Companion piece for daily carry?

canis · May 13, 1999

first let me say that this hobby is becoming an all consuming passion and just about all of my extra income (at least what the wife let's me have

)is spent on knives. That said, I am expecting a spyderco Civilian in the next day or so. I intend to carry this piece every day as my main defensive knife. It will be carried but not used for anything other than defensive purposes and, of course, practicing.

What are your opinions on blade length, construction and specific examples of knives that would be perfect companion pieces to your defensive carry knives? I have a Battle Mistress on the way for use when camping and hunting and I have the civilian for defense purposes. I need a knife that I can use for general utility around the office and around the house on the weekends.

Is the large sebenza my answer? Is it something else. Price is not an issue at this point so all input is welcome.

Thanks!!!

Chris Canis

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Corduroy · May 13, 1999

Geez, sounds like you have the option of going high-class, but for me the "companion" (one that does all of the work) is a Spydie Pro-Grip. It's small enough and in a friendly-enough blade shape that I can use it in public, it's got some serrations when I need them and a nice plain section for fine work, and the grip is very nice, enhanced by a little Kraton insert. The best part is it's under $50 - that's critical for me if I want to use a knife hard without guilt or worry. Maybe you'd prefer a less economical companion piece, but for me this knife's ideal!

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-Corduroy
(Why else would a bear want a pocket?)

phone_archer · May 14, 1999

What exactly do mean by general utility around the office and home? Will the knife be a letter and box opener, only? Will it perform pruning around the house? Being a little more specific may help some of us make some suggestions.

A Battle Mistress on order and considering a Sebenza - must be nice. I, personally, will probably not be able to make any suggestions in your higher price range.

Have to go before my envy turns this post green.

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Bill (Yes, we carry knives in Canada - we need them to fight off the polar bears and militant Eskimos

)

Chiro75 · May 13, 1999

Well, if price is no object, then you have a lot to choose from. I would look toward a Spyderco Calypso (actually a bit on the big side. The Jr. may be better for everyday), or an Endura, personally. Also, you can replace them several times if lost by the time it adds up to the price of a Sebenza! Also, MadPoet has started making a lockback that looks fantastic, and D-2 is awesome steel. Classy, strong, excellent quality all at a great price. See it at <a href = "http://www.angelfire.com/mn/madpoet/"> Mel's website</a>.

David Rock · May 13, 1999

My carry strategy calls for something big (3.5-4" blade), something small (+/- 3" blade), something serrated and something plain, and something for right hand and something for left hand. I can cover all the bases with two knives: A serrated Endura and a plain Delica, for example. In reality, I like to have a big plain edge as well as a small plain edge, because it's what I find most useful, and I can avoid freaking out the squares if decorum dictates. My small plain edged knife is the one that gets used the most, so the large blade (plain or serrated) is always nice and sharp.

The Civilian doesn't appeal to me much for a variety of reasons I won't go into now, but if I were committed to carrying it as my large blade, I'd make my other blade plain edged and of modest size. Something on the order of a Benchmade Leopard Cub, Spyderco Calypso Jr., etc.

David Rock

Professor · May 13, 1999

I'm with Mr. Rock on this one. You might want your daily carry utilitarian piece to be one that won't attract much attention. There's a lot of sub 3in blades out there. My favorite right now is the BM mini-axis. It's got the strength and blade style that I find to be quite useful everywhere I go. Another that I've been known to carry is the BM mini-stryker for many of the same reasons. You've got the combo blade style options in tight little packages. Availability of the mini-axis may be a bear til August, so I think the leopard cub was a fantastic offering.

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Professor

Corduroy · May 13, 1999

(Shamelessly)

If you're interested in the Cub and want something a little rare and different, I'm helping my girlfriend sell a Blue Cub (partially serrated) in the "For Sale" section. Never used, never sharpened, $65 shipped.

(OK, OK, sorry...)

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-Corduroy
(Why else would a bear want a pocket?)

Brian Lavin · May 13, 1999

Here's a plug for the smaller utility knife, a Spyderco Mini-Dyad. You get two blades, one plain one toothy, in ATS 55. Small but powerful twin lockback that won't frighten anyone, in fact they usually want to look at it. Typical Spyderco quality in a tidy package.

ICEMAN · May 13, 1999

Brian,

You're right about the Mini-Dyad. It's a sweet little knife. I've had one for about a month now and it will do about 99% of what most of us use a knife for. The Dyad is nice for the front pocket and a big honkin' mega-folder (if that's your cup of tea) or a nice little (about a 5 to 7 inch) fixed blade carried elsewhere.

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John

Nakano 2 · May 17, 1999

Greetings all. I guess it depends on ones dress code, local laws and political climate. For myself, a FIXED blade of 4" minimum in a rapid to deploy kydex sheath is tops for protective purposes. A folder of similar design/ geometry would be the ideal companion to your primary. My personal choices are a 5" Polkowski Pug (sometimes my 4" Companion) in an IWB kydex sheath and a Pat Crawford Kasper Folding Fighter(hair under 4") clipped in my pants pocket. Or a Polkowski 4" Polecat and a BM AFCK (or a mini) combo. Plus a few others scattered on my person.

As far as the Civilain goes, well, if your situation was not clean- cut (ooopps!), you may turn out to be the subject of an overzealous official branding you as a "bad" guy due to blade appearance alone. Just my thoughts.

L8r,
Nakano

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"To earn a million is easy, a real friend is not."

Mighty Jessit · May 17, 1999

Just because price is not an object doesn't mean that the best knife for you "around the home and office" is necessarily an expensive one. I think that a Civilian for defensive purposes is great--and why not just stay with an Endura, Delica or Native-- (I like the Delica... not too big, cuts great)... How much more would you want to spend to open boxes--and why would a Sebenza be any better. You could kick the crap out of the Delica without batting an eye...

Just my opinion... I too carry a Civilian and an Delica.

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Mighty Jessit.
The things we do for the knives we love.

canis · May 17, 1999

While it's true that more expensive doesn't necessarily mean better, there is a certain pleasure in owning something that is a notch above the average. It's the same pleasure in using a Mont Blanc instead of a Bic or going out for a $25.00 steak instead of going to Chili's. Of course, all things are subjective... I can't imagine spending thousands of dollars for a high end art knife!

I have a Wegner Jr. in my pocket right know and am actually pretty happy with it. Still thinking about one of those Sebenzas though...

Chris

------------------
WWW.GOODIESFROMGOODMAN.COM
Catering, Gifts, Flowers
Send your wife/girlfriend
something from us and she won't
be mad when you tell her you just
bought ANOTHER $400 knife!!