Charles, are you saying good things about Frost?  That's a first!  That knife looks like a beast.  I'm glad to hear a positive comment about a Frost brand knife.   Proves you don't have to pay a lot to get a hacker for the woods!

Thanks for starting this group. I am a undercover Hobo knife collector. I just wouldn't say much about it. I had no idea I wasn't the only Hobo in the bunch...lol

Tobias, I didn't have to pay a lot to get that Frost Bowie knife.  In fact I didn't have to pay anything for it, it was given to me.  It does make a good hacker.  It has plenty of heft to it.  The blade is about 3/16 of inch thick.  It has a full length overmolded tang..  And now it is very sharp.  The guy at SMKW sharpened it for me and didn't charge me.  It will now slice a sheet of paper.

I have no idea what kind of steel it is.  This is all I know about the steel.

Probably 440 or an equivalent.  I see it is an older one out of Japan.  Good deal there, especially for the price!  LOL

Tobias, That Mercury is pretty great!  The fork is more useful than a punch. in my opinion. 

Thanks Jan.  The biggest problem with the Mercury is now I've added five more Mercs to my wishlist!  That's going to be around $300  of knives.   Really well made knives.   I also got a Mercury Mushroom knife with Olive Wood Handles. 

Come to think of it -- mushroom hunting is also done in the Great Outdoors.  I can put those images here also!

I have over 100 Scout/utilities but only one hobo. An A.G. Russell.

Hey, Tank!

That Russell Hobo looks really nice! I assume it's a "take-a-part?" It certainly has a beautiful wood handle!

With "over a 100" Scout/utility knives you'll be a huge asset to this group and all of us who would love to see pictures of all those knives!

Cheers!

That is one fine looking Hobo, Tank. 

Thanks guys. Yes, she's a take apart. Ron, mine are the traditional scout without the fork or spoon. I'll be glad to share though.

Here are my camping knives:

Great camping knives, fellows. Tobias, I took some pictures of Louisiana wild mushrooms and a wild alligator egg, a while back. I ment to post it for ya'll mushroom hunters.

A Louisiana wild mushroom, eatable. Alligator Egg. Maybe a baby, Alligator or a little lizard....lol

I don't want to turn this into a Swiss Army Knives group (iKC already has one!) but there is no doubt that there is a lot of overlap between the Swiss Army knives an the Camp knives.  The Original Soldier knife was very similar to the original BSA Camp knife (same tools, except the screwdriver on the BSA knife was also a "crown cork" lifter)  And the Officier Suisse (today's Spartan) has the same six tools as the the six tool camp knives (such as the Remington Trailhand).

Today, when I go on my day hikes, I almost always grab a SAK with a saw blade.  I fell in love with the saw blade when I swapped  Army pocketknives with a German while in the Army.  He got a Camillus Mil-K knife, I got a GAK, a German Army Knife (made by CCM)

I later bought a Victorinox version of the same GAK.  Today, the knife I tend to carry when hiking is the 111mm Victorinox Hunter.  I like it because of the locking blade and the saw blade. (the serrated gut hook is also nice.)

For me, the saw blade is essential because I tend to cut down saplings or tree branches that I think will make nice walking sticks.

Americans have not made enough folding camp knives with good saw blades and the wood saws on Victorinox SAKs are phenomenal!

Robert, the lizard looks like and adolescent Anole lizard, commonly called an American Chameleon.  (Either that or the Geico Gecko which looks more like an anole than any Gecko I've ever owned or observed.)  I've caught and owned a lot of reptiles and amphibians in my life.

I am not sure about the little lizard, the girls caught it and took that picture. I don't think it's a Gecko, the ones around here are mostly brown but I could be wrong.

Those mushrooms are called Oyster mushrooms. They look like an Oyster shell and taste like  an Oyster. They grow out of dead trees, old logs. They are best found after a nice rain. They are great. I would not advise anyone to try them from just this info. You must go and pick them with an experienced Woodsman. Please. The wrong mushroom can hurt you.

