Challenge: Carry only one for a month

[mlanghornes]

So my wife hit me with an interesting challenge today, as I was taking delivery of yet another knife. Her experiment/idea was, what if I treated my knives like my phone? As in, I pay between $600- $700 (appx cost of a new high-end phone) for an awesome knife that is useful for just about everything, and take it everywhere, just as I do my phone? I can upgrade in 18 months to a new one, but until then I'm stuck with using only one? Her point was that I've never lost my phone, nor destroyed it by being careless, and a knife has a MUCH longer lifespan than a phone and even retains value at the end of 18 months.

I have an awesome wife, btw.

So I'm thinking about taking her up on the challenge and trying it for a month. After a month, I'll go back to my collection, try using those for a month, and after that sell whichever option I'm less fond of.

So now the $700 question is...what knife should I/would you pick? I work in an office, but also use my knives in the garden, on projects around the house, and on hikes. So it's gotta be pretty versatile and tough while also being fairly non-threatening. Under the terms of the challenge, I'm allowed to keep a SAK classic on my keychain, a box cutter for absurd work, and of course our chef's knives for food prep. Go!

Edit: due to interest in this by a couple folks, I'd like to make this an open challenge. Whoever wants in can let everyone know what they're carrying and when they're starting, and post plenty of pics and impressions from their month of new-knife hiatus/detox.

The original guidelines are that the knife you choose is a spiritual equivalent to your phone: that is, you take it everywhere you would take your phone, you use it everywhere you need to, and it does all the cutting tasks you need (within reason- see below).

You can pick a secondary knife, if you need to for work or other reasons, but try and keep it to two, and do try to use one more than the other. A personal phone and a work phone, if you will.

If you need to cut up a watermelon or chop down a tree or do any other rough/awkward task, it's permissible to use the "right" tool for the job, but you won't win any style points that way.

You don't need choose an expensive knife either, just one you like carrying and feel like can meet all your needs AND scratch the itch to have a really nice cutting tool in your pocket. If you just appreciate the hell out of a Delica and want to stick with that go for it, but please do choose a knife that you genuinely feel you could enjoy for years and could meet all your needs. This is not only about practicality, folks. We love knives because knives are cool. We have a forum. Think about it-- I bet you dollars to donuts there's no lightswitchforums.com or showercurtainringsforum.com. So pick a useful tool that you just freaking love and carry it everywhere and do everything with it for as long as you can.

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[Knivesandreels]

So my wife hit me with an interesting challenge today, as I was taking delivery of yet another knife. Her experiment/idea was, what if I treated my knives like my phone? As in, I pay between $600- $700 (appx cost of a new high-end phone) for an awesome knife that is useful for just about everything, and take it everywhere, just as I do my phone? I can upgrade in 18 months to a new one, but until then I'm stuck with using only one? Her point was that I've never lost my phone, nor destroyed it by being careless, and a knife has a MUCH longer lifespan than a phone and even retains value at the end of 18 months.

I have an awesome wife, btw.

So I'm thinking about taking her up on the challenge and trying it for a month. After a month, I'll go back to my collection, try using those for a month, and after that sell whichever option I'm less fond of.

So now the $700 question is...what knife should I/would you pick? I work in an office, but also use my knives in the garden, on projects around the house, and on hikes. So it's gotta be pretty versatile and tough while also being fairly non-threatening. Under the terms of the challenge, I'm allowed to keep a SAK classic on my keychain, a box cutter for absurd work, and of course our chef's knives for food prep. Go!

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Does she have a sister?

Ok I'm actually married lol I'm just here to see the responses from the wise folks here! This should be interesting.


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[ATJ999]

So in 18 months do you get to keep this knife and get another? Or do you have to resell? There are SO many great knives in that price range!

 

[Petunia D. Feeble]

I'd go with a Large Sebenza 21 with whatever inlay tickles your fancy. I'm partial to box elder burl personally.

We all know it's built to take a beating, but the polished metal and wood inlays also lend it to a more refined environment. You can't beat the CRK warranty should something go wrong with it and it certainly holds its value.

 

[PNWJimbo]

I also agree with a CRK 21. My micarta inlayed tanto beats most knives out of main knife slot in the pants everyday lately:thumbup:

 

[mlanghornes]

So in 18 months do you get to keep this knife and get another? Or do you have to resell? There are SO many great knives in that price range!

I don't HAVE to resell, I can just get another. And yes, the number of choices is ridiculous. It's also pushing me above my usual price point of $150- $200, I generally stay on that range, so it's opening up a whole new side of the market for me.

I am a little concerned about sticking with one knife for 18 months. I feel like this is like telling a crack addict "hey, you know what? For your next hit do ALL the crack! Then chill for 18 months"

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[Shorttime]

Something small from the Busse lineup, like a HACK, was my first thought.

