, or any of my Emersons, but they're just too pricy to lose. I think ~30 would be a decent price.

I remember a while ago, there were $30 natives being sold at Walmart, maybe? That would be awesome except the blade is a little too long, as I loved the Native I got years ago.

I'm willing to go up to about $40, and willing to get a blade as large as the Native, but no higher, and no longer.

p.s. Also must not look scary.

I would carry a SAK since its possibly the most sheeple friendly since its so common. Only downside is that it is not good for SD.

Actually, I would consider carring a SAK for utility and a flashlight(think kubotan)for SD. I dont think any country will restrict carrying a flashlight unless it has jagged teeth or something.

You might consider one of the a Boker Sub Com, Hyper or Trance. I prefer the Sub Com and Hyper over the other models, personally.

Blade-Tech Mouse ($24) ....

I'm not totally familiar with all of the knives mentioned already, but I'd stay away from anything with a full- or partially-serrated blade. I know you've said that you wouldn't mind losing it due to confiscation, but if there's a chance you're going to have it taken at customs I'd opt out of their inclusion. Some places frown on them.

Your best bet might be something more mundane in appearance, or "tame", like a simple stockman or small single-blade jack. Anything "tacti-cool" might raise some eyebrows.

Just my .02, take it for what it's worth. Of course, your best bet is to check before you cross the border to find out what you can get away with, then take that.

A sak never even occured to me. Is there a locking sak like the leatherman wave?

Non-blactical would be fine. Some of those smaller knives are also tempting but it seems to me that the "trowel" style blade might intimidate too.

I do have an e1b flashlight, still getting used to it.

I'm finding the SAK one-handed treker somewhat intriguing. Doesn't look overly theatening, locks and opens one handed. Has some other neat features too. The revue looked cool but at $100 I can't justify the possible loss of that.

Victorinox Trekkers are $34.99 at Smokey Mountain Knife Works. I just checked. I did not post a link because I was unsure how their website is set up. But, if you go here to their home page and then search by brand (lower right of screen), you should be able to locate them. It may help to sort by price after you click on the Victorinox tab. Also, compare their price to Amazon's since there are times that they run sales which include free shipping. Finally, there is also a Germany Army version of the knife which, although neat, may not be the 'best' item to travel with due to perceived connotations. Both my wife, black, and I, German Army, have these in our 72-HR car kits. We have never needed them, thankfully, but they are a good value, in my opinion.

+1 to the mouse-knife mr.mojo has posted above.

black, orange, green, purple.

http://www.blade-tech.com/Mouse-Knives-c-298.html

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Archie Teuthis,

I'm not sure where you're going, but, I think, some countries prohibit locking blades... England is one... ? I think?

I'm w/ Nismo on the SAK... they're great knives and can function in many situations, and a flashlight is a good idea for self defense if you can't carry a gun or knife.

If you're looking at traveling through Great Britain or somewhere that doesn't allow locking blades... a SAK farmer is probably the best. If you want scissors and hate the corkscrew go w/ the fieldmaster.

If you're not worried about the locking thing being a problem, the OHO Trekker is on Amazon.com at 29.63... which also means free shipping. I also like the locksmith, but it's kinda wide.

Hope it helps.

Gerber Mini Paraframe. Less than $10 on Ebay. I like mine, and it's very small.

quote:

Originally posted by TheFighter88:
I'm not sure where you're going, but, I think, some countries prohibit locking blades... England is one... ? I think?
...

If you're looking at traveling through Great Britain or somewhere that doesn't allow locking blades... a SAK farmer is probably the best. If you want scissors and hate the corkscrew go w/ the fieldmaster.

Correct. Spyderco's UKPK is non-locking and designed for that market. Even without a lock it is supposed to be a sublime knife. Not cheap though.

leaning towards a OHO treker... maybe I can find one in switzerland (flying out in 5 hours!!)

My latest SAK has the LED flashlite built in, and does everything except look scary

The one-handed SAKs have a weird sort of backwards lock that takes a little getting used to, but it should certainly hold its own if you need it.

I have a Mouse and it is a favorite little knife that cuts way bigger than it should be able to.

You may want to think about an Opinel. They are dirt cheap and couldn't look less threatening.

I don't think the good-old Swiss Army knife would be too controversial plus you'd have your choice of other useful tools. FWIW, I have a friend who fended off a would-be mugger in the Paris subway years ago with his Swiss Army knife.

I'm a fan of Opinel knives and have had several that I use for camping, utility stuff, etc. They happen to be wicked sharp, easy to re-sharpen and are so inexpensive that you don't need to worry about them if you beat them up. I also think they are great looking in a classic old world kind of way. They also come in a variety of sizes.

I've also gifted a friend who was going to live in Thailand a small Spyderco (don't remember the model). He was there for two years and reported that the knife was very useful, performed well, and was non-controversial to the Thai authorities he dealt with when he entered that country.

Funny thing is, after writing all this I realize I tend not to bring a knife with me when I travel because most of the time I don't want to check luggage. And I don't think I've ever brought a knife with me overseas -- although I have bought knives overseas. There's another strategy, perhaps...

Update: I ended up getting a one-handed Victorinox in Bern at a gun store (No other souveneir shop was licensed to sell one-handed openers.) It was like $40. I may get a second one from amazon, for the sole reason that this is a nice souveneer that I'd rather not confiscated, but at least I've got one and can play with it!

Getting a knife locally is another strategy, but many of the places I go where I'd WANT a knife, they don't have very good local product, unless I want a Jambiya fastened to my waist... and they're kind of crappy knives anyway.

Not sure on the brands, but any Target or Walmart will have folding knives with pocket clips and sub-3" blades for under $20. Buy it when you get to your destination, and at that price, who cares if you lose it.

Yemen doesn't have Walmart