I've become a 3 knife carrier...........

C

cutter17

Joined
May 16, 2006
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It has always been 2 that I carry, a large, single-bladed, "tactical" style knife in my right front pocket, all by itself, and a medium sized slipjoint in my left front pocket with any change I may have.

I recently bought a Bill's Cases Urban Wallet that has a couple pouches on the outside. These will accomodate a variety of things. One pouch is larger than the other, and both are of the same depth.

I decided last night that these pouches were going to waste when I had a perfectly good knife to fit into one of those pouches! I chose the smaller of the two as it gave the knife I put in it a tighter fit.

The knife I chose to carry is another Hammer Brand slipjoint knife. It is the Elephant toe, or maybe called the Wildcat Driller Whittler. In any circumstance, it is a fairly large knife at 4 1/2" in closed position, and about 6 ounces in weight.

I really wanted to see if I could do this and do it without discomfort. Today's carry presented no problems. I do carry my wallet in my right rear pocket, and the knife is located on the outside pouch so that the knife rides more on my side than underneath my butt.

I just figured out that I carry 16.7 ounces of steel with that third knife, so a little over one pound of steel goes into my pocket daily! Thing is I could get by just fine with the single slipjoint I carry, but of course, where would be the fun in that?!?! Anyway, I am going to carry the tactical folder because it gives me satisfaction to carry a nice, very well designed, excellent fit/finish, knife that I do use on occasion.

Right now it goes something like this;

JWS SD-3....................6.6 ounces
Hammer Brand jack......4.1 ounces
Hammer Brand elptoe...6.0 ounces

TOTAL: 16.7 ounces


Guess if I have a question it would be along the lines of how many you carry, how many you could do without, and just how much weight are you putting in your pockets on a daily basis??:):)
 
I usually only carry two blades on my person: a small sheeple-friendly pocket knife, and a larger clipped folder (which is frequently rotated.) The combined total weight averages around four to six ounces. Any other metal on me will be keys, coins, etc...
 
I don't think EDCing three is unreasonable. I just don't personally need more than one to meet my needs.

In an EDC setting I carry one blade (Manix 2 for the last year). I refuse to carry something extra just to be sheeple friendly.

In the woods, that's another story... I'll probably have five or so + axe and saw =)
 
I carry a Leatherman, a Kershaw Skyline, and an USA Old Timer stockman every day. Leatherman on the belt, Skyline clipped to the front right hand pocket, and the Old Timer either in the little watch/coin pocket or in the main pocket itself.

Sometimes I add another larger folder too.
 
My basic work EDC is: Ti Charge, Kershaw A-100, Subcom rescue, LM Squirts on keychains, light, two knives, and steel tips. Non-working EDC adds a sidearm, clips, and a monocular or small binoculars, sometimes an extra knife depending on where I am playing. If I have pockets I use them, pocket change, wallet, pens, pad, gum, toothpicks, phone, wet naps, etc. I like pockets :D. If a belt is not enough support then the suspenders get put on also, mainly in winter. Too hot down here to do it in the summer. It is not unusual for me to carry 10/15 lbs. including boots. I have done this since childhood so it is not an issue. I actually feel uncomfortable without the weight. The lightest I run is when I'm wade fishing or swimming. I am stout (beer belly, lol) so I can carry lots without being too noticeable.
 
I used to carry 3. Now I carry 4. A main modern/tactical folder, a Tasman Salt PE "work" knife, a V'nox Cybertool 29 (mainly for the non-knife tools), and recently have started carrying a traditional slipjoint.

I just got an Endura Wave SE (thanks Gollum!), which'll likely replace the Caly 3 or 940 I usually carry as my "main" knife, and use the traditional slipjoint as my main cutting blade, and keep the Endura pristine and sharp. I ride a bike everywhere, and work late, so I need something "just in case" (I can't have a gun at work--not that I own one anyway), so hopefully it's a knife I'll never use.

3 or 4 knives might seem like too much, even to use knife nuts, but I don't think so (assuming the knives aren't too redundant). Most people never have the right too for the right job, but we usually do. Simply having a single knife makes us more prepared than 99% of the population, and having a knife that's actually sharp makes us more prepared than the majority of that 1%. Having more than one knife makes us even more prepared.

