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Yep, that's it!
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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is available! Price is $250 ea (shipped within CONUS).
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I seem to be down to three
- Thread starter SubSpace
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Yep, that's it!
I am down to 6. Victorinox Bakers knife in the wallet, Buck Hartsook in the wallet, Emerson Mini-CQC 15, Case Peanut, GEC Tidioute Conductor and a GEC 72 lockback. I add some occasionally but this is this week. I admire the concept and fantasize about something similar I just never get there.
I don't know about 'one knife' forever, but I can certainly claim to be one knife most times.
I have a hiking knife and a hunting knife but by and large have never had trouble having one knife that I edc most all the time. I've never had a rotation either. The only reason I switched from the Queen mini trapper is because the tiny nail nick finally exhausted my patience. I lost the buck 303 I carried for years before that. The sak knife before that lost its handles and had to be replaced.
I guess my collecting and my carrying are seperate things. I like having one knife to edc that I can look at & remember doing things with.... like todays gardening. Maybe I'll kick the owl out someday but knowing me I'll have to find a flaw that gets worse or something. I usually don't just get tired of things.
Want to be a one knife man? Its easy... a) pick out a knife then b) carry it.
Seriously knife collecting is addictive as I well know. Just have fun and enjoy yourself. Who cares if you carry one knife or 20?
Will
I have a hiking knife and a hunting knife but by and large have never had trouble having one knife that I edc most all the time. I've never had a rotation either. The only reason I switched from the Queen mini trapper is because the tiny nail nick finally exhausted my patience. I lost the buck 303 I carried for years before that. The sak knife before that lost its handles and had to be replaced.
I guess my collecting and my carrying are seperate things. I like having one knife to edc that I can look at & remember doing things with.... like todays gardening. Maybe I'll kick the owl out someday but knowing me I'll have to find a flaw that gets worse or something. I usually don't just get tired of things.
Want to be a one knife man? Its easy... a) pick out a knife then b) carry it.
Seriously knife collecting is addictive as I well know. Just have fun and enjoy yourself. Who cares if you carry one knife or 20?
Will
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It is hard to be a one knife man when you love different knives. Back in the day, knives were a basic part of your daily kit for most men. They were a tool to be used to help make life a little bit easier. Much like how wallets are today for most men. Yes there are guys that use an carry several wallets but for most guys it's just part of their kit. They may take good care of it by using leather wax etc but it isn't an item most cherish.
I think most guys that carry knives today (especially traditionals) have a different kind of bond with knives. We are outside the norm in most part of the world and have a special attraction to knives. This bond also makes it difficult to stick to a single knife because we want to experience all that the traditional knife world has to offer. This is further bolstered by the fact that the only pocket knives we can experience is our own. Most of us are a minority with very few others that carry knives around us.
I think most guys that carry knives today (especially traditionals) have a different kind of bond with knives. We are outside the norm in most part of the world and have a special attraction to knives. This bond also makes it difficult to stick to a single knife because we want to experience all that the traditional knife world has to offer. This is further bolstered by the fact that the only pocket knives we can experience is our own. Most of us are a minority with very few others that carry knives around us.
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Congrats on narrowing it down. It does seem to me that most of those are pretty close in size. Do you use them for all tasks?
I have 3 that I carry most of the time now. The first is a #33 Elk Conductor and it gets carried the most. I carry that one when I go out. At home, I carry my green bone #48 Jack that can do most food prep but still has a pen blade for everything else. It is a little slimmer than a normal trapper and only slightly thicker than a single blade trapper. Lastly, I carry a #73 when I know I have some cutting to do. It was my jigged cherry #73 but its been replaced lately by a grizzly bone one with an easier pull.
Edit: I just wanted to add that I may update or change out the individual knives in the future but I don't see the roles of the 3 changing that much (small pen, larger jack, sturdy work knife).
I have 3 that I carry most of the time now. The first is a #33 Elk Conductor and it gets carried the most. I carry that one when I go out. At home, I carry my green bone #48 Jack that can do most food prep but still has a pen blade for everything else. It is a little slimmer than a normal trapper and only slightly thicker than a single blade trapper. Lastly, I carry a #73 when I know I have some cutting to do. It was my jigged cherry #73 but its been replaced lately by a grizzly bone one with an easier pull.
