If you could only keep 5 knives.. unleashed no limits version

Hogue Exploit OTF
Customized Manix 2 CTS-XHP
Bailey Model 2 geek edition
WE Deacon
Becker BK5 sharpened by Jerry Fisk
 
Carothers OG field knife
Shirogorov 95t
Sebenza 21 Large insingo micarta
Spydiechef
Malanika custom fixed blade
 
Are we talking dream knives or knives currently in the stash? :D

If it’s the latter, here’s mine:

1. Spyderco Manix 2 LW
2. Spyderco Para 3 LW
3. Cold Steel Recon Tanto
4. Kailash Blades Ek Chirra 11” blade
5. ESEE Izula
 
My original answer (left vague because things changed):
The 3 knives I usually carry, my most used chopper, and 1"prize" that I wouldn't want to give up. Pretty simple...

Then I considered kitchen use. Sure, I have a fixed blade on the original list that could do a fair portion of that duty; but I should have a kitchen knife. Oh, and I need dive knife.

Crap.
Okay - the 3 knives I usually carry stay. Kitchen knife stays. That's 4.
The chopper goes (I can use a small axe and a saw). The dive knife goes (a line cutter and some decent shears should cover my needs). Now I just have to decide on "prize" vs utility for my number 5 - then I'll post my pic
 
Me:

Curtiss Nano - 5th pocket knife
Koenig Mini-Goblin - medium daily carry
Medford cf Infraction - large daily carry
CRK lg Sebenza - heavy-duty work/camping
Andre Thorburn flipper - going out on the town show off knife

It wasn’t easy to cut five knives out of the collection.

Wife:
Victorinox Classic - keychain knife
Spyderco Delica - purse/jeans knife, for when the Classic won’t do
Benchmade Mini-Freek - work/camping
Medford “falling leaves” Dress Marauder - going out on the town show off knife

She doesn’t have a fifth knife, but she has been eyeing my small Starbenza ever since she gave me a large Sebenza. I’m beginning to think that gift was part of a larger plan........
 
YpMkK52.jpg


Spyderco PM2 (S30V/canvas micarta). My first PM2 and still my favorite. All mods, including beautifully contoured handles, by Smock Knives. Just a classic.

Walter Wells custom folder (M2/linen micarta). The thinnest blade on any knife I’m aware of (other than scalpels), and cuts like it! Walter is a great maker and a great guy.

Les George ESV (CTS-XHP/G10). One of my favorite designs, and one of my first “high end” knives. Just beautifully made and well thought out.

Adam Reese custom fixed blade (1084/canvas micarta). My most used fixed blade. There have been times when I cut so much material with it that the blade was hot to the touch, and it still cut like a laser. No frills, just a cutting machine that is comfortable and a joy to use.

Canal Street Cutlery Boy’s Knife (440C/G10). The knife I sought after more than any other knife. An A.G. Russell exclusive (have been getting their catalog since I was 10.) To me this is the pinnacle of (non-custom) traditional folders, both in terms of design and execution. A “lifer” knife for sure.
 
DangerZone98 said:
Are we talking dream knives or knives currently in the stash? :D

If it’s the latter, here’s mine:

1. Spyderco Manix 2 LW
2. Spyderco Para 3 LW
3. Cold Steel Recon Tanto
4. Kailash Blades Ek Chirra 11” blade
5. ESEE Izula
Click to expand...
If I remember correctly it was the 5 knives you'd keep from your own collection.

There was a thread very similar but with stipulations on what you could keep ($) I think.

My 5 has changed.. also, damn it's hard to pick 5.
 
marcus52AR said:
If I remember correctly it was the 5 knives you'd keep from your own collection.

There was a thread very similar but with stipulations on what you could keep ($) I think.

My 5 has changed.. also, damn it's hard to pick 5.
Click to expand...
If that’s the case, I’m fairly content with my pick then. Otherwise, you are correct. It’s bloody hard to choose just five.
 
PJ Small Inkosi Insingo. Great all around knife. Solid, no frills and capable of tackling larger jobs than its size suggests. I've thought about trying a Small Sebenza at some point for comparison, but I have a hard time seeing it beat out the Small Inkosi. I'd be tempted by the Large, but I prefer small knives and blade length limits where I could carry it anyway due to 3.5 inch laws in some places I visit. If I had to drop down to a single knife, it would probably be this one.

Quiet Carry Waypoint. This instantly became a favorite as its a solid fit for my daily use. Love the maintenance ease and how it carries. Its the first knife with a blade more than 3 inches long that worked well for me. It carries like a small knife but has a bit more reach then you expect. Its replacing a TRM Atom (just not the right fit for my hands though I love it) and an MBK EZC (great in the hand but I've come to accept that studs work better than flippers - particularly when there isn't another deployment method). If this had a more robust blade, it would be hard to choose between it and the Inkosi as a top option... but it would likely undermine the sliciness which makes it work so well for foot prep and keeps it at an easy #2 for me.

Victorinox Cadet Alox. By far the most 'carry anywhere', least intimidating option. Love the looks and I wish I found a more dedicated multitool as appealing. It replaced a Leatherman Squirt which was arguably higher utility over all. Its top 5 based on its role in the group, but at times I'm tempted by a small Leatherman again. Unfortunately what I'd want is somewhere between the Squirt and a full sized Leatherman. None of their options really do it for me. And ultimately, this

TRM Neutron. Ultimately this is redundant to the Waypoint in use, though given the amount of food prep I do the Waypoint is more practical. The Neutron will likely get some wood scales at some point and become a slightly dressier option. I've love the company - they've been fantastic on the service front and they've built one of the nicer communities I've in. Its the knife that helped me figure out what I wanted - thin, thumb studs, slicey and not intimating to non-knife people. If this gets replaced in a top 5 at some point, it'll likely be by another TRM.

Giant Mouse Biblio. Ergonomically this knife works well for me and I find the blade shape useful (part of the path that lead me to the Inkosi Insingo). I've come to use this as yard work, around the house beater option. Something I'll use when I know I'll have it in my hands for a while, particularly with tasks that involve choking up on the blade. That said, this is the most likely to get swapped out for something else at some point. I don't have many hard use tasks, but I wouldn't mind something that was either dedicated to them or a knife I that was cheaper to replace. The ergonomics are the main thing keeping it around. I've thought about swapping it out for the new Ritter Mini as I always said I'd pick one up if it was produced, I'm not sure if it would serve the same niche for me.
 
CRK Green Beret 7"
Busse TGLB (sentimental reasons)
Olamic Damascus fixed blade (sentimental Reason)
Buck 112 Auto Elite
Buck 110 Folding Hunter Pro

And one of my Alox SAK's...sorry six is my minimum.
 
So I was contemplating my top 5 again since I knew the Umnumzaan I purchased was gonna bump something. The Shaman got the boot, and I swapped my M4 Manix2 for a carbon fiber Cruwear version.

I haven't really carried the Shaman much, maybe a user z-wear micarta will change my top 5.20200520_174047_copy_1995x2684.jpg
Haha.. I just noticed I have 6 on the bottom row. Oh well my top 5 is in there somewhere.
 
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