I think of it this way: Let's say you're confronted with the most sinister of evils in modern life: Clamshell packaging. Without a knife, people are reduced to using whatever they can to try to defeat this denizen of hell. Dull scissors, screwdrivers, teeth, etc. I came into work one day and found a coworker trying to use a staple remover to open up the packaging to his new cell phone charger, until I saved the say with my knife.

Obviously having a knife is the right tool for the job, but which knife is the right too for which job? Sure, you can open clamshell packaging with any knife, but for this specific task would you prefer a Lionsteel SR1, or the thin sheepsfoot blade of a stockman? If you need to dig a splinter out of your thumb would you rather have a Hinderer XM-18 spanto, or the pen blade of a Victorinox Classic? If I carry 3 or 4 knives, one being a stockman or congress, I have several blades, all with different uses and purposes.

It's great to be prepared, but it's even better to be better prepared.
 
One of the knives I always have on me is a SE Endura ZDP189. I will not try to pry with it but it will cut just about anything you can throw at it. I am of the same ilk Planterz. What many consider as overkill is SOP for our thinking.:thumbup:
 
SOLEIL said:
One of the knives I always have on me is a SE Endura ZDP189. I will not try to pry with it but it will cut just about anything you can throw at it.
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+1, i've been EDC'ing mine for a little over a year now, in about a week i'll switch it out for a little while (i have a new knife coming this week).
 
I was wondering if I was totally crazy for carrying three. :eek:

Now I know I'm not alone. :D

Kershaw Skyline in right front pocket.
Bark River Mini North Star in sheath.
Leatherman Wave on belt.

I've got a JK EDC and a Blind Horse Bushbaby on a neck sheath on order so I'll try those. I like small fixed blades a lot but I'm also thinking of buying three new Kershaws; a Leek, OD-1 and Zing. And other neck knives. So it might go up to four.

Utility? Survival? Protection? Who cares? I live in Texas so it's all good! :cool: But I hope I never have to use one for protection.
 
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I wouldn't see anything wrong with carrying a bunch of different knives for different purposes, but unfortunately I just don't think today's society is accepting enough of knives as tools. Sure, justifying to your co-workers why you have 3-4 knives on you may not be a problem, but justifying to the police why you have them may be. I know a lot of guys have that whole, "Oh, well, the police wouldn't be messing with you if you weren't being a jackass," kind of mentality... Until the day some random cop comes up and harasses them and they realize that, "I'm just doing my job," really stands for, "Just bend over and take it."

So yeah, I carry at most two on me. I've carried three on me before because I wanted to show one of them off to a friend plus carry my normal compliment, but I felt like I was really pushing it and pretty much made sure I wasn't going to be out in public or anywhere that I might get in some kind of trouble for it.

Otherwise I carry a folder and a fixed blade. I still worry that some day a cop will want to know why I have both, and just hope they will believe that I just want the fixed blade on hand for heavier cutting tasks, but I think that three knives would be pushing it.
 
Kenny, it's not illegal to carry multiple knives. As long as you're not committing a crime, there's nothing a cop can arrest you for, and having multiple knives makes no difference. You don't have to justify having them. Just as you don't have to justify having a handgun in your home, or have to justify purchasing pancake mix from Safeway. Now, I'm not saying you should necessarily say "none of your @#$%ing business" when a cop might ask you why you carry so many knives, but the fact is having a knife, or even several, is not a crime, and unless you're carrying/using them in furtherance of a crime, there's nothing you can be arrested or prosecuted for.

You might also want to brush up on your 4th Amendment rights. If a cop asks if you are carrying any weapons, say something like "no, but I have a pocket knife". If he asks you if he can pat you down to search for other "weapons", it's your right to refuse; he has to have your permission or probable cause to search you. Even a "Terry Frisk" requires some amount of reasonable suspicion.
 
Planterz said:
Kenny, it's not illegal to carry multiple knives. As long as you're not committing a crime, there's nothing a cop can arrest you for, and having multiple knives makes no difference. You don't have to justify having them. Just as you don't have to justify having a handgun in your home, or have to justify purchasing pancake mix from Safeway. Now, I'm not saying you should necessarily say "none of your @#$%ing business" when a cop might ask you why you carry so many knives, but the fact is having a knife, or even several, is not a crime, and unless you're carrying/using them in furtherance of a crime, there's nothing you can be arrested or prosecuted for.

