If you could only own 3 knives for the rest of your life...

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I read every post in the 6 pages. Being the "engineer" type of person, I started to write down every knife mentioned here and see what were the top 5-6. But on 2nd thought that would take a few hours and that would complicate my already heavy schedule (NOT!). However, in reflection, I did come to a few conclusions.

1. If the value of all the knives was averaged, I would think it would be around $200 (maybe more). If you multiply that by the 3 knives, you would come up with $600 worth of knives. That's a lot of mulla for a basic three knife set. WOW!

2. I noted that there is no mention by anyone of a Mora knife. Yet, Mora knives have probably saved more peoples lives, skinned more animals (food), and made more firewood (heat) than any other knife. Being it is decades old and the staple of many a countryman in Europe, Moras have more history than any knife mentioned here and with a superb repretation. I'm not being a Mora fanboy here - I only have 2 of their knives and hundreds of other knives - but if one looks at knife history and their impact over the years, how could one ignore them. In fact, I suspect, if all 3 knives were Mora's one could make case that that is all that is needed.

3. So I am wondering (and I am a knife man), have we gone too far spending money on things that we have been brainwashed/sold on rather than the true facts of what is needed in a "cutting" situation? Have we just gone hog wild on "the latest and greatest" and not on what "really" is trustworthy and works? Has spending money become our object rather than finding solid tools and learning how to use them effectively in all manner of situations?

Just a few thoughts.
Thank you.
My wife and I, run our entire economy around the theory presented in #3.
 
I read every post in the 6 pages. Being the "engineer" type of person, I started to write down every knife mentioned here and see what were the top 5-6. But on 2nd thought that would take a few hours and that would complicate my already heavy schedule (NOT!). However, in reflection, I did come to a few conclusions.

1. If the value of all the knives was averaged, I would think it would be around $200 (maybe more). If you multiply that by the 3 knives, you would come up with $600 worth of knives. That's a lot of mulla for a basic three knife set. WOW!

2. I noted that there is no mention by anyone of a Mora knife. Yet, Mora knives have probably saved more peoples lives, skinned more animals (food), and made more firewood (heat) than any other knife. Being it is decades old and the staple of many a countryman in Europe, Moras have more history than any knife mentioned here and with a superb repretation. I'm not being a Mora fanboy here - I only have 2 of their knives and hundreds of other knives - but if one looks at knife history and their impact over the years, how could one ignore them. In fact, I suspect, if all 3 knives were Mora's one could make case that that is all that is needed.

3. So I am wondering (and I am a knife man), have we gone too far spending money on things that we have been brainwashed/sold on rather than the true facts of what is needed in a "cutting" situation? Have we just gone hog wild on "the latest and greatest" and not on what "really" is trustworthy and works? Has spending money become our object rather than finding solid tools and learning how to use them effectively in all manner of situations?

Just a few thoughts.
Moras are kind of a niche item on a fair urbanized continent. I would bet that Buck knives or Marbles or some other old brand has had more of an impact.

I don’t know what kind of engineer you are, (not insulting you, I just don’t know but am now curious) but I can’t imagine someone in their right mind answering the OP’s question with 3 small, cheap fixed blades.
 
3. So I am wondering (and I am a knife man), have we gone too far spending money on things that we have been brainwashed/sold on rather than the true facts of what is needed in a "cutting" situation? Have we just gone hog wild on "the latest and greatest" and not on what "really" is trustworthy and works? Has spending money become our object rather than finding solid tools and learning how to use them effectively in all manner of situations?
I've had a couple of knifes before, but never really got into knives until I joined BF last year. That few knives and little usage makes me ignorant as to 'what is needed in a "cutting" situation.' So, my goal is the 'finding solid tools and learning how to use them effectively in all manner of situations'. But, in order to do that, I need to buy/test many different knives and experiment to see what works best for me and not just some reviewer on YT. Once I figure that out, I can begin to gift or sell those I'm not likely to use.

I'm an engineer of the software variety. ;)
 
Manix 2 LW Rex45
Bradford Guardian 4 S3V
Becker BK7 or BK9

The 2 fixed blades are a bit generic, there are probably numerous others that could substitute for these.
 
3. ...have we gone too far spending money on things that we have been brainwashed/sold on rather than the true facts of what is needed in a "cutting" situation? Have we just gone hog wild on "the latest and greatest" and not on what "really" is trustworthy and works? Has spending money become our object rather than finding solid tools and learning how to use them effectively in all manner of situations?
Sort of. There's definitely a collecting/acquiring/hoarding aspect that sounds out of control pretty easily. My goal hasn't been to spend money; but I definitely have more knives than I need. Some of them I don't even like all that much; yet they have avoided going on the Exchange (in part because I dislike the whole selling process).
 
I always reframe these type of questions into “I have 30 seconds to choose 3 knives from my ridiculously large collection and throw them into my go-bag before the tsunami hits. What do I grab?”

Answer: You should have already packed your go-bag dumbass!

In real life, I already have a SwissChamp and Mora Garberg in my backpack (which is my go-bag) and usually have a Buck 110 on me. If I had a split second to make a change, I think I would swap out the Garberg for the Skrama 200 which can do everything the Garberg can do but more and better.

So….

SwissChamp
Buck 110
Skrama 200
 
Kitchen: Forschner/Victorinox #41623 8" forged chef's knife
Fixed Blade: Case XX #365-5 Leather Hunter (5") in Tru-Sharp SS
Folder: Spyderco PM2 in CPM M4 HSS*

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* Tied with Case XX Sodbuster in chrome-vanadium steel, the first knife I was able to freehand sharpen to push-cut paper...but the PM2 is new and I really dig it...so...
 
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I would say for a fixed blade for hunting/outdoorsy uses and harder work, I would pick my Buck 119
I would want a pocket clip one handed opener, which would be my small Sebenza, and then probably my third choice would be one of my Case medium stockmans. I couldn't imagine not being able to carry them. Thankfully we are not restricted to 3, as I have many more great knives I love playing with.
 
Not really sure how to do this one if you have any kitchen demands. At minimum I need a chef's knife, paring knife, and filet knife. I guess a little folder could double as a paring knife, but it would suck to wash all the time.

MAC MTH80 8" chef's knife
Dexter 7" filet knife

Skaha II to double as a paring knife and EDC folder.
 
Tough one. Today, I’d go with:

1. My small CRK Regular Sebenza. Too much history with me to let go. My EDC pick.
2. Fiddleback Forge Bushfinger - Fixed blade and kitchen knife.
3. CRK Mnandi - Office and dress knife.
 
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