Having trouble cribbing a picture, so third picture down on this page: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1107404-How-about-a-Busse-Picture-game/page15

The 600-700 range means you could have a custom made to your specifications, but that is a whole other problem: sometimes, more options is more confusing.

 

[Shorttime]

Murray Carter does some EDC-sized fixed blades, too. Like the ones on the bottom left in the second picture, here: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/786538-Thank-you-Murray-Carter!/page2

Again, an internal link because I've encountered the 3% rule with my image hosting service.

Mastersmith Carter knows from sharp, and his handles look like they would be very hand-friendly.

Apologies for the multiple posts. I'm trying to think of unique options.

Edit:

Shoot! Nearly forgot about Daniel Fairly: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php/826-Fiddleback-Forge-Knives

Some of his knives are in the 6 1/2" OAL area. That's on the big side, for me, but you may be able to make it work.

 

[ATJ999]

It is nice to have that one last big whooraww before going cold turkey!

 

[22-rimfire]

I really think this is an interesting concept. I think it can work. I don't think you necessarily need to use the cell phone budget as your reference point for this kind of thing. For me, am I willing to use a $700 knife the way I would use a $50 or $100 knife? And for me, the answer is NO. So, I would just slide the budget figure back or get two or three knives within the total budget. You could also treat the whole approach as a 18 month budget and buy whatever you want to within the budget figure. There are extra costs involved with the cell phone, so the budget could slide a bit.

 

[Shorttime]

I really think this is an interesting concept. I think it can work. I don't think you necessarily need to use the cell phone budget as your reference point for this kind of thing. For me, am I willing to use a $700 knife the way I would use a $50 or $100 knife? And for me, the answer is NO. So, I would just slide the budget figure back or get two or three knives within the total budget. You could also treat the whole approach as a 18 month budget and buy whatever you want to within the budget figure. There are extra costs involved with the cell phone, so the budget could slide a bit.

THIS ^^


Buy one very expensive custom, two or three mid-tier productions, score a bargain mid-tech online for %60 of MSRP because it already has some "love marks", so you don't have to worry about using it/bruising it. The possible combinations are not endless, but they are very flexible.

 

[22-rimfire]

I don't upgrade my smart phone every 18 or 24 months unless there is a good definable reason to do so as long as it continues to function correctly. I'm still using a Samsung Galaxy S3.

 

[Shorttime]

I don't upgrade my smart phone every 18 or 24 months unless there is a good definable reason to do so as long as it continues to function correctly. I'm still using a Samsung Galaxy S3.

Yeah, but this is about knives, man! Want, not need.

(His wife doesn't need to know that there is a difference between knives and phones)

 

[blades&wrenches]

I'd go with a Large Sebenza 21 with whatever inlay tickles your fancy. I'm partial to box elder burl personally.

We all know it's built to take a beating, but the polished metal and wood inlays also lend it to a more refined environment. You can't beat the CRK warranty should something go wrong with it and it certainly holds its value.

I agree. The wood inlays are very classy, especially with the polished titanium handles. For a do-it-all knife, however, Id probably go with a micarta inlay.

 

[Colorodo]

What do you have for a collection now?

 

[mec003]

I would opt for something in $200 range and get a couple sets of custom handle scales. Then in 4 months it's like replacing the phone case, but not the phone.

 

[PNWJimbo]

Split the $700 in half and get 1 folder, 1 fixed blade? Or 1 big knife 1 small knife? 1 tactical and 1 traditional folder? $350 and you're still getting basically the best production version of whatever 2 categories you choose, and you open up the versatility of your year long arsenal tons. Or you could go like $500/$200. Score a good price on a pimped out 21 on the aftermarket and get a beer scout for the watch pocket?

 

[mlanghornes]

What do you have for a collection now?

Right now I have a Nilte Quiete, a Giant Mouse GM1, a Dragonfly 2 in zdp-189, a Para 2 in S110v, a ZT 0900, a Mini Grip 555-1, and a ZT 770cf. Basically all fairly versatile, with some better suited to office carry and some to yard work.

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[mlanghornes]

I'm also thinking about dropping the price down a bit, but still probably sticking with one. I think the phone comparison is that, when I buy a phone, because I use it so often, I buy the best one I can and don't generally worry about the price, since I know I'll get value from it (for me at least, if your Galaxy S3 still works for you, rock on!), and that's the approach I want to take here. That said, after some research it's becoming clear that craftsmanship and function start to plateau pretty sharply above $450, so it'd like to stick with one but I'm not stuck on a price amount

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[Colorodo]

Curious so something wasn't duplicated. i would have a custom made to your specs.