- Joined
- Mar 7, 2006
- Messages
- 2,171
I think that is the jist of it.
There is something to be said for system redundancy. Or as Clint Smith of Thunder Ranch says, "Two is one, one is none." However, we can also get carried away in so many ways.
I used to pretty much carry a slipjoint as my primary, a Case mini-trapper which would sometimes take a rest while I carried a simple Queen single blade Jack. That was in my right pocket. In my left I carried my wallet, bandana, and a SAK Classic. That Classic is sitting on my desk and it a longtime scarred little veteran.
After some experimenting around, during which time I even tried out some different belt pouches, I ended up back with the Case MT in my primary pocket and a SAK Alox Farmer in the left pocket. Ever since my back blew out severely with a herniation decades ago I don't carry a wallet or anything in my rear pocket. Having belly, but no butt (Hank Hill and I both have diminished gluteal syndrome
) most anything back there presses on nerves and hurts. I can and do occasionally carry a slim OHO like a Buck Vantage Select or a Colt CT591. But as handy as they are for quick in and out, it just starts to feel like overkill and the longer blades can be limiting for some stuff. Carrying two knives does provide both a backup in case you lose or damage the primary. You can also have each blade edge tuned for a specific range of tasks or even a single one. Or as happened about a month ago, your primary slips out of your pocket while you have your pants laying on something by the bed and you don't notice. Then later in the day you go to reach for your knife and have a moment of panic. Because I had the Farmer in the other pocket (and I mainly carry it for the tools) I still had a knife on me to use. On returning home I was able to reunite with the MT that decided to take a day off without telling me. A second knife is never a bad thing. Past that for general EDC it's getting into obsession and pure want. Pay no attention to the horizontal belt pouch on my belt with the SAK NS one hand Trekker in it.
In addition to the Case I usually carried in my right pocket I also carried change and folding bills on those rare occasions I actually have them to put in there. Also in that pocket was a Ronson Jet Light I've carried for years harkening back to my cigar smoking days. Oh yeah, there was a carabiner with a braided lanyard (gotta have some cordage on you right) with my key sets on it. Most times it all rode well, but at times things got bulked up and bothersome. I've tried cargo pants and that's a bust. I can't stand stuff in the leg pockets banging around near knee level. The most use I ever got out of cargo pants was in the Army shoving my cap in the opening at the top flap on my BDUs while indoors, or under cover as we called it.
I started experimenting with smaller belt pouches to free up the pockets. It was kind of handy, but like a lot of vertical belt sheaths for knives, even the small ones, the pouch would catch on chair arms when I sat or tried to get up. Move it forward it was in the ways while sitting. Move it back and it was putting pressure on key points on the back when sitting. Not to mention with no butt to hold up my pants the pouches, though not heavily laden, managed to keep pulling my belt down and the top of my pants with it. I finally decided that wasn't going to work for me either. It's gotta be simple.
As it was time for me to start replacing my jeans finally. Because I ride a motorcycle as primary transportation I liked a watch pocket for slipping a single key into with the second key on the wad of keys in my pocket. Oh yeah, a tube of Chapstick. That was also a right pocket add in. I like the basic Rustler's at Wallworld. However, the old boot jean style don't have a watch pocket. I tried the Faded Glory 5 pocket and the front pockets were a little too good and keeping things in the pocket, such as trying to get my hand in and fish things out. Add to that the watch pocket wouldn't hold my Case MT with out it slipping out at times while sitting. It killed me, po boy and value seeker I am, (inexpensive, but long lasting and durable is the key) but I ended up stepping up to the Wrangler regular cuts there that run around $16 each. Just right.
The watch pocket does a fine job of keeping my knife and a tube of Chapstick in place. I can stick the bike key in there for a jaunt into the store if I want. Though I ended up moving the single bike key and the other keys to a carabiner that has both a small flashlight and a whistle on it. This I simply clip to a belt loop and it works fine with no belt drag. I bought a formed ballistic nylon pouch for a Zippo lighter that holds my Ronson just fine. Some folks complain the pouch is too tight for a Zippo, which makes it snug, but perfect for the slimmer Ronson. This goes on my left side and right after the first belt loop. Handy, out of the way, and easy to access.
I now have space in my right pocket to slip a full size pen and any cash and everything still lay flat and comfortable. For the last year or so I pretty much wear pocket Ts. Pens don't carry well there and once you get above 50 mph anything in those flimsy pockets tend to come out while riding. I slip the cell phone into my front pants pocket while riding unless I have my vest on in which case I slip the phone into an inner, securable pocket.
I forgot to mention that on the key ring is my fire redundancy. I have a small Boy Scout firesteel on the key ring I've had since I bought it new in the early 90s up in Alaska. It doesn't take much space and I've actually used it on occasions. Once because I had to and several times because I wanted to.
You're quite right. It gets too easy and we want to carry too much stuff with us. A lot of what if in our heads. We don't want to carry packs with us all the time. We could keep small pouches of maybe might needs tucked away in vehicles, desks, or wherever, but there's always that, "What if I need it and it's not right on me?" The idea that we may have to function with just what we have on us. Very true. We might. The trick is to figure out what you most likely might face then figure out how you can use the very least of the stuff you carry to deal with it.
The real trick is to get down to enough stuff to feel fun and prepared, but feel that way with the least stuff. Then figure out how to distribute the load so it's secure, handy, and not bulking up in spots. Just don't forget to leave a spot for those knives you want to rotate in and out just because you want to carry them for a day or two just because. Or to augment if you are going outside your normal sphere of activities and might require, or desire, something more task specific.
The real "real" trick is to realize you don't really need all that stuff to begin with. At least most of us don't for the lives we lead. With a little thought you can pretty much do a lot with very little.
AZ, I see you carry a Morgan. I used to carry a Morgan in one pocket and an Engelhard Prospector in the other, until I lost the Prospector one day. Then I quit carrying the Morgan.
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