One Year / One Trio Challenge

[on_the_edge]

A bold idea!

One thing to think about is the 'gunk factor'. The reason I chose a small fixed blade instead of a folder is that I worry about gunking up the works of a folder (with fish guts, packing tape residue, peanut butter, etc. etc.) during regular use. I suppose one could keep on top of this, but there's something to be said for having a knife that can be quickly wiped clean after use.

Still, if you go for it, you will have officially out-minimalized me.

All the best,

- Mike

Well I am certainly not meaning to be in a competition with you. I think you have a great idea and I am wondering if I am up to challenging myself in this way, that's all.

 

[jlfletcher83]

I think I will try to do this for a month to see if I can. BM 710D2, Koster Bushcraft, Fiskars Hatchet. I say a month because my CPM M4 710s could be here before christmas. Good luck with your year I think my month might be tough.

 

[kgd]

I'm too much of a play'er for one trio

 

[Mentor]

Well, I had the opportunity to start (and finish) the EDC knife for my One Year / One Trio Challenge this weekend.

As promised, I snapped a few in-production shots.

Here you go!

The starting point: a Cobbler's Blade, from Ragweed Forge.

Yours truly, looking far too serious. I think my black outfit goes well with the pink respirator, don't you?

Adding some thumb serrations to the knife with a file.

Rough shaping and drilling complete. Time to go visit the grinder and belt sander.

Handle material selected, cut, and drilled, with rough shaping on the front. I chose some nice Padauk, which is one of my favourite woods.

More shaping and fitting.

Epoxied, and rough shaping complete.

Belt sanding complete.

The finished product, sans lanyard and sheath. I finished the sanding by hand, gave the blade a mustard / vinegar patina for protection, and spent a few minutes on the edge with my water stones. The handle was finished with a few coats of Danish Oil. I'll probably drop a final coat or two of polymerized tung oil on it, just to be safe:

This thing cuts like a straight razor, and feels beautiful in my hand. Which is good, because I seem to have committed to using it as my EDC knife for a year!

Anyway, it's no Fiddleback or Koster, but it will do the job.

Thanks for looking, and all the best,

- Mike

 

[siguy]

looks like a great job, i like that wood alot. also, :thumbup: on the danish oil. my favorite wood finish

 

[j williams]

Stunning work man!! I dig padauk alot, its gorgeous stuff.

Man it looks comfy too! Great pics man.

 

[white_feather]

Good Luck. I am going on my second year with a Buck 105 in the kitchen, my Swiss Army Highlander on my keys and my leatherman Blast on my belt. That has been my trio for about 15 months now.

 

[screwthe49ers]

How much would you figure someone might sell a knife like that based on the cobbler's blade for? With the same quality of wood, btw.

 

[peripatew]

Hum, well mentor, you've got me wanting to try this out, except I might have to rotate my main pocket edc folder... I'll post back my final choice.

 

[Mentor]

How much would you figure someone might sell a knife like that based on the cobbler's blade for? With the same quality of wood, btw.

Well, a sheet of padauk (enough for a half dozen knives) goes for about $15. The pins are old nails, and the cobbler's blade itself cost less than $10. So, if you have the right tools, you could put one together for under $20. Ragweed Forge has cobbler's blades in stock regularly.

I'm not sure what it would cost to have someone make one for you, as I don't know how makers usually factor in markup and work time. But feel free to PM me if you have any further questions about putting one together.

All the best,

- Mike

PS Here's a recent shot of my little EDC, 'in action'!

 

[Chris_Norden]

Wow I love that cobblers knife! Sort of a cross between a roach belly and a scandi bushcrafter, I think your on to something there. Good luck with the one trio challenge. I'm not sadomasochistic enough to do that haha.
Chris.

 

[j williams]

Glad to see you are still stayin with it Mentor. An exersize in futility I am sure.:thumbup:

 

[Mentor]

So far so good guys, but the real challenge will be to stick to my guns once my W&SS Koster neck knife comes in. I mean, it looks like it will fill the niche taken up by my cobbler's knife ...

We'll see if my willpower holds up.

Thanks for the kudos on the cobbler's knife design Chris.

All the best,

- Mike

 

[Big Mike]

I’ve been giving this subject a lot of thought.

