Help me decide: should I drop my tactical?

Dave 2945 I can't help you decide but I can understand your delimia. My edc combo was a trapper and a sak. Pretty useful pair imho. The trapper handled the bigger cutting chores, any food prep stuff and all the fish and game cleaning. The sak has some tools and handles the everyday utility type cutting.
I also like my little knives. I have half a dozen peanuts, half a dozen pen knives and a few more little ones. I usually carry one of those to. That puts me up to three.
So I been cruising along carrying two or three knives everyday then I bought one of those $40 Walmart Spydercos. It's my second one hand opening modern knife. The first one I bought carried and traded off in two weeks. Just wasn't for me.
This one, a Spyderco native is different. I really like it. So that brings the total up to four. I don't need them all and I don't always carry all four but I do often enough that it's not unusual for me.
I can and sometimes do get along with just one but I don't have to. I like knives so I carry what I want and have fun with it. My 2 cents.
Jim
 
you know how men make fun of their wives having 22 pairs of black shoes, well this is the man's version. if you like your setup then by all means keep it. If you look at it with a little manlogic the sak really counts more for tool than knife, i know they cut well but bare with me. the tactical knife is handy for the odd occasion where you only have one hand available, and of course for general use the trapper pops up. so in reality you're not crazy your just covering all bases. I speak as one who has carried multiple knives for longer than i care to remember and finally settled on the above reason/ excuse. please feel free to use it however there is a $1 royalty due to me when you do. it's an honor system thing.
 
I carry an old style Wave daily on my belt and any assorted traditional in my pocket.The traditional in my pocket usually remains dormant unless I need a fine cut or justy to fiddle with it like a worry stone or something. I think the older Waves do it all, they just lack bone, wood, or brass, which I seem to need.
 
Dang it, you guys are so right. Like I said I am in a predicament of sorts. I carry only what I will ever need, it is just an SAK. I carry what I really dig, it's the SAK and my trapper. Might as well through in one of my lockers with exotic steel and live with it. I suppose that is why I am a knife nut...
 
On most days a SAK would certainly cover all my needs, but I enjoy carrying other knives as well. I've made peace with my addiction and no longer try to justify every knife I carry.

My usual EDC is a one hand opening knife, a traditional knife and a SAK. Plus I carry a SwissTool Spirit and a fixed blade in my bag. Do I need all these knives? Certainly not, I don't need my first aid kit daily, nor my flashlight, but I like having them. Besides, I've managed to fit everything neatly into a nice looking briefcase for city carry, and a small bag when I go out to the farm (my regular days are kind of weird 50% urban, 50% rural).
 
Franciscomv said:
I've managed to fit everything neatly into a nice looking briefcase for city carry, and a small bag when I go out to the farm (my regular days are kind of weird 50% urban, 50% rural).
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...a little bit country, a little bit rock 'n' roll. ;)
 
Carry what ya want, drive and ride what ya want..
They are all only material things.
Its your life and its up to you to do whatever it is that makes YOU happy, even if some others Don't agree with it......
 
Just carry what you want and be happy with it. I carry a case medium stockman and a Buck 110 everday. My mom thinks that's kindof wierd but hey.
 
I carry a Case Large Stockman in CV a Leatherman Micro a Wenger folding fingernail clipper set and a One hand opening Folder (I don't like the term tactical) these days a Spyderco Delica but I rotate occasionally. I also sometimes carry a fixed blade on my belt do I need all these knives no but I like carrying them and using them. The least used is the Stockman but I carry it for for nolstaga and for the occasional sheaple factor.
 
The SAK is just a great sheeple.general use knife, any other knife I rotate is more for me and depends on what I'm doing. Actually just used the trapper to help one of the the ladies here in the office remove a tag from a jacket.
 
dave2945 said:
Help me decide: should I drop my tactical
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Well, if you do, hope that it has yeller handles, so you'll be able to find it again... :D

I'm a hard core slipjoint user and had a Delica clipped to my pocket this weekend for chores around the house. I don't like that the VG-10 super steel blade tends to chip if you apply any lateral stress on it whatsoever, but the clip is handy when I'm wearing floppy shorts with loose pockets, which slipjoints tend to fall out of.

-- Sam
 
First off, I hate the word tactical as it is used so often today.

Second, A SAK to me with anything more than just knife blades, is a Multi-Tool.
A SAK Classic SD is a multi-tool to me.
The Sentry, Pocket Pal and Solo , SAKs without tools, are just pocket-knives , to me.

Third, it is all good.

We have had for many years locking knives that are most useful, such as Electrician's Knives.
Heck the Military used to issue these, and I am not sure if they still do.

So the "tack-tickle" crowd, be they mfgs or consumers, might have their heads explode if they get to thinking about a "gee whiz honest to goodness knife used by Military being a Electrician's knife.

Staying with the Electricians knife, many companies have Health and Safety Officers.

HSOs have Protocol in employee safety is a concern.
Regulations state, a worker uses approved tools for tasks.

