How Many Knives Do You REALLY Need?

I think I'd have most bases covered (at least for the way I approach the woods and the woods I frequent) with these:

Mora Triflex 780
Leatherman Charge Ti
Benchmade Pinnacle

I recently received the Triflex, but dang if it isn't a nice knife, for the money or not. It's got a great size, nice point, comfy handle and is hanging in there nicely over the past few weeks.

The Leatherman is heavy and really overkill for what I'd need but the saw works well. Following the lead of a bunch of you folks, I think a SAK with a saw would be a good option and then I can feel better about leaving the Charge in the car.

My Benchmade Pinnacle is a stout knife and I've been carrying it for a long time. I've taken good care of it, babied it maybe, but I have no doubt that it would stand up to a great deal of abuse if the need arose.

I've never found the need for a machete or a hatchet where I hike. Tons of wood in all sizes has been available. A different spot would warrant a different tool, but not for now.
 
One, I only need one. To make sure the right one for the job is available, I have about fifteen.
 
If I was limited to ONE edged tool to accomplish all of the chores I'd need to do, then my selection would be for a stout, carbon-steel-bladed, 9"+ fixed blade. That describes well my current survival knife, a Greco Explorer. I have used such a knife for survival purposed and know I could accomplish with it what I need to in order to stay alive.
Other knives which would fit that bill are the Cold Steel Trail Master (preferably with Carbon V steel), a Busse Battle Mistress, a Swamp Rat Battle Rat or variation, a Fehrman Final Judgment or any number of customs and prodcutions which have those specs.
Of course, in-town, I'd be mighty conspicuous walking around town with such a knife on my belt :D Such was not the case a mere hundred years ago, but social engineering changes things... :grumpy:

To answer the original question, though, here's a list of the knives I could comfortably tackle all of life's chores with:

-slipjoint folder, such as a Queen mini-trapper in D2 or 1095
-3" folder. There are so many choices here like a Delica, CS 3" Voyager, or Mini-Griptillian
-3.5" folder. Various states set this as their legal limit for carry. A D2 Griptilian fits this bill
-4" folder. My favorite locking folder size. I'm still hunting around for the ideal production (read: affordable for a poor college student) 4" folder.
-3" fixed blade. An EDC fixed blade with a handle around 4" in length. I'm making some right now...
-4" fixed blade. The do-much knife while camping. Also useful in the kitchen.
-9" fixed blade. I really prefer a 9" fb to a 7" fb. I'm more comfortable with it and feel 9" of blade is more useful than 7".
-on-water knife. This would preferably have a 4" blade with partial serrations and stainless steel. I'd wear this when out on a lake or river.
-axe. full-sized. I need some way to chop the winter's firewood!
-axe. camp-sized. Right now, I'm shopping around. The Estwing 26" axe, while heavier, currently has my attention.
-multitool. They have such a wide range of uses, why not have one? In this category, I opt for my Leatherman Supertool 200. It's got the tools I need.
-SAK or Scout knife. The Farmer and Soldier models are my favorite SAKs, either of them would work fine. AG Russel makes a beautiful, 3.75" Scout knife which I've been eyeballing :D

So, I like having 4 fixed blades, 4 folders, and 4 tools. This list doesn't include kitchen knives, of course. In the kitchen, I like a paring knife and 8" or 10" chef's knife. A cleaver can be very useful, too.

Great thread, by the way!
 
I would choose my Bob Dozier Professional Guide Knife, and my Al Crenshaw Mini Trapper (which I designed and had Al make in his unique style). These two knives I believe, would surfice quite nicely.
 
Office - Queen 3 1/4" stockman in D2
Working - Queen 4" stockman in D2
Outdoors - Fixed blade a Mini-Canadian, small locking folder a Bucklite, a gadget knife a SAK with a corkscrew :), and a folding saw.
Kitchen - 8" cooks in carbon, and a 3 1/2" paring in carbon

This is only theory!!!
 
well, there'd be a EDC (spyderco Dragonfly) , a Dive Knife, a Bush knife, a SD knife (emerson la Griffe)... then maybe a tacticool knife for kicks.

taking suggestions on the Dive and Bush knives! :D
 
2 or 3 for me:

light/short trips: Bravo-1/F1 & Leatherman Wave
off-trail/long trips: Bravo-1/F1, Leatherman Wave, HI WWII Khukuri

Might start switching out Wave for my SAK rucksack (or farmer when I finally decide to get one)
 
leatherman charge tti a leatherman crunch and for the last few weeks a sog valcan i all ways carry my leathermen and swap around my small folder o and a uncle henery schrade(american made one) when doing archery
 
I collect old woodcraft books, and almost to a man, they recommend two, a large multiple blade folder, and a 4" to 5" fixed blade. Of course the axe or hatchet is always mentioned too.
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I, too, collect old woodcraft, camping, canoeing, and general outdoor books. One can sometimes get a realistic perspective on equipment needs from these old books since the marketing hype and advertising is usually absent. :thumbup:

I collect custom knives because I enjoy handmade and unique knives. I don't necessarily use what I collect. I have a collection of valuable historical knives that I never ever use, for obvious reasons.

