An experiment, can I limit myself two modern folders?

So far (2 days) I have only carried my XM. I will switch back to the Sebenza when appropriate or I want to change things up a bit. My cutting tasks rarely (maybe 1 time per week) require anything near the strength that these two have. Being REALLY honest, I could get by with my alox farmer for almost everything. BTW, that comes with me everywhere too. Over the last couple years I have tried many others but nothing has compared, or more importantly, kept me interested, like the sebenza and now the xm. So far I have made it almost 2 days without coveting another knife:) Baby steps! As for full customs or other mid-techs, I know that there are a lot of options and some that equal or better (?) than the xm and sebenza 25 in terms of fit/finish and cool factor and performance. However, for now I don't have the urge to try them. I want to set myself a limit and not spend any more money on knives. That would mean trading one of these to fund another. It's not that I haven't done that before but I am going to try to not do that this time. Unless of course one of these end up not getting carried. So far so good:)
 
You have been speaking of two excellent knives; each of which is built for quite heavy-duty use. My own EDC requirements would allow me to carry just one folder, and I would be quite content to carry one of the earlier models of Sebenza...with the 1/8" blade thickness. However, I do (currently) carry the Zaan which has the same blade thickness as the new model 25 Sebenza. I carry the Zaan...not because I need that blade thickness, but rather I prefer the blade and handle design of the Umnumzaan.
All of the knives mentioned are excellent. I'd like to have fifty...but I need only one.
 
I sat down and broke down, cleaned, lubed and stropped the Sebenza yesterday. After 3 days of carrying the XM, I figured I should switch it up a bit. So, today the sebenza is getting a little pocket time. I will probably switch back to the XM after work though:)
 
Personally, I only carry (on average) one knife in my pocket per day, not including my leatherman multi-tool, which I normally have on my belt as well.
I figure if I can't do what I need to do with just that, then nothing I could carry REGULARLY would do me any good anyhow. If the task requires something different, I simply go get it.

Now, as for the ONE "dedicated" EDC knife I always carry? Well, that varies. I might rotate something out once or twice a week, or I might carry it for months at a time. One week I might carry a lockback, the next a slipjoint, the next a fixed blade, etc...

Variety is the spice of life.

I also have knives in my collection that I've never carried and may never carry, and others that I haven't carried in years. Why do I keep them?
Because I like them. Maybe one day I'll carry them, give them to my kids, sell them, or who knows what. But I like having options.

All that said, there's nothing wrong with limiting yourself to two great users. I do think, however, that it's more fun not to limit yourself.
 
The only way I could say yes to that is to qualify it to be "2 in each pocket" or "2 in each hand" or "2 per day".

My daughter likes to ask me what my favorite ___ is. Since I only have one daughter I tell her that I only have to have one favorite daughter and one favorite wife, everything else I can have as many favorites as I want. And that includes knives. Trying to limit myself to only 2 folders would be too limiting to my enjoyment of this hobby.
 
Update:

So far so good... Kinda. I still only have the XM and the 25. The XM looks a little different now. However, lately I have been thinking. I actually offered my 25 for a spanto XM (the person already had a 25 so we didn't make a trade.) That was a spur of the moment thing but I have really been drawn to the XM. Then last night I started thinking, "Maybe an Umnumzaan would be the CRK that I want??" So far I have decided that the 25 and Umnumzaan are close enough to each other where I wouldn't necessarily carry the Umnumzaan more than I do the 25 but we will see. I love this XM and I still like my 25 but I love the XM so much that I don't carry the 25 much. I guess my experiment is somewhat failing. I am coveting another XM (a wharncliffe specifically) but I am going to try to hold of the urge. I know as soon as I would get rid of my 25 I would miss it...

Enough rambling, I will keep updating this thread as I see fit. Wish me luck!! Here is a pic of my newly dressed up XM and my 25.


 
Maybe the 25 isn't performing as well under pressure because the XM got some fancy new duds :eek: Have you considered trading in the 25 for another Sebenza, but maybe one with inlays or a graphic?
 
If you want to be happy with the two you have, then just carry them and quit reading knife forums or knife magazines. If you're trying to stop drinking, window shopping in liquor stores is not the best strategy.
 
Now, jc57, just stop that right now. This is NOT the time nor the place for that stuff. After all, once we apply logic, we don't have much use for a cardboard box full of blades now, do we?
Sonnydaze :)
 
Bpeezer, you know, I think that is what was drawing me to the umnumzaan. You may be on to something.

jc57, you are absolutely right. It is the forums that keep me wanting. Although all I really have to do is show some constraint. I think I can still visit the forums and enjoy the hobby without constantly looking for new knives. Time will tell I guess:)

Sonnydaze, thanks for putting things in the proper perspective;)
 
Well for what it's worth, my most recent experiment in restraint was "Carry the same knife every day for 7 days before changing to a different one in the rotation." I think I made it about 4 weeks before I backslid into "flavor of the day".

:D
 
Having no more than two quality modern folders is an easy one for me. I just don't feel the need to buy any more than that, and my wallet isn't complaining.
 
I always end up buying more just to try it out, I get really guilty about the money spent when I look and see I have more then 4 folders just because I can't justify having that much so I either sell them or give them away (generally folders under 50$) I've thinned down my collection to my small sebenza 21 and kershaw ram (sidelined until I get it fixed).
Though my Birthday is coming up, and I'm eyeing a benchmade barrage as my second carry :B
 
MRaymond- I'm finally doing what you are doing.
So far, my EDC is my SnG or my KA-BAR LW Folder. The SnG is the perfect EDC, imo. In a wet environment, I EDC my Atlantic Salt. These three knives are all I REALLY need. Let's see if I can do this.
Good luck to you.
rolf
 
I loved this idea so I brought it up with my girlfriend. I told her that maybe if I could just limit myself to 2 girlfriends at a time, and really pretty ones at that, then I would be happy and content to my dying days.

Now I have zero girlfriends but still a bunch of knives.
 
syncharmony said:
i loved this idea so i brought it up with my girlfriend. I told her that maybe if i could just limit myself to 2 girlfriends at a time, and really pretty ones at that, then i would be happy and content to my dying days.

Now i have zero girlfriends but still a bunch of knives.
Click to expand...

lololol :d
 
It hasn't even been 2 months and I still have the same 2 knives! Although, since the fit the same Nice, I am looking at trading my 25 for a 21 with some inlays but Still only two knives:) We will see how it goes!
 
Almost 3 months into my little experiment and I am proud to say that I still haven't gotten a new knife. Honestly, I have been carrying the XM almost exclusively and the CRK has been sitting on the shelf. My new found interest in lights is helping:)
 
MRaymond said:
Almost 3 months into my little experiment and I am proud to say that I still haven't gotten a new knife. Honestly, I have been carrying the XM almost exclusively and the CRK has been sitting on the shelf. My new found interest in lights is helping:)
Click to expand...

Thanks for the update! I was wondering how things turned out for ya. So the XM is holding up quite nicely?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top