Only One Knife for Everything, Forever!

One 'traditional' pattern for everything? It would be a Stockman, of course. Which one would be a tough call.

Either a U.S. Schrade 8OT, or the largest one they made, the 858OT.

I'd sure miss all my others, though.

~Chris
 
First thought, buck 303, second thought sway back jack, but if it REALLY had to be one, well, probably my Vic Soldier. Thank god it doesn't have to be just one, though! :)
 
For "there can be only one" I would have to go with a scout pattern or a SAK for versatility. I would probably pick an alox model like the Farmer or SI. For a lifetime, stand-alone knife, I might spurge and have a SAK customized with a slightly different tool array and some nice scales. Maybe better steel in the knife blade too...

That is if I can't have a multitool. Although I enjoy my elegant tradtionals and I know they can be worked, I evolved (or devolved) into a multitool guy years ago.
 
After thinking about it for a while, I realized that I based my decision on the assumption that I'd always have basic kitchen & maintenance tools handy, like a can opener, bottle opener, screw drivers, etc.

If those utensils & tools were not readily available on a regular basis, I would have to go with a larger Scout pattern, like the Remington R4 by Camillus. It has the saw blade, which, while almost never needed [for me, anyway], is quite a lifesaver when it is needed. It has two blades, and the basic tools. I've used the screwdriver on a Camillus C4 (Camillus' branded version of the Remington R4) to completely disassemble & rebuild my old Finnish M39 rifle. I love that knife.

This really got me to thinking again.

~Chris
 
Interesting thread. There are a lot of different ways to approach the question depending on what other stipulations you want to place on it.

If operating under the assumptions that we are allowed other non-knife cutting implements and that the knife can be repaired or replaced if damaged, then I would pick a Tennessee Jack. Two blades having different profiles and grinds, with the clip being hollow ground and the wharncliffe full flat.

If it's a one shot deal and you're just SOL if something happens to it, then I'd be more likely to go with a medium sized convex fixed blade scaled in micarta or G10. The versatility and reliability outweigh the fact that I wouldn't be able to take it with me everywhere.
 
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dannyp said:
then I would pick a Tennessee Jack. Two blades having different profiles and grinds, with the clip being hollow ground and the wharncliffe full flat.
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Looky there Kerry....you made an apocalypse knife
 
cnas122 said:
Looky there Kerry....you made an apocalypse knife
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Apocalypse knife? Nah, everybody knows the correct answer to that question is smatchet.:D

Seriously though, my first thought was Wharncliffe Trapper for the blade selection. Then I started thinking about having a knife with a different grind on each blade. It's the perfect combination of the two ideas even though it is based on a different pattern. If I'm going to pick one and be stuck with it forever, it might as well be a heck of a nice knife.
 
As Stu said, something has to suffer...I wouldn't ask one single knife (not even a multi bladed one) to be able to perform every task from slicing onion to cutting wood.
And if I have to stick with just one knife for everything, I want it to be something which I really feel it's mine, something my ancestors would have carried, so that, if I should ever find myself "underknifed" (which would eventually happen anyway), at least I would know that I didn't betray my own roots. This one would do:

image-815A_4E88CD1B.jpg


Fausto
:cool:
 
Glad you like it Jake...someday I will pick a few pics and start a thread about these knives.
It's a traditional Sardinian resolza pattern, variant called "antique shape". Here you can see the difference (larger one on top is the "classic" resolza pattern, the smaller one is the "antique shape"). The upper knife was made in Pattada: these knives are often made there (it's a small town of my island), so the name Pattada is also often used to name the pattern, since a lot (and great) knifemakers in Sardinia come from there.

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Fausto
:cool:
 
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black mamba said:
I'm not talking about carrying one knife for a week or even a year. I'm talking about:

You can only have one knife to do everything, EDC, work, church, weddings, shorts & T-shirt, suit, hunting, fishing, camping, bushcraft . . . EVERYTHING . . . FOREVER!
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I'd cast my lot with the Buck Ecolite 112.

Caveat: I need to translate "bushcraft" as "stuff I need to be able to do to when I'm backpacking and ski/winter camping in New England". I'm not meaning to pass judgement on the art of bushcraft (it's really cool) but in the 20+ years of backcountry travel, it's never been anything I've needed to rely on. Everything else on the list is super relevant to my life and knife usage, so it's a really, really compelling question and thanks for posting it!!

Here's my thinking... First, the knife needs to be a folder. Whatever the merits of a fixed blade, not the thing for church or work, at least not at mine.

Second, I want a sturdy lock. For rough work, I want as close to a fixed blade as I can get. As much as I love my slip joint knives, I consider a sturdy lock a must have. It's more important than having multiple blades to me too.

Third, my knife would need to be light and small enough to be easily pocketable. As much as I love my Buck 110, or as much as I want a brass/wood 112, they're awfully heavy for pocket carry.

Big enough? Yup. Light enough? Yup. Traditional? I think so.

Hard to be more traditional than a Buck 112. And, plastic scales are traditional. Right?
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The knife that got honorable mention in my mind's bake-off is my Opinel #8. It really packs a tremendous amount of cutting capability in an insanely light package. It's so stinkin light that church or shorts and t-shirt type of carry is definitely no problem. Is it enough for hunting, cleaning fish and general rough work. In 99% of the time, the answer is yes.
 
In daily life/day fishing trips - the peanut, honestly, is more than enough knife for me.
In the woods - A buck 301 or a mora (it's traditional in sweden) and a chopper of some sort
I could easily get by with 2 knives and a hatchet but just one is too hard. But i like knives, so i have a lot and i like having a lot because its better than only having a few and wanting a lot, its the curse of the knifeknut.
If i had to pick one i guess it would be any decent stockman such as my 301 (i reviewed it in the reviews forum) or 34OT. Stockmans rock
 
Schrade Sharpfinger. It is the knife that does almost everything. If I were left to one knife forever this would be the one.
 
TLARbb said:
Jeff, Jeff! Why are you doing this? You know that I can't make a call like this...

Probably the closest thing I can think of is the BF 2009 Barlow. Genius, just pure genius that knife.

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Ed J
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I'm with you on this one. These are super strong and as you stated......Genius, just pure genius that knife.
 
pinnah said:
I'd cast my lot with the Buck Ecolite 112.
(snip...)
The knife that got honorable mention in my mind's bake-off is my Opinel #8. It really packs a tremendous amount of cutting capability in an insanely light package. It's so stinkin light that church or shorts and t-shirt type of carry is definitely no problem. Is it enough for hunting, cleaning fish and general rough work. In 99% of the time, the answer is yes.
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As I've been thinking more about the original question, it occurs to me that the Opinel #8 is really already serving in this role for me. It's my lightest knife, by far and easily pocketable, despite it's longish size. And, it's been my go-to knife for backpacking and backcountry travel. Really amazing.
 
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