This can get to be a sticky wicket of a question.
My favorite will never be my 'best', because of the war going on inside. There's the ego and the id. In my case, the doggedly pragmatic side of me that is ever in search of the most logical and practical vs the part of me that loves the beauty of the thing. Never mind that there's no screw driver or awl like on my old Wenger SI. I'll look at the nice aged old stag, or pocket worn bone with the jigging worn smooth by countless handling, or just plain worry stone fondling. The analogy of the BMW vs Honda motorcycles are a good example. I probably could have got just as good service if not better out of a Japanese Honda than my old Beemer boxer twin. But the Honda was too good, too smooth. It was as exiting as a clothes drier. The BMW had a feel, an intangible something that spoke to some inner sense. My Wenger SI or any other SAK would make the best pocket knife. It has a sharp blade or two, and takes care of jobs the normal pocket knife can't ever hope to deal with. But I very rarely carry it. To me, it has all the appeal of a small crescent wrench. But my GEC 15 that Dan gifted me has those ebony scales that I've buffed with a soft rag and lemon oil, the carbon blade that has taken on a patina, and the knife has a 'feel'. That feel is important. I don't care if it won't deal with a loose phillip's screw. I have a Sear's 4-way screw driver in my wallet to do that. I love the GEC or my damascus peanut.
Taking out the SAK, I will never stop for a moment to admire it, like I do with my couple other knives. There's no pause to feel the buffed satin smooth grain of the ebony, or admire the raindrop pattern that Mr. Thomas put in the damascus. No, my favorites are not my best, but I love them for it.
Carl.
Here's a photo of my most frequently carried traditionals:
