If you could only live with one knife brand...

If I really had to live with just one knife brand and wasn't a BF's member I think it would have to be imperial.
They made standard slipjoints in carbon or stainless, scout knives if I needed the extra function, carbon steel fixed blades, they had hatchets, and kitchen cutlery.
They even had a multitool which I own and carried for years as a kid, I hated it but it worked and was all I had.

Pretty much Imperial had all of the bases covered and I could get by only owning cutting tools they made, of course no longer around in a form I'd count and I'd have to scout eBay but this is a hypothetical after all.
 
No brand and I can't remember the 70+ year old blacksmith's name in Thailand who forged a few big knives for me as a gift. 38 years later I still treasure them. I think he said "If they don't cut, bring them back." He used to reforge/reshape/harden/temper/sharpen a big used blade for about $1. Some of the hill tribe smiths used to make beautiful big knives for maybe $4. Zero power tools, not even a hand-cranked grinder. Charcoal forge with mud walls, wooden butter churn "bellows", hammer, chisel, draw knife and a file to put on the finishing touches. Anvil was whatever chunk of metal was handy, or a sledge hammer head sunk in a big log. Sharpening stones were dug up locally, and could rival stones from Arkansas. Amazing what they could do with car and truck springs.
 
USMCPOP said:
No brand and I can't remember the 70+ year old blacksmith's name in Thailand who forged a few big knives for me as a gift. 38 years later I still treasure them. I think he said "If they don't cut, bring them back." He used to reforge/reshape/harden/temper/sharpen a big used blade for about $1. Some of the hill tribe smiths used to make beautiful big knives for maybe $4. Zero power tools, not even a hand-cranked grinder. Charcoal forge with mud walls, wooden butter churn "bellows", hammer, chisel, draw knife and a file to put on the finishing touches. Anvil was whatever chunk of metal was handy, or a sledge hammer head sunk in a big log. Sharpening stones were dug up locally, and could rival stones from Arkansas. Amazing what they could do with car and truck springs.
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Man, you can't mention such a knife without showing a pic or two. They sound sweet and you know what they say " pics or it didn't happen" ;)
 
Spyderco - fantastic designs, excellent service, and multiple steel choices

Broad lineup includes practical EDC knives like the Dragonfly and Native, good users like the PM2, interesting custom collaborations, gentleman's knives, and fixed blade knives.
 
I would've chosen Buck or Victorinox if they offered an old fashioned carbon steel, but I gotta have a carbon steel blade around.
 
Hickory n steel said:
If I really had to live with just one knife brand and wasn't a BF's member I think it would have to be imperial.
They made standard slipjoints in carbon or stainless, scout knives if I needed the extra function, carbon steel fixed blades, they had hatchets, and kitchen cutlery.
They even had a multitool which I own and carried for years as a kid, I hated it but it worked and was all I had.

Pretty much Imperial had all of the bases covered and I could get by only owning cutting tools they made, of course no longer around in a form I'd count and I'd have to scout eBay but this is a hypothetical after all.
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Imperial was owned by Schrade as I recall. My first couple of pocket knives were Imperials because at the time that was all I could afford. A Case Barlow came a bit later and I never questioned my choice of the Case slippie.

I think you have to choose a current company that is in business. ;)

The thread asks for a knife BRAND and as such you would need to consider the entire catalog as potentially fulfilling you needs. That's why I didn't say Victorinox even though I love them.
 
22-rimfire said:
Imperial was owned by Schrade as I recall. My first couple of pocket knives were Imperials because at the time that was all I could afford. A Case Barlow came a bit later and I never questioned my choice of the Case slippie.

I think you have to choose a current company that is in business. ;)

The thread asks for a knife BRAND and as such you would need to consider the entire catalog as potentially fulfilling you needs. That's why I didn't say Victorinox even though I love them.
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Schrade did own imperial later on, but that makes no difference.

Btw why would they need to be current ?
Their stuff is easy to find.
Plus I did consider their whole product line.
They had their early regular construction slipjoints, then their shell construction slipjoints, later on they had the traditional construction ranger line made by I believe camillus, they had fixed blades military and civilian, " Veri Veri sharp " kitchen cutlery, hatchets, scouts and MIL-K-818, and multitools.
I could make every knife cut for the rest of my life with an imperial blade if I wanted to and had the time / resources to acquire everything I wanted.
 
Emerson, ease of sharpening and maintenance, they will do anything I would need a knife for. Tough call over Spyderco though.
 
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Insipid Moniker said:
I like Spyderco better for numerous reasons, but I would honestly have to pick Cold Steel if you restricted me to a single manufacturer. Tough, affordable folders with good steel and cutting geometry, tough, affordable fixed blades with good steel and good cutting geometry.

If it was just fixed blades, or just folders, or even if I could pick a company for each my answer would be different, but CS makes at least something to fill all my cutting needs. Hard to find an axe or machete from Benchmade or Spyderco and I can't get a good, solid folder from Condor, Becker or ESEE.

Although, if you count everything under the Kabar umbrella, they would be a strong contender.
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For me personally, Spyderco and Cold Steel would be the top contenders. Using your reasoning, with which I agree, Cold Steel might be my preference. As a long time Spyderco fan, I ve surprised myself.
 
Spyderco by a mile. Love the classics and you've got new items all the time.
 
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