Just what do you expect your knife to be able to do/handle?

Like many people who believe in being prepared, a pocket knife is never the only metal tool I EDC. My minimum load (in the office) would include a Kershaw Skyline, a Pocketwrench II, a Swisstech Micro-Max, and a Fenix L0D. These 4 little things total only about 8 oz yet they give me a lot of capabilities for that weight. Because of the other tools, I don't remember ever using my knife to do anything but cut stuff.

If I anticipate heavy use, then the LM Wave and Endura ZDP get carried.
 
dorito monk said:
that's a real head scratcher...

Generally, i buy a knife with the sole intention of using it to cut things. Extremely simplified, from a performance perspective, its ability to help me cut things is pretty much the only consideration i have when looking at a new knife (aside from cost, aesthetics, and non-performance related considerations).

However, once i have a knife, i'll end up using it for all kinds of wacky junk i probably shouldn't. I didn't expect to have to use my cyclone as a hammer, but i've used it as such. I hadn't planned on prying boxes open with it, but it gets used for exactly that. Opening canned food? Yep, it's been there. Most of my knives end up getting used for all kinds of wacky, non-cutting related tasks.

I didn't consider those uses for them before i bought them, and definitely didn't anticipate using them for those tasks, but i guess in hindsight, i would have been a bit disappointed if they weren't able to perform those tasks.

So, basically, i've never bought a knife with the intention of doing anything with it other than cutting things. However, i end up doing all manner of different things with my knives anyway.
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ditto....well put !
 
I feel that my different knives are required to perform different tasks. I have hunting knives that I will only expect to field dress and skin animals. Others I depend on to perform bushcraft tasks, such as splitting, cutting, and camp kitchen chores.
My good Japanese knives have specific kitchen chores. Some slice fish, some vegetables, some meat.
Different strokes for different knives, as it were. ;)
 
Pretty much only cutting. I carry a pocket tool for prying jobs.
 
I guess when I buy a knife, folders of course, I intend it to be used for cutting and light batoning, so subconsciously my knives are always chosen by size, lock strength, and handle comfort. To break these down in better detail:

Size:

Size of blade could be the width (measurement from cutting edge up to the spine) the length (measurement from handle to the tip) and height (thickness of the blade). along with the size comes the blade shape. I look at it as, "if I needed to baton with it, could this blade hold up?"

Lock Strength is always a plus, but not a must have. I like strong folders, but I refuse to do any sort of stabbing motion with one, only cuts and slices in an outward direction (unless applying pressure with both thumbs to the spine in a controlled close cut, ie. whittling).

Handle Comfort is a major issue because it would not be much fun to get hot spots and/or have the handle be too big or too small for long term cutting. Such as making tent stakes or whittling for fun.

So right now I have a cold steel AK-47 :)
 
Cutting and light batoning:

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My main knife I always carry is a Victorinox Cadet.
I expect it to cut carton, rope, fabric and stuff.
I expect it to rotate screws. (And it does wonderfully; reason I carry it instead of a normal pocket knife)

I don't expect it to cut carpet or branches aka heavier stuff.
I use a Stanley knife, branchcutter or another folder for that. (don't have a fixed blade, except for food)
 
I expect it to do whatever I might need it to do within a days time, now what that is, I don't know!!!!!!!:confused:
 
depends on what im doing and how drunk i get...iv had knives that have done everything from my tenactious cutting down a fairly large tree while on a mtn weekend with my fraternity, carving names into tables, shotgunning beers, throwing said tenacious into walls, doors, etc...and then i graduated...now my cutting is pretty standard. lots of rope cutting now that i have gotten into 550 cord.

-Alex
 
So, what SHOULD I expect of my knives?

EDC
I expect my 'Every Day Carry' stuff to handle every day chores - if not then why carry them?

Opening cans: I EDC a SAK which has a can opener that works quite well and will do a much neater job than a knife would - so I NEVER use a knife to open cans due to never having a need.

Split wood:
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Sure, why not.

Chop wood:
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Yeah - some of my knives are expected to chop wood, but only my bigger fixed blades. My folders would never be expected to handle tasks like that.

I sometimes use knives for fairly straightforward tasks - slicing a tomato and stuff like that. Sometimes chopping up a tree and batoning the pieces. Sometimes carving a stick to be used as a tent peg. Sometimes cutting some paracord. I use my knives for whatever I want, but I try to use a knife that is suitable for the task required - chopping with big fixed blades, food prep with whatever suits the food, etc.
 
Hmmm, for bigger fixed blades, expect them to chop, baton, pry, dig, open cans and so on with combat capability on the very end of expectations.

For an edc folder, I expect it to be light and to be forgotten about in my pocket until I have to cut something.
 
EDC needs to be able to cut paper, cardboard, string, food, and wood. I like a blade with belly so I can shave wood from a flat surface if needed. Just did it again today. I work as a carpenter.
 
Sometimes, I only expect my knife to go along for the ride comfortably. If I have a back pocket slippie, I expect it to not put a dent in my glute. If I have a clipped folder in my pants, I expect it to find a spot in my pocket so the scales do not gouge my hip when I sit down. I will admit that many days, I leave the house with 2 knives, and do not cut anything all day except envelopes opening the mail when I get home. I expect my knives to cut, because I learned how to sharpen them.
 
Dorito Monk said:
Ooooh, what knife is that? That's a pretty handsome looking blade shape (someone's got his hand in the way of the handle, so I can't tell what it looks like :p).
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That irritating hand ha ha!!! It is my Burger Large EXK with contoured handles and pocket clip. Their website (www.swordcane.com). It is a handmade product and Trevor does all the knives personally. If you want to see how the smaller version is made a did an in depth thread here: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=689188


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