5 Must Haves

T

Thrustus

Joined
Jun 16, 2010
Messages
389
1. Busse Fixed Blade
2. CRK Sebenza
3. Spyderco Para2
4. Leatherman Multi Tool
5. Swiss Army Knife.
 
I won't list in any order because I can't order them.

SAK
ZT 550
Delica 4
Ka-bar Fin fixed (drop point, no tanto here)
... I don't really know any excellent small (sub 3") fixed blades, so I will leave this blank

I list those because it covers everything. Multitool, large folder, small folder, large fixed, and if I can think of a fifth small fixed.
 
1. Chefs knife
2. Paring knife
3. Butter knife
4. Bread knife
5. Smatchet

I don't really get the supposed 'must haves' as I rarely have, and often don't desire to have, all the items on the list. I think more people need to carry a pocket knife and if they ask I'll help them pick it, but I won't tell them they MUST have anything in particular.
 
Thrustus said:
1. Busse Fixed Blade
2. CRK Sebenza
3. Spyderco Para2
4. Leatherman Multi Tool
5. Swiss Army Knife.
Click to expand...

Wow. Out of your 5 must-haves, I have...an SAK, and don't even want a couple of the others. Don't like Sebenzas at all, if someone GAVE me one I'd immediately put it on the exchange and make some money off it. Most Busse's I've seen don't remotely appeal to me aesthetically(since that's all I'd get one for), and even the ones that I find somewhat appealing aren't nearly appealing enough to justify the price, so I'll never own one of those, either. I wouldn't mind a Para 2 but right now it's not high enough on my agenda to justify the price even when they can be found. I may get a Leatherman eventually, but the tools on the SAK cover most of my needs well enough that I don't care to carry the weight of a Leatherman around as well.

This is what I call "must haves":
1)An SAK OR Leatherman, with tools you would consider most useful to your personal situation.
2)An EDC knife, one whose size and shape most suits your requirements.
3)A set of kitchen knives.
4)A good machete or chopper, depending on what your local environment most requires.
5)A fixed blade of some sort, depending on personal preference. If you hunt, maybe a Buck 119. If you do a lot of outdoors stuff, maybe a "bushcraft" knife like a Mora. If you want something "self-defense" oriented, or practice martial arts, maybe a "tactical"/fighting knife, like the classic Ka-bar.

See, I consider "must haves" solely by type and use, as pretty much NO specific knife is a "must have" for everyone.
 
All very subjective of course but I'll give an off the cuff opinion:

Para 2
940 Osbourne
Barrage 586
Gayle Bradley
Leatherman
 
It's hard to narrow it down to five specific knives. What criteria should we use? Historical significance in knife development? That might be a collector's perspective. Most useful? In that case, you'll get a different answer from each of us depending on our daily needs or even cultural background. And so on.

If I were advising somebody who's just getting into knives and who has a similar life style to mine, and I was limited to five suggestions, I'd cover types of knives rather than specific models.

1- SAK or multitool. Leatherman, Victorinox, Wenger; whichever has the features you use often in a size that you're comfortable with.
2- A modern locking folder. Spyderco, ZT, Benchmade, CRK; or any other good brand. Take you pick.
3- A traditional folder. I like carbon steel in these, but there are some good stainless ones out there as well. A Case slipjoint, a Buck 110, an Opinel, something from GEC.
4- A medium sized fixed blade (let's say in the 3.5" to 5" blade length). There area loads of good ones to suit anybody's taste (Fallkniven, Bar River, ESEE, custom makers, etc.).
5- A chopping tool. Whatever works best for you: axe, machete, khukri, large knife.

Those five should cover most needs and also expose you to different designs, materials and brands.
 
Sebenza 25
BK9
Alox Farmer (SAK
Leatherman Surge
Beefy folder (XM, 0550, 0560?) Slim Slicer? (Military, Para2?) The 5th spot for me is always in limbo:)
 
Franciscomv said:
It's hard to narrow it down to five specific knives. What criteria should we use? Historical significance in knife development? That might be a collector's perspective. Most useful? In that case, you'll get a different answer from each of us depending on our daily needs or even cultural background. And so on.

If I were advising somebody who's just getting into knives and who has a similar life style to mine, and I was limited to five suggestions, I'd cover types of knives rather than specific models.

