How much knife do you REALLY need?

I carry a Case large CV Stockman, and even that's a little big most of the time. However, it's a great compromise between a larger locking folder, for bigger cutting jobs, and my smaller "Sunday" (3" to 3-1/4" closed) pocket knives. For a fixed blade, I can get away with 4" at the most.

thx - cpr
 
I've been giving this some thought and I think I'm going to try something. I'm sure others have done it before and posted about it before... but oh well.

How much knife do you really need? For the next week, this is my EDC:

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Glow in the dark Vic Classic.

I'm going to throw a Spyderco Endura in my car just in case there's disaster (ie. need to cut out of a seat belt), but this is going to be the one knife in my pocket when I leave the house everyday.

We'll see how it works out.
 
The problem is you never know. 99% of the time, my leatherman would do everything I need (except spread peanutbutter). Then you have the odd day, when something smaller just wouldn't cut it. Some nice rubber hose or a lot of rope would do the trick.
It's always nice to be prepared.
 
I doubt the majority of us actually carry out of absolute necessity. I'm sure a cheap SAK or key chain sized knife would be sufficient if we did in fact "need" a knife on a regular basis.
 
I think being prepared is the most of a reason to EDC a bigger knife. I know knives are tools but lets be honest, I dont carry a gun unless Im hunting or target practicing and a good size knife makes me feel a little safer in this world, weather it be for protection from some type of animal (4 legged or 2 legged) or I do get stuck out in the woods and need a larger knife for cutting limbs and stuff. You never know whats going to happen in our every day lives. I think knives is just a tool that man has carried since the beginning of time and its part of us. I know with out a knife I feel naked. I wont fly just for that reason. Having a larger size knife, weather I need it or not, makes me feel better just having it. Thats just me. I know when I was a kid, I had a boyscout knife and I thought I could kill the biggest bear with that thing. It made me feel safe and made me feel like I was an equal and that I had a chance to survive. I know, weird huh? Other than it being a tool to me, its also a security blanket. Dam I cant believe I just said that.
 
Most people get along without knives, only using knives at home in the kitchen.
And even then you could survive with out any bigger problems, buying only food that required no knife to prepare.

You don't NEED a knife.

You use a knife, because it makes your life a lot easier.

You own a lot of knifes, because its nice and makes you feel good.

But the truth is that you don't need a knife, if you work in a slaughter house and cut out animals for a living, YOU DON'T NEED A KNIFE, because you can find another job that does not require a knife.

We chose to use knives because we are not idiots.
 
darthsoaker said:
So, putting aside the macho BS, how much knife do YOU really need?
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In general, I'd say a lot less than what's carried by the average regular poster at BladeForums.com. ;) But I will allow that it has a great deal to do with one's job. From Monday - Friday, I walk 5 minutes to a small office where I work solo (I telecommute), plinking on a keyboard most days. As such, I've found that a two-blade slipjoint of about 3.5" is all the knife I need and more. Hell, I'm sure I could get buy with just a SAK Classic or Leatherman Micra.
 
For me it's more important that the blade can be opened and closed with one hand and has a lock. The length is not all that important.

Mr. Wilson
 
To be honest, most of my life I don't need a single knife and I suspect same for many here (yeah, don't start crying on me for saying that) but knives make life a little easier when you need something to cut (really?).
 
I always carry two knives, one is the classic "tactical folder", and the other is a Case Barlow, or SAK. As far as my needs are concerned, the Case/SAK can handle nearly 100% of what I need a knife for. So why carry a big heavy folder that does nothing but sit in my pocket, answer is I can! I have no problem carrying one and I also find it comforting, and I also like the uniquness of having a folder that most people have never seen. My folders range from 3.75" to 4.25" in blade length.
 
I do not want to turn this into a flame war.
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there should be a giant, permanent sticky that philosophizes on what it means to need something. I suspect "need" goes much deeper and further than people think--into politics and religion and morality and purpose and so on...

hmm on second thought, better not to do that. that would be an epic inferno of a thread :D

edit: promises like "im going to use just my spyderco ladybug for the next month!" are very amusing. no doubt you will succeed, but does it mean anything if you are going to switch back to your big knife?
 
darthsoaker said:
A bit harder to justify large folders now... Definitely an enlightening experience, if nothing else.
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Ah yes, small knives grant wisdom and enlightenment to the intelligent these days. Funny how that works. Maybe large knives are for some yet unknown higher stage of enlightenment for the humble peasants. ;)
 
is about as small as i'm comfortable using for daily stuff, ive got big hands and if the knife gets too small i feel all fumble fingers, ive got a case tiny stockman and it does everything the bigger ones do but i dont carry it cause i cant get a good grip on it... Most of our grandads carried small-medium sized slipjoints and managed to get by, if the were going outdoors (hunt/fish/work etc) then it was something for the tasks they might encounter...
How much knife you need isnt much, how much knife ya want,well thats a whole different story:)
ivan
 
I'm with elkins, what does NEED have to do with it? Actually, I need a knife to open the packages that bring my knives. I could do that with anything handy, but where's the fun in that?

For me knives are more than a tool. Some are just plain visceral attractions while others can be beautiful art. Usually, for EDC purposes that is something arund a 3 inch blade, or less; and quite often a fixed blade in a pocket sheath.

Greg
 
I'm happy with a blade in the 2.5-3.0 range . I often pair up a Vic. Farmer and a Strider PT . They will do all I'm likley to need in the real world .

Chris
 
I need at least 2". I've made it through a day with just a Spyderco Lava and a pen.

I want at least 3", 4" is great, anything more is a bit much. Then a pen, notebook, SureFire, and my Timex.
 
I've been carrying slipjoints lately, so that means quite a lot of blade. I mean, the congress design usually has four different blades.

However, I can get by with a peanut if necessary. I could even get by with just a simple pen knife. I wouldn't want to, but I can.
 
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