An Experiment

bdws1975

bdws1975

Joined
May 19, 2006
Messages
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Well, I have had a Queen D2 Black Delrin Country Cousin sitting in the drawer for a couple months. I open it occasionally and consider just carrying it for a while.

Sitting in my easy chair this evening, pawing through all my favorite pocket knives, I had an odd thought: why not carry the Cousin for two weeks and see how well it serves. It's pretty much the picture of simplicity. Delrin handles, right at 20.00, single blade, slipjoint, straight edge. Then my mind goes to all the jobs I seem to need a heavy folder, a coping blade, a pen blade, etc for. My first response was, 'No way in hell. I can't get along without my linerlock, sak and dogleg jack. No way I can do all the things I do with just the sodbuster.'

So, that's what I am going to do. My plan is this: carry the Cousin for two weeks with absolutely no other cutting implements at my disposal. The only exception will be my carving. I haven't used a pocket knife for carving in a while since I got a detail knife from Woodcraft. However, all other chores will be done with the cousin.

What I am wondering is if whether I REALLY need all the cutting implements I carry. Do I need three knives to make it through the day? To be sure, I don't have any philosophical problem with three knives, but I am looking at this as a voluntary simplicity just for the grins of it.

I plan to post on a daily basis detailing briefly my thoughts for the day.

Anyway, let's see.

Take care all,
Brett
 
It's pretty much the picture of simplicity. Delrin handles, right at 20.00, single blade, slipjoint, straight edge.
Click to expand...

You will be fine.

I often use a Case Barehead Trapper , yellow handles, CV blades as my only knife.

I grew up like this. Heck the Barehead Trapper "was" one the knives I grew up with, as did my Mentors.
Case Peanuts, Stockmans, and Sodbuster Jrs by Case, along with the Shrade and Imperial versions were used

Just for me, and Mentors, this slimline Barehead Trapper was I suppose the most favored.

Now I was born in mid 50's, folks , me included, did not have a lot of money. One saved up, tried a variety of something that fit them and tasks and bought it. No credit cards, sometimes we did lay-a-way, still no buying on credit or just getting tired of something and getting another one.

Single blade Trappers were used by ladies and gents, and boys and girls, carried and used.
Farms, Ranches, city folks...a single blade knife did everything.
Sharpened pencils, dressed game and fish, cut rope, marked cow ears, cut open feed sacks, opened mail, whittled, garden work, ...

I think folks got spoiled by Progress.
I'm guilty and I know better.

My "excuse" for having a small knife with scissors, is the fact I have worn a mustache since I was about 19 or 20.

Now come on, Mentors managed to attend to beards and mustaches without having a pair of scissors, I did too...just I got lazy and spoiled and rationalized "gotta haves"
Screwdriver?
I can get up and get one, or have one in a desk, in my truck, use a coin...

Deal is, I was raised to Not learn with a Crutch. Simple basic fundamentals.
Nothing wrong with the added features of a SAK for instance, just if I don't have a SAK, I do know how to function with a Single blade Trapper.

It gets down to one learns to approach problems, think and use what they have effectively.

When I was a kid mentor needed to tighten a screw on a hose clamp.
"Don't mess up a knife this, let me show you something".
Now I was little, still even I knew a pair of pliers would not fit that screw slot.

He used a dime, with pliers, and tightened that screw, with a big old grin.
"Now this one her, lookee, we don't have to get that box wrench".
Just used the pliers to get that one snugged.

I had the best time with a penny and pliers messing with screws that day, I had done "learnt" something.

No tool is ever better than the user of a tool

It is the intent of the user of a tool - not the tool that gets thing done.

SAK Sentry is what some ladies and gents use in a PC workplace.
Some at first balked at not having the Pocket Pal and two blades.
Others the Bantam with a its screwdriver, toothpick, ...etc.

Experiment I and some others said they needed to try.
About two days went by, and these folks figured out what I knew, Mentors knew...others know.
That one blade will do just fine, just think and figure and approach a bit different.

Now these folks have gotten simpler on a lot of life's tools.




.
 
bdws1975 said:
I think the sodbuster will do just fine as your only cutting tool. Because we're knife knuts, we always get carried away with our edc, unlike our fathers and grandafathers who came before us.

The sodbuster design is a very old design from central Europe based on the penny knife. Looking at alot of the hard working peasents of the last century and before that, the simple single blade knife was universal all across Europe. In Spain it evolved into the Navaja, in France it evolved into the Douk-Douk and Opinel (although the Opinel company dates to 1890 and Joseph Opinel, it did not have the locking ring till some years later. It was pure penny knife at first.) In Germany you had the Mercator. Looking at some of the knife books it seems like the multi-blade knife (aside from the sak) became a popular thing in late 1800's America.

