Challenge: EDC Something New !GAW FROM TSARBOMBA PG. 5!

[GaiusJulius]

I have been EDCing a TC Barlow Single Spey for the last week. This is not my first choice of knife, but I wanted to see how I could get along with just a Spey blade. The answer seems to be: pretty well. The spey is a phenomenal slicer, and I keep it sharp enough to whittle hair, so the lack of a point is no big deal since the belly can slice-penetrate whatever needs to be cut (mostly envelopes, plastic packaging wrap, tape, and so forth. The blade profile is singularly great for breakfast, too. Finally, I'd venture to say the length is "just right." It's long enough to reach out, but short and stout enough that it's very solid and gives excellent control. I never feel like the blade is going to go anywhere except exactly where I want it. Finally, as a worry stone the knife is phenomenal. It's pretty, and the blade opens so nicely, and closes with such a crisp and satisfying action, that I can't resist opening and closing the thing a half dozen times a day. The jigging is smooth and luscious to the touch, yet provides a really solid grip. I doubt this will become my preferred knife, because I miss having a pen blade (maybe mostly for psychological reasons rather than because of any real lack of functionality), but it's a very solid choice and I'm enjoying carrying it.

 

[TsarBomba]

I have been EDCing a TC Barlow Single Spey for the last week. This is not my first choice of knife, but I wanted to see how I could get along with just a Spey blade. The answer seems to be: pretty well. The spey is a phenomenal slicer, and I keep it sharp enough to whittle hair, so the lack of a point is no big deal since the belly can slice-penetrate whatever needs to be cut (mostly envelopes, plastic packaging wrap, tape, and so forth. The blade profile is singularly great for breakfast, too. Finally, I'd venture to say the length is "just right." It's long enough to reach out, but short and stout enough that it's very solid and gives excellent control. I never feel like the blade is going to go anywhere except exactly where I want it. Finally, as a worry stone the knife is phenomenal. It's pretty, and the blade opens so nicely, and closes with such a crisp and satisfying action, that I can't resist opening and closing the thing a half dozen times a day. The jigging is smooth and luscious to the touch, yet provides a really solid grip. I doubt this will become my preferred knife, because I miss having a pen blade (maybe mostly for psychological reasons rather than because of any real lack of functionality), but it's a very solid choice and I'm enjoying carrying it.

A beautiful Barlow, and while I sympathize with your reluctance to EDC it because it's only a single-blade, I must admit that your TC has one of my top two or three most-desired configurations of all the GEC Barlows. I'm glad to hear that it is so versatile. :thumbup:

I brought my little pearl friend with me to grab a bite today and sat at one of the outdoor tables to take advantage of the light, but it seems nature was conspiring against me. I wanted to take a pic of my week's carry alongside the oat bar I bought with my coffee, perhaps get a "before" and "after" set. But within seconds of using the little fella to slice open the bag and make an impromptu plate for my meal, something ominous started to happen as I began trying to get the "before" picture...



Turns out the birds living nearby have no fear of humans, camera phones, or knives! Suddenly I was being stalked by tiny birds; one above, one below. And it wasn't long before they brought reinforcements!



Next thing I know, one bird is flanking me down low and the birdy-come-lately is taking the high ground, running point for the whole operation!



At this point I resigned myself to the inevitability of nature having its way. I broke off a few pieces and gingerly pushed them to the edge of the table. The interlopers swooped in, grabbed their bounty, and took wing with their ill-gotten gains! I was left only with a disappointing "after" scene...



The moral of this story is: Nature always finds a way.

 

[TsarBomba]

The last day of the challenge work week! My trusty MOP pen was with me the whole way, even as I powered through a hectic day at work. When I finally got a chance to stop and grab a meal, my big #75 stockman was front and center in cutlery duties. He's a big, assertive fella so this happens a lot.



Unfortunately my little pearl equal-ender was stuck on the sideslines with his big buddy, the Camillus TL-29, trying to find a way to get involved in the goings-on.



After this exhausting work day had come to an end, I arrived home only to find a package, and a perfect opportunity for the little fella to spring into action!



Thanks to its still-full and needle-sharp pen blade, a Japanese fish knife with surprisingly nice bone handles was freed from its postal prison.