Edit: I just wanted to add that I may update or change out the individual knives in the future but I don't see the roles of the 3 changing that much (small pen, larger jack, sturdy work knife).
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"To Heck With Limits!!!" I say. This is where I want to be. an organized collection (or one so big it has to be such?) and a different knife for every flight of fancy I could ever dream of.
Though I do understand the one knife for life deal...this day in age with so many wonderful knives out there it is a crime against creativity to do such.
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tonystl
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I've recently rediscovered my love for slipjoints (sold off most of my boring black G-10 folders) and as such I've been buying more and more. There's just too much variety for just three.
My hat's off to you if you can get down to three, or even one. My Grandfather had three (I have two and my Dad has the other one) and it would make the knife carry decision in the morning so much easier if I had just three. But, having to choose between so many beautiful and useful knives is the cross I am willing to bear.
My hat's off to you if you can get down to three, or even one. My Grandfather had three (I have two and my Dad has the other one) and it would make the knife carry decision in the morning so much easier if I had just three. But, having to choose between so many beautiful and useful knives is the cross I am willing to bear.
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As always, it's nice to see the variety of perspective, and enjoy the differences among us.
I established for myself a roof of five knives to carry (and own, since I'm no collector)...but to be honest I never reached five. In fact, I never went past four. And once I get a new knife, that I like to carry, that works fine for me, it will kick away at least one of the others, "pushing" me to sell it or give it away.
Even if I had 100 knives, I would probably end up carrying only very few of them. That's why I don't have 100 knives...I'm no collector, and can only use a few. I don't know if I can be a "one knife person"; time will tell. Exploring the knife world to discover what I like most, or what works better for me, is an awesome journey. Still, Darwin's selection works for me, and I do understand the OP pretty well. And, as for everything, if you are happy with those three, why worry?
Fausto
I established for myself a roof of five knives to carry (and own, since I'm no collector)...but to be honest I never reached five. In fact, I never went past four. And once I get a new knife, that I like to carry, that works fine for me, it will kick away at least one of the others, "pushing" me to sell it or give it away.
Even if I had 100 knives, I would probably end up carrying only very few of them. That's why I don't have 100 knives...I'm no collector, and can only use a few. I don't know if I can be a "one knife person"; time will tell. Exploring the knife world to discover what I like most, or what works better for me, is an awesome journey. Still, Darwin's selection works for me, and I do understand the OP pretty well. And, as for everything, if you are happy with those three, why worry?
Fausto
In a way I agree but in another I have some different thoughts.
The older generation in my hometown was composed largely of the WW2 era guys. I remember one in particular, my great uncle Marvin. Vet and a loveable old grouch who kept a sly grin on his face. (I remember once he told me I was losing weight... wasn't as big as a horse anymore just a good sized mule, lol) Anyway, it seemed like every time I'd run into him the first thing he'd do was reach into his pocket and drag out whatever luscious old Case he had most recently acquired. When he passed on he left a Case collection of hundreds and hundreds of old Tested and XX knives. And he wasn't the only one, I could name a dozen of these older gents who had the bug even back then.
It seemed like there were always guys into collecting. But there were also guys who had three or four knives over the course of a lifetime. But TBH money was not something that grew on trees back in the mountains. There were far more of the latter than the former.
You want to know what I think? I think a man takes his habits with him. Some guys are always exploring new knives and new rifles and new four wheel drives and new this and new that. Some other guys limp along with what they can afford. Others want quality but like building a history with their equipment. And there are guys spread out over and between these categories. I'm definitely in the latter category with just a touch of the collector in me. Others of us are at different points... and we sometimes change. I think how we approach knife collecting is just a reflection of something we're born with and/or grow into.
Some guys just aren't ever going to be happy with 3 knives of 6. Some guys get attached to a knife and carry it 5 or 10 years and then switch. Humans are squirrelly animals. We are hard to figure out.
Will
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On my quest to be a "one knife guy" like my grandfather, who carried the same knife for over 70 years (not a typo...one knife for 70 years) ... --the knife that got carried every day for 70 years.
