Challenge: Carry only one for a month

I think people are getting hung up on the price comparison. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the price wasn't your wife's main point. If it was, just sticking to a budget would be the proposed solution. I think her point was that you have only one tool for the job, use the heck out of it, and then can move on to a different model in a reasonable time frame of one or two years. As opposed to buying a new knife weekly or monthly, carry it a handful of times, and then immediately move on to yet another knife/purchase for no practical purpose. I think it's a great proposition. You'll find a whole different level of appreciation for a knife when you use it as the one and only for a significant period of time. All your memories are entwined with it and it takes on a sentimental aspect. I say go for it. But I don't think the budget for a cell phone needs to be the knife budget. A cell phone has a reason it costs that much and it's utility is far more than a knife.

As to your question, if I could only have one knife to use for a year or two, I'd pick the Benchmade Griptilian. If I could have two knives like you will (SAK + another to be determined), then I'd go my work knife which is a Benchmade Auto Presidio and my off-duty EDC which is a Doug Ritter Mini Grip.


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I rather like this concept myself and may try it out. The real issue, as Gator mentioned, isn't so much the price as it is the commitment.

That said, I've carried a basic blue FRN Delica 4 for over a month now almost exclusively and haven't longed for anything else. I've looked at other knives to add to the collection and pined over one here or there, but haven't really felt like I needed something else in the pocket.

I may give this a shot myself and see how it goes. I'm sure the wife would be OK with it.
 
For that budget I'd get a Sebenza (whichever one trips your trigger), an Emerson (whichever one trips your trigger) and either a CS Voyager (AUS8 clearance), RAT-1 or a Kershaw Emerson. That should do ya for 18 months ... or more.
 
I recommend trying on a shirogorov. It fits you price bracket pretty well and they're sweet!
 
Nice little challenge. The hard part would be when you see that rare knife that sells fast. I try to buy knives that I'll use and sell the ones I won't or no longer use.
 
GatorMedic said:
I think people are getting hung up on the price comparison. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the price wasn't your wife's main point. If it was, just sticking to a budget would be the proposed solution. I think her point was that you have only one tool for the job, use the heck out of it, and then can move on to a different model in a reasonable time frame of one or two years. As opposed to buying a new knife weekly or monthly, carry it a handful of times, and then immediately move on to yet another knife/purchase for no practical purpose. I think it's a great proposition. You'll find a whole different level of appreciation for a knife when you use it as the one and only for a significant period of time. All your memories are entwined with it and it takes on a sentimental aspect. I say go for it. But I don't think the budget for a cell phone needs to be the knife budget. A cell phone has a reason it costs that much and it's utility is far more than a knife.

As to your question, if I could only have one knife to use for a year or two, I'd pick the Benchmade Griptilian. If I could have two knives like you will (SAK + another to be determined), then I'd go my work knife which is a Benchmade Auto Presidio and my off-duty EDC which is a Doug Ritter Mini Grip.


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Exactly. It's a way to get off the treadmill without feeling like you settled for something "lesser". Not "I'm stuck using this for a while and it's good enough", more "I love this knife and while I recognize there are other great knives out there, I'm content with what I have." The price is just a placeholder for "buy whatever you want that will make you happy"

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mlanghornes said:
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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Too bad you can't get a subsidized price on the knife by signing a 2 year contract, :D. I'd go for a large 21 also, preferably an insingo.
 
mlanghornes said:
Exactly. It's a way to get off the treadmill without feeling like you settled for something "lesser". Not "I'm stuck using this for a while and it's good enough", more "I love this knife and while I recognize there are other great knives out there, I'm content with what I have." The price is just a placeholder for "buy whatever you want that will make you happy"
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I personally think I could do the challenge. I suspect my wife would like me to do it. Other than an occasional really inexpensive knife, I seldom buy anything that I would likely not be satisfied using for an extended period of time. I carry a 111mm SAK most of the time. This isn't a big stretch. Most of the newer acquisitions never really get used to any great extent. I could be very content carrying a Native 5 and my SAK. I just buy stuff to try out or just to see how I like them (want not need). It is not a prerequisite that I use them beyond sitting at my desk and opening mail.
 
what a great wife you have. my ole lady never lets me get new knives. :( if i had to get a new knife id probably get one of those really nice new gerbers that i saw last month at the sporting goods store. maybe ill spurge on one sometime after i take the ole lady out for a night on the town. she has been asking to go out for some time now, so id be in a heck of pickle if i bought a knife instead. any how, we can all dream can't we? :) hopefully i was some help. good luck with your new knife bubba.
 
A few people have mentioned they'd be willing to do the challenge themselves. So why not make it a group challenge for a month? I'd be in if we're allowed two. Most people mentioned a SAK plus another, which is technically two knives. I don't carry my work knife anywhere but at work due to nature of the job containing bodily fluids. I segregate all my work stuff actually (pen, watch, boots, clothes, flashlight, etc) because of that. So if the challenge allowed me to have my work knife plus another for off duty you can count me in.


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ONE folder and ONE SAK? Just put the rest in a box for 30 days? ... ...

Ya count me out. I carry 3+1 SAK m-f at work.
 
I did this with a benchmade mini afck 812hs for 15 years. If you can name it, that knife probably did it.
 
blades&wrenches said:
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.
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This. My daily office carry is a small wood-inlay 21, but for a do-everything carry, I don't think you could beat a large micarta.


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GatorMedic said:
A few people have mentioned they'd be willing to do the challenge themselves. So why not make it a group challenge for a month? I'd be in if we're allowed two. Most people mentioned a SAK plus another, which is technically two knives. I don't carry my work knife anywhere but at work due to nature of the job containing bodily fluids. I segregate all my work stuff actually (pen, watch, boots, clothes, flashlight, etc) because of that. So if the challenge allowed me to have my work knife plus another for off duty you can count me in.


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I like it. I'll re-title the thread and 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. I'd like to keep it a rolling challenge, so anyone who wants to try it can jump on in. Doesn't have to be an expensive knife/knives, either, just knives you like carrying and feel like can meet all your needs AND scratch the itch to have a really nice cutting tool/s in your pocket. If you just appreciate the hell out of a Delica and an opinel, and want to stick with those, go for it, but please do choose a knife/knives that you genuinely feel you could enjoy for years and could meet all your needs.

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Challenge guidelines added to the first post. Once I figure out what I'm carrying I'll post and start. Cheers everyone

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I bought an umnumzaan in 2009; was my only folder for 7 years. I have no regrets
 
If I paid even half that I'd want it to be a knife for life :) I'd join the month thing but I usually EDC a single knife for 6 months plus, the last one was for a year, so not sure it's really a challenge.
 
mlanghornes said:
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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Haha! So true... Thanks for the laugh! :D
 
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