Number of knives?

jefroman

jefroman

Gold Member
Joined
May 17, 2001
Messages
774
I get pretty confused when I see someone post in one of those "What are you carrying?" threads: "Oh, right now I have a ______ in my right pocket, a ______ in my left pocket, a ______ in my right rear pocket, a ______ around my neck, and ______ IWB."

How do all of those knives get use during the day?! I can understand someone carrying a multi-tool, a keychain tool, and one or two "one-handers", but I can see no use for five-seven one handers on you during the day. I know that some people here may need an assortment of different types of knives for their work, but the average Joe doesn't. I know that some of you will say that you do it even though you don't need to, but if you don't need to then what is the point?
Could someone please explain this to me?(if there is and explanation:p )

Jeff
 
I generally carry just one, a traditional lock-back in a slip sheath in my front right pocket. Not very tactical, I know. But I have also been amused to read about the great number of blades that some of our pants heavy brethren pack with them. So how about it guys?

What's the deal?

Para
 
I usually carry two knives with me. I do not find a need for more than that in the city. When I go out to the mountains I will have four or five knives, an axe and a hatchet with me. In the city I do not see a need for more than the two I use.
 
Originally posted by KWM
When I go out to the mountains I will have four or five knives, an axe and a hatchet with me.
Click to expand...

I can understand having that number of knives in the mountains.
 
I carry my Gerber multitool, Military and Starmate. I don't really consider the Gerber a knife though. Sometimes I'll leave one of the folders at home depending on my activity for the day. Yes, 7 knives is a little extreme. I think these people just want to carry extra toys to play with during the day. Not that there's anything wrong with that...:)...sounds like fun. Personally, I would just get tired of the weight.
 
I've posted this reply before, but I'll say it again just because I believe it makes sense (to me anyway) and keeps me covered in all situations.
Large folder in belt sheath for large jobs.
One hander in right front pocket for quick cuts where it's just not worth the effort to get the large folder out of the sheath,or when I actually need one hand operation.
Small pocketknife in left front pocket for situations where it's just not appropriate to whip out a larger knife. (we all have these, right?)
POS Chinese small folder in left rear pocket for nasty things or scraping.(things I would not subject my nicer knives to).
Later,
Alex
 
I believe in redundant systems and the right tool for the job. I'm alone in the desert most of the time so I want to be prepared. I keep a NG Ka-bar sheathed alongside my car seat. I carry a POS Schrade clip-it for the crap jobs like digging rocks out of my tire treads before entering the flight line. I carry either a Gerber A-F 5780S or a BM 710BT for self defense when I'm away from the Ka-bar. I carry a Leatherman Wave because I like the toys and you never know when you'll need it. Last, I carry a Gerber Guardian (I'm looking for something better) on my boot because I like redundant systems. The last place I have to carry is around my neck...
Of all of them the POS Schrade gets the most use.
The one place I don't carry is in my pants pocket (except the one time a year I wear a suit) because I don't like digging through a pocket past keys and money to get to my knife.
 
I normally only have two on me. My EDC and something smaller that won't frighten the huddled masses.
When in the woods, I carry whatever best serves the activity.
Sometimes I carry more just for the hell of it.

Paul
 
my EDC is a CS SRK, ya i know its big, but i find it much better to use it to open crates than a prybar and seperate knife to cut the straps/rope etc. Im a shipper/reciever. The most knives i have carried at one time is 7. But usualy when camping/hicking i limit it to 4 or 5.
 
I carry a Leatherman Micra for the scissors. I guess, maybe, I've used the other stuff on there, but I use the scissors a LOT. Works a whole lot better for cutting plastic zip-ties than a knife.

I also carry a "tactical folder" clipped inside my right-front pocket. Pretty much always.

When I'm away from work (we have a "weapons policy" that I don't want to mess with) I normally try to carry an additional small "Colorado-legal" fixed-blade IWB. Not sure I can really justify that one -- lately I just seem to prefer fixed-blade knives to folders.

And finally, I've been cooking a lot lately, and I don't have any kitchen knives (yet) so I carry my TTKK around the house, and I plan on taking it camping once the snow is gone.

So I guess that's"

1 knife + 1 multi-tool at work
2 knives + 1 multitool outside of the house
3 knives + 1 multitool around the house

Mike
 
I like to have my Cold Steel Scimitar with me for those close encounters of the high risk kind. That and my Glock 21.
 
I also find it humorous when I see forumites carrying 5 knives on their person. Hey, I just figure he has a bigger problem then I do. Lol. I can understand two knives. I only carry one folder daily clipped to the right front pocket, I only need one knife.
I pose this question to myself sometimes:
How would I explain X if I was pulled over.
Its pretty hard to explain why you have 5 knives clipped and hidden on your body, shoes and around your neck. It is likely going to raise more then an eyebrow from a cop. And while what you are carrying may be perfectly legal, we all know that police officers have discression on the street.
 
