How many knives is too many at once?

3 at most for me. A folder, a small fixed and a multitool. Usually just 2 of those 3 on most days. I could probably justify more if they were all different in form and function. A keychain knife and a SAK would put me at 5 and I wouldn't think it odd. But for now, 3 will suffice.
 
I can't imagine any scenario where I would need to edc 5 knives or want to explain why to a LEO. I normally carry 2 with one being a SAK. If I'm hiking/camping the number may increase. If you feel the need to carry 5, are not breaking any laws, and are comfortable doing so it's a personal choice.
 
J_kocaj said:
IMHO anything over 2 knives at one time is just ridiculous. I cant think of any situation where you would ever need 5 knives at once. "having the right tool for the job" is what you said. What does the your spyderco or leek do that your Sebenza cant?
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When I was carrying 4, I had a rotating folder for most of my cutting, a BK14 for the tough stuff, a sak for the saw, tweezers and food duties, and a MT for the tools and pliers. Used them all everyday. Different job now so usually only have the sak and folder on me.
 
Comeuppance said:
It's only too many if you think it is.
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I know I am parroting again but ^this right here. I generally carry 2-3, one of which being small MT.

A week or so back there was a discussing going on about what I forget. One kid admitted to one time carrying pockets full and knives, several machetes, and axes to prove a point to his mommy about how no one would care. This would be an example of a situation of too many at once for no good reason.

If you have a good reason for it, it is legal, and you can rationally explain it then why not do it?
 
Generally I only carry one knife in a belt sheath opposite a flash light in a belt sheath.
There is always a multi-tool nearby, either in my pack or vehicle, but I don't actually carry it.

I have, in the past, carried the larger folder or fixed blade on my belt and a smaller folder in my front pocket. I am currently considering adding an OTF to my left pocket for S/D pistol retention purposes.

So I guess I could see a reason for a total of three knives to be reasonable, four if you want to add a multi-tool to the belt or drop it in a cargo pocket.
 
craytab said:
If you have a good reason for it, it is legal, and you can rationally explain it then why not do it?
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Unless you're a chef, butcher, farmhand etc and you're carrying your work knives, there is no rational explanation for carrying 5 knives. There just isn't. That's knife guy denial right there. :D

OP. There's no practical reason for carrying 5 edc knives other than you want to. If that's how you roll I'm cool with that. Just don't blow smoke up my bumb about an unknown "situation" that you might find yourself in that would warrant all of the knives. Not buying it. :D
 
I carry ONE folder in my right front pocket for 90% of my cutting tasks. Usually my large 21 sebenza or umnumzaan. And always have my leatherman squirt ES4 on my keychain.
In my packpack stays a full size Kabar USMC fixed blade, and a leatherman rebar.
So technically i only carry 1 knife and 1 small multitool.
 
Are your pants falling down yet? Do you keep a 10 ft. radius around metal detectors? Do you have cash to buy more knives with? Do you have pocket space to carry more knives? These questions should help figure out if you should carry more or less.
 
I think its hard for me to justify more than two knives at a time. There's still plenty of times I carry 3+ but that's just me being overzealous about knives, not necessity.
 
I would answer but I went into shock at the sight of "knives" and "too many" in the thread title. Don't do that!!! :mad:
 
If you ask me, I'll say I usually carry 2. But then I'll think about it, and add in: 1 on my SwissTool, 1 on my keychain (Swiss Classic), and 1 Titanium Credit Card in my wallet. Those are technically knives, but I don't think of them that way, as I usually use them for the tools only.

So, technically, I carry 5, but really, it's just 2: 1 large folder, 1 small folder.
 
Two or three depending how you count a Leatherman Juice CS4. A Spyderco Endura IWB and a SAK Classic on my key chain. The SAK usually gets the most use. Fly fishing, I add either an old Western fixed blade or a Buck 102.
 
On me right now:
my spartan knock by Andre De Villiers, my Benchmade Bedlam 860, my benchmade tactical pen, and my benchmade 175 push dagger. That's the norm for me.
 
Comeuppance said:
And suspenders are PERFECT for sheaths and clips. You could have two vertical bandoliers of knives!
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Yes!!!! :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::D

Quick pocket dump:

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LOL... Seriously though, I've carried five at once that included a large folder, similar sized fixed blade, small folder, prybar/bladed tool thinger, and a SAK driver model & classic... Overkill.
 
If you actually cut things with all five knives, go for it. But I find that most everything is cut by one knife and my second knife sees very little use when I carry two. I say.... what ever you like to do is fine with me, but other than in the woods, I would not carry five knives on-me personally. In the woods, I'm generally a three knife person, basically adding a fixed blade. But still, most of the cutting is done by one knife.
 
I carry 4 every day - a small Buck 484 in each front pocket and a pair of small (less than 5.5") fixed blades, one on each side. The FBs either paired Kabar 1232s or paired Kabar shorties (125x). The right side set gets more use as I am right handed, but I have the left side set for use if the use of the right side set is not accessible/usable due to the existing circumstances.

As far as weight goes, all 4 together weigh less than 1.5#. If you wear them every day, you get used to them being there. So much so, that it feels very weird when I DON'T have them on me. But then I also spent 20+ years packing a gear belt that all rigged out weight 20#. Weight is relative. My radio by itself weighed more than double the weight of all my knives and cutters. :D
 
I carry no more than two, one traditional and one "modern" folder. However, lots of my traditionals are multiple blade models so more blade shapes are represented!!
 
I don't think I've ever carried more than 3 at a time, and that would include a small Manbug tethered to my keys. So for me 4 would be too many.
 
Shotgun said:
there is no rational explanation for carrying 5 knives.
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Sure there is; "I'm a gigantic knife nerd." :)

It's the most logical reason of all to carry as many knives as you have pockets for. :thumbup:

I started carrying more than one because there were so many that I liked so much that I couldn't narrow it down to just one.

Why do I carry so many knives?
Why do women cram so much stuff in their purses?
Why do dogs sniff each others butts?

It's just the way it is. ;)
 
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