Minimalizing your collection, what would remain?

peripatew

peripatew

Joined
Jul 31, 2007
Messages
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I've decided to get rid of some of my knives for various reasons, and I'm actually enjoying the process! I'm basically re-testing all of my knives and comparing them. I finally got myself a little fire pit and some wood, so I've been batoning my heart out in my spare time.

I'm finding myself really leaning towards:
A solid folder (Ritter grip)
A tough 5-7" fixed blade (BK7 or Chris Reeve's Skinner)
A small axe (GB SFA)
A small saw (Pocket chainsaw)
A multitool (a leatherman charge)

This is what I'm trying to get down too. I have a few knives that are gifts that commemorate big moments in my life that I don't think I can sell, but I have several knives that don't get much use.

I'm actually enjoying this semi-small set, in that it forces me to adapt my tools to my situations.

Anywho, if you had to live minimalistically (and not necessarily on a budget)when it comes to all things sharp, what would you choose?

L!
 
Right now I am doing something like that. I have a Buck 119 and a 105. I use them as my kitchen set. I also have a Schrade X-Timer with the gut hook. I have three Buck 110's for general use and carry. I have many knives laying around that i want to get rid of. I plan on watching this thread closely.
 
I have a pretty small collection.

NWA forum knife
Fiddleback Nessmuk
Breeden PSK
Wetterlings 19" axe
Leatherman Juice Kf4
Vic Farmer
and some Spyderco folders.

Of course, I have a couple on the way...
 
I have tried this many times..I finally just accepted that I like knives alot....ALOT. So...now, I try to only collect knives that a pertinant to my needs..function is what draws me, and simplicity.
If I could only keep a single setup..I would take my GB forest axe, my fallkniven A2 and my Skookum and a SAK Trekker.
Good luck, and every time I sell off a bunch..I do feel strangely free. As if, if I could only REALLY get down to the basics..I would finally be "practical". Gene
 
I am doing the same, trying to trade off/sell some of my kit, I may just keep it stashed someplace and give some blades away to some poor friends.
My bark river fox river, a few saks, GB mini, 12 inch tram, couple of moras, Ratmandu,
and possibly my Grohmann mini skinner for sentimental reasons.
The leatherman crunch will probably get stuck in the truck, a useful tool for sure.
 
i'm not sure how many responses you will get with this being bladeforums and all...;)

but if i had to i could whittle it down to my large stockman or trapper, my BRKT nebula (or one of my own knives in this size, but i have been loving this knife), either my wetterlings axe or my fiskars 14", and that would be about it. i might keep my prototype machete just for fun...lots of fun to chop and baton wood with, but i don't use it that often.

but i do have a decent collection of various woodworking tools that are very handy in different tasks. several saws and other cutting blades like chisels and planes that i don't think really count as part of my "collection".

if i really really had to cut back, i would be fine with my stockman or trapper and an axe.

if i had to super cut back, i would stick with the stockman or trapper.

but i like variety and being able to switch it up every now and then. i also like to take out the blades i don't use much and play with them just for giggles. i did just trade away one of my old favorites that i haven't thought about for a few months though...looking forward to some fun new toys.
 
i'd sooner dip my toes in butter and let hungry farm hogs gnaw them off slowly, than downsize....
 
I', constantly trying to down size... A I find my keepers however I always stock up I think it's nice to have multiples of the good ones...
If w'ere talking real minimal for the rest of my life
12 inch covexed tram
Fiskars large axe
Carbon Mora clipper
Leatherman wave
Opinel folding saw
THat's probably do it.
 
Bushman5 said:
i'd sooner dip my toes in butter and let hungry farm hogs gnaw them off slowly, than downsize....
Click to expand...

SLOWLY? by the time you figured out that you made a huge mistake...your toes would be gone! Nice analogy though:D
 
naked said:
I'm finding myself really leaning towards:
A solid folder (Spyderco Salt 1)
A tough 5-7" fixed blade (JK Kephart or USMC KaBar)
A small axe (Cold Steel Trail Hawk)
A small saw (Kershaw Folding Saw)
A multitool (Leatherman Charge TTI)
Click to expand...

My kit is set up very much like yours. I like to pack light!

The leatherman always comes.

The Salt always comes (it lives clipped to my pocket)

The Kephart comes 95% of the time.