The Carolina Anoles are common throughout the south.  They are known as American Chameleons because they change colors from various shades of brown to green. 

My comment about Geckos was more geared toward the Geiko Gecko of the commercials looks more like a Carolina Anole than most actual geckos.

Yes sir, I think you are right. I love those little Gecko's, though.

Just a side note on GEICO Gecko.  The commercials do a pretty good job of camouflaging that GEICO stands for Government Employee Insurance Co.

I really didn't know that.

We're up to 36 members!   This is great news.  Thanks to everyone who joined.  Don't forget to spread the words to your friends and as long as you're here, take a chance to Check outOutdoor Living Hosted by Robert Burris.  The two groups seem to go hand in hand.

As an avid collector of camp knives it hard not to also collect Swiss Army Knives.  And if you collect Swiss Army knives, then it is also hard not to pick up a knock off or two,   One of my favorite Swiss Army Knock-offs is the Colonial made Mountain Guide.   I bought one several years ago and found it to be an excellent pocket knife for around camp.  The key selling point is the big hawkbill.   I'm not sure if Colonial had planned this hawkbill to be a line cutting blade or not but considering the amount of rope one cuts mountaineering it makes sense.   I'm surprised that Victorinox  (the famous Swiss knife maker) took so long to get around to putting a good rope cutting blade on a knife.

Anyway, I highly recommend the mountain guide.  Too bad it lacks a saw blade!  The hawkbill blade is carbon steel, believed 1070.  I think the other blades are 420.

Great knife and info, plus thanks for the plug for my group. It has helped me with the loss of my wife. I ask Miss Jan, to let me run the group, to help keep my mind busy. I think, it is a great group and just wish, we could get more ladies involved.

   You are right on with the outdoor or camp knives. Keep up the great work, Tobias.

These are both really great groups. I enjoy them and all on this forum. You all are some really great people. I feel like I know many of you personally.

You do Ken. I have found, that a persons personality comes through, as they talk more and more on the forum. We are lucky to have such great members, on here. Some members have larger collections, some have more expensive collections but that doesn't matter to most, we enjoy each others knives and collections, no matter how small or what value. We have members that try to educate us in all aspects of our hobby and their only reward is knowing that they did help us. Yea Ken, you might say you know some of us.....

One thing that brings people together who share a common interest is the understanding of what others feel. Or what makes them tick  It isn't difficult to share the excitement, or pride, that another feels when they appreciate the same things that you do. Maybe it's that $10 word, "camaraderie".

Clay, that's it.

Let's talk picnics!

The Laguiole (pronounced la-yol in English) is a French pattern knife dating back to around 1820.  The knife was first made in the South-central French town by the same name.  It was the French answer to the Spain's Navaja de Muellas.  Both knives are predecessors of the large Toothpick pattern knife (hence my interest in the pattern)  In 1880 Laguiole added a corkscrew to the back end of the knife.  The knife is often called a Picnic knife, as the large blade is used for cutting bread and cheese and the corkscrew for opening the wine. (A loaf of bread, a bottle of wine, and thou!)

While some Laguioles are still made in the Laguiole, several other French companies make them Theirs.  As the name is not tradmarked the name has become gerneric for any of the French toothpick style knives, with without the corkscrew..  Modern  French made Laguoile  often cost in the hundred of dollars.  They are normally hand made with exotic handle materials but even the less expensive models with simple wood scales are stillover $100. Blade steel typically about the same quality as your typical 440!

Not having hundred of dollars to spend  but still interested in the pattern due to my love of toothpicks as well as outdoor knives, I opted to buy a $7 Chinese copy of a Laguiole made by Rite Edge.

