Full house...

[Gary W. Graley]

For the past few years I've cycled through many many knives, getting down to as little as possible, partly because we had intentions of moving from our house of 34 years to be closer to our grand children and this past summer we finally sold our home and moved. But, of course I still love knives, for me to get something new, something old has to part ways in order to fund the next one.

I think of knives as necessary things and for myself I have 'roles' that each one plays, below are a few that fill some of the roles that to my way of thinking works well.

and Snoopy seems to approve of the choices

The BIG one is El Chete by Tops, wicked chopper, along it's handle is a very nice small fixed blade by Nathan Carothers aka designed by Lorien one that I would never be without. Moving along is a new partner to this family a Kizer Envoy, I am surprised how keen their S35vn took an edge ! along side that is an oldy but a goodie Black Forest whittler and lastly a SAK Executive, which is one of the longest lasting knives in my collection.

There are other knives I still have, as well as Tools like the Swiss Army Tool and all the SAK folders, but these cover most all the bases.

IMG_4560 by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

So, Be Prepared, a good motto
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[Velitrius]

Bases covered is right, Gary... nice assortment.

I looked at the El Chete, but I can't get over the Kukri from Cold Steel. I'm just so used to it now.

I need to find an Alox Rambler to add to my stash... but I think I'm close.

Well assembled, my friend.

 

[J D Wijbenga]

Nice selection of good looking and practical knives Gary!

 

[Gary W. Graley]

Thanks guys, the big boy El Chete is a full 12" chopper, I've used it on some tree's that needed trimming and chopped them up on a 4x4 block of treated lumber as an anvil, not a smidgen of edge bein dulled at all, worked great! I had a friend at work laser engrave a Celtic Cross and the word Kindness on the back side, as well as 7 smaller Celtic crosses down the spine of the blade, she's quite fetching

Untitled by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

and Nathan Carothers EDC is super nice and exceedingly sharp as well

Nathan_Carothers_EDC by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

Kizer did a very nice job on the Envoy, about perfect, I made a couple changes, had a Celtic endless knot engraved on the flipper tab and then a rectangle along the top of the lock bar, as the lock bar was a tad slippery to try and push aside to unlock, it needed something there and with that little bit of engraving it now works great;

Untitled by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

Untitled by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

The Black Forest was made in Solingen Germany and a very handy size folder/whittler pattern with great texture in the stag

Untitled by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

Untitled by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

Untitled by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

and the SAK Executive, well, it's just an all around useful tool, small scissors, orange peeler with small screwdriver tip, fingernail cleaner/file and two small blades as well as the toothpick and tweezers all makes for a handy unit to have.

In my back left pocket, not seen in the group shot, rides my small Spyderco Urban in K390 I forget sometimes that it's there, but when needed, she is super keen Thanks again Ken !
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