Challenge: Carry only one for a month

[Shorttime]

No pictures this time, so I'll apologize up front for the Wall Of Text.

I haven't posted in this thread for a while, but I haven't forgotten about it, either.

This may be a bit hard to explain. Be patient with me.

I carried my Kizer Gemini for a month. Okay, three weeks, but I learned what I needed to learn.

1) Any knife is a compromise between cutting performance and, um, ability to tolerate improper use. A thinner blade cuts more easily, but is also easier to break. I'm a bit of a goon, and a 1/8" blade with a high or full grind just feels fragile to me.

2) I like variety. All of the knives in my small collection would fill my EDC needs for the rest of my life, but I enjoy the process of choosing a knife to carry in the morning.

3) A knife needs backup. Tools for leverage, and tools for cutting thicker, more durable materials.

Carrying one knife all the time gave me a greater appreciation for the strengths and weaknesses of all my knives, and has made me think more carefully about what I will need for the day when I make my choice. It may sound absurd, but I will always think differently about my knives because of this.

 

[GatorMedic]

Challenge 2, Day 30 -- Challenge COMPLETE

Second challenge is now complete. It's been 30 days since I received my Southern Grind Spider Monkey in the mail and have been carrying it every off day since. I've enjoyed the knife, and it will continue in its off duty EDC role except sharing with the Ritter Mini Grip that was my first challenge. I think it's going to work out as the SM carried with shorts and the Ritter with jeans. I like the Ritter's slimmer profile with the flat Cuscadi scales in jeans vs the Spider Monkey kind of bulging out. The Benchmade Auto Presidio will continue as my work EDC until I change careers. I enjoyed the two challenges as it allowed me to focus on one knife and obtaining memories with it. That in turn gave me a better connection to it

 

[Deer]

Challenge 1, Day 8

I still havnt felt the need to touch the s30v up yet. Today she was used to cut about 50ft of 5mil and 6mil plastic. Also used the tip to remove staples from lumber. My co-worker took out his lightly used xacto and started making a sawing motion on the plastic and I said "wa-wa-wait, let me show you how its done." whipped out the 940 and made a perfect clean cut through about4 feet of 4-6 layers of 5mil plastic.

Shortly after I sliced open my finger. I felt the blade run deep but there wasn't any blood. At first my finger had no idea and was like "nahh its not that bad" about 3 minutes later "ok, soooo you might want to go grab a bandaid man". Iv never personally had blood come through a band aid. Also never use bandaids but thankfully I had an emergency pack in the shop because as I was wrapping it up the blood started dripping.

Conclusion after a week: Love s30v!

 

[Deer]

Challenge 1, Day 18

Some micro chipping but still going strong. The folded part at the last 1/4" towards the tip is from prying out a staple from a 2x4.

I'v hit the angled ceramics on the sharpmaker for touchups and it goes right back to hair shaving.

 

[kalan850]

Good job on staying true to the challenge. I've tried this challenge for the past 2 months and I keep picking up another one of my knives mid way through the week. Sometimes it's because I wear lighter clothing sometime I feel like I need a change of pace.... anyway for November I think I'll actually do it! I know if I stick with it I'll enjoy that tool so much more from the experience with it and it's dependability.

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[Howieee]

I am still using my 551 custom in cpm 20cv. It is holding up very well. I think I am around 2+ months with it. I just bought a ultrasonic cleaner I would like to run knife through. Hopefully get it in there maby tomorrow. For right now here is what she looks like.

The edge needs attention about every two weeks. I really use the knife a lot so this is very good for me. The last sharpening I did I put mirror edge on and am very impressed with its cutting and retention. Will update in future.

 

[Deer]

Good job on staying true to the challenge. I've tried this challenge for the past 2 months and I keep picking up another one of my knives mid way through the week. Sometimes it's because I wear lighter clothing sometime I feel like I need a change of pace.... anyway for November I think I'll actually do it! I know if I stick with it I'll enjoy that tool so much more from the experience with it and it's dependability.

Its definitely not always easy when you have 3 other new knives/steels you really want to give a chance as well



In due time
However at the same time, seeing as Iv used this 940-2 this long and seeing how it has handled the moderate abuse Iv put it through it is pretty easy to just grab and clip to my waist. Not having to worry about wanting to baby it anymore and just use it as compared to my new ones.






Challange 1, Day 19

Bunch of 6mil plastic like butter




Really love S30V so far. Feels more brittle than 154cm but I'm not prying anything serious with it. Its edge retention/ease of sharpening blows 154cm out of the water. Cant wait to see how the other steels will handle the month challenge

Coming up for the next months: M390, CPM-S35VN, CPM-M4, CPM-S90V, CPM-20CV, Shirogami White paper, possibly ZDP-189 (if I can bring myself to EDC my only blade in it), and anything else I might find

 

[Golden Goal]

Its definitely not always easy when you have 3 other new knives/steels you really want to give a chance as well

Ain't that the truth. I'm on Day 18 with the small sebenza and the love is STRONG. However, i just gave the 943 a makeover... she's going to be hard to resist.

