How do you choose which knife or knives you carry...and how many?

[Wheeler80]

I don't have a big collection so it's not that hard. I just grab whichever one (or 2 or 3) looks good to me that day .

 

[Dr-Mabuse]

Here's something I posted in Jan. 2016 that is still quite an accurate description of my approach to choosing knives to carry. I think since I first posted this, I've added a couple of categories (Alox SAK and Peanut-ish) to what I carry each week. Also, as I've acquired more knives, the schedule currently covers 20 weeks, not 12, and is badly in need of a major update, hopefully by Memorial Day.

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Starting last September, my weekly carry has been determined by a schedule I worked out at the end of the summer. I updated the schedule on New Year's Day to incorporate my new acquisitions throughout the last few months of 2015. Here's what the new schedule looks like:

It's a grid in which each column lists 8 knives to carry that week in each of 8 categories/rows (stockman, canoe, European, etc.) as well as 2 knives for the kitchen. The new schedule contains a 12-week rotation that enables me to carry each of my knives for at least a week every 3 months or so. I've been very happy with the way a schedule like this saves me time when it comes to selecting knives to carry! :thumbup:
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- GT

I could never stick to a schedule but the fact that you made this is incredible. It's so over the top and indicative of a love of knives that I aspire to.

 

[Planterz]

I've been carrying a bunch at a time lately. No matter what, I've have my Victorinox Cybertool 29 in my left front pocket. Have so for at least a decade. Right front pocket has whatever I feel like carrying any particular day. Lately it's been my new Jim Dunlap. Right cargo pant pocket carries my Opinel 6 carbone (which I'll probably switch with my 6 in oak and INOX come monsoon season), and left cargo pocket holds my MAM sheepsfoot. Plus one or two modern knives clipped in each pocket.

I've been carrying so many at the same time because most are recently acquired. I don't need all of that, even at work. Just enjoying my new toys/tools.

 

[AShearer]

I am most likely way overthinking this, but first with any new knife, I decide if it's going to be a user or a safe queen. Even though I don't have a safe, I keep my "nice" stuff in a cabinet. Nice, does not mean all really nice knives, it has more to do with whether I would ever possibly sell that knife? So, then I end up with a group of users as show below. From those, I decide what and where I am likely to be that day and choose based on my projected needs and if it's applicable whether I might spook somebody.

 

[Bugdoc]

Ditto rye_a. One at a time as the spirit moves. Trying to carry each for a week at least. Pocket size weekdays, a bigger folder or fixed blade weekends.

Henry thanks for the intro to the higonokami. Looks like a Douk Douk. Learning something new here all the time

 

[Ernie1980]

I like variety, so I have (sort of) rotation. Some knives are carried more often than others, but all get carried at least every so often. If I notice that I am passing over a knife that is up in the rotation, I put it up for sale to get something new that will get carried. There are times that a specific knife pops into my head, and then it might get moved up in the rotation or added as a second (or sometimes third...)knife

 

[sticktodrum]

Quite honestly which knife I carry on any given day depends simply on what I feel like. I only carry 1 knife and my preference is in the 3.5" range. I typically carry one knife for months with some days feeling like something different. May change quicker if I get something new and want give it a try. Obviously there will be times where certain knives are inappropriate, not allowed, or clothes restricted. But in general this is what I do. Right now is mainly my ZT 0801TI

This is essentially my practice as well. I carried the same knife for about a year since last Blade Show, only recently switching to another when a new one came along that I really liked.

 

[Ironbut]

I always have an Alox Cadet in my left pocket for minor prying, screw tightening, etc. What I carry in the other pocket varies from Barlows, stockmen, sometimes a Sebenza or a Spyderco. It depends on my mood.

It's nice to have choices.

 

[knarfeng]

How do you choose which knife or knives you carry? Do you have a typical rotation? How many do you carry?

Me: I carry 3 usually...not that I use all of them constantly, but just have a tough time choosing some days. I rotate two almost every day...my one constant carry is my SAK.

Of course, what I am doing, or where I am going dictates my carry habits.

I carry one or two knives. (Unless you count the SAK classic on my key ring which I kind of don't because I find it awkward to use as a knife while still attached to my keys). Always a smaller knife (3 - 3 3/4") in my front pocket and frequently a larger knife in my back pocket or in a belt sheath.

I carry whatever I decide will best please me that day. Sometimes it's the same knives I've been carrying for a week. Sometimes it's one which I've not carried for months.

 

[Hickory n steel]

I carry one or two knives. (Unless you count the SAK classic on my key ring which I kind of don't because I find it awkward to use as a knife while still attached to my keys). Always a smaller knife (3 - 3 3/4") in my front pocket and frequently a larger knife in my back pocket or in a belt sheath.