All I have ever needed (been doing this since the early 60's) with regards to cutlery in the outdoors is, a good pocket knife (could be a SAK, trapper, stockman), 3-1/2" to 5" fixed blade, a small saw, and the occasional full-sized axe. Too, I prefer the fixed-blade knife to have a thin blade (not over 1/8" spine). If I lived in the jungle where my wife is from, I would add a machete to the inventory. :)
 
Hi all,

LOL John that is a very good ?. I think I might be a knife a holic. :eek: LOL I NEED more knives. Not just want but NEED more knives LOL Whats worse is that I do not want help. I want to be a knife a holic. That is what keeps me going in life now. I tell my self just one more LOL I keep making more for me I just finished this one this morning

101_0913.jpg


I just can't help myself. I am now planning on making another one like this in the pic but with a 6" blade instead of a 5" blade length. Do not try to talk me out of it LOL I do not want any help and I do not plan to attend any knife a holic anonymous programs. You can not help those who really do not want help. :p
BUT
If I ever do change my ways in life and want just one knife I will take the
T.H. Bushcrafter (That is the knife in the pic ) and the S and N axe I got
from Brian Andrews.

101_0914.jpg


Since I have two hands this combo will work for me. A knife in one hand and a axe in the other.

Great ? John,

Bryan
 
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Nice knife, Bryan :thumbup: I`m just like you, there is always "one more" that I need. I`m working on another 8" chopper made out of 3/16" stock right now! Do I need it, no, do I want it, YES!!!
 
If I really had to keep only the knives I needed, I would keep one 3", one 5" and one 7" fixed blade. I would also keep one sak Farmer, and one "tactical" folder. That would cover any and all of my knife needs.
 
Stomper said:
I`m definately not recommending you sell off your knife collection, but, if you had to, what would you select? I`m sure this has been asked before, but I`ve got a batch of knives in the oven, so I`m waiting for them to come out, and I`m bored.
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First of all I routinely go through ALL of my gear -- knifes / guns / etc and my rule is this:

If I cannot remember the last time I used the item and / or I cannot realistically envision when I will use the item again I sell it.

So far this year I've told four guns and half a dozen knives.

If I had to choose three?

1. Gransfors Bruks Wildlife Hatchet.

2. Gossman PSK.

3. The in-between knife is TBD. Since I've got one on the way from you I hope to plug that into the #3 spot! :D
 
How Many Knives Do You REALLY Need?
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Most of the time I need exactly none. :eek:

But I try to remember to bring a knife on every trip, just in case. I strongly believe that The Ten Essentials saves lives. :thumbup:

How many do I have is a completely different question: over 300. :D
 
The minimum...
  • Multi-tool (Victorinox Spirit)
  • Small fixed (Busse AD)
  • Large fixed (Busse FSH)
What I would like to add to the mix to cover more bases...
  • Small Pocketknife (Victorinox Alox Farmer)
  • Tactical folder (Hinderer XM-18)
  • Medium fixed (Busse ASH1 LE)
  • Big chopper (Busse NMFBM)
  • Saw (Silky Pocketboy 170)
  • Axe (Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe)
 
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That is such an open ended question that it is nearly impossible to nail it down. Logistics, social, judicial, moral, and physical issues drop in the equasion.....not to forget geographic conditions. I have been through the swamps of Panama, hills of Honduras, straits of Turkey, countless missions throughout Europe, and the sands of Kuwait and Iraq. In your mind you can come up with two/three that you feel would be best for any situation but there is always that number of situations that you never counted on.
What served me best through it all was a 6" straight Lovess design made from ATS with micarta scales, 416 guard, then a 2 3/4" drop point. In Kuwait and Iraq I carried NLT 6 knives at a any given time other than the shower, then it was only one.

A wise man once stated: "The best knife to have in an emergency situation, is the one you have". Keep it sharp.

John
 
Hi all,

John the older I get the more I think that the words need and want mean the same thing:eek:. LOL So you make that 8" chopper, I know you NEED/WANT it.:D You have inspired me, John Yep I am going to me another
knife;) LOL

Take care all,

Bryan
 
I had a panic attack at work today, i reached for my folder in my right pocket and it was'nt there. Reached for my neck knife and it was'nt there. I had this gut wrenching sick feeling that i had left my blades at home......then i rested my hand on my hip and found my Emerson P.U.K. fixed blade tucked away on the belt in the small of my back.

i need help. Hello, my name is Bushman5 and i like to collect knives.......

.
 
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