Good gardening knife recommendations

[daviddevantnhisspiritwife]

Hello all.

Last year I demolished a penknife gardening. I am therefore in the market for a gardening knife or pen knife. For obvious reasons I want something with a blade that folds away. I don't want a big blade.

It needs to be sturdy and not too expensive as I spent all my money on seeds.

Mostly it will be used for cutting string, opening compost bags, cutting cable ties etc. I promise not to use it to get weeds out from between the paving slabs like I did with the last one (I hear there is a tool for that).

TY

[Bohobumble]

While travelling I spent 3 months in the jungle with this a couple of years ago: Victorinox Jelly Climber Knife in blue I used it for loads of things including carving wood and making kindling, the scissors are great for fiddly netting etc. it was still sharp when I got back, the only reason I don't have it now is that I forgot I had it in my rucksack when flying to Barcelona last year

These blades sharpen well. The bottle opener, tin opener and corkscrew also come in handy on an allotment

I'm currently using a mushroom knife as I have it, but very tempted to buy another climber knife.

Edit; there are places to buy it cheaper plus CO often have discounts for adventure groups or price match other physical stores.

2nd edit; there is also a thingy to hang heavy carriers on turning it into a useful way to carry produce home without cutting into your fingers.

3rd edit: weight is 82g, 50g lighter than the one OH has

[daviddevantnhisspiritwife]

Ah thanks, I was looking at Victorinix , will add to my short list for comparison!

[Kristen]

I have a Victorinix Swiss Army Knife too ... its got far too many gadgets on it - I bought it when I was young and feature-count was far more important to me than the weight of it lugging down in my pocket whilst gardening all day ...

Celebrity Gardeners on the Telly seem to take cuttings with a knife - professional gardeners too probably. They cut the stems against their thumb, I've never been able to do that. Crucial to have a sharp knife so that the stem is cleanly-cut rather than being bruised and torn. I find it much easier to use a scalpel for that job - its in my potting shed, rather than carted around the garden. I used to use disposable ones, but now have a nice metal handle (same as a surgeon uses I suppose) and I just need replacement blades. The handle even has a marked measure rule engraved on it and the blade is retractable (better for me, left lying around the potting bench, might be less rigid for, say, a surgeon)

[daviddevantnhisspiritwife]

A scalpel would be dangerous in my hands. I have the scars to prove it! Ended up in A&E with blood pouring out of my thumb a number of years ago! Ouch. I rarely take cuttings and never delicately

I am torn between a simple single bladed folding knife or pen knife. If I go down the pen knife route it will need few accoutrements. I mainly used the blade and a couple of the pointy bits (technical) on the last one.

I have received a number of garden multi tools as gifts over the years - all have been consigned to the tool box that turns things to rust.

[bearded bloke]

If you keep your old GYO mag's, they did a comparison on gardening penknives was january/february last year IIRC

[bearded bloke]

There were two Opinel (a straight bladed & a curve bladed) both came fairly high in the rankings, will hunt out my copy after dinner

[Coopers]

I cant remember which model i have but i have a leatherman. It is big but it attaches to my belt and its excellent. I use it on the allotment, campervan and camping. Has a bunch of tools which i find super useful

[daviddevantnhisspiritwife]

Thanks for the replies.

I like the look of the Opinel Gardening Knife, seems a reasonable price too. The Leatherman ones look good too, but a bit pricier - but Opinel is 2yr warranty whereas Leatherman is 25yrs!

Hmm, decisions!

[veggiechicken]

Since BB seem to be having a very large dinner, I've dug out my back numbers for you.
Jan 2014 - Recommended

1. Multi-tool & knife set £12.54 Draper tools (stock number 05233)

2. Vegetable Harvesting knife £9.95 Greenhouse Sensation

3. Herb snip £9.48 Gardening Naturally

4. Budding & pruning knife £9.95 Marshalls Seeds

5. Classic pocket knife £29.95 Organic Gardening Catalogue

6. Diamond sharpener £8.99 Gardening naturally

[bearded bloke]

Been digging through back copies VC found that one ^^ but is not what I was thinking of

Classic pocket knife £29.95 Organic Gardening Catalogue is actually a Burgon & Ball item

[bearded bloke]

Found it but it is a rival publication purchased in the airport on the way to Madeira last year, anyhoo after spending hours searching ..........

Opinel #10 Pruning knife overall 4 stars
Opinel # 8 Gardening knife overall 5 stars ( plus best choice for safety)
Felco General purpose knife overall 5 stars

[daviddevantnhisspiritwife]

Big thank you to BB and VC for rooting out and thumbing through back issues. Really appreciate this.

I think my mind is almost made up. I will of course dither some more before buying.

Prior to BB's reply I had bookmarked the Opinel #8 it looks like what I *think* I need and want.

Pricewise, I don't think it warrants hinting and waiting until father's day either. ;p

Thank you again.

[bearded bloke]

I personally have 2 ordinary (straight handle) #8's an old one with carbon steel blade & newer one with stainless blade both great for general purpose, plus a #8 pruning knife (hooked blade) good on "woodier" stems & brilliant for slitting compost bags

[veggiechicken]

I'm not to be trusted with knives so I use scissors or secateurs for everything

I "inherited" one of these https://www.swisstool.co.uk/st/handy...ss-army-knife/ I can't open half of the blades, let alone work out what they're for. I'd need a wheelbarrow to carry it round the garden - its so heavy.