The bottom line is I like the pattern but I don't like it enough to spend $100+ on it just to say l have an original French made Lagiuole.  But if you're looking for a nice Picnic Knife made with 440A stainless steel with good snap and a decent look for under $10, then the Rite Edge Fake Laguiole is spot on!  LOL

Always be prepared!   If you're ever in war and your take breaks down, you'll need a picnic knife

Tobias, I like those photos. Yeah, I have seen some jeweled laguiole (layol). Classy stuff.and expensive. I want to call your attention to a nice option for a stiletto that you may have not looked into. It's a China made, Rabbit brand 9" flipper without a nail pull. Mine is surprisingly well built. It's heavy and feels good in the hand. I doubt if any switchblade is much faster to open. It doesn't need a safety, so when you take it in hand, it's ready to pop. There are other color scales available, but may be a bid item. I carefully sharpened it and applied vaseline to the mechanism to make it flip and lock easier. 

eBay link to Rabbit stiletto

Tobias, this site may be a good source for a genuine Laguiole, if the freight etc. is not too much.

Laguiole link

Tobias, I have wanted a laguiole (without corkscrew) for years, but the price was too steep, and I quit folders, except for the ones I collect and never use.  So, I don't really have a need for a laguiole, but they sure are pretty.  I especially like the ones with the fancy wood scales.

HEY TOBIAS!.. hey i have one of those mountain guides myself! ...i grabbed it originally becuase of the big hawkbill... just thought it was neat!...

i do have a real Laguiole... LIKE YOU SAID the name is not trademarked and more are made out of THIERS,FRANCE then LAGUIOLE now.with the ones coming from LAGUIOLE seeming to cost te most.  ...the one i own came from the original Laguiole factory in France. it was a gift and a sweet knife.

i wanted to point out something TOBIAS, both of our knives have. if you look-see the pins that make up a CROSS.{Shepherd's Cross-is what they call it} those pins are like that so you can turn the knife upside down,open the blade all the way and stick the blade in wood,dirt or whatever you got and always have a CROSS  with you for when you wanna grab a knee and pray. at least this is what i have read within the companies history.

my Laguiole,after i received it,it was so cool, i went to town studying it. single blade toothpick knife with no screw.it snaps like a gator and is BRAND NEW as like i said it was a gift from my sister.she knows i like all the paperwork i can get and it cost her 155$.its fileworked inside and out and is just an awesome knife.its one of those knives you get the entire collecting package with -if you know what i mean...........

....the one i own happens to have out of my entire collection,THE BEST MATCHED HORN SCALES i own...and i have a few knives with horn-after reading about the materials they use,they only use the tip of the horn{most saught after}-comes with a beauty of paperwork with stories ,catalog of other knives and a 100% leather tooled pocket sheath,beauty of a box and all!... not sure if its a knife i would have thought to just buy...but it is an awesome knife.its well worth the price my sister paid if not more. as a gift though for my b-day... it was great! was not expecting it at all!!!..its a ONE IS ENOUGH KNIFE for me though.

ps-the screw was added in 1880 like you said... from what i read they added it for waiters.

HERE IS A LINK ... THIS IS WHO MADE MY KNIFE and GREAT PLACE TO START IF YOUR LOOKING FOR ONE. http://www.frenchlaguioleknives.com/Forge-de-Laguiole-Pocket-Knives...

ALSO HERE IS A NICE VID. get past the first 30 secs and they show you the fashioning of their knives.once you see it then the price doesnt seem so high.... each one is basically a custom.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SL8dPT8Cowc    at about 45secs it gets good.

especially the part where the guy is working the spring of the knife. i have never seen springs worked like that.

Thanks to everyone who has joined us here and shared their knives.  It's been just five days now.  I think I started the site 10 or 11 days ago and we're already at 48 members. Many  of you are outdoor types which is absolutely fantastic.  Some of you fall into my category which is I wish I could get outdoors more often.  I grew up in the country but got dragged kicking and screaming to a life in the big city.  Still, my heart and soul is still  hiking deep in the woods or playing in the swamp, canoeing or rafting down a river or playing in the ocean.

And this is what i think makes this group so great.  It doesn't matter if you live deep in the woods or are lucky enough to spend a a couple days a year in the woods, if you're heart is there and you enjoy knives, then you're bound to be interested in Knives of the Great Outdoors.

today we're at 48, but that number is growing steadily. If you think you know someone else who would be interested; do me a favor and take a minute to invite them to join the group.  The Great Outdoors has plenty of room and we need a lot more Great Outdoor Knives to tame it!

