How much knife do you REALLY need?

2.5''

I've been EDCing a flash 1 and it's more than enough for almost everything. I just got a Boker SubClaw which I've been carrying too, which is well under 2'' and it's pretty much all I'd need for SD up here where I can't get a gun. Hopefully I'll never use it.
 
Alright, guys, I'll be honest. 80% of my EDC is from a Swisscard, knife removed, and a Wenger Air Traveler- again, knifeless. I'm a student at a school with a zero-tolerance policy.
These do all of my school-related cutting quite well. Very rarely do I wish I had a larger knife. However, that does not mean that I do not want to have a large knife, for a few reasons.
1. Chaos. Things get thrown at you and it's always good to be prepared. For example, zip ties. The scissors on my Wenger can't tackle the things very easily.
2. Hand Size. I'm six-seven, weigh about two forty (mostly blubber) and have big freaking hands. Do you really think that it is comfortable for me to use a small knife when compared to a large one?
3. Variety- variety rocks. I'm a fickle human, and I like having something to satisfy my every whim.
 
Jake Bauer said:
I had a zero tolerance blade policy in HS. But it didn't stop me. ;)
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Same here. It exists through college as well, but I just feel naked without having at least a pen knife. I'm always seeing people with pocket clips showing, so it can't be that bad.

Luckily, nobody bats an eye at my little pen knife either. I've even received compliments on it. You know that Burger King commercial with the mini burgers? Yeah, it's like that.
 
When not at work or traveling in big wooded country I get along just fine with the 3" or 3 1/4" class just fine.
 
My edc is usually a 2 bladed Wostenholm penknife or Rough Rider baby sunfish which always makes me smile when i get it out!!(cheap or what!) :D
 
I used to EDC large folders like the Military and medium folders like the ParaMilitary. Then I switched them out for a Boker Subclaw, and it gets most of the same jobs done well. I recently began EDCing a Caly 3 and it seems to be the ideal EDC. I havent carried a 3inch plus folder since.
 
darthsoaker said:
Let's be honest, many of us carry a lot more knives, or larger knives then we really need.
So, putting aside the macho BS, how much knife do YOU really need?
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In today day most of us need (can survive) without knife. Fortunately our life is not about survival in today environment, so I am enjoying my life and carrying three and sometimes four knives because I love them and want my life to be filled with joy.
BTW, we can live without cell phones, cars and hot water as well.
 
It depends what I'm up to. Some days when I'm just working around the house, just a decent slippy will do the job. But when I'm out clearing fence or cutting back tails, I need a big chopper, so it just depends.

Andy
 
Growing up with a folder either on my belt or in my pocket, I find that my single small pocketknife does the combined jobs of most of the tools other people have to go searching for. Not so much a need, but darned handy just the same.
Easy one hand opening blades from 2-3 inches, like the spyderco cricket and the Emerson mini CQC 7, seem to end up in my pocket all the time.
 
i tried a sub 2inch knife(subcom) for a while, and i was happy with it until i wanted to cut a wrap in half to share and i needed more knife so i have to say now 2.5 or 2.75 inchis is the smallest i'd want to go
 
Not much. I lost interest in pocketknives and went without one for years. I bought an edc because I got sick of being at work and never being able to find the dull box cutter, having to use a pair scissors to open packages, using a plastic or the disgusting community kitchen knife for lunch. At the office, I use a 2.5 to 3 inch folder for mundane stuff and a Kuhn Rikon paring knife for lunch. Outside of work, stepping up to the 3 to 3 ½ inch range, gives me more than enough blade and a handle that more comfortable to use, longer.

At home, many of my kitchen knives are “one trick ponies” -- just for doing those things that a Chef knife can’t or doesn’t do very well. I probably use a Chef knife 100 times for every one time a grab something else. If I had to, I could easily downsize to less than a handful.
 
One day I forgot my pocket knife, and survived the day just fine. I hate to say it, but I don't need to cary a knife at all. In fact, most people get by just fine without one. There is a big difference between need and want.
 
Need is not quite as much of a variable as want. If everyone here were forced to turn in their knives for two weeks and to carry Byrd Cara Caras, I doubt that anyone would be horribly inconvenienced. The only thing that really gets in my way are the types of serrations found on many knives. CRKT forces theirs on too many people and they're just horrible, bumpy things. Maybe, someday soon, the government will determine what kind of knives we need, then we won't be burdened by too much responsibility.
 
According to Florida law, a "simple pocket knife" isn't a weapon. So there is a bit of room when I carry my knife around in college.

However, sometimes I carry a folding karambit. I don't know how I can convince someone that this mean-looking knife is a "simple pocket knife", but it does have a lot utility purposes despite its shape, despite being camo-colored and saying "Smith & Wesson Extreme Ops".
 
For a year, now, most of my cutting has been done with a Boker pen knife. I carry a Vic Camper in the other pocket but rarely pull it out unless I need a screwdriver. I work in an office in a university setting. When camping it's a khukri and an Opinel ring-locker. So, in answer to the original question, I get by with a very small knife.

Frank
 
All I really need for my everyday cutting chores is the blade on my Leatherman Pulse. However, I carry a small folder via pocket clip for convenience. Boker Subcom or Wharncom, or a Spyderco Dragonfly (those all have 2" blades). I carry my Byrd Cara Cara at times, but I've only needed it once.
 
The knife I use most and reach for the most often is my $10 Gerber EAB utility razor.

But only owning what you NEED is no fun......no fun at all...... :D
 
Because I use my EDC for alot of tasks, I usually like a 3-4in blade. The smallest knife I would carry for any amount of heavy work is a Kershaw Leek. Thin, short, all stainless, framelock...win win win win.

Been carrying alot of Blurs and ZT's lately.
 
4 inch handle, 3 inch blade, solid titanium handles, and frame lock. Anything else is going to break, wear out, come apart or rust out. Carried a bunch of swiss army knives when I was younger in college they all just come apart after a while, went through at least 10 or so, small, medium and large, the handles alwasy come off, or something gets loose, somethign breaks. Just don't need the hasal, went with something more robust and problem solved.
 
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