After such a Keen Kut, our pearl Prince Charming happily retired to his pocket slip -- another crisis averted thanks to the EDC Challenge. :thumbup:

 

[ConBon]

That is a beautiful barlow, and I cant deny that i would feel out of sorts with only a spey blade. But its good to see you went through with it!
Funny story with the birds, and I'm glad to see you've enjoyed the challenge Tsar!
I myself have yet to sharpen up my soddie, its taking quite a bit of work, so instead I'm gonna use my case stockman I never carried before because the snap was mushy. Maybe I'll learn to not judge a dog by its bark, but its bite .

Connor

 

[Crazy Canuck]

This thread inspired me to give it a try last week with a new arrival. I paired my new to me Case/Bose Norfolk with a Bark River PSK, and into the pocket they went, Friday to Friday. I did mix it up a bit this weekend.

Lessons from the week, I really love not having to mess around every morning picking out my knife for the day That's pretty surprising, because that's an activity I've come to enjoy... I also like how you get to know the knife a little better as the week goes on, and I found myself enjoying the worry-stone habit more, as my fingers started knowing just where to go. Other than that, day to day activities were the same. Knife did its job as needed, just like another would have.

Final verdict: Loved it, and into the rotation it goes

I enjoyed this challenge so much, I'm doing it again this week I went deeper into the knife drawer for this coming week, and found one I really enjoyed when I got it, but it kept getting bumped lower in the rotation as new additions came in. A Charlie SFO, True Harness Jack #7. Keeping the PSK again this week, as I've forgotten how much I enjoy having a small fixed blade to compliment my folder.

 

[TsarBomba]

Last week's challenge went pretty smashingly -- my pearl Keen Kutter will be one of the few equal-enders in my rotation -- so I decided to seek out another neglected traditional for this week's selection. It was rather difficult, and I kept running into knives that would be "convenient" for a week but weren't quite neglected or excluded from carry. Eventually I settled on a little folder that probably won't spark much interest among forum readers but I figured it would put the "challenge" into "EDC Challenge".





At just a hair over 2 3/4" closed this little Imperial jack is the smallest knife I've yet carried. For size reference with a Queen #51T and a Case #75:



Being stuck inside today, I made sure the little Imperial pulled its own weight today. Phase one of storage expansion started with a single cut:

 

[r redden]

Well I stayed with the challenge and only carried the RR Congress this week. I had taken some photos of what it had cut but like the idiot I am I erased them before I posted them. It broke down some light cardboard, plastic gallon tea jugs, cut some paracord a couple of apples and the biggest thing was some 3'4" nylon rope that was almost to much for it and I won't try it again. All in all I have a renewed respect for that little Congress and will keep it and carry it. Now its out of the pocket and replaced with my Farm and Field #47 Hayin' Helper single blade sheepfoot that came last week. The real challenge was to not put the 47 in my pocket when it came.

 

[ConBon]

The real challenge was to not put the 47 in my pocket when it came.

I don't think I could resist carrying the hayn helper, you've got a strong will!

Tsar, glad to see you're still at it, it seems to be that it's a lot easier to do this week after week if you carry multiple knives.

Everyone, good work and nice knives!
I'm still forcing myself to carry the Case, as I haven't used it in the past four days I've carried it. Maybe I'll grab my mora instead of opi for my rough EDC. Heres a quick pic of my Mora in action.

Cpnnor

 

[r redden]

Those Mora's are great knives I have four. One my wife took from me and uses in the kitchen, one on my work bench, one in my SUV and one in my tackle box. Can't beat them for the money.

 

[TsarBomba]

It's been a hellacious week, been so worried I haven't even had time to use a worry stone. A couple days of nose-to-grindstone will hopefully help get a handle on things. My little Imperial lent a hand getting some packages out today which was greatly appreciated, although the MAM in my other pocket didn't much appreciate being neglected on its very first day out in the world.

 

[Hickory n steel]

I just got this bulldog brand baby saddle horn trapper today and decided take your challenge and use it as a secondary ( sheeple knife ) folder, replacing my buck 283 that I've carried for a year. And I've already used while making a leather pocket sleeve for it.

 

[TsarBomba]

Nice saddlehorn, Hickory n steel! I like the pocket slip, too. I think your design has convinced me to try using a single piece of leather first -- cuts down on the stitching, which I am not properly wired for.

