"Carl's Lounge" (Off-Topic Discussion, Traditional Knife "Tales & Vignettes")

I've been trying to simplify things recently. Looking at knives and such I could get rid of, I've decided I'm not quite ready to cross that bridge yet. Lately, I've been walking out the door with a coat pocket full of folders (5 tops, I usually leave most of them in the glove box). I used to be okay with a SAK and a one handed opener. I would be fine with my peanut and sak for ALL of my needs. However, I have too damn many nice knives, both traditional and modern, to play with. I've tried to take a page from Carl, and just carry the peanut, or just any one slipjoint. I can't do it, in regards to the peanut. Not because it's too small, but because I need to carry a couple knives with me.

I'm not walking around with 5 knives in my pockets, but going into Walmart last night, I found myself putting a knife in my right front pants pocket, my left back pants pocket, and my coat pocket. This is taking the whole eccentricity too far. "Carrying on your weak side"? That's downright goofy. I think I'm going to stick to my SAK and a slipjoint. Try to ween myself off the modern folders. My SAK will see the most use.
 
I never have more than two, just not enough pocket space, and usually just one. Anymore (as previously stated) always traditional.
 
I prefer to carry two, a modern and a slipjoint. That's not feasible most of the time since I wear slacks during the work week, but I always have a slip with a modern in my bag.

- Christian
 
silenthunterstudios said:
I've been trying to simplify things recently. Looking at knives and such I could get rid of, I've decided I'm not quite ready to cross that bridge yet. Lately, I've been walking out the door with a coat pocket full of folders (5 tops, I usually leave most of them in the glove box). I used to be okay with a SAK and a one handed opener. I would be fine with my peanut and sak for ALL of my needs. However, I have too damn many nice knives, both traditional and modern, to play with. I've tried to take a page from Carl, and just carry the peanut, or just any one slipjoint. I can't do it, in regards to the peanut. Not because it's too small, but because I need to carry a couple knives with me.

I'm not walking around with 5 knives in my pockets, but going into Walmart last night, I found myself putting a knife in my right front pants pocket, my left back pants pocket, and my coat pocket. This is taking the whole eccentricity too far. "Carrying on your weak side"? That's downright goofy. I think I'm going to stick to my SAK and a slipjoint. Try to ween myself off the modern folders. My SAK will see the most use.
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I wouldn't worry about it, Dan. If it make ya happy, why not?

I sometimes carry my old Opinel or Pocket fixed blade in addition to my peanut and ever present classic on my keyring. No real need, but I just wanted it along for the ride that day. Just consider it pocket jewelry. Man accessories. I need a third knife in my pockets like a boar hog needs teats, but it makes me happy. LIfe is short, do what bakes your cookie for ya. One think I finally figured out in life is, don't worry over the small stuff, or what people think. Even if it's weird. But if it really does seem a bit much to even you, then maybe cut back a little. Rotate your knives more, so they all get carried now and then. Have them take turns, so it equals out. Like the kids when I had the VW bug all those years.

With three kids to drop off at school, they would all argue who was going to ride shotgun. Well, to make it even and develop a sense of equality among them, who ever had shotgun the day before, was automatically in the back seat. then the two left had to play paper rock scissors for shot gun. So they all rode shotgun every three days. They learned to take turns. Let your knives take turns. Rotate them.

It all works out in the end.

Carl.
 
I am, I find myself checking over and over to see if it has even shipped yet.... might I ask how you no longer are twitchy over new knives?
 
Blade_Crazy said:
anybody else get a little twitchy when waiting on a new knife?
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I wouldn't say a little twitchy. I wouldn't even say I obsess over it. Sure, I take vacation time from when I place the order until the knife arrives, and I set up a tent by the mail box and camp there until it shows up, but I do take meal breaks. Well, just as long as the breaks aren't around the time the knife could theoretically arrive. That would be irresponsible. Nothing excessive, though :)
 
I do because I dont really buy many knives in a year, at present the only knife on the cards is the 2012 BF knife so I'm excited to see what we come up with. I've been kinda caught up with buying guns atm, but they're traditional guns so I don't feel bad neglecting knives for a little...not to mention I want to carry my BF2011 for at least 12 months.
 
