One for looks, one for work...

[Gary W. Graley]

Ever have one of those situations, the 'New' knife you just got is SO pretty and elegant, you are hesitant to press her into hard labor, so, you look for another knife to handle the menial tasks that are not fit for the Queen of course, you really needed that Queen and she had better be a knife in every aspect of the term, but, ya just don't want to muck about with her, only on cuts befitting a Queen....'Off with their heads!' kind of thing but maybe not quite that harsh... And so it was with me, I just got this beauty of a folder, THE folder no less, and I do cut things with it, never fear, but, I do want to preserve that look, so I sought out a folder, not expensive, that would handle those jobs. And below are the pair that I'll be having with me at work.

The top one, with the crown, is my new WE Minitor 801 a very svelte folder and the bottom one is the modest Steel Will Tenet in D2 and G10. Just got that today, was please to see that they ground the blade down nice and thin, cuts very well.

So, I hope that I'm not alone in this situation, but doubt that there will be many that actually do carry two, one more for looks and enjoyment and one for the rough and tumble day to day chores. If you are, then please feel free to add your story and photos here as well.

Queen_worker by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

G2

Here's a Link to my review of the WE folder

 

[Wowbagger]

Not in your league but :
I bought the Blurple because I like the scales and the polished steel clip and screws. I planned on putting an M4 blade in it from the next photo ( I don't give a hang for S110V it's great but it isn't the best for me).

Then by the time I got the natural G10 with M4 it was way more than planed and I discovered I really like the natural G10 and since the M4 was going to be my hard core work knife blade anyway the blurple became the queen and the M4 the worker.

Before that the black on black below had become my only safe queen because I can't stand the thought of scratching the DLC.

So . . . I could carry the black on black with the knife with natural and M4 or with the knife with blurple and mostly use the M4 and pamper the other two.

Just how it worked out.
PS : I told the guys here that if they catch me carrying all three at the same time to sign me up for some psychiatric help.

 

[b00n]

I still just carry one knife at work. But I do get you, there are some knives I just can't bring myself to really hard use, so I stick to my workhorses for work and my home knives for lighter tasks. ZT 0909 is my Go-To most days, big beefy blade, the stonewash doesn't care if it gets scratchy and if you have filthy fingers, the black G10 will forgive you and I can reach into my toolbox for a spanner if I need to tinker with the pivot.

 

[Sonnydaze]

Well, here are my "two."
The first one is my belted crossdraw...sheath and belt by Dave Ferry of Horsewright, a genuine artist in leather and fixed blades.
The knife is/was a SurviveKnife GSO 2.7 which morphed into a custom XHP blade by Josh of REK, another great supporter of this forum. This rig is a delight and I use it for 99% of my cutting needs. The blade is 0.085" thick and flat ground, 0.009" behind the edge, so you can guess how it cuts and slices.
My clipped knife is a Spyderco Slysz Bowie...my third. I sold the first two, nib, and finally bought this one a little bit used, but who cares about a few spider trails on the titanium? I love this knife...perhaps my favorite of all Spydercos and I've had about a ton of those over the yrs. I consider it to be my "mid-sized Sebenza"...which CRK has always refused to build.
As an alternate cross-draw, I have my Bradford Guardian 3, in M390 or (my newest) Vanadis 4E. I really am enthusiastic about the Vanadis steel and it is one scary-sharp blade...direct from Brad. I've owned perhaps eight or nine Bradford 3G's in 3V, M390 and Vanadis 4E SuperClean. All are great.
I am blessed.


View attachment 885911

 

[LG&M]

I like that steel will, I've been good I might just get one.

 

[19-3ben]

Nope. I know I know... I'm being "that guy" but really, if a knife isn't going to be used I don't get it. But I'm just not a collector...

That said, those are both beautiful knives, OP, and I'd use the everlovin' spit outta them.

 

[Douglas Wever]

Nope. I know I know... I'm being "that guy" but really, if a knife isn't going to be used I don't get it. But I'm just not a collector...That said, those are both beautiful knives . . .

Exactly. Don’t see how tools become jewels, but I respect those for whom they do.

 

[22-rimfire]

There have been times that I just couldn't bring myself to use a new knife; usually because it's more expensive than I normally would buy or too pretty (or both). You chose the better knife and a cheaper user. My answer is a SAK and carry the other knife if you like IF you are willing to cut something with it. Otherwise make it a barbecue knife at least for a while. I try not to do this anymore. I want to use them, but the reality is that I have far too many to use, so some "nice ones" are held back by default.

 

[Klesk]

That WE Minitor 801 is indeed a beautiful knife. I don't have a knife that nice but because I'm known as the "knife guy" in my circles, people are always asking to use my knife to cut and pry things that I wouldn't subject any of my knives to. Again, I don't have a fancy knife but I still don't want to beat up or risk damaging one of my carry knives.

To solve this problem, I always have a Gerber EAB on me... that's the little money clip-looking knife that uses a regular old utility blade. So, I always have a blade that I don't care about, a blade that can get beat up or broken without a second thought. This has relieved some of my anxiety about loaning out my knife and allows me to restrict my good blades to tasks that I am more comfortable with.

 

[RayseM]

I posted these in another thread recently but they are appropriate here too.

My Bear & Lion

Here at the top is my Shirogorov F3 - to my way of working and preference the F3 is the near perfect EDC. If I could indulge just one complaint it would be that the blade is 3-7/8" long rather than 3-1/2". The shorter blade would make it just a bit more user friendly - most of the time. Otherwise - this is and has been my work knife for nearly a year. Sharpens beautifully, holds an edge through most anything I do with it during the course of the day, deploys effortlessly - I have never needed to make any adjustments - the ergos are excellent and to my eye it is a beautiful, understated, sophisticated knife that is rugged too.