Today's going to be another nose-to-grindstone day in the office, but thankfully my little Imperial has already performed the most important cutting job of the day: Opening a new tin of mints. I'm sure my co-workers are thankful.

 

[Hickory n steel]

Nice saddlehorn, Hickory n steel! I like the pocket slip, too. I think your design has convinced me to try using a single piece of leather first -- cuts down on the stitching, which I am not properly wired for.

Today's going to be another nose-to-grindstone day in the office, but thankfully my little Imperial has already performed the most important cutting job of the day: Opening a new tin of mints. I'm sure my co-workers are thankful.

Thanks it's a real simple 5min project ( mine has some stick on velcro in the top that may need to be glued or sewn in ) you can't tell that the little buck has been in my pocket for a year can you believe it or not I didn't wet form it, I just stuck it in the and tossed it in my pocket for the past year. ( by the way thanks for the new term " pocket slip" that's what I'll call them now )

 

[TsarBomba]

Thanks it's a real simple 5min project ( mine has some stick on velcro in the top that may need to be glued or sewn in ) you can't tell that the little buck has been in my pocket for a year can you believe it or not I didn't wet form it, I just stuck it in the and tossed it in my pocket for the past year. ( by the way thanks for the new term " pocket slip" that's what I'll call them now )

I noticed that at first glance, it is now a fully-form-fitting Buck case. What kind of leather did you use? I would like to make sure I'm using something with the right amount of "give" to it as I try making a couple for starters.

Thanks for sharing!

 

[Hickory n steel]

I just buy 5lb bags of leather scrap from Michael's, or whatever craft store they have where you live. I think this stuff was furniture leather but they do sell non scrap stuff ( though I usually get more 8oz type leather per bag than I got this time ) . The new slip is a much softer leather, while the buck slip is a much stiffer leather that's just as thin but not as fuzzy, and I would've used it if I had any left.

 

[TsarBomba]

I've got a few small sheets of what should be usable, thread, needles, small-gauge punches if I go that route. But I think I might start out just hand-stitching a foldover style slip like yours, it seems to work well for the intended knives, which are small but a little stout (old red bone Case peanut and even older red bone barehead #24, neither exceeding 3" tall). I may lose the ability to form-fit the knife using leather with a little less give but I think it will protect and secure the knives a little better in the end.

 

[TsarBomba]

My little Imperial helped welcome Friday morning with style as I stopped at the 'spensive coffee place to pick up a little breakfast and some get-up-and-go juice. Here you can see it striking a blow against breakfast bars for stainless steel.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

End of the week, and starting the next. I'm finding myself really enjoying the week-long carry of the same knife.

Last weeks' carry:

Not a lot to report, other than that I really missed this knife! Gave 'er a good stropping and oiled the joints today, and back in the drawer it goes until next time.

This weeks' contender...

Queen small stockman, and of course, the PSK will be accompanying it this week (3rd week running, but may get bumped next week when the Little Creek LT arrives).

(Sorry for the fuzzy focus...)

 

[SadSappySucker]

I really like this idea. About three days ago I decided I'm going to start carrying my 71 that a very generous forum member gifted me. I typically don't carry single bladed knives, and I have grown very fond of straight edge blades. So this one has been neglected quite a bit.
So far it is going great. There are times that I throw another knife into my pocket just cuz, but I have made an effort to only use the 71.

 

[ConBon]

I really like this idea. About three days ago I decided I'm going to start carrying my 71 that a very generous forum member gifted me. I typically don't carry single bladed knives, and I have grown very fond of straight edge blades. So this one has been neglected quite a bit.
So far it is going great. There are times that I throw another knife into my pocket just cuz, but I have made an effort to only use the 71.

I am with you a lot, I love multiple blades and sheepsfoots more than anything else. I'm still carrying my Case SS medium stockman, I feel like it just doesn't get enough work yet to really be evaluated. I've been forcing myself to only carry my stainless knives, so a SAK and the case were on me all last week.

This week I'll try to carry my case stockman as a heavy duty use knife, and my case single blade trapper for everything else.

Gonna try to fix up my Queen stockman this week too, and throw that in the pocket for a while.

Great pics, great knives, and good job keeping one knife in the pocket all week folks, it's a nice change of pace and good way to enjoy what you have got.

Connor