"only one knife" threads?!?!?

J

Jim Craig

Joined
Jan 22, 2002
Messages
481
I just was over at the Busse forum, and something occurred to me. I am forever reading threads about which is the one knife that will do it all, or if you're in a "survival situation" what is the best knife. I always get sucked into deep though about these threads, and all of a sudden I need another knife.

What I find funny is that if I'm ever in one of thes jackpot situations, I don't get to choose the knife, so I will rely on the knife, or knives, I have on my person. In everyday life I cannot carry around a big fixed blade, so I will be counting on the knives I carry around, usually a good spydie, a SAK, leatherman, etc.

But in the bush, out on the land I never go without numerous folders, a small and a large fixed blade, and usually a GB axe. I always carry a small 1st aid kit and survival equipment, and more times than not, a sat phone. I am pretty much covered.

My point is, as a knife knut, the one thing I am never lacking is knives. I don't think the "best knife if you could have only one" question actually applies to me.

If you could pick one knife, why can't you take two?? Or three? Who is telling us to put the rest away? Do people actually go out the door thinking, hmmm... I can take this giant Battle Mistress, but where oh where will I find room for this stockman?

Maybe I just need some sleep.

Jim
 
I think it has a lot more to do with bulk, which you might need to carry other things.
But your comments raise a good question...
I would not be caught in the bushes without a good FB, at least one good fixed blade and a multitool.
 
I think I am a little too attached to my sharp shiny friends, so when I go out I mob deep and take the whole gang along... except the FB's 'cause they don't care much for the city... that way nobody feels left out... Is that weird...? I'm just tryin' to be fair...
 
I sincerely hope no-one ever invents a knife that really would be capable of doing everything. What a disappointment that would be! No more knife collecting, no more debating about blade steels and shapes, locking mechanisms, preferred style of carry, etc., no more lingering over your EDCs to decide what to carry on any given day, no more of the things we all cherish. Just one knife? Who the hell needs that?!
 
I think these "one knife" discussions are just fun mental exercises. Name your choice and then defend it. It helps to bring out opinions on the important qualities of a knife for certain situations (such as a sawback for self-extracation from an aircraft). At this very moment I'm better equipped than 99.9983% of the population. I have a Leatherman Micra and a William Henry T10 CF Lancet in my pockets. There is no envelope, package, or bottle cap I couldn't take on :D. And I wouldn't be helpless in the woods with these or any other tools because I keep my survival skills up to date.

For the record, if I had to rough it for a few days I'd be well off with what I carry on the weekend: LM PST II plus one of the big folders such as my Buck 110 or SERE 2000. Unfortunately I just never carry my best "survival" type knives in my daily routine: SOG X42 Field Knife (and Survival Systems Sheath) or my Strider MT.
 
Funny I was just thinking about One Knife Threads last night before going to sleep...weird eh?

But yep, with the world going the direction it seems to be going, thinking about what you carry and the rationale behind that is interesting to take note and see what others are doing and why, food for thought for sure...

For me, right now not any one knife does it completely, always thought I'd find THE knife, well it is close right now though, with a Benchmade 941BC red version, that knife has my heart and mind all the time! So I definetly have that one on me everyday, opening action can't be beat, just the weight of the blade opens so very smooth! and lock up is solid, and the blade shape is quite handy...;) sorry for going on so! Read the story here...

Other knives on me, or near me;

Criswell Wakizashi in my car...
ColdSteel Trailmaster in my book bag to work...Tough bowie!
Criswell fixed blade in my jacket pocket...wharncliff, very handy
Large Sebenza in S30V on my belt...nuff said! :D
Benchmade 921 in left front pocket...still working on this one....
SAK Executive also left front pocket...the MOST carried and oldest knife in my collection...
Benchmade 771 in shirt pocket...GOOD KNIFE too..

