Method of rotation for Traditional folders

Gary W. Graley

Gary W. Graley

“Imagination is more important than knowledge"
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Mar 2, 1999
Messages
27,472
Evening folks, a cool slightly muggy night in western NY. Lately I have been accruing a goodly number of small traditional folders, and they all have their good points enough so that they might even stick around a bit. So I was wondering what method you guys and gals use to put your knife into a daily rotation?

For some of you I know you have a sizeable collection and may never get to use all of them, but a collection can just be that, a collection and not meant to be taken out and pocketed.

Myself I don't have safe queens so the ones I get I intend to use.

The number of knives right now are around 10 or so, which will make it a little easier for me. I'm thinking of a smallish book case but traditional knife size. Something that has wide cubby holes and setting at a slight angle backwards to prevent them from falling out. I might just make something and go from there, starting at the top and going around in order. That would provide a nice visible collection as well as an orderly way to decide. Guess I just needed to 'type' it out to come up with a plan, being an amateur wood worker it will also give me a project to make. ;)

So, lets here from you guys what you use to cycle through your collection!

G2
 
I have a box of knives on the table next to me, sometimes I will go through it and switch out what is in my pocket for whatever catches my eye. I also have a desk drawer with about fifty knives in it, and I will do the same with that. Once in my pocket it may last a day, a week, or even years being carried daily. My trusty GEC Powderhorn has returned to my pocket where it resided for five or six years in the past. I guess that I like it because I don't even know it is there until I need it, and when needed it does what I carry it for.
 
I also have around 10 knives at this point, I usually just take a look at the lot of them and see what strikes my fancy on a given day. If I can't remember the last time I carried one I'll have a higher chance of grabbing it, if one is a bit dull and I carried it yesterday there's a lower chance.

I do need to work out a storage method though, for now I just have a spot on the table that I leave clear for them.
 
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I open the cabinet drawer hem n haw ... pick 2 or three ... change mind ... repeat.
I generally carry a stockman. With 14, it "can be" ("is"?) a challenge to pick one, then decide what I want to pair it with. (in addition to the three SAK's I've pretty much settled on, tho I might tote a 4 blade Scout/Camp/Demo/Engineer's knife instead of the SAK Evo Grip 14 for a few days to a week or so)
Do I want to pair it with a Barlow? (redundant clip point) Canoe/Sunfish? (redundant spear point with the SAK's), Half Hawk/Loom Fixer/ (redundant sheepsfoot) Wharncliffe Teardrop? (fancy Damascus blade, and redundant straight edge) Laguiole? (clip point, but different enough not to be redundant,  unless I decided to tote my 82 Dixie Stockman ... forget the slipjoints and carry 4 or 3 friction folders?

I usually decide if I'm going to change all or part of my carry tomorrow, before midnight ... sometimes by noon after sleeping on it ... 😇

I'm 98% sure I have Friday's tote figured out, and it's only 21:16 local time! 😳😁
 
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I keep most of the knives I use in a small drawer storage thing that was meant for art supplies. Generally I will think about what I’m planning to do that day or what I’m planning to wear and pick a suitable knife. I do a variety of things throughout the week. If it’s going to be a bunch of work outside I might pick a bigger work knife, office day maybe a barlow, if it’s a weekend and I’m wearing shorts it might be a smaller, lighter knife. Some get carried more than others and I try not to neglect any. Here’s one of the drawers.
MLln2Sg.jpg
 
Totally idiosyncratic for me, based on whatever whim I'm feeling and what grabs my eye that morning as I'm filling my pockets. And it may change several times throughout the day. I have several wooden trays with the most frequently used options to pick from, others are in various forms of storage in the office, but get rotated now and then.
 
Paging 5K Qs 5K Qs ! There's a man with a carry plan for his many pocket knives.

I have a fairly small collection as well. I have a few that are a little bigger and more gentlemanly, so they only get carried on Sundays or dinners out. I usually take one traditional and one modern with me these days, and I rotate the traditionals without any strict method. If I'm staying around the house I'll sometimes pocket a third, or sometimes even a fourth, knife and take them out at different times to fiddle with, or to handle a cutting task. Occasionally I'll switch during the day. If I'm doing a lot of sweaty work, I'll grab one of my Opinels.
 
Sacto said:
I keep most of the knives I use in a small drawer storage thing that was meant for art supplies. Generally I will think about what I’m planning to do that day or what I’m planning to wear and pick a suitable knife. I do a variety of things throughout the week. If it’s going to be a bunch of work outside I might pick a bigger work knife, office day maybe a barlow, if it’s a weekend and I’m wearing shorts it might be a smaller, lighter knife. Some get carried more than others and I try not to neglect any. Here’s one of the drawers.
MLln2Sg.jpg
Click to expand...
Nice selection. 🙂
I think I might have a difficult time evicting the Russell Barlow from my pocket, though. 🤔😁
 
I have about 8 sitting out on the desk beside me. About another 20 or so displayed on a shelf in a bookshelf. Then there's the ones in a desk drawer, in layers separated by soft cloth. Then there are the ones sitting in tubes and boxes in a milk-crate the the closet.

So what happens is, if I need to cut something, I grab one of those 8 on the desk and use it. Just kind of whichever one. If I go out, one of those 8 go in the pocket, usually a SAK. Most of the ones on the shelf, the drawer, and the closet never see any use. I just have too many.
 
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I have a Wolf Valet that I have used in the past (until my collection got too large) that I will probably start using again.
https://drop.com/buy/wolf-meridian-valet-stand (probably going to get blasted for posting this link even though it isn't available here anymore).

The knife box can be a piece of art in it's own right, and if you know a custom woodworker that makes boxes, it is a great project.
 
I have a tin that holds my favorite carry knives. I always start the day with a Lambsfoot knife, and then I will usually add another "knife of the day"... Micarta Monday, Trapper Tuesday, etc. Then as the day goes on, I will swap out knives from the tin, sometimes five or six times. Right now I'm sitting here with a Lambsfoot and a TC Barlow, but by the time I leave for work it may be a Lambsfoot and a Sway Back Jack. Then when I get home I'll probably swap out for something else again. Why limit ourselves? 😁
CF5C1FC4-B186-4376-AFE8-935EE6FDAD19_1_105_c.jpeg
 
I carry a Lambsfoot every day, simply because it's The Best Pocket Knife In The World! 🤣 Apart from that my choices are pretty random (particularly on Tuesdays ;)) :D I have a couple of boxes of knives that I carry fairly regularly, or at least MEAN to carry fairly regularly, and a lot scattered about, and I do tend to favour knives I've received more recently to ride shotgun with my Lamb ;) :thumbsup:
 
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