I carry whatever I decide will best please me that day. Sometimes it's the same knives I've been carrying for a week. Sometimes it's one which I've not carried for months.

I am basically the same way with my leatherman fuse, it's always there but not for its knife blade so I really don't count it as a knife.

 

[popedandy]

It depends on where I will be and what I will be doing. For work (office) I normally carry a Case Canoe just because it suits me, although sometimes I will go with a Victorinox Cadet. Outside of work is where I get some real variation, depending on whether I will just be around the house or working in the yard or in the woods.

 

[Sabercat]

The following knives may be carried at anytime if it best suits my plans for the day...

GEC #42 Trader
Case medium stockman
Case Russlock
GEC #66 Calf Roper
GEC #89 Riverboat Gambler
Case Wharncliffe mini trapper

HOWEVER...almost everyday it's my #83 Tascosa drop point lockback. I would not be exaggerating if I estimated it gets carried 98% of the time. It's the perfect size for me to carry, and has enough blade to handle almost every task with ease.

Hopefully GEC does another run of them before I wear mine out.

 

[Peregrin]

It's 2 or 3 for me. If I'm home or in the woods it's a sheath knife with a 3" to 3.5" blade, a nice single blade traditional in the 3.5"-4" range and a 3-4.5" OHO.
I've got a lot of knives to choose from but I don't spend a lot of time thinking about which ones. I have my favorites and it's kind of grab and go.
Of course that can change at the drop of a hat. It's a knife nut thing I guess.

 

[Jfowler]

My everyday carry is a large plain Jane sebenza and a traditional. 99% of the time its a gec of some sort . I rotate usually every week or two and carry anything from a northfield Barlow to a beer scout or bullnose. But I do notice I have a 77 frame in my pocket more than any other .

 

[jc57]

Ignoring the Victorinox Mini Champ on my keyring (if you count that, add one to everything)...

I usually carry one or two. A small one in my jeans change pocket. If I am only carrying one pocket knife that day, that's the one. Some days I will carry a second one in my right back pocket.

I have a fairly small pool of knives for each of those two positions. I don't really have a "rotation" per se, I just pick what I feel like unless there is a particular need for a certain size or type of knife. Most of the time I just carry the same two knives every day for weeks or months at a time.

 

[Lapedog]

I usually carry one blade at a time. Maximum two. (not including my little keychain SAK)

The way I decide is based on what I will be doing. Most days I am just edcing a knife so I go through my rotation of knives that I enjoy carrying for that task. (We're talking my CRKs, or my 940, maybe my ZT 0562 etc...) Sometimes I know I will be hitting a bad area of town, or feel unjustifiably paranoid that day and my knife switches to one that while good for EDC, can do backup duty as a self defense knife should the situation arise. (like a CQC-7, Brous Silent Soldier neck knife, Spyderco P'ikal, Street Beat) Obviously if I am going camping I want something more outdoorsy. (TOPS BOB knife, maybe a Kabar to lend to a friend, Bradford Guardian 3)

Then sometimes I know I will be going somewhere more formal and dressy. (Spyderco Air, Small 21, Mcusta Yoroi/Tanbo)

That's usually what makes me determine what I am going to carry.

 

[NMpops]

I have about 20 SAKs to choose from and twice as many traditionals as well as a couple modern folders. I always carry a SAK and one other knife. However, I have no system and no rhyme or reason to what I choose. Whatever strikes my fancy before I leave the house that day!

 

[ecallahan]

I carry one knife at a time. I choose whatever I think will best suit my needs for that day. All of my traditionals are 3 to 3 1/2". I usually carry them in my watch pocket. Rarely in a pocket slip. Sometimes I'll carry the same knife a few days, other times something different each day.

 

[ThePeacent]

I also cover these main categories:

Classic/innocent looking (for most cutting tasks around people) - SAK, Opinel, Slipjoint
Barely noticeable multitool - SAK Minichamp (on keychain), LM Squirt (in pocket hanger), LM Micra(in coin pocket or in pocket hanger)
Medium/heavy multitool - Leatherman Skeletool/Wave/Rebar, SOG Powerlock, Blacktip, Vic Spirit, Gerber MP 600/MP800/MP700/Diesel
OHO or Fixed Blade - Spyderco, Cold Steel Folder, always 3 inches or more

 

[Buzzbait]

For everyday carry, I normally grab one knife from each of two rows on my nightstand. The first row consists of about 4 or 5 of my favorite scout patterns. The second row is a mish-mash of various traditionals; usually my latest purchases. But sometimes a rediscovered knife enters the mix.

When I'm working outside, or I'm out hiking and camping, I have more established combinations of complementary knives. Usually one scout and one lockback/fixed blade.