Knowing your needs

Hickory n steel

Hickory n steel

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Feb 11, 2016
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From folders to belt knives , locking to non locking ,I've got blades of various sizes that I carry.
I've known for a good while however that a small thin bladed slipjoint in my pocket can comfortably get the job done for me without issue.
I still love all those larger blades I carry, but I get a nice freeing feeling when I carry the 2-1/2" or smaller slipjoints knowing that I truthfully don't need much more.

They're efficient, effective, and unobtrusive to carry.
Those larger blades especially the belt knives with 4"+ blades are definitely excessive and I really only carry them because I'm a knife lover and because I can. I won't stop carrying them any time soon , but I'm happy to know my needs.

I expect that in a few decades I probably may not be carrying a fixed blade of any kind though, It seems I tend to slowly inch closer and closer to pure practicality over time.
It may not be this extreme for me, but my grandfather started with some kind of barlow when my dad was a kid and ended up with just a Victorinox classic in his pocket for as long as I could remember.
I'll probably end up with something in the 2.5" blade range as that seems to be a sweet spot for me, but then again I never imagined carrying a small slipjoint so I really don't know how small I'll end up going.
 
waverave said:
I think our tastes evolve and, like you said, practicality tends to take precedence over time. I'm stocking up on Peanuts now so I'll have plenty for when I'm really old :)
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The peanut would definitely be a great choice, I'd personally go with the 6208 half whittler though as I find the peanuts front bolster a little bit funky.
However I don't yet have a case peanut , and I suspect it would probably grow on me pretty quickly.
 
A 2-1/2" blade is a sweet spot for me too. The blade length meets my carry restrictions at work but is a plenty long enough to do just about any chore I'll run into during the day. I find myself carrying the small blades more and more when I'm not at work because a small single blade disappears in the watch pocket. You don't even realize it's there until you need it. My knife is in the pocket way more than it is in the hand, so ease of carry is a big preference for me. I like to be able to put my hand in my front pocket and not have to squeeze by the knife in my watch pocket.

My one big issue with small knives is usually the handle length. The handle has to be long enough to rest four fingers on for it to be comfortable to use. I find three finger knives to be a little clumsy to use for certain tasks. That is where the Peanut falls short for me. I like the blade length of the Peanut but not the handle length. The GEC #14 however has a 2-1/2" blade and a longer handle. It is slim enough to disappear in the pocket and you can still (mostly) get four fingers around it. I find myself pocketing the #14 more and more every day. The #14 is comfortable in the pocket and in-hand, small enough to disappear in my pocket and big enough to do just about all my cutting. Just about perfect :)

Not a lot of difference between the two, but enough to make me like the #14 a little better...
 
Its taken me a while, but after carrying various styles of fixed and folding knives, both traditional and modern, I find myself gravitating towards the same patterns over and over again.
I've also found that spending some time away from the forums and not spending so much time thinking about knives changes what I carry, for whatever reason.
GECs #15 frame is by far my favorite frame size and shape, and a single clip blade in this frame would be my perfect knife.

I've discovered I'm a single blade type of guy, wood covers over bone or synthetic, barehead over bolsters at both ends.

I wanted to love the Peanut but it was a little too unobtrusive; it two of them disappeared entirely from my pockets never to be seen again :rolleyes:

But I agree, it doesn't take much blade to get most jobs done. I like to go with as minimal as possible while still having a comfortable handle, which ends up being in the 3 1/2 to 3 1/4 range closed.
 
solphilos solphilos i agree the peanut is not great for pocket carry. I only carry mine in my little change pocket and sometimes use a bail and chain to help out. Ideally, the 5120R would be the perfect peanut (single blade with bail) but there are plenty of other patterns out there better suited...like the 14 or 15 or others that have been mentioned.
Interesting observation relating to being on the forums or not but I can see that happening.
 
waverave said:
solphilos solphilos i agree the peanut is not great for pocket carry. I only carry mine in my little change pocket and sometimes use a bail and chain to help out. Ideally, the 5120R would be the perfect peanut (single blade with bail) but there are plenty of other patterns out there better suited...like the 14 or 15 or others that have been mentioned.
Interesting observation relating to being on the forums or not but I can see that happening.
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Its a great pattern, just a bit too small. I love that thin little clip blade so I'll likely get another, but only carry it when I wear jeans in a watch pocket. It fits in perfect there and I never had one fall out of that pocket.
Loose fitting cargo shorts however can be problematic when carrying knives :rolleyes:
 
4 inch closed used to be the smallest knife I carried for a long time. I carried a trapper for years. I thought a small knife couldn’t get job done. Then about 5 years ago I started carrying sub 4 inch closed knives. Not only did they get the job done but I loved how pocket friendly they where. I don’t miss carrying around a pocket brick. Now 4 inch closed is the biggest I’ll carry now. I carried a trapper the other day and couldn’t wait to get it out of pocket!
 