 

[Deer]

Ain't that the truth. I'm on Day 18 with the small sebenza and the love is STRONG. However, i just gave the 943 a makeover... she's going to be hard to resist.

Took me a second to see the edge. Shes camouflaged pretty well!

Will be interested to see what you think of S35VN on the 21 as compared to the S30V on the 943. I have a brand new 943 as well but I'm letting the 940-2 do the testing for me steel wise

Actually originally bought them both at the same time because I liked the 940-2 handle and the 943's clip point. But I must say the 940's profile quickly grew on me and ended up swapping them back

 

[Golden Goal]

Honestly, I haven't been super impressed with the edge retention on the 943. I think I last sharpened it about 3 months ago (zero maintenance since then) and I didn't use it particularly hard but there were some noticeable nicks and rolls in the edge this morning, to the point where it pretty much shredded paper. Perhaps it's because I didn't do a very good job sharpening last time (I do freehand with DMT stones and pastes); it definitely wasn't a polished edge. Anyway, I have one other specimen of BM's S30V in the form of the North Fork folder and I have found the edge retention to be excellent - probably down to a difference in blade geometry, the North Fork packs a fat little blade. I don't carry it very often except when I'm camping, and then it sees a lot of use.

I haven't had any issues with the S35VN from CRK yet, but to tell the truth I've been reeeeeeally careful with the seb so far i.e. while eating lunch at work cutting apples in the air so I don't accidentally cut through them and jam the blade into the table. She definitely doesn't slice paper as cleanly as 3 weeks ago (again, zero maintenance - haven't even stropped), so I plan to give her a good first sharpening and attempt a mirror edge pretty soon.

 

[Wowbagger]

Rambling and how it’s going.

Mostly I want to talk about the Spyderco Ultra fine triangular rod. And then throw in some stuff about the most current One Month knife (the Boker Trapper with C75 simple high carbon steel blade).

OK
So I was fooling around with the large knife at top in the first photo. That’s G_L_O_R_I_A, my original One Month. Cold Steel Pendleton Hunter in 3V. The blade was kind of rolled and not in great shape as it was when I put it in the sheath after sharpening. I hadn’t used it but had carried it with me on the bike in the bag back and forth to work while I experimented with the second One Month which was it’s little brother the Mini Hunter 3V (not shown).

So . . . the sheath had beat up the blade even without pulling it out and putting it back alot. Main reason I gave up on Gloria and the Mini. Major sheath suckage.

I couldn’t leave Gloria in such a sad state though so I grabbed the Ultra Fine triangle rod which always seems to bring her out of her blues back to her diamond bright perky self. Even that didn’t fully pleaser her . . . she was just kind of this away about it : Imagine a horizontal flat hand flipping back and forth. ( The wire edge wouldn’t go away; not enough abrasion taking place; too much burnishing.)

Next I pulled out my old faithful chunk of Norton Water stone 8000 shown under the triangle rod. By the way with the triangle rod held free hand I had used it to align the edge going with / off the edge and got some bur (super small only visible in full sun with fairly high magnification. Then to get rid of the bur I was going against the edge super lightly but the bur would just not cut away. Just back and forth back and forth.

With the Norton stone going super light against the edge, dry, only a couple of passes per side and the bur was gone. Then going with / off the edge super light and we are hair whittling.

Enough about that; only all I am saying is the rod seems to smooth out and loose it’s ability to cut. When new I was all about it . . . now . . . now it is just a smooth “steel” for aligning the edge. There is some black metal in the pores but I do keep it washed and clean. I might try some cleanser.

Hard for me to get away from good old basic man made water stones. They do what I need them to do.

Current One Month yet again is the Boker Trapper I mentioned above. Next to it is the Case Stag (real stag; not bone stag). Note how much fatter the handle is. I’m liking the Boker (the C75 steel is holding up pretty darned well but have not put it through as much yet as I need to ta get a real sense of how it is going to do) but wishing the handle was fat like the Case. I wish the Case had the high carbon steel. Case action is much better / smoother and finish on the Case is better for that matter. I can’t spend another near $100 to get another Case in Stag so I can cut the second blade off of it. I am starting to have evil thoughts about modding this one . . .

that’s not good . . . that’s not right . . .
still . . .

PS: and what about the the Benchmade 710 ? Oh it's a great knife . . . I'm not currently carrying it. After I got cut getting it out of my back pocket I have been at kind of a loss what I want to do with it. My MO was to carry front right pocket then while riding to work back pocket. I think my cotton handkerchief slid into the handle and had already pulled the blade part way out and that is what got me. I don't really want to carry it in a belt pouch; though I carry the Trappers in a belt pouch . . .
I don't know . . . the close up shows it still has my blood on it. I'm not shying way from it; I take it out and open and close it and study the sluggish action (see other thread). I have just sort of moved on already to the Boker Trapper and may be moving on / coming back home to the Case Trapper (albeit one bladed).

So that's how it is going . . . it's going.