The saw comes 50% of the time.

The Hawk comes 25% of the time.
 
I actually started a thread like this on another forum but with the intention of getting people to pick their 3 knives.
1 an EDC folder
2 a 4 to 7 inch fixed blade hunter/bushcrafter
3 a good kitchen knife or big bowie.

I would probably pic a Caly3 ZDP ,my Rosarms Bayonet and the custom bowie I am having Conan make me. I may choose the Skookum over the Rosarms depending on how the Bowie feels when it gets here.
 
Well if i had to i could downsize my SAK/multitool collection.
The users only Victorinox list- Compact/Huntsman/Swisschamp and my modded "My First Victorinox plus". plus i'd probably keep the Outrider and OHT.
I know thats 6, but i have over 50 so thats a substantial reduction, lol.

Even when i carry multitools i always seem to use a SAK instead.
So my Leathermans and my SOG could go.

Regarding axes and small fixed blades honestly i think i could get by with my Enzo 01 and a Mora Triflex Craftsman (or Mora 2000) and a 14 inch Fiskars hatchet, plus a Fiskars saw.

The Machete that i would keep would be my Martindale Golok.
Medium/large axe would be Snow and Nealley Penobscot Bay and/or Large Fiskars axe.

Large knife would be my Kabar (Stainless) 8 inch fighter (don't know the model number) and my old Blackjack Anaconda II.
Also probably a carbon steel bowie either a Western or one of the others i have that are currently being modded.

I like traditional slipjoints but haven't used them much lately.
Could probably limit those to a Shrade or Imperial Stockman and a Buck Mini-trapper.
I actually use the Minitrapper quite a bit and its so small and light to carry it sits easily in my pockets with the small change.

Lastly lockblades...hmmm Buck 110FG, SOG first gen Tomcat, Spyderco Tenacious.
Maybe a 112FG instead of a 110FG.

Naaaaaaaa i'm keepin them all!
Knives/axes/machetes are about the only vices i have left!
if you took those away i'd be a freakin' monk!
:D
 
uuuuhhhhh....:o uuummmmmm.....uuuhhh...... i'm sorry i don't understand the question...:D i just like knives...:cool:
 
well, I would think.....

Wetterlings LHA
Becker BK7
Leatherman wave
Benchmade griptilian
Fiskars Saw (mabye a balcho)

But im all ways switching between a 3.5"-6" to a 6"-7" fixed blade. I love having my BK7, but the sheath sucks. I know what im going to do, NORMARK!
 
I would keep my Laconico explorer, Busse GW, and my red alox Farmer. But I cant see myself parting with anymore of my collection.
 
If I had to pick up and go and could take what I really needed i'd have...


Koster Bushcraft
Vic Swiss Tool
GB SFA

If were talking about just reducing the collection I guess I'd loose all my 7+" blades. The ones I'd really like to hang onto are my Koster Bushcraft, Busse SAR5 & BAD and fallkniven f1.
 
I've pretty much done just that: whittle down my collection to just the basics. I've sold off all the knives that don't get field time, including my prized BRKT Fox River (never thought that one would go). So here's my list:
Becker Necker, Schrade Sharpfinger, Mike Adams EDC (all in the ~3" range)
Koster Bushcraft (~4" range)
NWA forum knife (my one untouchable, covering the 5" category)
Kabar heavy bowie (for the "big chopper" category)
Fiskars 14" hatchet
Tram bolo
Swisstool Spirit, and Vic Outrider (in the multitool category)
BM 943, Spydie Caly3 in the folder category
Mora 911 (as a general beater/work knife)

If I had to pare it down even further, it would be my Fiskars, NWA, and Outrider. I have other knives I pine for, mostly ones I've gotten rid of (CS MH in Carbon V, and Fallkniven F1 and A1), but have resisted the urge to plop down for them, as their "slots" are currently full. But who knows? Maybe someday I'll sell off that Koster, and plug one of the above into that "slot"...
 
Whatever is newest is my favorite. The older ones have a history. The shorter ones are edc and practical. The longer ones are a lot of fun.

See, you can't trim down. I tried and it just doesn't work out.
 
I understand the intent of your thread. It makes perfect, logical sence. It is more economical, and a better use of scarce resouces. For all of those reasons, I cannot take part. Upsize, Upsize, Upsize!!!!!
 
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