Disaster Scenario

GatorMedic said:
If so, which one(s)? If not, why would you personally view a knife as non-essential?
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I have little to no actual need for a pocket knife. I lived for decades without carrying one. They were a hobby for me during a period when I had a little extra discretionary spending money and time to devote to a hobby. In a post disaster scenario such as you describe, I would likely have neither. I am too old to fully recover financially from such a loss and would have a greatly reduced lifestyle. I would probably eschew all things not utterly necessary. Much of the "stuff" I have accumulated over the years is unnecessary anyway, so a clean start with the minimum would be how I would approach it.
 
I really only collect 2 things, both begun in my youth: knives and comic books. Both are valuable to me and I'd be sad to lose either collection but the comics are pure nostalgic indulgence whereas the knives are ALSO useful everyday tools. I'd definitely be replacing knives almost immediately.
 
Takamura R2 210mm would be probably the first real cutting tool I would buy. Ikea $5 type knives would have to do before it.
Opinel #8 and Delica would be possible next buys.

Once cash flow is there, I would try some new things most likelly and perhaps replace some others without any priority.
 
People have lost everything in natural disasters such as floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, and lastly fire. The flooding in SE Texas brings to mind such things, but a lot of your possessions could be saved with this flood scenario.

Immediate replacements > (1) The computer, printer, and software would happen very quickly even if I was living in a motel room. (2) The cell phone. (3) The Vic Adventurer SAK. (4) TV because it would please my wife. (5) One vehicle. I would be shopping for this stuff pretty much as soon as the shock wore off and probably Day 2 after the event.

One side of this issue is that I most likely would have a knife in my pocket during the disaster and it would probably be a SAK as it usually is rather than a couple.
 
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GatorMedic said:
So you would not own any knives a month or two later? I'm assuming a kitchen knife would probably be among your new possessions a month or two later, but kitchen knives isn't really the focus of this thread. So no pocket knives at all? Or would you buy a knife to hold you over to complete tasks until you are potentially able to get one you really enjoy again?
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Well I would get some kind of normal production knife and then I would probably order new knife from maker but it would be different knife not a replacement.
 
Maybe an ESEE 4. I would imagine I would want a fixed blade over a folder in that circumstance. But something not overly expensive. I'll probably look for a used one first, I would imagine you need to funds for other stuff as well.


Further down the line I would need a PM 2 in m390, ZT 0562CF, and GSO 5.1.
 
This would suck.

The stuff I have right now that I'd want to replace can't be readily replaced.

The CUDA stuff from Camillus USA, the Jess Horn models from Spyderco, Schrade USA Sharpfinger...

Bob Ogg isn't going to brew me up another custom slipjoint...

Guess I'd grab a replacement SAK, replace the LM Wingman, pick up another BM Bugout and a custom FB of some sort.

And haunt the Exchange in hopes of replacing the unavailable stuff.
 
GatorMedic said:
My scenario and timeline were specifically picked. Disasters make you reassess, make more deliberate choices, and determine what is essential. The timeline of a month or two later is the critical juncture. At that time you are past the initial survival mode during the disaster and immediately following in the few days afterward. You are back to a semblance of normal life.
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That scenario is a LOT different than the one you proposed initially. You stressed "disaster." You said nothing about being back to "normal life."

So basically this is the space alien scenario that I mentioned earlier, except that they take all your knives and let you buy new ones. No disaster, just "if you got rid of your knives and started over, what would you buy first?" Correct?
 
marcinek said:
That scenario is a LOT different than the one you proposed initially. You stressed "disaster." You said nothing about being back to "normal life."