 

[Ducksandcuse]

Victornox Huntsman

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[Wowbagger]

Ducksandcuse,

Are you saying you are one monthing a Victoronox Huntsman ?
or
That a Victoronox Huntsman would cure all my knife woes ?

If the former; enjoy it . . . it's a great knife; well made and stuff; I love SAKs.

If the latter; nah dude, nah. Blade too short, steel too soft, (nice and thin though; gets huge marks from me for that (after I take off that obtuse weird aced edge they put on at the factory)), handle won't roll in the hand while cutting like the Trappers (granted BETTER than the 710 in that respect).

Nah . . . I carry three SAKs on my belt all day at work, for the other tools they have; small knife long story.
Not what I am looking for in a One Month DoAll.



This knife bellow with a longer blade and longer handle but not thicker or wider AND WITH STEEL LIKE M390 now that would be a KNIFE. Oh and make it a folder.



In other words a Case Trapper in stag with one blade cut off and . . .
oh what's the use.

 

[Deer]

Challenge 1, Day 24


940-2
Only-light to moderate usage lately. Some packages, Lots of apples, random plastic few times a day. I like how fast as easy S30V is to touch up. 10-20 swipes per side on the sharpmaker angled ceramics once a week or every other week and find a huge patch of hair missing.




As of last Thursday I added a Bradford G3 to my belt but have yet to use it. Always reaching for the 940-2. Always find it hard to use a new blade that looks so beautiful. Love the way the G3 disappears under my t-shirt and forget Im even wearing it. Even sitting down and bent over I don't feel it at all

 

[Ducksandcuse]

Ducksandcuse,

Are you saying you are one monthing a Victoronox Huntsman ?
or
That a Victoronox Huntsman would cure all my knife woes ?

If the former; enjoy it . . . it's a great knife; well made and stuff; I love SAKs.

If the latter; nah dude, nah. Blade too short, steel too soft, (nice and thin though; gets huge marks from me for that (after I take off that obtuse weird aced edge they put on at the factory)), handle won't roll in the hand while cutting like the Trappers (granted BETTER than the 710 in that respect).

Nah . . . I carry three SAKs on my belt all day at work, for the other tools they have; small knife long story.
Not what I am looking for in a One Month DoAll.



This knife bellow with a longer blade and longer handle but not thicker or wider AND WITH STEEL LIKE M390 now that would be a KNIFE. Oh and make it a folder.



In other words a Case Trapper in stag with one blade cut off and . . .
oh what's the use.

Im saying if i had to carry one for a month the huntsman would be it

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[Thetimefarm]

Either a paramilitary 2 or a sebenza 21. Would depend if it was a month I was working / hanging around in town or if it was a month I was hiking and camping a lot. The Seb is a lot easier to use in an office without getting weird looks than forefinger flicking a paramilitary 2 out to open an envelope.

 

[kalan850]

it seems as though I'm late to the party! I'm taking up the challenge with my new delica 4 zome!

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[MANTLE536]

I usually change up every day, so this will be a fun challenge. Going for it with the slysz bowie.

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[Deer]

Challenge 1, Day 30

The 940-2 has won me over. I love the 940 and all of its different variants. Slimness, Lightness, Blade profile, disappears in the pocket and frequently forget I'm carrying it until I need it. It does everything from pink insulation to wire insulation jackets. Slicing hundreds of feet of 6mil plastic to slicing apples and summer sausage. The S30V blade steel. Its tough and holds a keen edge for a long while. But I did have some micro chipping in a couple spots (Sounds to be a problem with nearly all blades in S30V). However it is very easy to touch up. 10 passes on the angled ceramics on the sharpmaker and back to arm shaving for a week or longer. Overall, I love the profile/design of the knife. Will be ordering a 940-1 for the S90V blade and a 940-1501 for the 20CV blade very soon. Expecting to fall in love with this knife in S90V and will probably become one of my main EDCs for life.




Until I get the S90V within the next couple weeks..

Challenge 2, Day 1

I'm going to start carrying a Chris Reeves Large Inkosi Carbon Fiber in S35VN. Ok so I might of already started carrying it yesterday and cut a few hundred feet of 6mil plastic like a hot knife through butter. After 1 day of use I'm already madly in love with the hollow grind on this blade. First Impressions: Solid.



When it gets cold and I start wearing jeans Ill be throwing on the Bradford Guardian 3 as well. 3.5" blade of M390. .15" thick only weighing 3.56oz.

Here are the G3 and Inkosi next to the 940-2 for size comparison. The Inkosi while quite a bit larger surprisingly doesn't weight a whole lot. The 940-2 comes in at 3.4" @ 2.6oz while the Inkosi 3.6" @ 4oz flat. 940-2 blade thickness is .12" while the Inkosi is .14".

 

[kalan850]

day 15... half way there I have to say after taking this challenge and only for 15 days it's kinda making me question why I have as many knives as I do... I figured I would grow attached to the tool I use everyday instead of mixing it up... that and I feel as though selling some will provide the funds for a couple of fixed blades I'd like to try... and the madness continues lol its funny how we justify new knife purchases lol

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