Minimum number of knives?

Michael_Aos

Michael_Aos

Joined
Jan 25, 2001
Messages
1,639
I keep trying to thin out my little "collection". I've been making progress. From something like 30, down to 18 in my case.

Buck Rainbow & Kershaw DWO - "in-the-pocket" dress folders
Kershaw Boa - production utility / belt knife
BM Mini-reflex - auto -- token auto
MicroTech LCC D/A -- token D/A
Boguszewski Cobra - big, fancy folder
TnT - Every-day office folder
Obenauf model 1 - legal folder when I'm carrying a fixed-blade
Boguszewski Wegner - big handmade utility folder
Spyderco Mouse - small folder when I'm carrying a fixed-blade
Mike Irie Sport 300 - skinner
Murray Carter - token neck knife
Colorado Cutlery - production high-carbon utility / hunter
TOPS Sea Wolf - EDC "legal" fixed-blade
Camillus 154CM Talon - production stainless utility / hunter
TTKK - "car camping"
Bill Burke - handmade hunting / camping
Patton Field Unit - handmade "walking around in the woods really damned cool"

Still seems like "too many", but I'm having one heck of a time thinning it down any more. What is the bare minimum you could live with? 5? 10? 15?

Basically, why do you need more than one knife?

Mike
 
Not that I could ever do it, but I think that my minimum would be 5. I would want a keychain knife like a Micra, Minichamp, or Tough Chip. I would want a smallish dress knife like a William Henry Lancet. I would want a good multi-tool like a Leatherman or Swiss Tool. I would want a 3.5" plus tactical style knife like Sebenza, Military, Carson Model 4 etc. I would finally want a large fixed blade like the Marbles Loveless style camp knife.
 
Ouch! That's like asking me what is the sound of one hand clapping. Can't really go there at this time of the night.;)
 
I would need a delica, an endura, my tachyon, an AFCK, and a multitool. Thats 5. This would never happen though.
 
Mike,
ask me this in five years. IMHO, I believe it is "one of each in my user section and "one of each" in my collector section of my safe. SADLY:( MY WIFE does not agree......wolf;)
 
I'd need five or so folders, including one hawkbill, one tanto, one sheeple friendly, one or more combat-worthy. And a few fixed blades, including a neck knife, big chopper, and a few in between. In addition to back ups for all of the above. Then a few more just for good measure.
 
I guess my minimum would be a stout, big folder for camping use, a swiss army knife, a one-hand opener for everyday carry, a multi-tool and a big full tang or similar fixed blade knife for the most heavy chores.
Anyway, the MINIMUM number of knives with which I can live is EVERY ONE I CAN BUY! :D :D :D
 
I'll have to say 5 also:
1. Leatherman Wave- for all the obvious reasons
2. Large Sebenza- EDC
3. Spyderco Wegner Jr- EDC in the office
4. Dozier Pro Guide- Camping
5. Busse Steel Heart E- anything that the Dozier can't handle camping

Lenny
 
8: front right pocket, front left pocket, right rear pocket, IWB, neck, car, briefcase and a gym/beach knife.
 
Let's see; small fixed blade, large fixed blade, my Leatherman. That's three total. But that's more types of knives than actual knives. When it comes to small fixed blades, I have several that I carry depending on what I plan to do that day and what situations I will be in (school, work, play). At work I always carried my Strider AD, because I knew I wouldn't break it, and I wasn't worried about doing stuff with it you normally wouldn't do with a knife. These days most of the time my every-day fixed blade is a Neil Blackwood LiteWave, or one of a number of Sean Perkins' knives. I also like large fixed blades; I have a few choppers (CS & HI khukuris and a Busse BM), and I'm starting to get interested in larger "social-work" type blades, like bowies and short swords. Truthfully, I often carry a folder as well, but I could live without it.
 
I have to admit that I could probably get along with owning just one knife (provided kitchen knives aren't part of the equation). A non-threatening fixed blade with a blade length around 3" or so should do the trick.