Thanks again for joining. It's really great to see so many people actively participating.  And speaking of participating, I would be remiss not show another camp knife!

Below:

A day or so ago I showed my Crosman Camp Knife.  Below is a another BB gun themed knife; a Red Ryder Brand "Boy's First Knife"   This is one of the Original ones made in the USA by Colonial.  They were made under contract for Smoky Mountain Knife Works.  Production was later moved to Ireland (sitll made by Colonial)  The latest release is made in China and has significant changes, 

Tobias, This truly is a great site, thanks for starting it. That Red Ryder is a real piece of history, great pic also.

I was debating if this knife should be here or in Box Full of Knives.  As I just put a funky looking knife over there this morning, I decided this one can go here.  It is a souvenir for the 1972 Olympic held in München, Deutschland  I'm not sure if the knife dates from then or is still sold in the Munich Olympic Village.  (I know I didn't run across it when I was there in 1983.)  Tang stamp simply reads "Rostfrei - M.I.Germany" so it was definitely made for the tourist trade and possible by more than one knife maker.  In any case, the knife is more or less mint.  It came wrapped in the original cellophane which caused spotting on the back scale. (I can probably polish it out.)  What can I say -- I'm a sucker for Swiss Army Knock-offs!  (Especially when they are good quality!)

I just acquired a Kissing Crane Scout from the 1930's. It's built real solid. I'll try get some photos up later.

We cracked the big 50!  We're at 51 members and growing.  Thanks to everyone who has joined.   This site isn't just for Boy Scout Camp knives.  If you use a knife in the Great Outdoors or if you collect knives to be used in the Great Outdoors, we want to see it!  

For example, nothing quite says the Great Outdoors as a Woodman's Pal.  If the Tin man would've had this puppy instead of his axe, he wouldn't have rusted solid in mid-swing and the Wicked Witch would've thought twice about messing with him and his friends.

And my twist on my Woodman's Pal.  New sheath with a pocket and sheath for an upswept skinner.   One of these days, I'll straighten that patch!

(The original sheath is still mint. And yeah, the blade has quite a few more scuff than what you see in the pic.)

Robert, looking forward to seeing that Crane!

Yes, Miss Jan, I am behind in my photos....

Tobias, I want to buy a Woodman's Pal someday. They are cool and I'm sure very effective. I picked up its cousin to slip into the sheath on the back of my over-the-shoulder shotgun holster. I'm not paranoid in the woods, just scared as hell of mad grizzlies. LOL  Vietnam era, Ontario Knife, Bushwacker Limb Trim.

THE WOODSMAN PAL is not only one of the best blades...but its one o the best for the $$...

im shocked i dont own one but mant times i have borrowed a friends... its on the llisy odf 'KNIFE WANTTS" ..like others...LOL.

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@ tobias i sent out about 30 invites out... last night... so will see if any pop up!

Peter. The picture with the Tag and clean blade is the way it looked when it first arrived about a year ago.   The sheath is still unused but the Pal, not so much.  I've used it to take out a bush or two (or three or ten)  -- split fire wood with it, hacked roots out of the ground, etc. 

I bought it for the bug out bag with the understanding my life and my families life might depend on it some day.  With that in mind it would be fool hardy not to put it through its paces.  Plus, what the fun in having a big honkin' bushwhacker and just hanging it on the wall!

That is one awesome weed whacker you got there, Clay!   I can really dig it.  The Woodman's pal is great for heavy branches and bramble but really too heavy for cutting  a path through saw grass.  I still need to get a decent machete.

Peter,

Woodman's Pal, I thought was made in Boyertown, PA (268 N. Berks St.), but Google Maps says they are in Pottstown, PA - Pro Tool Industries (337 Circle of Progress Dr).

One of our large skinners...FAMARS USA is adding new knives all the time Steve!