Even in the 20th century, alot of people who needed a knife picked the simple single blade. Traveling thru Europe when I was stationed in Germany, it was the typical knife I saw. Basque herdsmen, German factory workers, French farmers. In the mid 60's I was with an engineer company at Karlsruhe in southwest Germany near the French border for almost two years. I had bought a used VW bug off a outgoing GI and I drove all over on off duty weekends and leaves. Camped out to save money. It was surprising how many people I talked to in campgrounds and small villages were carrying a simple single blade knife. The subject would come up when I took out my stockman to cut something, and they would always politly ask what the other two blades were for. In Germany I really did see alot of Mercator K55 knives and a ton of the Robert Klass sodbusters. The Klass knives did not have the Brown Mule etching on the blade, and I can only concude that it came later or was for the export American market. In France the Opinel was a very common sight.

You'll do just fine with one blade, Brett.
Click to expand...
 
Thanks for your replies. It should be fun to discipline myself thus.

I will keep you updated.

Best,
Brett
 
You'll manage fine with a Sodbuster, it's THE EDC.

But, it's always comforting to have a large family of knives to fall back on (er, not literally!).....
 
You'll find that a single blade and a single knife will be just fine. All through my 20's the only knife I carried was the small peanut sized Schrade single blade knife and i did everything with it, and I was just a dumb kid at the time.
 
So far, it has served me VERY well. I used the sodbuster to strip some wire on a cord I needed to splice. Worked like a charm.
I also cut my bagel this morning with it...:)

So far so good.

Brett
 
db said:
You'll find that a single blade and a single knife will be just fine. All through my 20's the only knife I carried was the small peanut sized Schrade single blade knife and i did everything with it, and I was just a dumb kid at the time.
Click to expand...

It's funny, how when we're young and dumb, we don't realize how handicaped we are with only one gun, one knife, one vehicle, a small basic tool box.

Man, its a good thing we smarten up so we can buy every new tool Bob Villa designs for Sears, every new gun that the magazines tell us is the end all of firearms, and a new SUV for every member of the family. I just don't know how our elders ever got things done with a single pocket knife, a four door sedan, and a tool box just big enough to hold a few wrenches and screw drivers. :D:D:D

PS- sodbusters are really great bagel knives.
 
jackknife said:
It's funny, how when we're young and dumb, we don't realize how handicaped we are with only one gun, one knife, one vehicle, a small basic tool box.

Man, its a good thing we smarten up so we can buy every new tool Bob Villa designs for Sears, every new gun that the magazines tell us is the end all of firearms, and a new SUV for every member of the family. I just don't know how our elders ever got things done with a single pocket knife, a four door sedan, and a tool box just big enough to hold a few wrenches and screw drivers. :D:D:D

PS- sodbusters are really great bagel knives.
Click to expand...

You know, that's exactly what prompted me to do this. I often find myself asking, as I am rooting around in my pocket for one of three knife/tools, 'do I really need all these knives at the same time?'

I have really been thinking about simplifying my life over the last several weeks. Maybe this is a step in the right direction.

Take care,
Brett
 
bdws1975 said:
You know, that's exactly what prompted me to do this. I often find myself asking, as I am rooting around in my pocket for one of three knife/tools, 'do I really need all these knives at the same time?'

I have really been thinking about simplifying my life over the last several weeks. Maybe this is a step in the right direction.

Take care,
Brett
Click to expand...

Its been two years now that Karen and I have been on our big downsizing, and its been great! So far there has not been a single thing that I have really missed. Even power tools or kitchen appliences. I recently made a bird feeder suport off our back deck, and I used my old Stanley hand saw. No power paks to make sure they're charged, no cords. It felt good to use the handsaw, it went thru each 2X4 in about a minute. Karen made a cake for our granddaughters birthday a while back. She used the little old hand crank beater and it worked great. Washed it off and put it back in the drawer. Smaller and more compact than any plug in food blender/beater. All food prosessing is done with a Victorinox chefs knife. From veggies for salads to thin sliced grilled salmon or top sirlion off the Weber out back.

We've gotten so far off the beam with new techie stuff, and new stuff in general because our society stresses us to buy more to keep up with something. It gets to the point of being self defeating. Either your spending time trying to fuss and fix some piece of gear, or spending money to get it fixed. I guess if your in the buisness of constrution you want a skill saw or nail gun, but how much power tool stuff does the regular joe homeowner need? Materialisim in America has gotten ugly.

Edc stuff is the same. I doubt I'll ever get down to just one knife like my dad, but I'm down to two at one time and that seems to work. Instead of a dozen guns, I like being down to a couple. Now each one means more to me, and I have gotten better with what I have, guns or tools.

Never forget the KISS principal!

Or as I like to think of it, the maximum minimalisim.

