Knife categories and purchases...

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ShooterMcgavin

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Jan 20, 2008
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Most of us agree that there is not 1 perfect knife, but what about fulfilling the categories of different knife uses with the "ideal"? That's how I buy my knives - for filling a need in a certain category. Here are my lists with some details - lengths give are for blade length.

-Folder-
EDC - regular........................>2.75" & <3.5" blade, 4.5oz or less, doesn't tear up pockets, tip-up carry
EDC - tough..........................>3" & <4", 6oz or less, more aggressive grip, carbon steel is fine, tip-up carry
EDC - dress...........................<3.1", 3oz or less, smoothish grip, unique looking, stainless
dress....................................<3", <2.6oz, smooth grip, unique look and unique materials, no pocket clip, stainless
hard-use...............................>3.5" & <5", <10oz, carbon steel, aggressive grip, tip-up carry, lanyard hole
rock climbing.........................~3", <3.5oz, serrations, tip-up carry, lanyard hole
rescue..................................>3.5" & <4.5", <5oz, blunt tip, serrations, stainless, tip-up carry, glass breaker, aggressive grip, lanyard hole
marine.................................>3.5" & <4", very stainless, aggressive grip, serrations, lanyard hole

-Fixed-
small fixed blade....................<3.5", <4oz, carbon steel
backpacking FB - winter..........~7", carbon steel
backpacking FB - summer.......~4.5", 3/16" thick, carbon steel
backpacking FB - long dist.......~6", 3/16" thick, <10oz, semi-stainless

Of course, there are other specifics that I get into before purchasing a knife for any of these categories, but I try to set up outlines of what I want. It prevents me from just buying every new knife that is shiney :) When I see a new knife I like, I ask myself if it fits into a category and satisfies my needs better than the current option I have for that category. If it doesn't, it is unlikely that I will buy it.

Does anyone else buy their knives this way? What other categories do you use? Feel free to mention what you think is an "ideal" for some of the roles.
 
My folder actually fits all the requirements you listed. It's my perfect knife. I would dress it up a tad bit more though. Maybe some Titanium anodized gold. It's stainless, tough, has serrations, has silver twill, more than 3. No lanyard hold but a lanyard can be attached to the last standoff on the back. Great jimping, thick tip for prying but wharncliffe for utilitarian purposes.

Here she is! Although it has a black blade but that can be taken care off.

Benchmade Snody Gravitator!
DSC00785_zps300b210d.jpg


Love everything about this knife. It's perfect in my eyes. Taste do differ tough.
 
Is it a liner lock? It looks and sounds great, but I don't get excited about liner locks, except for a dress knife. That's just one of my things.
 
ShooterMcgavin said:
Is it a liner lock? It looks and sounds great, but I don't get excited about liner locks, except for a dress knife. That's just one of my things.
Click to expand...

It is a liner lock but it is going converted to a framelock in the next coming months :D
 
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My regular edc is also my tough edc and this doesn't change really. Its been the same knife for over a year

Overall Length: 8.28"
Blade Length: 3.44"
Cutting Edge: 3.08"
Blade Thickness: 9/64" (3.5 mm)
Closed Length: 4.81"
Blade Steel: CPM-S30V
Handle Material: G-10
Weight: 3.75 oz.

My small edc that gets paired up with that knife above is as follows and shares a pocket with a 3 layer SAK at most. Im not too picky about weight and all that.

Blade under 2.5" and a close blade/handle ratio too
weight within reason of course, it gets dropped in my pocket.
must be locking. I use this blade for some harder things at time where a lock is preferred.
 
Does anyone else buy their knives this way? What other categories do you use? Feel free to mention what you think is an "ideal" for some of the roles.
Click to expand...

I use similar categories, and usually contrast the knife against the best "value" knife I own in the category [i.e. - a purchase is justified if a knife somehow meets or exceeds the knife of each category]. As a general rule, I prefer at least 3.5" blades, plain edges, slim profiles, and smooth handles. Not a huge fan of folders that cost more than $200 due to diminishing performance returns that typically happen after the $150 mark.

-Folder-
EDC - regular........................ BM 710 (at least 3.5", 6.0oz or less, doesn't tear up pockets, tip-up carry);
EDC - tough..........................Spyderco Gayle Bradley (>3" & <4", 6oz or less, tip-up);
EDC - small...........................Spyderco Sage 1 (at least 3.25", 4.0oz or less, doesn't tear up pockets);
EDC - dress........................... BM 940 (at least 3.5", 5.oz or less, smoothish grip, unique looking, tip-up);
dress....................................Mcusta Tacitlity (at least 3.5", smooth grip, unique look and unique materials, tip-up);
hard-use...............................BM275 Adamas (at least 3.5", tough lock, tip-up carry);
cheap beater..........................Cold Steel Voyager (at least 3.5", tough lock, tip-up, sub $50).

-Fixed-
Beater.................................Cold Steel Bushman
Bushcraft.............................Mora Companion
Expensive Bushcraft...............Spyderco Bushcraft
Everything Else.....................BK2
 
I don't have that many categories-

My biggest category is EDC and I can carry the same knife any day of the week no matter what I am wearing. Unfortunately I may have to change jobs soon and I'm hopeful that potential new employers don't have restrictions.

Next biggest category is a bigger hard use knife. I have one and I'm interested in getting another one or two. There are also occasions when I need a hard use knife in situations where I might worry about losing the knife so I have a knife for that use.

I have considered another category- a second knife to carry along with my primary carry in case I need to cut something that I don't want to cut with my nice knife, or if I need to loan a knife to someone. I have not had this need in the 6 months or so that I've been thinking about this so it isn't a high priority. I've decided that this knife could have a 2 3/4" - 3" blade, and would need to be slim and light.
 
I do believe I have categories but mostly I just buy what I like and pair them up how I feel and carry them all lol.

Though I do usually carry a larger and a smaller knife. I carry two at all times.
 
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