When I used to work in maint/repair for a tool/plant hire company, I'd have:

- my old leatherman (with extra bits) on my belt, at the right hip for odd little jobs I couldn't be bothered to go to the tool box for,

- A 6-9" fixed blade for use as a pry bar/large hacking object/hammer (British Army Survival knives are great for this because of thier complete unbreakability, although a clip point is better for leverage) in a sheath on my left hip

- POS Fury/other folder in right back pocket for when I needed a usable blade but didn't want to faff about with the leatherman

These days I'm working nights in a supermarket (easiest job I've ever had), I have:

- Leatherman Wave for odd jobs

- POS Fury/other for general cutting/discouraging would-be shoplifters in rear right pocket

In addition to the usually draconian English knife laws, the company has it's own knife rules that I ignore and keep getting hassled about by my boss, but she isn't going to do anything about it. Oh, and we have a fair number of LEO's popping in to do some shopping when they should be out there working, but they never give me hassle either.

At home, I carry various things, whatever I'm in the mood for that day. Outside the house, I'm more likely to draw my telescopic baton than a knife (in usual rear right pocket, with baton in various different places). And of course the ever-present leatherman wave.

But as you can see, only ever a couple-three knives at once. Seven seems way to many, and certain to get you detained by any LEO that stops you.

Edited because I forgot to mention the tiny little (1" blade) "butterfly" knife on my keyring. Absolute POS but good for cleaning the dirt out from under your fingernails.

Danny
 
Was thinking real hard about not answering this one, but it provoked some thoughts that might be helpful.

Let's look at the mindset..

Why do you carry a knife at all? Because it's more convenient than trying to open a package with your keys, that's why. Or because you're scared for yourself and your friend when you're walking through Southeast, that's why. Whatever your reason.

For me it's mostly the first. I don't want to cut stuff with my keys, or with my fingernails, or with my teeth, because they just don't do the job properly. They'll do it, but not well.

Likewise... I don't want to quarter my sandwich with a serrated hawkbill. But I'd love to have one for cutting rope, and opening packages. So that's what the Harpy's for.

Now, I can't really whittle or peel apples or slice an orange or quarter that sandwich with the harpy, and for whittling I really do want a locking folder, just to be safe... shoot, need another locking folder...

I don't want to open my can of soup with a knife, because that chips the edge pretty bad. Now I need a SAK...

Hey, use an awl a lot, the one on standard plastic handled SAKs is kind of lousy, better get a metal handled SAK too... but I have to keep the first one because of the pliers/scissors/etc...

Shoot, want to cut a stray thread or open an envelope or take that stupid plastic wrap off of a CD, and I'm in class, or in a meeting, or whatever... so I really don't want to wave out the Commander (oh, yeah, the Commander... that's in case I get lost in the woods, or in case I get lost in SouthEast, or in case I need something extremely heavy duty...) -- maybe I better get a small, sheeple-friendly thing.

You following? One knife makes life more convenient. Sometimes (a lot of the time, for me) it's more convenient to have a hawkbill knife, or a small knife, or a sheepsfoot, or a serrated...

I wouldn't use a knife as a screwdriver... why should I use a keychain SAK to chop up a cardboard box, when it's just as easy to use a serrated, larger Spyderco? I COULD use the keychain SAK, but the level of convenience gained by carrying a different knife too outweighs the level of inconvenience gained by the extra weight/time it takes to put it on...

Simply put, the added convenience (you try picking a splinter with a spearpoint blade, see how well it works... now try it with a Spyderco Dyad Jr Ltwt, or some other dramatic clip point blade) is worth the redundancy and the added inconvenience. To me, anyway.

And besides, I like knives. I don't like tchotchkas. Hence I constantly need a couple more pockets.
 
some of my other knives i carry because im in the wild west N.M. PUMA WHITE HUNTER- SOG BOWIE- PUMA TAC 1 - EK BOWIE- COLD STEEL TRAIL MASTER- MARBLES EXPERT.
 
I usually have a multitool and two folders, sometimes three. One small and / or dressy one for the sheeple and larger one which I seldom use but just like to have around. If I have a new knife or I know that I need a special knife for some special task I might carry that as an extra. Right now I only carry my Leatherman wave and a SPyderco Chinese folder, cause my pants wont hold more.
 
I live in a very rural area on a 30 acre farm and am continually remodelling my old farm-house. So knives are quite important to me for utility use. Every day I've got a "tactical" clipped to my RF pocket (usually part. or fully serrated), a traditional slip-joint in my LF pocket, and the original Leatherman on my belt. This combination works well for me.
 
At work, when in full gear, I carry 4 blades. Mad Dog ATAK 2 strapped to my right leg, JSP Arch Angel 2 in a shoulder rig, CRK large sebbie in a belt pouch and a Microtech SOCOM DA strapped in a pouch to right should strap on my 3-day pack. It's a "military" thing.

At work, when not in full gear, I carry 1 blade.

When not at work. . .I carry 1 blade.

I still don't understand the "mass carry" thing ~ unless duty calls for it. . .

But, ya know what. . .what ever turns your crank ! ;)
 
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