Whew, I went on a rant a little. Sorry to hijack your thread Brett.
 
jackknife said:
Its been two years now that Karen and I have been on our big downsizing, and its been great! So far there has not been a single thing that I have really missed. Even power tools or kitchen appliences. I recently made a bird feeder suport off our back deck, and I used my old Stanley hand saw. No power paks to make sure they're charged, no cords. It felt good to use the handsaw, it went thru each 2X4 in about a minute. Karen made a cake for our granddaughters birthday a while back. She used the little old hand crank beater and it worked great. Washed it off and put it back in the drawer. Smaller and more compact than any plug in food blender/beater. All food prosessing is done with a Victorinox chefs knife. From veggies for salads to thin sliced grilled salmon or top sirlion off the Weber out back.

We've gotten so far off the beam with new techie stuff, and new stuff in general because our society stresses us to buy more to keep up with something. It gets to the point of being self defeating. Either your spending time trying to fuss and fix some piece of gear, or spending money to get it fixed. I guess if your in the buisness of constrution you want a skill saw or nail gun, but how much power tool stuff does the regular joe homeowner need? Materialisim in America has gotten ugly.

Edc stuff is the same. I doubt I'll ever get down to just one knife like my dad, but I'm down to two at one time and that seems to work. Instead of a dozen guns, I like being down to a couple. Now each one means more to me, and I have gotten better with what I have, guns or tools.

Never forget the KISS principal!

Or as I like to think of it, the maximum minimalisim.

Whew, I went on a rant a little. Sorry to hijack your thread Brett.
Click to expand...

Actually, I am really glad you posted. I have been thinking along the same lines for quite some time. Materialism has become an epidemic. I find that I spend a large portion of my expendable income on things I JUST DON'T NEED. Period.
When I reconcile the bank account at the end of the week, I think, 'Jesus. Did I really spend 200.00 on shoes when I already have three pairs?'.
Honestly, and this is me speaking of myself, I think buying and spending is a convenient way to help us forget the lack of significant meaning in our lives. Now, I am not a religious person at all, but I can see the lack of meaning in folks lives. We try to cover up insignificant relationships, bad self-images, etc with the newest and coolest thing. Rarely do we actually experience the moment or take time to smell the roses. We are so busy scheming and planning on what we need next to make us happy, all the while that happiness eludes us precisely because of the frantic search.
It's odd when you do finally take a breather from the materialistic sprint. It's like the space clears and you can finally feel the breath in your lungs again. It's beautiful moment. Quickly, however, the race begins again.
Thanks for getting me to think seriously about it again.

Best,
Brett
 
I do sometimes wish I was that dumb kid again who just used that one little knife and didn't think twice about it. But I realize that I've become a knife nut and there is no turning back to the good old days. I have alot of knives and I do enjoy having all of them. I do however only carry one or two at a time. For example today I'm carrying my stockman, yesterday I had my Vic farmer, and the day before that I had my Vic Cadet and a BM Leopard Cub.
 
db said:
I do sometimes wish I was that dumb kid again who just used that one little knife and didn't think twice about it. But I realize that I've become a knife nut and there is no turning back to the good old days. I have alot of knives and I do enjoy having all of them. I do however only carry one or two at a time.
Click to expand...

Agreed. I don't honestly see a day when I own just ONE knife. I know myself better than that. However, I am consciously trying to be more reasonable about my purchases.

take care!
Brett
 
I admit, I carry a 1 large bladed folder and 1 slipjoint in some combination everyday.

Most days I could handle most of my cutting chores with a peanut or Vic' Classic! :D
 
Now I am a Southern Boy and hang with some folks with kids.
I like passing forward to these folks and kids. Single Shot .22 rifles with iron sights is what we do a lot of. Heck I still like .22 single shot rifles.

Kids are funny and a good time is had by all.

Re: Barehead Trapper

"Southern Olive Fork"
"Nuh uh, it is a Cherry-Picker-Outer"
"Slingshot Maker"
"'Tater Peeler"
"Letter Opener"
"Oh moOm! You can come up with something better than that!"
"Pencil Sharpener"
"Grandpa, you are no better than mom"
"Baked Apple Fixer Upper"
"You go Grandma"
*woof* woof*
[That is Dawg for "Dawg Sack Opener"]
"Heater-Hose something or another"
"Hot-Dawg Splinter for Cheese!"
"Soap Boat Maker" (carve Ivory Soap to make boats)
"&%$#@! Cracker Package Opener"
"Getting better moOm!"