Life is all about change. As we age, things change as to our jobs, hobbies, and most of all, abilities. Sometimes we quit doing something because it gets old and the 'been there, done that' syndrome comes into play. Other times age or a bad injury makes doing what you used to do, impossible. But sooner or later, you'll find yourself looking back and wondering why you used to do that. You get more practical as you age, and very often you see things in a much more pragmatic light. Sometimes you have to remind yourself just who you are, what you are, and where you are. I had a couple instances I looked at my life and thought "this ain't the wild west, what the hell am I doing???"

All my stuff one through a downward progression. Knives, guns, cars, whatever. You young guys can take my word for it, but everything you break, tear, and badly sprain will come back to haunt you. Trust me.

The other thing for at least, material possessions just loose their appeal. All those knives and guns in the collection is just stuff. You come to really appreciate the people in your life that mean something. As I got older, I just didn't want a bunch of stuff cluttering up my life. Gave away darn near all of it and I'm happier.

I don't carry much of a knife anymore, and knives in general have gone way down in importance to me. If I have any kind of small SAK in my pocket I'm good to go. My old Marlin .22 is in the closet and an old trusted S&W revolver is in my bedside table. That's all I need now. My outdoor gear has gone the same way. Simple, basic and serviceable.

Too much of buying and selling is all about the hype and smoke and mirrors. Not what you really need. Going about my life as a retired machinist in suburban American, I find a SAK classic or a Buck 309, or even a little Boker 240 pen knife does about 98% of what I need in a pocket knife. I look back on all the stuff I accumulated in my 20's and 30's and wonder what kind temporary insanity I was in the grip of.
 
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greetings,
of all the knives i have, my buck 303 seems to find its way back into my pocket constantly, i think it owns me and thats o.k.
3.25 inches and comfortable in hand always, big enough for my now yrs(56) and small enough when i get OLD
thanks for listening, troy
 
jackknife said:
You hung guys can take my word for it, but everything you break, tear, and badly sprain will come back to haunt you. Trust me.
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It's an honest typo. We've all been there. Still, it's a top notch slip that made my day and gave me a good laugh. :D

And, just to stay on topic, I agree that there's much to be said for a smaller knife. I've been carrying a 4" double end jack for about 8 months now, and I find myself wishing it was closer to the 3.25-3.5" range.
 
Shurke said:
It's an honest typo. We've all been there. Still, it's a top notch slip that made my day and gave me a good laugh. :D

And, just to stay on topic, I agree that there's much to be said for a smaller knife. I've been carrying a 4" double end jack for about 8 months now, and I find myself wishing it was closer to the 3.25-3.5" range.
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You beat me to it. But the funny thing is - it really fits as is (sic).
 
I love my Trappers but they are big in any of my pant pocket. I love my Peanuts, but they are too small in my front pocket.

Strangely a Texas Toothpick is perfect for me. I am also a fan of the Muskrat.

Go figure as I prefer modern folders in the 3-4” blade range. :rolleyes:

To each their own.:)
 
jackknife said:
Life is all about change. As we age, things change as to our jobs, hobbies, and most of all, abilities. Sometimes we quit doing something because it gets old and the 'been there, done that' syndrome comes into play. Other times age or a bad injury makes doing what you used to do, impossible. But sooner or later, you'll find yourself looking back and wondering why you used to do that. You get more practical as you age, and very often you see things in a much more pragmatic light. Sometimes you have to remind yourself just who you are, what you are, and where you are. I had a couple instances I looked at my life and thought "this ain't the wild west, what the hell am I doing???"

All my stuff one through a downward progression. Knives, guns, cars, whatever. You young guys can take my word for it, but everything you break, tear, and badly sprain will come back to haunt you. Trust me.

The other thing for at least, material possessions just loose their appeal. All those knives and guns in the collection is just stuff. You come to really appreciate the people in your life that mean something. As I got older, I just didn't want a bunch of stuff cluttering up my life. Gave away darn near all of it and I'm happier.

I don't carry much of a knife anymore, and knives in general have gone way down in importance to me. If I have any kind of small SAK in my pocket I'm good to go. My old Marlin .22 is in the closet and an old trusted S&W revolver is in my bedside table. That's all I need now. My outdoor gear has gone the same way. Simple, basic and serviceable.

