There are certainly a lot of threads about knife rotation, collections; and, what are you carrying today? All good stuff, I post in those threads. However, what interests me is the knives that are carried, and used, day in and day out. What selections folks have made when they deliberately only own a handful of knives. This is different than asking collectors which handful of knives are currently in favor, it is asking which few knives are carried or purchased amidst large number of choices available.
- David
I think that it is unfortunate that the people on a knife forum will not have the 'old friend' of a knife simply because of our obsession. The people who had the old friend are the non knife obsessed people who just know that they need a sharp tool around. When I was a kid, men had just a pocket knife. That was it; that one pocket knife, and they seemed to be able to get it all odne with the knife of the era. Usually a small two blade jack of some sort, serpentine, tear drop, Texas, barlow, or such in about a 3 to 3 and 1/4 inch size. Today, I think you'd be hard pressed to find the favorite half dozen. Our grandfathers had way less disposable income, and lots more responsibility than today's 20 something knife afflicted accumulators.
I don't know anybody today that is still carrying the same knife they were carrying 5 years ago. Most of the men I knew growing up had the old friend, but that was a long time ago. Another age. Back then they only bought a new knife when the old one was lost, totally destroyed somehow, or so worn out, it really was time to get a new knife.
Once upon a time, before I was a knife knut, I carried a Buck 301 stockman for 25 years. It was my go-to knife. Never would have thought about walking out the door without it. Carried that knife from 1967 to the mid 90's, and it did everything I needed. I still have it, it's the one knife I just could never quite fully retire or get rid of. Plenty of others came and went, but my old Buck stockman was with me for a very long time in a lot of very far off places.
For over 40 years, my dad carried a little Case peanut. It was his go-to knife. My friend Wayne carries a Buck 309. His wife gave it to him about 20 years ago, and it's his one pocket knife. Wayne is not a knife knut, thinks knife collecting is nuts, but he knows he needs a knife for cutting things. He won't carry any other knife but his 309. It works for him. It's his mail opening/bait cutting/fish belly slitting/upland game knife. He'll carry a 3,000 dollar Browning shotgun in the field, but won't spend money on a knife.
Carl.