You might also want to brush up on your 4th Amendment rights. If a cop asks if you are carrying any weapons, say something like "no, but I have a pocket knife". If he asks you if he can pat you down to search for other "weapons", it's your right to refuse; he has to have your permission or probable cause to search you. Even a "Terry Frisk" requires some amount of reasonable suspicion.
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Well, I'm familiar with the law and constitutional rights, but I'm not as confident that the police will honor and respect each accordingly. I've heard enough stories of illegal search and seizures, false arrests, and cops just being dicks detaining people because they can to know that I don't want to tempt fate. I shouldn't have to justify why I have a knife... However, if it comes down to it, and I have to convince a cop that it's a tool and not a weapon, I want to be sure that he's going to believe that. I don't want to wind up arrested, or my stuff taken, or in the back of a police car "detained". To me that is worth limiting the amount of knives I carry.

I mean, like I said, I'll still carry more if I have reason... I just don't feel comfortable doing it. I suppose I'll just never find what the written law says very comforting.

Not speaking against it or anything, it's just every time I do it, I think, "Man, how would I explain all this to a cop?"
 
Right front pocket - Kershaw Volt II - 3.4oz
Right back pocket - Kershaw Half Ton - 3.4oz
Keychain - Spyderco Bug - 0.4oz

Total - 7.2 oz

Not even half a pound...
 
KennyB said:
Well, I'm familiar with the law and constitutional rights, but I'm not as confident that the police will honor and respect each accordingly. I've heard enough stories of illegal search and seizures, false arrests, and cops just being dicks detaining people because they can to know that I don't want to tempt fate. I shouldn't have to justify why I have a knife... However, if it comes down to it, and I have to convince a cop that it's a tool and not a weapon, I want to be sure that he's going to believe that. I don't want to wind up arrested, or my stuff taken, or in the back of a police car "detained". To me that is worth limiting the amount of knives I carry.

I mean, like I said, I'll still carry more if I have reason... I just don't feel comfortable doing it. I suppose I'll just never find what the written law says very comforting.

Not speaking against it or anything, it's just every time I do it, I think, "Man, how would I explain all this to a cop?"
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Sounds like oppression to me... :thumbdn:

You're either way to scared/cautious of policemen (or your perception of one), or the area you live in isn't too great.
 
At home, I carry 2; my XM-18 & Dog Paws PT CC. When I go out, I wear my neck knife, a Todd Begg Tree Frog & in my Mission wallet, I keep a Matt Cucchiara Mini Scrapper.
 
I always carry one knife only - and would like to keep it this way as long as I can. Because I never need more than one knife at a time. If I started carrying two or more knives that would only indicate that I was not able to make up my mind - which one...
Self-discipline is a good thing - keeps me in shape. ;)
 
I mainly carry a slipjoint (sak, gec, case, queen..)as my main EDC knife, a TK4 for backup/harder use as it ispretty rugged and the 3rd blade wich I never use is on my SwissTool or Spirit MT

Maxx
 
Today I had a mini Griptilian clipped in my rh pocket next to a Nitecore D10 camo SP, JDR "fireant" in my moneyclip/card holder lh pocket , a Livesay "woo" in a mercharness under my arm, and a S&W 642 on my side.
 
Almost always, I carry 3 knifes.
One in my fronto right pocket, that wold be the one For main use as an EDC, like the Kulgera, ParaMillie, etc, a BIG one in my rear right pocket, for defence purposes (almost 100% of the time, the BM Skirmish) and a small one, sheep friendly im my rear left pocket, like the Caly 3, UK Pen Knife, small sebenza or BM770...

Regards,

Andre Tiba - Brazil
 
I typically carry 4 at work. My Small Buck Vantage Pro is used to cut tape and the like, as that stuff can really gunk up a blade. My Pink Izula is for cutting samples of fruit for customers(not all that often, and I immediately rinse the blade off, so the 1095 never gets more than a slight patina). I then carry one knife for light cutting and one for hard use. So you could say each knife has a dedicated task.

For a walk outside or shopping, I just carry the one.

As far as cops go, just make sure it's legal in your area and you're okay. If the cop insists on being an ass, you can take it to court.
 
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