No. 08 Carbone Folding Knife

The No. 08 has been in pockets for over a century because it does the one thing a camp knife must do very well: take a fine edge, cheaply. The carbon steel sharpens faster and keener than the stainless version, the beechwood handle is comfortable for long cutting jobs, and at 45 grams and a budget price there is no reason to leave it home. Carbon steel also rusts. Cut an apple, leave it wet, and there will be orange spots by morning; this knife needs drying and an occasional wipe of oil, and it will patina regardless. The beech handle swells in wet conditions, which is why so many people have found the blade stuck shut on a rainy trip. The Virobloc ring is a safety collar, not a modern lock, so do not pry with it. There is no pocket clip, no lanyard hole, and no one-handed opening.