The Forager's Knife

A forager needs a good knife. Or three. The three knives we use are the Leatherman, the Victorinox and an assortment of Opinel knives. They all have their specific purposes and strengths.

The Victorinox

 Victorinox

Established in 1897, this is the classic Swiss Army Knife, proven in the Arctic, in space, and represented in the New York Museum of Modern Art. Their success has somewhat gone to their head however, and now they also do travel gear and, um, fragrances. But we’ll forgive that for the sharp efficiency of their blades. I use the yachtie version for its good saw (can cut bread) and the shackle key. And, of course, the corkscrew.

The Leatherman

The Leatherman

More of a tool than a knife, this is assuredly the best on the market. The Leatherman can trace its history back to the relatively recent 1983 when the factory was founded by Tim Leatherman, who still plays a role in the business. They have a fantastic lifetime guarantee. So if anything goes wrong, send it back to them, and they’ll send you another one. This helps deal with the price, it’s definitely the most expensive knife on the market. There are many cheaper copies (come in Lidl, and even Victorinox do a copy). No wonder, because the Leatherman is brilliant for just about any job you can think of.

Opinel Nos 8, 7 & 6

Opinel

As French as Camembert, the Opinel is the knife that best suits the needs of the cook. Established in 1890 its classic beechwood handle and carbon steel blade is the staple of camping shops.  Note carbon steel blackens in salt water, so you should rinse and regularly oil it if you want to prolong its life. But this is a relatively cheap knife, and can stand a little rough treatment. It comes from a Turkish design and you buy it in different sizes - 2-13 (curiously, no 1 and 11 were discontinued in 1939). No 8 (8.5cm) is the most popular. No 13 is a recent addition, measuring a full 22cm (La Géant). Great for harvesting seaweed and gutting mackerel.