This covers everyone's behind when it comes to Insurance.
Employee health plans come into play.

This is why some places do not want, or allow some employees to use a non-locking knife.
They give them a box cutter, and "zip" letter opener.
Maybe they won't cut themselves opening a box, or poke themselves reaching in a drawer for a traditional letter opener.

Electrician, is approved by HSO a Electrician's knife.
If he /she goes to HSO and asks for permission to use a Buck 110, often times they are approved for their job description or that task.

Spyderco Delica, may be approved as well by a HSO is one states the concern for a one hand opening knife , and it locks.


There is a place for all knives, be they traditional, locking, one hand assisted opening, or multi-tool such as a SAK Tinker, or Leatherman .

Better to hold onto things, as one never knows what they may encounter for task, and any rules, regulations or protocol.


Then again I am the guy that was visiting a place, and the hand held can opener would not work, and used a Case Stockman with CV blades to open tin cans.
And some other tasks many are not familiar with seeing a "pocket knife" used for.

No SAKs, with bottle, can, or cork screw either.

I knew the HSO, she grinned, it was sorta funny showing folks how to use a pocket knife and share some skill sets.

Yes one can open a bottle of Coke, tin cans and even get a cork out of a wine bottle, with a Case Stockman.
 
sm2 said:
Yes one can open a bottle of Coke, tin cans and even get a cork out of a wine bottle, with a Case Stockman.
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By the same token, you can do with a SAK anything that can be done with a Case Stockman, IMHO.
 
Alright, now I know how to open a bottle top with anything from a dollar bill to my teeth, and the wine bottle's cork I could do without chipping the blade by taking some care and using a piece of string. I'm still curious how you open a tin can with a stockman though without damaging the edge, or do you just open the can with no regard for the edge and sharpen later? Inquiring minds want to know :p


Gautier
 
Dang Whippersnappers! *wink*

1. In the break room slice the cheese, and meat with a Stockman for the Pretty girl with the SAK with can opener, bottle opener, corkscrew, ....

And she will be sooo impressed you used a Stockman like "da-dee" and "grand-paw" she opens the tin cans and cokes or bottle of wine.

Strategies & Tactics was around long before teh Intrawebz *yep*

2.
Spey blade is often sharpened to be the "dull" blade for many that sharpen each blade on a stockman differently.

(a) Score an "X" and cut the "X" whereby one can lift up the points.
Added tidbit, is being able to fold over this "V" and use a stick to retrieve cans off coals - say heating up a can of beans or soup.

(b) Sheepsfoot is often the "work" or "dull" blade for others, so one can also just get the "point" inserted around the can and work it like a can opener or P-38 [the old military issue can opener that came with C-Rations].

Again, leave the top of can attached, to allow for handling the can with cooking.

Either blade, the spey or sheepsfoot works, just a matter of preference.
Practice on the bottom of a Styrofoam cup, a empty plastic butter tub and the like.
Practice safety with technique on something easy to cut.


Option 1 is still always a good one. *grin*
 
Carry what you want... I stopped carrying my tactical at the beginning of this year b/c I got tired of carrying around so much stuff and the tactical was the only redundant item (I also carry a Vic Pioneer). I haven't needed the one handed feature or a lock in the last 6 months.
 
I say switch it up, Carry what you feel like and enjoy the Knives that you have. I don't think there is a Right or Wrong in what someone carries.
 
Hey Dave! Ive always said carry whatever knives you want, and as many as you want. As long as your pants stay up you're good!
 
sm2 said:
I am the guy that was visiting a place, and the hand held can opener would not work, and used a Case Stockman with CV blades to open tin cans.
And some other tasks many are not familiar with seeing a "pocket knife" used for.

No SAKs, with bottle, can, or cork screw either. ...

Yes one can open a bottle of Coke, tin cans and even get a cork out of a wine bottle, with a Case Stockman.
Click to expand...

mnblade said:
By the same token, you can do with a SAK anything that can be done with a Case Stockman, IMHO.
Click to expand...

sm2 said:
Dang Whippersnappers! *wink*

1. In the break room slice the cheese, and meat with a Stockman for the Pretty girl with the SAK with can opener, bottle opener, corkscrew, ....

And she will be sooo impressed you used a Stockman like "da-dee" and "grand-paw" she opens the tin cans and cokes or bottle of wine.
Click to expand...

Ah, impressing the ladies! Powerful point, sm2. :D

Some might find it interesting that, here in Europe, a SAK is considered a traditional and will get a similar reaction; they're the knives a gal's dad or grandpa likely carried. I've been living here off and on since 1993 and I don't think I've ever seen an "older" guy using a folding knife that wasn't a SAK (or at least a cheapo SAK type knife). I've yet to see an old timer using a stockman or trapper or whittler or the like, even though so many good ones have been made in Germany, right next door.

I don't write this in the spirit of "proving a point." Just thought some might find it interesting. :)
 
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