I keeping trying to decide what three knives I would choose.

As I go through my daily cutting tasks I keep saying to myself “well I would need this knife as part of my trio”, of course I’ve said that about ten or fifteen knives.

Hell, I would have trouble just picking three knives for the kitchen, let alone the jobsite and trips to the woods.

Mentor, I give you a lot of credit for having the balls to go through with this.

One question, if you where starting this now, with the knowledge you have gained from your experience thus far, would you choose the same three knives?



"If you're not living on the edge, …you're taking up too much space."

Big Mike

 

[Mentor]

One question, if you where starting this now, with the knowledge you have gained from your experience thus far, would you choose the same three knives?

Big Mike[/I][/COLOR][/B]

Good question. I think about it daily.

The honest answer is 'probably not'. While I am happy with my selection, and while these knives are definitely doing the job, I have noticed a few areas where different features would have been preferable.

This is mainly an issue with my Delta 5. It's an awesome all-around knife and still my favourite, but, based on the tasks that I use it for on a daily basis (mostly food prep, plus the usual cutting tasks that come up during a hiking outing), it could do with being a bit thinner. I think that a slightly thinner scandi-ground blade of comparable dimensions would be absolutely ideal (maybe an Enzo). I would keep the handle design and sheath, though.

The jury's still out on whether my little cobbler's blade could do with being a bit thicker. I have yet to use it for anything other than cutting, slicing, and light vegetable chopping (though it does all of these things on a daily basis), so I don't know how it would stand up to more intense tasks. It is thinner than my previous EDC knife, a Becker Necker. The Becker is solid, and it inspires confidence. The cobbler's blade is thin, but so fat that hasn't been a problem. Actually, being thin and scandi ground allows it to perform nicely as a cigar cutter! An additional upshot is that near-constant use over a few months has really matured the patina on the blade and darkened the padauk on the handle. This really feels like 'my' companion knife!

I have no complaints about my Wave. I use the pliers, screw drivers, file, and bottle opener regularly, but I don't think I have used either of the folding blades since I started this trio challenge, as it is so much easier to reach for my little cobbler's blade.

Ten months to go. By the end of this, I should have a pretty clear idea of what I'm looking for in an ideal set of working knives.

And yes, as a knifeknut, being restricted to just three blades is slowly but inexorably driving me crazy.

All the best,

- Mike

PS here's a shot of the trio today. So far so good!

 

[hollowdweller]

Can't do it but maybe will limit my choices to these

 

[Ramm9]

I chose some nice Padauk, which is one of my favourite woods.

Just built a handle with the padauk for the first time and kept thinking "this is nice stuff" throughout the project...it may become my favorite too.

Two questions though...how does it hold up over time and where can I find it (I'm begg'en ya) at that cost?

Can't do it but maybe will limit my choices to these

Hollowdweller, that's a great selection except they mostly all look the same man. You have got to break that bushcraft rut and buy some other knives.....

 

[hollowdweller]

Hollowdweller, that's a great selection except they mostly all look the same man. You have got to break that bushcraft rut and buy some other knives.....

You've never seen the rest of my collection or you you wouldn't say I need to by more knives Here's only a few

 

[Mentor]

Just built a handle with the padauk for the first time and kept thinking "this is nice stuff" throughout the project...it may become my favorite too.

Two questions though...how does it hold up over time and where can I find it (I'm begg'en ya) at that cost?

Ramm9, it holds up really well over time. I have been using it for years, and I have never experienced any warping or degradation problems. Padauk naturally darkens with age and exposure to sunlight, but I hear that you can apply certain penetrating finishes if you want to preserve that fresh-cut orange glow. Personally, I like the idea of knife handles that get a bit sun tanned with use!

As for location, I purchase mine from Lee Valley in 3 x 24" sheets. Here's the link to their project wood selection: http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&p=43226&cat=1,250,43217 . You can definitely get 1/4" x 3" x 24" sheets for under $20 CDN. :thumbup:

All the best,

- Mike

 

[Mentor]

Very nice knife collection hollowdweller! I'm drooling over those bushcrafters.

But the picture of you with the double-bit and the picture of what appear to be socks on your khukri sheaths are unsettling to say the least.

All the best,

- Mike