Walking Forum

Main Boards => Gear => Topic started by: burntfruit on 15:07:09, 06/10/19

Title: Leatherman
Post by: burntfruit on 15:07:09, 06/10/19
When you go for long walks, do you take one?


I hear they could be illegal due to the locking blade?


Yesterday on my walk, I got lost, and it would have come in useful to navigate over a barbed wire fence.


Thoughts?
Title: Re: Leatherman
Post by: taxino8 on 15:11:14, 06/10/19
They are not illegal provided you have a genuine need to be carrying one and I would think carrying a knife or multi tool when you are out on the hills would be reasonable.
I have one but as it’s quite heavy I don’t usually take it, instead I have an Opinel but it’s a knife only.
Title: Re: Leatherman
Post by: burntfruit on 15:13:41, 06/10/19
Thanks. I have a swiss army knife, but it is quite basic. Will do some more research.
Title: Re: Leatherman
Post by: Owen on 15:38:52, 06/10/19
Enlighten us, how would a Leatherman help you negotiate a barbed wire fence?
Title: Re: Leatherman
Post by: ninthace on 15:43:35, 06/10/19
I carry a Leatherman on my belt when skiing.  The knife, screwdriver and pliers can be useful fixing bindings.  For hiking I carry an Opinel knife.  It is more useful for cutting cheese, salami, tomatoes, string etc and spreading butter or pate.  TBH, I have had a need for anything other than cutting and spreading.
Title: Re: Leatherman
Post by: richardh1905 on 16:18:22, 06/10/19
Enlighten us, how would a Leatherman help you negotiate a barbed wire fence?


I was wondering that too.
Title: Re: Leatherman
Post by: ninthace on 16:54:41, 06/10/19
I have wracked my brains too. You can’t cut the wire, that is a no no in my book. I toyed with the idea of using the pliers to hold the top strand to pull it down and the bottle opener to hook on to a lower strand but I don’t see how you you hold the pliers shut.  Anyway, if barbed wire fences are a frequently encountered hazard, a short length of garden hose split lengthwise would be more useful, but you could not go on to get Boy Scouts out of horses’ hooves with a hosepipe.
Title: Re: Leatherman
Post by: Dread on 18:38:07, 06/10/19
Presumably you ask the man to take off his leather jacket, Drape it over the barbed wire allowing you to step across without endangering your nether regions.
Title: Re: Leatherman
Post by: Mel on 21:32:34, 06/10/19
Welcome to the forum burntfruit.  Interesting forum name.  What made you choose it?



Title: Re: Leatherman
Post by: wobblyknees on 21:53:44, 06/10/19
a short length of garden hose split lengthwise would be more useful,


Or some attic pipe insulation.
Title: Re: Leatherman
Post by: Jac on 10:00:21, 07/10/19
Swiss army knife for me - includes corkscrew and bottle opener :)
Title: Re: Leatherman
Post by: ninthace on 10:15:15, 07/10/19
Swiss army knife for me - includes corkscrew and bottle opener :)
You carry a wine bottle and a crystal glass on your walks.  That’s class! Mind you, if you are having smoked salmon sandwiches you need a well chilled white and cheese sandwiches without a decent red would be unthinkable. I have no need of a bottle opener though, not since the invention of the ring pull, although I do prefer draught.
Title: Re: Leatherman
Post by: burntfruit on 19:54:38, 08/10/19
Welcome to the forum burntfruit.  Interesting forum name.  What made you choose it?


Hi Mel.


Thanks. I have had this name for a while. It does not have a deep meaning, it is just because I like fruits as a vegan.


Thank you for your kind welcome.  :)
Title: Re: Leatherman
Post by: Ronin83 on 20:08:25, 08/10/19
Use the cutters to cut the barbed wire. What's so hard to fathom about that?
Horrible stuff, deserves to be cut, especially when it blocks a right of way.
Title: Re: Leatherman
Post by: ninthace on 22:55:29, 08/10/19
Use the cutters to cut the barbed wire. What's so hard to fathom about that?
Horrible stuff, deserves to be cut, especially when it blocks a right of way.
  It is an offence under the Highways Act 1980 to put up barbed wires, electric fences or exposed barb wire that prevents or obstructs a public right of way. (http://www.environmentlaw.org.uk/rte.asp?id=207 (http://www.environmentlaw.org.uk/rte.asp?id=207))  If it is necessary to run barbed wire across a stile or gate, the barbs must be removed or covered.
Not sure that gives a private individual the right to take a set of cutters to it and certainly not without being absolutely sure of your facts regarding the path part of the definitive map.  The best thing is to report it.  The Local Council can require the landowner/farmer to remove it.  If they fail to remove it, it will be removed by the Council.
Title: Re: Leatherman
Post by: Ronin83 on 21:39:00, 11/10/19
If they fail to remove it, it will be removed by the Council.

 
You may believe in and follow the laws and rules of authorities who so often let us down. To me it only matters what makes sense and is just. Sorry I don't share your faith.
Title: Re: Leatherman
Post by: Mel on 21:51:39, 11/10/19
I don't care what the leatherman says when the leatherman says it's raining....



Title: Re: Leatherman
Post by: sussamb on 07:35:24, 12/10/19
You're entitled to remove any obstruction of a right of way, so if the barbed wire is an obstruction you can remove it, even if it means cutting it but there are caveats.  You can only clear enough of an obstruction so you can pass and you have a duty of care, if for example your actions allowed animals to escape then you'd be on dodgy ground.
Title: Re: Leatherman
Post by: ninthace on 10:27:42, 12/10/19
You're entitled to remove any obstruction of a right of way, so if the barbed wire is an obstruction you can remove it, even if it means cutting it but there are caveats.  You can only clear enough of an obstruction so you can pass and you have a duty of care, if for example your actions allowed animals to escape then you'd be on dodgy ground.
And you have to be certain it is a Public Right Of Way
Title: Re: Leatherman
Post by: sussamb on 17:34:09, 12/10/19
And you have to be certain it is a Public Right Of Way

 O0
Title: Re: Leatherman
Post by: Slogger on 17:11:26, 13/10/19
He got lost it wasn't obstructing a ROW, and a locked blade 'is' ilegal, carrying any knife is ilegal unless you have a good reason for doing so, it must be a folding type and no longer than 3 inches. I used to carry my carpet fitting 'Stanley' type knife in its scabard located in a special pocket on my trouser leg. You don't think when going into town whilst work for some lunch and it's still there. Workmen using knives etc have the excuse whilst working but they can't wander about with with them on their person.
Title: Re: Leatherman
Post by: EnglishHiker on 19:22:33, 25/10/19
I have a Gerber but leave it at home for day hikes. As others have mentioned, I also carry a small pocket knife. It's useful for light cutting tasks (the most mine sees is food packaging...) Never once had the need for the Gerber, which is also much heavier.
I do take the Gerber when I go camping though.
Title: Re: Leatherman
Post by: NeilC on 18:32:25, 08/11/19
carrying any knife is ilegal unless you have a good reason for doing so, it must be a folding type and no longer than 3 inches.


That's not correct. If it fits the criteria you mentioned: folding, non-locking and with a cutting edge of 3" or less, then you don't need a reason to carry one. I carry one everywhere.