THAT is awesome! :thumbup:
-- Mark
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That was before I became one of the afflicted. We also were busy raising three kids and were occupied with other things. Then the kids grew up and I started buying more knives to try out. The affliction took hold of me. Ended up giving most of them away to the grandkids and nephews. Now I'm okay between the full moon phases.
Carl.
Two very different narratives, both of which have tremendous truth and staying power.
1) Choose the right tool for the job.
2) Choose a few good tools and learn how to use them for the widest range of needs possible.
I see this same exact discussion played out constantly in bike and ski forums. I buddy of mine is a carpenter and big into the hand tool scene and says the same exact debate is being played out there.
I think one knife for all things just doesn't hold up. A sub 3" bladed pocket knife is one thing. A >4" knife is another. I can be at peace with a smaller pocket knife if and only if I know I have access to a larger knife when I need it. Food prep is one place I want a bigger knife. Heavy yard work, fish cleaning, camping.... these are places where I want a bigger knife available.
Interestingly, now that I have an Opinel #10 tucked away in my PDA pouch (or in my day pack - depending), my 3" lockers are getting a lot less carry. When I didn't have the bigger #10 around, sub 3" pocket knives just weren't enough.
I wonder a lot about the hey day of the pocket knife and the demise of the sheath knife and wonder if they are related. Did the small pocket knife make more sense when sheath knives were more common? My smaller pocket knives make a lot more sense to me with a good 4" blade nearby.
As for Duke and his pistol, I think he also generally had a Winchester lever action in his saddle holster, so we can't say he was really a one gun guy.
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I love giveaways, but if chosen, I'd like to mention that I think I'd prefer the non-yellow you.
Congrats on grabbing the swayback jack!
~ P.
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Tough subject (for knife knuts)
I love the peanut but for the work i do, but it comes up a little short. Lately all I've been carrying is my sodbuster or my sak. Can't choose between the two, they're too different which makes it difficult. Despite it being somewhat boring and having stainless steel, I think I could edc a Small Tinker or Recruit for the rest of my life and be reasonably satisfied.
I stopped carrying my 301 because i found that it was too thick and i couldnt justify the spey blade. I've given up getting the perfect blade configurations, steel, and handle. There is always a compromise. I've given up on an edc knife that it useful in the outdoors..... because that allows me to pick a nice fixed blade. I've given up on antique knives, theyre fun to have but sometimes cannot be replaced if lost, which irritates me.
I could do this: EDC: Vic Small Tinker, Backup: Case Sodbuster Jr CV, Outdoors blade: Small machete. I don't hunt much, but I think the soddie would suffice. Yeah, I'll give it a shot
I love the peanut but for the work i do, but it comes up a little short. Lately all I've been carrying is my sodbuster or my sak. Can't choose between the two, they're too different which makes it difficult. Despite it being somewhat boring and having stainless steel, I think I could edc a Small Tinker or Recruit for the rest of my life and be reasonably satisfied.
I stopped carrying my 301 because i found that it was too thick and i couldnt justify the spey blade. I've given up getting the perfect blade configurations, steel, and handle. There is always a compromise. I've given up on an edc knife that it useful in the outdoors..... because that allows me to pick a nice fixed blade. I've given up on antique knives, theyre fun to have but sometimes cannot be replaced if lost, which irritates me.
I could do this: EDC: Vic Small Tinker, Backup: Case Sodbuster Jr CV, Outdoors blade: Small machete. I don't hunt much, but I think the soddie would suffice. Yeah, I'll give it a shot
As a quick update to this thread--
Reading how so many people love their White Owl, I decided to give it another go at getting sharp.
I found that by changing the angle to the 30 degree mark on my sharpmaker, I've made much better progress.
I usually only sharpen at 40 degree, but for some reason, the GEC is responding better to the 30 (I know I sound like a complete noob to those of you with expert sharpening skills. This is because I am...)
So...I may be back up to 4.
I need to stop spending time on this forum.
Reading how so many people love their White Owl, I decided to give it another go at getting sharp.
I found that by changing the angle to the 30 degree mark on my sharpmaker, I've made much better progress.
I usually only sharpen at 40 degree, but for some reason, the GEC is responding better to the 30 (I know I sound like a complete noob to those of you with expert sharpening skills. This is because I am...)
So...I may be back up to 4.
I need to stop spending time on this forum.