My 3 MUST HAVE Knives, what are yours and why?

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surveyguy7

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Jan 5, 2010
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Loved knives all my life, and have become a real knifeaholic for the last three years. Not sure there is a cure for it, or I even want to be cured. I have collected 75+ knives and am always looking for the perfect blade. Here’s the deal, I have found 3 knives that I think are MUST HAVE knives in three catagories, EDC, fixed blade and open class. Here are my 3 “MUST HAVE” knives and why!

First is my EDC – Spyderco Manix 2. For me this is the most important category, it is the blade I have with me 24/7-365. The Manix 2 has the perfect blend of weight, thickness, length, blade steel (154CM), carry position, edge retention, built like a tank and has perfect ergonomics. The Manix 2 has one of the best carry clips ever . After buying and EDCing a range of Benchmade, Kershaw, Buck, Leatherman, CRKT and SOG folders I have come to a conclusion 3 years in the making. The Kershaw Blackout Shallot is a really close 2nd, the Kershaw JYD Composite D2 is a close 3rd (but has the ugliest clip ever made) and the SOG Flash II ties for 3rd (has the best carry clip in the business). But the Manix 2 stands out to me as the best of the best, the MUST HAVE folder that I couldn’t do without.

Fixed Blade – Gerber LMF II. To me Goldie Locks and the three bears comes to mind here. Too big, too small and then just right. After 45 years of spending a lot of times in the woods, my perfect fixed blade has to be the right blend of weight, blade length, has to be tough as nails and have an incredible sheath. For me, the LMF II is the perfect fixed blade. Close 2nd is The BK-2 (too heavy), 3rd is the Benchmade Bowie Rant (design of the sheath sucks).

Open class – Ontario 12” Machete. This may be a shocker. This $30 blade is tough, holds a wicked edge is relatively light and will be happy doing all the ugly chores that your expensive fixed blades would shy away from. It will gladly dig in the dirt, bushwhack, chop, and batten. A few swipes with a bastard file and the edge is back and it is ready for more. I have found the little Ontario 12” machete to be a near perfect, all purpose, do it all blade. Its small enough to put in your backpack, light enough that that you will carry it. The best thing is if lose it or ruin it, you can replace it for for $30. Heck you could buy 3 of them for under $100 and have backups for a lifetime.

What are your 3 MUST HAVE blades in the listed catagories and why?
 
EDC: BM 890 Torrent. I own a Manix 2 as well and it's a great knife for sure, but I would have to say that my fav or "must have" would be my Benchmade 890 torrent. 154cm steel, very smooth, great blade shape, very ergonomic (I actually like the smooth G-10). Utility aside, it's a beautiful knife as well.

Fixed: My Bravo-1 or F1. I'm not a fan of batoning and prefer a small hatchet/axe, though I do own a BK2 and Recon Scout if it came down to that. I have medium sized hands and these knives work for me. They are not the most intimidating knives, but offer great control, are razor sharp, and a person would have to try pretty hard to break or damage either of them. I also own the LMF 2 and I agree it's a good knife, but in my opinion a bit impractical for survival tasks.

Other: A small hatchet/camp axe. I have a cheap one now, but look to getting a wetterlings or equivalent soon, especially with winter coming. A camp axe only weighs a few more ounces than a large fixed blade, but imo is much more efficient, and you don't have to risk damaging your main survival blade(especially when it's made from A2 or VG10)
 
EDC: Izula hands down is the best EDC I have owned. It's made folders obsolete (in my own opinion of course), and I usually forget I even have it on me it's so light.

Fixed blade: ESEE-3 for sure. It could (and has before) work as a fantastic EDC as well, but it is nearly the perfect light use fixed blade out there.

Other: Axe/Hatchet/folding saw of any brand. I need to pick one up actually.
 
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