At some point, I think you have to stop rationalizing why you own so many knives and just admit that you're a dreaded knife "collector". It seems like there's something of a stigma attached to collectors: like they're upper-class snobs who don't understand the blue-collar "users" or something. :)

That's pretty silly, though. I don't think there's any shame in being a collector. If owning an item makes you happy, why do you need any other reasons to own it? Just go with the flow.
 
Minimum? Oh, I guess it'd be one of the small keychain SAKs, a regular-sized SAK (Spartan for instance), and a full-sized folder such as an Endura. Actually, I have paired my collection WAY back and there are just a few in regular rotation - a small dress folder, a Victorinox Spartan, and a plain-edged Endura lightweight. That's it. The rest stay down in the toy drawer (as my wife calls it). The Leatherman Wave stays in a drawer in the kitchen - it's sort of my frontline toolbox for little repairs around the house; I only break out the actual toolbox for big jobs.
Incidentally, regular carry is any one of the three I mentioned, not a combination of the three. Call me a minimalist. Call me sick. Send me knives! :p
 
Great post!

Leatherman Micra
Leatherman Wave
Small Classic Sebenza(EDC)
Buck Cadet(or a similar medium sized slipjoint)
Dozier Pro Guides Knife(camping and hunting)
Strider AD(personal defense neck knife)
One of the Strider General Purpose fixed blades(for really hard use)

Jeff
 
Minimum? I haven't even reached the minimum number of knives I can live with! I lost two and sold two over the last couple of years and I have still got over 70 - some users, some not. My wishlist is growing weekly. It would take about 50 more knives just to reach the present acceptable minimum level.

Seriously, a working folder in each size, CRKT Navajo, BM Mini AFCK and Spyderco Mil, two tools Micra and Legend, a medium fixed, which would be my Nimravus and a large chopper, I could get by with.

But where would be the joy in my life? I just got a Starmate after I heard it was discontinued and before that a Böker Walker Cocobolo and I like to take them out and handle them when I get home from the office.

I often look at my collection and ask myself where are all the rest of them? Where?


Regards Jan
 
OK... Here's the minimum number. I have taken a CRK approach but you can analogize this list to other knives.

Large Classic Sebenza -- Big knife, Classic design.
Small Regular Sebenza -- Medium, can also be carried in pocket, clipped or sheath, very all purpose.
Mnandi -- Medium/small dress folder, in pocket, sheeple friendle, but blade almost as big as small regular, so can still perform variety of tasks.
Umfaan -- small all purpose, can dress up or down, go anywhere but still tough.

With this folder quiver you get it all. Two different blade styles in the Large Classic and small regular. You get a smooth wood inlay with the Mnandi (without paying the price for a bigger wood inlay) and a small go anywhere last a lifetime folder in the Umfaan.

I would add to this a medium fixed blade -- 3.4 to 4.5 inch blade and a multi tool and there you have it -- THE MINIMUM.

Now of course you can go up from here (add a small and large custom, get a 3 inch fixed and a 5 inch fixed instead of just one, add a few real beater knives, maybe a medium auto). But this is the bare minimum and with CRK service and ability to restore knives to new condition without too much cost, this quiver should last a lifetime.

JT
 
The minimum that I could live with is... "Just a couple of more than I have right now." At any point in time... All I need is a couple more. Really.;)
 
Why do I need more than one knife? Because they are there, that is why. If everyone would just stop making knives I wouldn't have to keep buying them.
 
There is no minimum in my mind. I intend to collect them until I die, then of course my son will be the lucky one to inherit my collection! I've got 19 - SOG Seal Pup, Benchmade Ascent (the smallest one in that series), Kershaw Ken Onion Chive (great little knife), Beretta Airlite, Spyderco Ladybug on my keychain, 2 Swiss Army knives, about 12 novelty/advertising knives, and I'm pretty sure my sweetie put a Cold River Rifleman's Hawk under the Christmas Tree for me! To a collector there is no minimum, nor is there a maximum! Knives are functional works of art, and you can't have just one.
 
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