knives got smaller as you got older?

This has been a good post, Jackknife. :thumbup: I'll jump in again.
Back in about '84 when I started to carry a four-inch folder on the belt it was a nice little Puma lockback. Carried it for about 12 years till I decided it probably wasn't strong enough to be used as a weapon, if needed. So I switched to the original Applegate folder, carried that for a while till I decided it wasn't strong enough to be used as a weapon if needed (heard too many bad things about that liner lock), and dug out a SOG Tomcat I'd had sitting on a dedicated outdoor gunbelt. Been carrying it for a while now, like it, it's a good solid knife, but it's heavy & I'm really starting to decide I want a one-hander. Coincidentally with looking for lighter, I'm deciding I don't really need to worry about the knife being usable for a weapon, since I'd only hurt myself with it with my coordination if I ever tried to defend myself using a knife. :rolleyes:
If I can find a pouch I like, I think it'll be the Spyderco D'Allara. Lighter, better steel, and it just has a medium-duty hollowpoint cutting blade without much tip to it. One thing I decided long ago is that I have no need for a $200 folder. :yawn:
Meanwhile the SAK has quietly gone everywhere with me for over 20 years now. Guess the bigger folder is more emotional than anything, but still a naggling "just in case" thing.
Maybe in five years I might find myself going back to that slim Puma again.


Robbie,
50?
You're such a kid!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:eek:

Denis
 
I'm still shy of my 40th. And I started being interested in "real" knives pretty late (around 30 or so). So I'm probably not "getting older", at least in knife years :D. I had carried a SAK tinker or Manager for a long time. Since I started carrying "real" knives, they have followed a trend of getting larger, starting with Spyderco Dragonfly (2"), to a Calypso Jr (2.5"). and currently a 2.75" Mnandi.
 
mycroftt said:
One of the joys of youth is being master of your universe where nothing can withstand your assault, but one of the joys of mellowing into middle age is having more stuff and appreciating and knowing how to use it.
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LOL! , may I use this quote of yours? It's a gem.
 
I'm 65 and have always carried about the same size knife. Thirty years ago it was a Buck Prince. Since then it has been a Spyderco Delica and most recently a MiniGriptilian. The Minigrip does everything I need done, but on weekends or whenever I take a great notion, I carry the big Grip--sometimes one in each front pocket.

Having said all that, I'd like to see a Mini miniGriptilian about 2/3rds the size of a MiniGrip, kind of a gentleman's version.

U
 
I will be 65 in December, and my latest knife purchase was last week, a Cabela's Buck 110. I favor and carry folders in the 3 & 1/2" blade range.
:D :D :D :rolleyes:
 
I'm 50. I use knives since 40 years. The size never changed. Sub 3'' for a folder, sub 4'' for a fixed blade and a small axe for hard tasks. What i call experience may be the repetition of the same error but i like small blades and have never had to borrow a big one for any particular task.
 
my EDC knife "history" has gone through stages.

1960's and early 70's: cheap Imperial barlow because that was all that was available to me or could afford.

mid 70's to early 80's: big "tacticals" in my late teens and 20's.

then I took a haitus from EDC in my 30's: my GF's at the time thought it was tacky to EDC a tactical.

then about 7 years ago I started to EDC a 3 1/4" OAL Schrade lock back at work because I needed to cut stuff and was tired of looking for a pair of scissors all the time. I figgered this knife would not scare people. I also found that it served all my needs and was COMFORTABLE to carry. Comfort is #1 for me now ,also complying with regs. I can carry a < 3" blade to work.

I still own and carry tacticals occasionally, but I currently EDC either:
an 84mm SAK like a bantam, waiter or recruit or
a SJ like a peanut , small stockman or Vic pocket pal.

so I guess the trend as I have gotten older is markedly toward smaller and toward slip joints and SAKs.
 
I'm 58 and the pattern follows with me as well. Though I have purchased some large knives in the past I now tend to smaller, thinner, sharper. My favorite EDC right now is a KOPA in Black Micarta. Very sharp yet elegant looking.

In reality, I usually need to find a reason to even use it. I really couldn't justify $ 125 on a "envelope opener" but then I've been able to rationalize anything all my life.

I just flew to Atlanta for a 3 day meeting and I felt a little empty without that knife in my pocket. There wasn't one time in 3 days that I would have even used it.
 
What I like most about my pocket knives is the feeling that I can take a small part of my private home life with me into my work-a-day life. Kinda like a security blanket. Am I crazy?
 
I'm 60. I find it really hard to carry anything on me because if you fly anywhere, enter a public building or get caught in a spot check on the subway you lose something you might have wanted to give a better home than the bottom of a cardboard box. Consequently I keep most of my better knives in cigar boxes.
 
i'm 48 and i really wouldnt mind carrying a nice 2 1/2-3'' david yellowhorse folder and putting up my 3 1/2'' inchers
 
whittet said:
I'm 60. I find it really hard to carry anything on me because if you fly anywhere, enter a public building or get caught in a spot check on the subway you lose something you might have wanted to give a better home than the bottom of a cardboard box. Consequently I keep most of my better knives in cigar boxes.
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Whittet, am I understanding you correctly that you can't carry ANY knife on a subway? Or just over a certain size?
 
Almost 50 also ... When I first caught the bug I started with a Buck Buckmaster and a SAK Mauser ... Last three purchases were BM 210, 2 Calypso's, and a Native. Guess we've just learned to do more with less over the years. :D
 
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