So basically this is the space alien scenario that I mentioned earlier, except that they take all your knives and let you buy new ones. No disaster, just "if you got rid of your knives and started over, what would you buy first?" Correct?
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I don't see how it is any different at all. I stated in the original post and in subsequent, follow up posts that this scenario is what knives would you re-buy a month or two after a disaster in which you lose all your possessions. You do begin to go back to "normal life" after a disaster obviously, although the before and after version of normal life can be very different if one chooses or if the event is significantly life-changing enough. The timeline can be different depending on exactly what disaster it is, how widespread, etc but one to two months after it has ended is an interesting junction point of when you still feel the effects but are far enough removed from survival mode, and I'm curious how this specific time period would impact your decision making in regards to knives. As I said, "disasters make you reassess, make more deliberate choices, and determine what is essential" so the disaster is an important, integral part of the scenario.
 
Disaster makes me lose all my knives and I need something to survive the aftermath of the disaster. So I get a Leatherman with the tools I need for survival. That is how I read the scenario you proposed in your OP. Seems many have taken it the same way.

Now, if I'm past the "survival" stage, and rebuilding my knife collection from scratch, that is entirely different. It sounds like that is what you are talking about.

In that scenario, fist thing I want to get is what are always on my person, a Vic Classic and an Opinel. Maybe then a nice Case Peanut for that warm, fuzzy. Then a fixed blade. At this point I think my first fixed blade would be a Fallkniven F1.
 
marcinek said:
Disaster makes me lose all my knives and I need something to survive the aftermath of the disaster. So I get a Leatherman with the tools I need for survival. That is how I read the scenario you proposed in your OP. Seems many have taken it the same way.

Now, if I'm past the "survival" stage, and rebuilding my knife collection from scratch, that is entirely different. It sounds like that is what you are talking about.

In that scenario, fist thing I want to get is what are always on my person, a Vic Classic and an Opinel. Maybe then a nice Case Peanut for that warm, fuzzy. Then a fixed blade. At this point I think my first fixed blade would be a Fallkniven F1.
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The survival stage is very short, a day to a week or two. You have a fire that destroys your home, the survival mode gets you out of the flames, and then the immediate aftermath of finding temporary shelter. You have a hurricane then you survive the initial storm surge, flood waters, wind, and then find food, water, and shelter while without most power for a few days to a week or two. A month or two after the disastrous event, whatever it may be, has occurred you are no longer in survival mode. You are in rebuilding mode and thus beginning to go back to "normal life." However, the impact of the recent events is still close enough in time and mental forefront that your decision making is impacted differently then how it will be 20 years later when the trauma isn't as fresh. So yes, you are rebuilding but a traumatic, major rebuild of all possessions which is different than someone just taking your knife collection away. Are you going to immediately go buy 500 knives after such a disaster? Highly doubtful. But you might go re-buy one or a few knives that are most essential to you. What you view as most essential will probably change after such a traumatic event. That's where my scenario/question is aiming to discover. This response is more telling than your original answer so it seems we're on the same page as each other now. :)
 
One issue might be > Is this "hypothetical disaster" local (a city or just your house), regional like a hurricane or earthquake, or nation wide like a super volcano or EMP strike? The bigger it is the more you are stuck with what's in your pockets. No FedEx or UPS deliveries. ;)
 
I'd replace a Reeve Nkonka and a Medford wharncliffe karambit. Those would take care of just about every weekday and weekend. Also need a chef's, paring, a fillet, and a small fixed blade with a little belly, but those are flexible.

Great thread idea btw. I'm downsizing because collecting has gotten boring; nowadays, I like to use my stuff. I hunt, fish, camp, and play at martial arts so I can jusify a few, but utility is more interesting to me than collectability these days.
 
marcinek said:
Since I would then be in a post-disaster scenario, Leatherman.
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jc57 said:
I would have other problems to worry about if I lost all of my possessions. Knives would be way, way down the priority list. At some point I would probably buy 3 inexpensive kitchen knives to allow for cooking, assuming I still had a place to live and cook, and perhaps a SAK. Clothing, food, water, a shelter, a place to sleep, bathroom, a way to get to my job, all come way before things like knives.
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Both of these. I'd probably make it my priority to get a leatherman 300 or Vic Swiss Tool. Then a Mora. There's going to be a lot of work to be done and I'd want the hard working knives to take priority.
 
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