One Knife for One Year

stanley_white

stanley_white

Joined
Nov 28, 2001
Messages
770
We come to Bladeforums because we like knives. We come to W&SS because we like to use our knives.

Regarding knife selection and use I have been wondering lately if I personally need less breadth and more depth -- i.e. instead of having a dozen knives that barely get used taking one single knife and figuring out how to make it work for all tasks large and small.

So...

I am kicking around the idea of selecting one knife and using it solely for one year.

I would use the knife to baton wood for fires, carry it on day hikes, open MREs, for cutting food in the kitchen, opening mail and packages, it will even be used for spreading butter onto toast.

The only limiting factor I see in my idea are local laws and regulations which may prohibit me from carrying the knife certain places. In order to remain legal I will keep the blade I select at my home.

I figure after one year of using one knife for everything I'll have significant depth of knowledge in the use of that knife and be ready for just about anything.

Thoughts?

-Stan
 
CRKT Razel.the medium one is a really great knife.small enough to fit into your pocket and tough enough for real knife work.
 
I would die, more than likely. I use at least 5 different knives a week, so I am not sure I would make it even that long :o
 
the minimalist approach to life appeals to some, but NOT to me ;)

Have fun with your one knife.
 
Different strokes... but,what makes a knife good at batoning is not what makes a good food prep knife. Yes,you can use one knife for everything--but why not use a knife that EXCELS for each thing! YMMV but's that's my story,and I'm sticking to it! LOL
 
I think it's an awesome idea and I've considered the same thougts in the past. However, my drawer full of knives and websites full of future purchases make it really hard to stick to just one!!!!!!!
 
stanley_white said:
We come to Bladeforums because we like knives. We come to W&SS because we like to use our knives.

Regarding knife selection and use I have been wondering lately if I personally need less breadth and more depth -- i.e. instead of having a dozen knives that barely get used taking one single knife and figuring out how to make it work for all tasks large and small.

So...

I am kicking around the idea of selecting one knife and using it solely for one year.

I would use the knife to baton wood for fires, carry it on day hikes, open MREs, for cutting food in the kitchen, opening mail and packages, it will even be used for spreading butter onto toast.

The only limiting factor I see in my idea are local laws and regulations which may prohibit me from carrying the knife certain places. In order to remain legal I will keep the blade I select at my home.

I figure after one year of using one knife for everything I'll have significant depth of knowledge in the use of that knife and be ready for just about anything.

Thoughts?

-Stan
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I think it's an awesome idea Stan. I don't think it would work for me at this time in my life but it sounds like something I would do. Had I thought about it I could have documented over a year of using only an issue pilot survival knife and then later my old SOG bowie so I know you will have a much better understanding of the capabilities and weaknesses of which ever knife you choose.

That said, I am starting a long, in depth study of using the HEST as my EDC fixed blade, however being in an urbanized environment there will be lots of times when I fall back on the SAK in my pocket as well to keep the situation calm around sheeple. But, there will also be other knives I am working with and evaluating along the way too though....with any luck at all some of them my own.
 
Can't be done: it simply can't be done.

Oh, you'd start off with good intentions, thinking that you found true love with just one blade, and a monogamous relationship sounds, well, it just sounds right.

But then, after awhile you'll start thinking that maybe, just maybe, she's a little too fat, a little too thin, not long enough, not short enough, and the feel of the handle — something's just not right.

Then, one day, a cute, shiny little blade will catch your eye and you'll find yourself thinking that maybe you'll just handle her a little — just to see how she feels. Then, pretty soon, you'll find yourself fondling her and thinking "one cut ... just one cut," but it won't stop there. You'll find yourself cutting more and more, and then, another sexy blade will catch your eye.

One knife? It can't be done, I tell you. It just can't be done.
 
I have been using my SAK farmer for just about everything the last few months, including spreading butter and all that. I used my mora 2000 to cut up some sweet potatoes though. I Never felt limited other then that, but I never had to do any battoning or anything either.
 
Some guys in the traditional subforum did this a year or two ago. Although most didn't last for the whole year, a lot was learned about what was truly useful (or not) in a knife.
 
What just one knife for a whole year? don't be ridiculous I'd rather cut off my hand.
Having said that I spent entire weekends out bush just evaluating one blade. Others close by but only using one.
Good luck I couldn't do it, I'd be miserable.
Carl
 
dawsonbob said:
Can't be done: it simply can't be done.

Oh, you'd start off with good intentions, thinking that you found true love with just one blade, and a monogamous relationship sounds, well, it just sounds right.

But then, after awhile you'll start thinking that maybe, just maybe, she's a little too fat, a little too thin, not long enough, not short enough, and the feel of the handle — something's just not right.

Then, one day, a cute, shiny little blade will catch your eye and you'll find yourself thinking that maybe you'll just handle her a little — just to see how she feels. Then, pretty soon, you'll find yourself fondling her and thinking "one cut ... just one cut," but it won't stop there. You'll find yourself cutting more and more, and then, another sexy blade will catch your eye.

One knife? It can't be done, I tell you. It just can't be done.
Click to expand...

LOL, very true buddy,very true !;):thumbup:
 
I think it's a cool idea, I would like to see you do it. Off the top of my head I would probably choose a BRKT, maybe even the stainless Bravo 1 since I don't think you would want to use a coated blade.
 
I think the one of mine that I could most likely do this with would be my ML Kephart.

Anything over 1/8" stock is gonna be overkill.
 
In times of less abundance than this, people used to do more with less. I applaud your idea and would like you to see it to fruition and report back. Good luck!
 
I'm going to hope for regular updates on this experiment. I'm considering selling most of my knives, as I have so much redundancy. Cool idea you've got here. Do you baton much?
 
I really like your thought process on this. We become so caught up in cool gear and more more more that we often get away from the basics.

This would be a good thing to do BEFORE you buy a bunch of nice knives. I'd feel bad not using any of my other knives. Also, I use a pocket knife in the office quite a bit, where a fixed blade isn't really welcome.

I could see doing nearly every task I need to do with my RAT RC-4. From buttering bread to batoning.
 
Rockywolf said:
I'm going to hope for regular updates on this experiment. I'm considering selling most of my knives, as I have so much redundancy. Cool idea you've got here. Do you baton much?
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I do not baton too much but for the sake of the experiment I will increase my baton-ing activities.

My fireplace is going to get a workout. :D
 
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