Too much of buying and selling is all about the hype and smoke and mirrors. Not what you really need. Going about my life as a retired machinist in suburban American, I find a SAK classic or a Buck 309, or even a little Boker 240 pen knife does about 98% of what I need in a pocket knife. I look back on all the stuff I accumulated in my 20's and 30's and wonder what kind temporary insanity I was in the grip of.
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Sir your observant ions on physical injuries is outstanding and spot.I my self am in similar situation.Whether time or age not sure but the important things are becoming more clear eveeryday
 
I've pretty much come full circle. As a kid back in the 50s, I always had a Barlow, scout knife or electricians knife on me, (Most of which I lost.) With the exception of carrying a Buck fixed blade while hunting, I carried nothing but stockmans & Barlows until I bought my first modern folder, a Mini-Griptillian, sometime around the turn of the century.

I've bought a lot of nice knives, both traditional & modern in the last 15 years. In my daily travels a lot of times, a one handed opener is more convenient & I often carry a CRK or a Spyderco, in addition to a traditional. Even so, I'm realizing that 98% of my cutting chores can be achieved just fine with a two bladed Barlow or medium stockman just like I carried 50 or 60 years ago.
 
If I had to break it down, my "perfect" sized knife depends on my activity...

A 3" knife is perfect for work. The blade will be the 2-1/2" max length and it is completely invisible in my watch pocket. The GEC #14s are perfect for this.

A 3-1/3" knife is my preferred carry away from work. It is large enough with it's 3" blade to handle any chore and it is still pretty invisible in my watch pocket. The Case mini Trapper or GEC #15s are my favorites for this.

A larger 3-3/4" knife is my go-to for outdoor activities (fishing, hiking, four wheeling) because I may need a slightly more heavy-duty knife for those chores. A knife this size can still squeeze into my watch pocket but it is far from invisible. The GEC #73 or #74 gets the nod for my outdoor stuff.

Every once in a while I get the urge to carry a BIG knife and I'll turn to a Case full-sized Trapper. But I buy mine with pocket clips so they are easy to carry "clipped". Sorry, not completely "traditional" but handy none-the less.

 
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I also wonder if our needs, or our perceived needs, change as we age. Depending on what stage of life we are going through, our perception of what we may need will vary greatly. When I was a Boy Scout, I couldn't fathom a need for more than what our scout master carried which was his trademark Remington scout knife. But as a young soldier heading to Vietnam, my perception was a huge difference of my younger days. Then in middle age as a working man in a machine shop and father of three, my needs again were a much different thing than just 10 years before.

But the great irony is, that looking back on it all as an old man collecting his social security, it was all perception that was skewed by a number of things. My real world needs of a knife didn't really change from being. Boy Scout, to a young man serving with the 39th Combat Engineers, to a father of three little kids being shuttled to soccer games and Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, to a retired old man waging warfare on the local fish population.

Looking back on it all, I never really needed more than a regular ol pocket knife for 99% of what I had to cut. My perception was warped at times because of the ideas of others, media, or other stuff. Looking back, I really believe that our beloved scout master, Mr. Van, was the best information resource us kids had, aside from our fathers of that era. Growing up then, most of our fathers and Uncles were of that Great Depression era and veterans of WW2. Unfortunately as kids, we often didn't listen to the guys who had actually 'been there and done that'. Young ego's can be a bad thing.

I remember talking to my dad about knives one occasion. His comment stayed with me. I had asked him why he carried such a small knife like a Case peanut, ands reply was soooo simple that it was stunningly brilliant. He said a pocket knife is something that is carried a lot, but used once in a while. It needs to be easy and unnoticed in daily carry. I asked him about self protection and he said that's why Samuel Colt invented the reliable repeating handgun. All dad was interested in a knife was, he knew that it was handy to carry a cutting tool because you just have to cut something now and then. And 99% of the time there's no life or death involved, no dramatic music in the background, just a need to cut something. To dad and his generation, a pocketknife was. just a tool, like a screw driver or can opener. For dad, an American father raising a couple kids in modern post WW2 suburbia, a small two blade jack was enough to go down the road with. If he needed a screw driver or can opener, then he had a Sear's 4-way screw driver and a P-38 on his keyring.

If you like to collect a thing just for the collection interest that's fine. No matter what if it's stamps, coins, beer cans, pocket knives, MatchBox cars, whatever, then that's your hobby. But if you're buying more because you're forever in search of what the niche magazines hype as the newest and best whatever, then it's time to take a step back to examine what you're doing and why you're doing it. Sometimes our needs don't really change as much as we perceive them to be changed. A cutting tool is still a cutting tool, no matter what format it may be in from a simple Barlow to a SAK. In the end, you still just have to cut something.
 
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