*grin*
 
I have to admit that I always looked at the sodbuster as kind of a cheap knife with not much personality. As with a lot of things I used to think, boy was I wrong.... Simple, durable and reasonably priced, and I'm really starting to like the looks too... I too am going to quite carrying my pocket clip folder and just carry one of my Case 6318's.. I posted a thread about this a week or so ago, but in all honesty, my schedule has been so hectic I just haven't done it. Gonna go get one out before I go to work and start today. Keep us updated on your progress, I bet everything will go just fine... Enjoy
 
bdws1975 said:
Actually, I am really glad you posted. I have been thinking along the same lines for quite some time. Materialism has become an epidemic. I find that I spend a large portion of my expendable income on things I JUST DON'T NEED. Period.
When I reconcile the bank account at the end of the week, I think, 'Jesus. Did I really spend 200.00 on shoes when I already have three pairs?'.
Honestly, and this is me speaking of myself, I think buying and spending is a convenient way to help us forget the lack of significant meaning in our lives. Now, I am not a religious person at all, but I can see the lack of meaning in folks lives. We try to cover up insignificant relationships, bad self-images, etc with the newest and coolest thing. Rarely do we actually experience the moment or take time to smell the roses. We are so busy scheming and planning on what we need next to make us happy, all the while that happiness eludes us precisely because of the frantic search.
It's odd when you do finally take a breather from the materialistic sprint. It's like the space clears and you can finally feel the breath in your lungs again. It's beautiful moment. Quickly, however, the race begins again.
Thanks for getting me to think seriously about it again.

Best,
Brett
Click to expand...

I couldn't agree more. I too have been trying to take a different view on life in general. I think being a bit more minimalistic is a good way to start! Good thread by the way.
 
bdws1975 said:
Actually, I am really glad you posted. I have been thinking along the same lines for quite some time. Materialism has become an epidemic. I find that I spend a large portion of my expendable income on things I JUST DON'T NEED. Period.
When I reconcile the bank account at the end of the week, I think, 'Jesus. Did I really spend 200.00 on shoes when I already have three pairs?'.
Honestly, and this is me speaking of myself, I think buying and spending is a convenient way to help us forget the lack of significant meaning in our lives. Now, I am not a religious person at all, but I can see the lack of meaning in folks lives. We try to cover up insignificant relationships, bad self-images, etc with the newest and coolest thing. Rarely do we actually experience the moment or take time to smell the roses. We are so busy scheming and planning on what we need next to make us happy, all the while that happiness eludes us precisely because of the frantic search.
It's odd when you do finally take a breather from the materialistic sprint. It's like the space clears and you can finally feel the breath in your lungs again. It's beautiful moment. Quickly, however, the race begins again.
Thanks for getting me to think seriously about it again.

Best,
Brett
Click to expand...

Very well put, Brett.

I think there must be alot of folks who spend because of a lack of meaning in thier lives. When Karen and I gave away alot of our stuff, it was a feeling of being released, it was almost spiritual. It made our lives richer and we took a vow of poverty sort of, not to acumulate all that stuff again. Now we can concentrate on other things like our family, stoping to smell those roses by spending time woods walking, kayaking, going on weekend trips to interesting places. Last Christmas we all agreed that there was no gift giving. Instead we took a Christmas Eve candle light tour of Mount Vernon, and had an early breakfast Christmas day watching the sun come up over the dome of the Capital from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial while eating homemade breakfast sandwiches. We spent quality time together as a family doing something. Our children and us are trying to teach our grandkids to appretiate life instead of things.

I had this Uncle on my mothers side, Uncle Paul. Uncle Paul and Aunt Betty were poor as church mice and did not have much, but it was from choice. Uncle Paul was a machinist by trade and worked for the Curtiss-Wright aircraft engine plant in Paterson New Jersey. He never owned a home, but he and his wife lived in a small apartment. They would spend their money on these epic travel trips that could last for months. Uncle Paul would take a leave of absense from his job, or even quit if he had to, and he and Aunt Betty would drive all over the western hemisphere in his 1947 Studebaker Champion. Everything they owned would fit in the car, and they would one time be down in Mexico looking at the ruins outside of Mexico city, and another time be up in Alaska taking photos of grizzly bears eating salmon. They lived life like few of us had the guts to. If he ran low on money he'd stop and get a job as a car mechanic, and then move on. He had a tool box in the trunk, and if the Study broke down he'd go to a junkyard and find a part and fix his car. I remember him saying that God had created a beautifull world, and they wanted to see as much of it as the could.

I always though how wonderfull it was for them to shed possesions and just live life.
 
You guys would get along with my dad really well... In '62 he found a car he liked, and he never bought another car. His '62 Ford Falcon looks exactly the same as the first day he drove it off the lot, and works just as well. He's been using the same SAK for as long as I can remember, I've given him lots of knives as gifts but he keeps going back to the same SAK for his daily needs.

When I was a kid I managed to get by with a single SAK, plus a fixed blade when playing outdoors. Nowadays I won't leave the house to go to the grocery store across the street without a couple of knives, multitools and a small backpack full of goodies.
 
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