How many knives is too many at once?

This is just right...maybe short one or two...:D

machete.jpg
 
I've settled on three as the perfect number for me. A big, beefy folder (4+in) for just general use and the extremely unlikely event of self defense; a smaller slip joint in either a shirt pocket or back pocket, and a belt tool. This "belt tool" is sometimes a multitool or box cutter, sometimes a Buck 110 or similar knife, and sometimes a small fixed blade, depending on what I'm doing that day. Any more is usually for intentional redundancy, like if I'm working with people who don't carry knives, I can hand them a crappy Gerber to screw up and I don't have to worry. When I'm camping I also add a 4-6in fixed blade. Three is just what works for me. Also during the winter I carry either a slip joint or smaller modern folder in whatever jacket pocket my right hand is in.
That being said, if I'm not in a position to have anything on my belt, then I will just carry the big folder and the slip joint. Even in a suit, I'm so used to the feeling of a big knife clipped to my pocket that it doesn't bother me.
 
You're late on that pic! It was already posted a ways back:D

Anyway......

I personally don't see the need to carry 5 knives. I only ever use one, and even that one doesn't see a huge amount of daily use.

That said, I carry 3 plus a multitool every day. But each one has a specific purpose in my system and there really isn't any redundancy.

Dedicated folder (usually a sebbie)
Dedicated self defense knife (waved kerambit)
Keychain SAK for the sheeple and as an emergency backup to my main EDC
Multitool for everything the sebbie cant handle
 
Most of the time I only have one knife on me. There are a couple notable exceptions though. If I'm doing something outdoors, I'll have a plain blade in its usual position in my left front pocket, a fully serrated blade in my right front pocket, and a multitool on my belt. If I'm hunting, I'll also have a fixed blade in my pack since I hate trying to clean guts out of a folder.

The other exception is Christmas. I carry something fancy for my own use (gotta dress up for the holidays!) and a Buck slipjoint for a loaner. It only took one incident involving an in-law trying to pry a package open with my knife to convince me to never loan them a decent knife again. Even if they don't pry with them, they never seem to be able to figure out the lock, hence the slipjoint. Maybe I should start carrying the multitool at Christmas too.
 
I used to carry 3-5, it was fun but I'm down to "did I forget my knife again?" far too often.

I've been carrying the Civilian for the most part lately, which used to be for special occasions only but it's nice for EDC too.

I think my next EDC is going to be the Large XHP Espada (love the Hold Out 1).
 
natecham said:
I am curious as to how many of you guys think that I am going over board by carrying 5 knives on at all times? In no certain order they are a Spyderco Gayle Bradley, a small sebenza 21 insingo, a blackwashed Kershaw leek, a cold steel micro recon I, and a small anza skinner. I know that there is probably not a single situation in the world that would constitute me needing all 5 of these knives, however, I maintain that you never know what situation you might find yourself in that you need to cut something and I want to have the right tool for the job.
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Damn man, are you using them as wolverine claws? If so I think you are missing 5 more ;-)
 
I started with one (1), an Emerson CQC-7BW knife as my EDC a few years ago. Then a few months later I picked up a Spyderco Para-Military, it was so nice and lightweight I added it as a secondary EDC. Then a couple of months ago, I picked up a Benchmade HK Axis Serrated/Black Combo Edge as companion when I carry my HK VP9.


Well, about a month ago, I was offered a good deal to purchased a "LNIB" Zero Tolerance ZT0550 folder....finally completed my wish list for my dream folders.


Frankly, I can't bear leaving anyone of these knives at home, so my choice, I carry four (4) folders as EDC, it works for me. I always love certain knives for different reasons and usage. It just so happen as of now, I carry more than (1) knife for EDC, which may change, by my choice, one day back to (1) one EDC.


O.P.....if you are comfortable with carry multiple knives (legally) go for it.
 
On your person, 9 is too many at once, so max of 8. Unless you are counting multitools, in which case 10 is the max, 11 too many.
 
natecham said:
My spyderco is a much tougher blade it is the knife that if I have to push a knife to the limit it will be that knife it is a tank if you have never held a gayle Bradley folder I highly suggest that you do so. The leek you are right my sebenza can do everything that it does however the leek is my public folder. It is a knife that people are more likely to have seen and if they haven't even at a glance it is a pretty nonthreatening knife and if somebody does get all huffy about my knife I didn't just put a $400 knife in peril. However the aforementioned reasons probably will not change your opinion so I will just say that we disagree, which is perfectly fine with me. Just know that I am not carrying 5 knives simply because I can I seriously think that I have a good all around system each knife has its own purpose and reason for taking up space in my pocket.
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No I have never held a Gayle Bradley and would love to. I see where you could use different knives for differnt tasks, I personaly change out knives that are in my pocket some days mostly on the weekend. I just dont carry more than one at a time unless im camping. I dont blame you I have a problem I am a knife addict too, just carrying that many knives isnt for me.
 