I don't think I get too bad. I use a PO Box. I can't camp out at the PO. Although I could camp out in the parking lot, there is a bar next door...
 
I like to carry one of my traditionals in my watch pocket and another one just below it in my right front pocket. The problem I had with watch pocket carry was that most jeans only allow vertical carry in the watch pocket. This was a problem for me because when I sat down or squatted the knife interfered with the bend in my waistline. Being in the vertical position, the knife felt like it was going to bend right along with my waist. I never had a knife bend this way but it was always an uncomfortable feeling.

I want to share my experience with you folks in case some of you have had the same problem.

A couple of years ago I started looking around for some jeans that had a watch pocket big enough to hold the knife in a horizontal position. My reasoning was that the knife would more easily conform to the bend in my waistline if horizontally stored in the watch pocket.

I came accross these Wrangler Riggs jeans that have an oversized watch pocket big enough to hold a knife up to about 3 3/4 inches closed in the horizontal position. Knives like the GEC 53 Cubans, at 4 1/8 inches, ride almost horizontally. Close enough for comfort.

Here are a couple of pics with a Rough Rider Canoe at 3 5/8 inches closed:

IMG_1691.jpg


IMG_1693.jpg


As you can see, the knife rides very well at the bottom of the watch pocket and it doesn't interfere with the bend in my waistline. These Wrangler Riggs jeans also wear very well. I was a little concerened when I bought my first pair that they would not last very long (holes, severe fading, etc.) but I get about 20 to 24 months of use from a pair and that's OK with me since they are quite a bit cheaper than Levi's. More comfortable too in my opinion.

They have another feature that may or may not appeal to those who like to carry a knife clipped to their pocket. A leather pad at the corner of the pocket right were the knife clips.

IMG_1692.jpg


I don't work for wrangler jeans or anything like that but I thought maybe somebody might find this helpful.
 
I sometimes carry a knife in my watch pocket just like that, when I dont have my pocket watch in there that is.
 
I like the look of how the watch pocket on those Riggs handles the knife. I'm about due to replace a few pair of pants, so I'll probably check them out. Thanks for the tip.
 
Robert.B said:
I sometimes carry a knife in my watch pocket just like that, when I dont have my pocket watch in there that is.
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I always have my pocket watch in that pocket, so I never carry a knife there.
 
knarfeng said:
I always have my pocket watch in that pocket, so I never carry a knife there.
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I don't give my pocket watch as much time as it deserves...but it being a Zenith made in 1920 I tend to save it for outings I know it wont get damaged, always wanted a new zenith pocket watch but from what I hear they are WELL out of my budget, a lot has changed since the 20's lol.

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My Peanut rides deep in most of my watch pockets, my Pioneer pulls a "Kilroy was here" every now and then. Nice pocket watch!
 
Stopped by the Goodwill, and they had a plastic bag full of pocket knives. Most were junk, but I did find a Victorinox SAK with the Boy Scouts logo, and an older Queen made electrician. The Queen stamp was very damp in the blade, and the liner lock was quite big. A few multitools also, but no Leatherman/Victorinox/SOG.
 
Robert.B said:
I don't give my pocket watch as much time as it deserves...but it being a Zenith made in 1920 I tend to save it for outings I know it wont get damaged, always wanted a new zenith pocket watch but from what I hear they are WELL out of my budget, a lot has changed since the 20's lol.

10226_153197601600_600566600_3077535_5280764_n.jpg
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That's a nice one. Very handsome.

Mine is about 50 years younger than yours. My parents gave me one of the last manual wind Hamilton Pocket watches for one of my birthdays when I was in college. LL Bean used to sell them as field watches. It sat in the dresser for a few decades. For the last ten years or so it's been my primary daily time piece.

100_3168.jpg
 
Something like that is what I want for daily use...plain case with front cover to shield the lens at work, your watch looks really nice though and I'm sure you will get many years of use from it! Ironically I saw one identical to yours on ebay just this week when I was browsing for a daily.

I have wrist watches too, just never seem to wear them.
 
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