The new gentleman's carry is my Lionsteel Shuffler. Gary recognizes this one and I suspect with a pang of regret for selling it to me . This is an old school knife for me, as it has no pocket clip, it's a two handed open and close - has 1/2 stop and no lock. What was I thinking . It is a beauty though - first class stag folder, classy and refined. It's a perfect size to slip in the watch pocket of my "clean" jeans and dressier pants. Using it is fun, as it's an excellent slicer, fits comfortably in my hand, and even with the need for 2 handed opening and closing it deploys solidly and with all the right sounds that make you realize that you are holding a great mechanism. Can't ask for more.

Funny though - when I first bought the Shiro I thought it would be my special occasion knife. I don't have any "queens" - they get used or they go. In this case though the F3 turned into a solid worker because I liked everything about it. The Shuffler will not likely ever get bumped to EDC status as I much prefer an EDC to be a fully one handed user. Still, the Shuffler is a keeper and not a queen but in the rotation for all but dirty or hard work. It will unwrap a lot of presents, open lots of mail and slice plenty of tasty morsels for sharing around the table.

 

[Gary W. Graley]

Ah my Shuffler, nice

For me it’s also that nagging thought of how much it was, what I gave up to get and also one that I wouldn’t want to loan to anyone but another respected knife guy

But as I said even the Queen has to hold her own and I do use, just a little more selective
G2

 

[harronek]

I'm a fraction different .

I have one work knife that never alters . I've carried it for a few years now , dont know for sure when the Hap40 Delicas first came out , but since then .
It has had the scales replaced and the tip broken off during this time , but it is my constant companion at work and will always be such .
It is never ever carried outside of work hours , to the point of superstition and fear of bad luck .




My not at work knife hasn't been with me quite as long , but still must be getting to at least 18 - 24 months old .
It is never ever carried at work , to the point of superstition and fear of bad luck .



I stopped carrying more than one knife ( it wasnt unusual for me to carry up to four at a time ) about six months ago and havent seen any problems of special needs occur in my daily world ( I do carry a leatherman Surge with me on my belt at work ) but the blades are seldom used .
Its there for the multitude of tools it provides .


Ken

 

[Mikel_24]

I'm a fraction different .

Wondering about the picture background... Is that thing one of those fiberglass reinforced plastic sand ladders? I have them in 30mm thick. Telling by the amount of grip sand still on the top surface, they look rather unused....

Beautiful Delica BTW!

 

[Franciscomv]

I've got a few knives that I consider "light duty EDCs" or which are pretty but not that practical. For example, my Protech Godfather is fun and enjoyable, but hardly as useful as a plain old Endura.

I also have some knives which are designed for self defence and make poor EDC tools.

I used to limit my purchases to knives that are 100% practical, but after a few years I decided to start adding knives that I find interesting even if they aren't that useful.

I always carry a SAK in my pocket and an easy to replace fixed blade in my backpack/briefcase. Those two come out whenever I need to do something that might mess up a pretty folder.

 

[Velitrius]

I don't carry two for this purpose, but I am conscious of the path I am about to tread, and am selective as to where the Queen shall accompany me.

She is not going with me if I am headed to deer camp, where rough handed men who smell of wood smoke and whiskey will assure that drink will flow and blood will spill. That's where a more low-brow knife gets the nod.

 

[WValtakis]

I'm guilty as well Gary.

They're both lookers, but I'll beat on the Sebbie without hesitation...the Mnandi, not so much .



~Chip

 

[Mattinfla]

Depending on where I am going, I'll often carry a beater knife in a pocket or in my tool box. There are some guys I'll hand one of my ZT or Emersons to, but there are some guys who I know are going to try and carve carbon fiber or something similar, and they don't get the good knives....

 

[jceckrosh]

I just have my user knives, and my not yet user knives. I rotate 3 or 4 users, and everything else stays BNIB until I put it in rotation, or sell it. Once I'm carrying something I don't really differentiate between them, but I don't do any insane hard use stuff with them either.

 

[Lapedog]

Ever have one of those situations, the 'New' knife you just got is SO pretty and elegant, you are hesitant to press her into hard labor, so, you look for another knife to handle the menial tasks that are not fit for the Queen of course, you really needed that Queen and she had better be a knife in every aspect of the term, but, ya just don't want to muck about with her, only on cuts befitting a Queen....'Off with their heads!' kind of thing but maybe not quite that harsh... And so it was with me, I just got this beauty of a folder, THE folder no less, and I do cut things with it, never fear, but, I do want to preserve that look, so I sought out a folder, not expensive, that would handle those jobs. And below are the pair that I'll be having with me at work.

The top one, with the crown, is my new WE Minitor 801 a very svelte folder and the bottom one is the modest Steel Will Tenet in D2 and G10. Just got that today, was please to see that they ground the blade down nice and thin, cuts very well.

So, I hope that I'm not alone in this situation, but doubt that there will be many that actually do carry two, one more for looks and enjoyment and one for the rough and tumble day to day chores. If you are, then please feel free to add your story and photos here as well.

Queen_worker by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

G2

Here's a Link to my review of the WE folder

They certainly make a lovely couple. When is the wedding?

 

[hhmoore]

I do carry two knives... unless I'm carrying three. I almost always have a modern folder in one front pocket, and a traditional in the other... and I often carry a fixed blade when I'm not working.
Now, to be honest, I may go through an average day without taking a knife out of my pocket. When I have something to cut, I may - or may not - choose the knife based on material to be cut, convenience, or who is close by (this last is most likely at work).