1- SAK or multitool. Leatherman, Victorinox, Wenger; whichever has the features you use often in a size that you're comfortable with.
2- A modern locking folder. Spyderco, ZT, Benchmade, CRK; or any other good brand. Take you pick.
3- A traditional folder. I like carbon steel in these, but there are some good stainless ones out there as well. A Case slipjoint, a Buck 110, an Opinel, something from GEC.
4- A medium sized fixed blade (let's say in the 3.5" to 5" blade length). There area loads of good ones to suit anybody's taste (Fallkniven, Bar River, ESEE, custom makers, etc.).
5- A chopping tool. Whatever works best for you: axe, machete, khukri, large knife.

Those five should cover most needs and also expose you to different designs, materials and brands.
Click to expand...

Well said!
:thumbup: +1
 
Franciscomv said:
It's hard to narrow it down to five specific knives. What criteria should we use? Historical significance in knife development? That might be a collector's perspective. Most useful? In that case, you'll get a different answer from each of us depending on our daily needs or even cultural background. And so on.

If I were advising somebody who's just getting into knives and who has a similar life style to mine, and I was limited to five suggestions, I'd cover types of knives rather than specific models.

1- SAK or multitool. Leatherman, Victorinox, Wenger; whichever has the features you use often in a size that you're comfortable with.
2- A modern locking folder. Spyderco, ZT, Benchmade, CRK; or any other good brand. Take you pick.
3- A traditional folder. I like carbon steel in these, but there are some good stainless ones out there as well. A Case slipjoint, a Buck 110, an Opinel, something from GEC.
4- A medium sized fixed blade (let's say in the 3.5" to 5" blade length). There area loads of good ones to suit anybody's taste (Fallkniven, Bar River, ESEE, custom makers, etc.).
5- A chopping tool. Whatever works best for you: axe, machete, khukri, large knife.

Those five should cover most needs and also expose you to different designs, materials and brands.
Click to expand...

I really dig the functional approach here. This would be close to my list but not quite.

1) Pocket carry folding knife - Modern or traditional. Locking or slip joint.
2) Pocket (or key ring) carry tool - Could be an SAK. Could be a small multi-tool. Small screw drivers, scissors and cap lifters.
3) Sheath carry tool - Could be a large multi-tool or a large SAK-type thing.
4) Medium size fixed blade - spot on above
5) Chopping tool - spot on above
 
SAK, preferably with scissors and a saw
Leatherman full size
Mora
Paramilitary 2
ESEE of any size

Why did I list these? Because of all my knives, they're the ones that never let me down while remaining comfortable, sharp, and durable.
 
Thrustus said:
1. Busse Fixed Blade
2. CRK Sebenza
3. Spyderco Para2
4. Leatherman Multi Tool
5. Swiss Army Knife.
Click to expand...

I like the way you think. Those are 5 I will always have. I would have to add three more and make it 8. The other three would be a custom fixed blade(around 3 1/2 inch blade), a good slipjoint, and a Spyderco Military.
 
must have for what?... collecting?... hunting/fishing/camping?...edc? I have several "must haves", but I added them to my modest collection for a reason.
 
1. Buck 110 (general use folder)
2. Victorinox Swiss Army Knife (multiple tools)
3. Benchmade Adamas (see screen name)
4. Spyderco Military (wish I had one)
5. Ka Bar USMC Classic (fixed blade)
 
For me and my everyday uses and enjoyment:

Spyderco Southard
Spyderco PM2
Sabenza 25
ESEE 4 and sheath
ZT 300

These see the most pocket time so by definition these must be my most useful knife that I have.
 
In no particular order:

SAK Pioneer alox
Good Chef's knife
Becker BK2
Spyderco Paramilitary2
GEC Congress

Basically the 5 main food groups; multitool, food prep, fixed utility, modern folder, and traditional. Sub in your own personal favorites.
 
1:Spyderco Paramilitary 2 (general EDC)
2:Sebenza 21 (dress-up knife)
3:ZT 0560 (hard use)
4:Benchmade Mini Grip (small EDC)
5: Victorinox (keychain knife)
 
1. Benchmade S30V 940, Classic BM design, Axis lock, top notch F/F.
2. Spyderco Sage 1, captures the essence of Spyderco with the leaf shaped FFG blade/wire clip/ and that solid light-weight build.
3. ZT 0350, super value/hard use, with the A/O Ken Onion re curve blade....it's all Kershaw.
4. Emerson CQC7, It helped launch an entire "genre" of knife design.
5. Any Victorinox SAK, no explanation needed here.

Just some random examples I wanted to throw in there.
 
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