J_kocaj said:
No I have never held a Gayle Bradley and would love to. I see where you could use different knives for differnt tasks, I personaly change out knives that are in my pocket some days mostly on the weekend. I just dont carry more than one at a time unless im camping. I dont blame you I have a problem I am a knife addict too, just carrying that many knives isnt for me.
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I understand five knives is a lot, I have to try and find room for my Mnandi now and that will be interesting. It might take the place of my leek for a public/nonthreatening knife. Plus I just bought a pocket fixed blade off of the exchange, so I will inevitably have to find a place to put it. Sometimes the knife addiction has some really bad downsides. Honestly I feel that if I pay money for something (especially something like a sebenza or mnandi) it should be on my person. Rotating knives in my weird and twisted view of things is only getting a partial return on your investment and I intend on getting as much out of all of my knives as I possibly can. That is just my opinion that I cannot seem to shake.
 
If you comfortably tote 5 knives on your person every day and it's what you like doing then it's not too many FOR YOU :thumbup: i don't think youre ever gonna be accused of being without sufficient cutting equipment on hand lol. Me, personally, i carry a knife and a beater blade on top of wallet, keys, and cell phone. And if I'm out and about then add a 9mm pistol and spare mag, concealed, to the mix so two knives on my person is pushing the limit on top of all the other junk weighting me down. If you like packing that many knives on your person don't think its 'too many' because it is, afterall, such a relative term. :)
 
"Too many" is very subjective. It differs on a case by case basis. I would never carry 5 knives at once, however, it makes sense for you to do so. I carry two at the most, and I used to ALWAYS carry two, now, more days than not, you'll find me with just one. It makes sense for me to just carry one knife, one knife is all I'll ever really need or use, now if we were talking "collection" sizes.. that'd be a different story. In which case, it makes perfect sense to me to have all 20 of my knives lol. Will I ever need all of those? No. But do I enjoy having them? Yes. And that is what counts. Do you like carrying 5 knives? If you do, that's truly all the justification you'll ever need.
 
No such thing as too many. If it were socially acceptable to open carry a rapier or saber in public again I would. Even though technically it is legal in Florida. Lol
 
bmitch said:
I carry 7 backpacking, if u count the hatchet and machete. But my favorite is the esse 5
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In our pick up truck and in our van used for camping... we carry an axe, hatchet and/or a tomahawk.

It is in our emergency pack - survival gear.

My husband uses something a bit different than what I own.

Added more here since I screwed up my post. :)

I should add this here too. I do NOT back pack with all of those items. They are in the truck or van. When I hike with my husband, HE packs a smaller camp axe than what I own. We usually do NOT NEED the axe though when we hike. So it stays in the van or truck.

We go back to the van in grizzly bear country since I will not sleep under the stars or in a tent in grizzly bear country. I will in OTHER PLACES but not in specific areas up north.

So we are NOT carrying a FULL heavy load in our 60's even if we can walk/hike well. I have arthritis and some old injuries from a bad fall in my 40's but NOT in my legs. I can still swim well too.

By the time, I carry a rifle using a sling now, a fanny pack with a fixed blade and a folding knife (Buck!), my wallet-ID, my WATER and a Nature Bar... that is enough for me. I can't imagine carrying a lot of weight even though I used to open carry (Year round.) using a Triple K western, leather belt and holster for many years and sometimes I used a shoulder holster. I preferred the Triple K set up on my hip year round over shorts or jeans with a ranch coat. That was enough weight on my smaller body but it did not bother me since I was USED to that weight with a gun. I no longer shoot or own handguns but I used to shoot a LOT of rounds on an annual basis with handguns.

My husband is 6' 1" tall and I am 5' 3" tall so HE can carry something a bit heavier than me IF he absolutely has to do this.

The FIRST time that I tagged along with him in a different part of the state, another place that he wanted to try hunting, we parked and HIKED IN behind locked gates. I was literally packed for 'bear' - no pun intended (Self defense!) and he was NOT hunting bears. (I do not hunt but I like to fish.) That was the first and LAST TIME that I packed so much ON my BODY and I was 10 some years younger and my arthritis was not that bad or set into my OLD injuries.

He LOOKED at me and asked me if I had enough GEAR on me and I said that I was fine. Not! Ha! He told me that I was only hiking in a few miles from the Forest Service closure gate but I told him in MY stupidity that I needed this and that and, of course, my handgun. Spare ammo but NOT a lot of that. Oh my goodness, like I said, I did NOT want to ask him to carry MY GEAR! I did admit how dense I was later on too! I WAS STUPID. But that first time out in another part of the state that I did NOT know well... I was like a Boy Scout on being prepared only a WEE BIT TOO MUCH! Oh yeah, I had my late husband's knife that he gave me 30 plus years ago, the military one not the smaller one, PLUS I had one of my MT husband's FIXED blade knives too. We were not married at the time and he kind of laughed and said that he liked a well prepared woman. Ha ha.

I love the Boy Scouts - my only, older brother was one too!

I absolutely believe that when you are out in specific areas that you need two knives - one FIXED blade and one folding knife or two fixed blades if that is your thing.

Me? I am leaning more and more into fixed blade knives even though I carry a Buck 110 almost all of the time or the other Buck knife which has a fixed blade.

Cate
Added more.
 
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A Classic SAK on my keyring
A Slipjoint in a pouch on my belt

And a short pointy one in the car door for if reason fails
 
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