Well for some reason I got back into the "tactical" knife niche for a month or so. I don't know why I did it. I think because every now and then I think about how much a one handed opening knife with a 4" blade might help me in a bad situation. I am not so sure it would to be honest with you.
Plus now I have ripped up pockets where the G10 and the clip keep riding in and out of my pockets. I was out back whittling last night and I had to get the SAK out of my pocket because the Spyderco was too big to do the little canoe that I was whittling.
Now all I want to do is sell my tactical knives and buy a bunch of old slippies. Tell me I'm not the only one who has gone through this insanity. :grumpy:
What is weird is that I have no explanation for this. I just know that I feel more comfortable when I have a SAK or a slippie on me. There have been many times where the smaller thinner blade has been able to slice through things without binding up. Plus I like to whittle and I find that a SAK sized knife is much better for this than a "tactical" knife.
Maybe it's just me, I don't know.
No bud, its not just you. I went through the same thing back in the late 70's and early 80's of trying the latest and greatest that the knife rags featured. But I recovered with the help of a few older co-workers with one in particular, who guided me back. I think its human nature to want the best and newest thing out there, but sometimes just because its new does not mean its better. You know what they say about mousetraps.
About the bad situation, I don't think one of those one hand folders will help as much as using your head to stay out of those situations. Usually preditors travel in packs, and if you're lucky to get one, then one of the others will most likely nail you in the back. If you're young and able just use Nike-foo, and get out of there at good speed. If your old and got a bum wheel under you like me, then carry a stout blackthorn walking stick and heed Teddy's advise from an old Massi proverb; "Speak softly and carry a big stick, and you will go far." The best weapon/tool you have is about 2 pounds of grey stuff between your ears, linked to your eyes.
As far as the thinner blade being able to slice through things without binding up, this is true. I've converted a number of young guys out at the Izzak Walton League I'm a member of, by just lending them a Opinel or a Victorinox tinker, or a very old Hen and Rooster stockman, and watching them get wide eyed at how easy it slices though the top of a box of clay birds, or double thick cardboard for target frame squares on the pistol range. Material that they had been struggling with trying to cut with a thick wedge ground tactical.
I think that in a large part, appreatiation of traditional slippys is an aquired taste like perked black coffee, or sipping on a stait smooth whiskey. Something that comes with lifes experiance. Sometimes we back-slide a little now and then, but thats what is so great about life, we can admit to ourselves that we made a mistake and go back to what really works for us. Being a free human being on this earth and living in a society with an open marklet, we're free to try different things and then decide what we liked or did'nt like, what worked for us and what did'nt. Then we make a dessision of what we want.
Sometimes those things change as we age, and evolve through lifes experiance. As long as we don't go through life with blinders on, we'll try many things that won't make the final cut. One day, you'll gather your children and nephews and nieces, and siblings and friends, and give away the things that you have moved beyond. You'll have the priceless joy of seeing their pleasure of receiveing while you are still around to enjoy it.
I know what you mean by being more comfortable with a sak or slippy. Once upon a time I felt I needed that husky big lockblade for Lord knows what. But in time I realized I never really used it for anything even demanding a lock, let alone that size knife. I thought back to my dad and Mr. Van, who lived whole lives durring which they camped, fished, and went about the buissness of life while using a small slip joint. Now I do the same, and I feel better equipted to deal with the real life problems that may demand a cutting tool, and aside from an Opinel or two I don't own a knife with a lock. I figure if my pocket knife can't handle it, then thats what mora's are for. And I don't read any knife magazines. They're a bad influence for the real world.
