John sent me a question a few weeks ago:
Q: “So, let me know what you like to travel with. I know the TOKO will be awesome, and I may take it to Canada if it’s ready in time. But being a knife guy, I’ll grab another one or two as well.”
Ans(ø)wer:
In just the last few months, I’ve been to Norway, Holland, Spain, California, and Texas. Knife laws differ a lot — not to mention Denmark, which is extremely strict about what you’re allowed to carry.
What I bring on a trip depends on where I’m going — both what I pack and what I actually carry day to day. On my last trip, to the California Custom Knife Show, I brought an AROS and an ARN, both with carbon fiber handles. I tend to prefer smaller knives for urban environments. They simply carry better in jeans pockets already occupied by a phone, cards, and cash.
I usually also bring a small multitool, mainly for having pliers and a few basic tools handy — not that I often need them, but sometimes it’s nice to be prepared.
If there’s any chance of hiking, which I always try to fit in when traveling, I’ll bring a larger knife, preferably a fixed blade. On my summer trip to Norway, I carried a Nordlys, a knife I designed for Viper Knives in Italy. I generally like to bring at least two knives when hiking — one larger folder and one fixed blade. In this case, I brought my TOKOalongside the Nordlys.
Why two knives, you ask? Because I like to keep one clean for food prep and the other for everything else. And as the saying goes: “Two is one, one is none.”
For stricter urban areas, I often carry a slipjoint, like my ARN folder. These are usually fine most places. But if I’m unsure about the local knife laws, I’ll grab a Swiss Army knife — just in case something gets confiscated.
So yes, I always travel with a knife — sometimes in my pocket, sometimes in a sling bag if I need to be more discreet.
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What do you carry when traveling?
I’d love to hear about your personal choices.