That about does the everyday carry, somedays I do have other knives make a cameo appearance as they need attention as much as most knives often do :)

G2
oops edited to add one of my special everyday carries!
Kershaw Double Cross!!! don't leave home without it...;)
 
I have lots of knives that would serve me for the "one knife" scenario.... as long as I could have an axe to go with it. :D
 
I'm just a beginner "knife nut" but I'll make a few comments:

1. For normal day-to-day activities I generally feel limited to one folder. I thus pick one that can serve me in the likely situations that I might come upon. However, I would not like to be limited to only one folder in a real survival situation.

2. When in the outdoors, even in local parks on relatively short (6 to 10 mile) hikes, I can carry more knives. In that case, I would feel a little "over armed" to carry more than one fixed blade but I can also carry a good folder and a multi-tool. The fixed blade goes on my belt along with the folder. The multi-tool goes in my fanny pack. For me the question then becomes which is the best "one" fixed blade. My current thinking is that it is something like a Swamp Rat Camp Tramp which is very sturdy, can do some chopping and can also do large slicing jobs. The folder needs to be sturdy and a good slicer. The multi-tool needs to have a saw and pliers.
 
Wearing/carrying ONE knife is something like wearing ONE shoe; It CAN be done, but WHY would you want to?.:D.
 
when i go out to the woods camping and doing similar activities i tend to exploit the fact that i can carry lots of knives! Living in the city (sort of) and working in an office i usually carry one full-sized folder and a couple of smaller ones.. when i get out there i bring all the ones i dont normally carry. its great!
 
This is what I was getting at. Most, if not all of us cary piles of knives. I do understand the point of the "what if" threads, and enjoy them immensely. In reality I think knife knuts carry for what they expect to encounter. Office guys would probably carry a nice small folder good for office duties, and maybe something bigger in the briefcase. If a "survival in the wood" scenario hits on the way home from work, you are going to count on that small folder.
But any of us purposely going into the woods, or even on the highway, would likely be carrying enough to weigh down the car. Being a cop, at work I am always in a survival situation, and my OE Magna and leatherman super tool are always there, plus a gun. but when I'm not at work, I rarely leve the house without my small knapsack. There is a 1st aid kit, survival kit, CS Recon Scout(until I can afford my two new Busse knives), two or three SAKs, Fallkniven F1 & WM1, and a partridge in a pear tree.
It's funny how the people who are the most worried/concerned about survival, are the most prepared.
That said, where I live, the First Nations people have survived for thousands of years, and the knowledge they pass down seems to go a long way. Every now and again, someone gets lost, or their Ski-doo breaks down, and they survive with nothing. Since most of the people here smoke, they almost always have a lighter, and that gets them by, plus the experience of living in the bush a good portion of their lives.

As someone else stated, I hope they never invent a "do everything" knife. But it sure is fun looking.
 
One knife?
That is absurd as going out with just one fishing rod.
Or one golf club.
Or one oar.
Goodness Gratious, that just isn't done.
 
I look back fondly on the time when I had one pocket knife that seemed to serve all my purposes. At the time it was a CRKT Commander Doolittle. I carried that sucker for years and years! Life was simpler then.:)

As far as your only knife goes, obviously it has to do with what you're going to need. But we've covered that. In fact, we've beat it to death!

LET ME OFFER SOMETHING ELSE...

Love, desire, affection.
Let's say you're a city kid like me and all you'd need is a pocket knife and just had to choose between...

I'd choose my Benchmade Ares. Sure, it's a good, tough knife. Sure it would handle an awful lot. But MOST OF ALL it turns me on! The beauty. The action. The lock. The fit and finish.

I own more expensive and more useful knives and even many other Benchmades that are better for all kinds of uses, but if I HAD to carry only one, it would be about a 60% EMOTIONAL decision because I'm a knife-lover!

Frankly I'd cary the Benchmade Ares because it STIMULATES me more than any other knife I've ever owned.

Could you REALLY put down a knife that 'floated your boat' for something that you think would work about 10% better? I HOPE not! Something has been left out of this thread...

and that thing is LOVE.
 
From my experiences, I found that I only need 5 tools and 1 item to conquer any outdoors sitation:

1. Fixed blade
2. Folding blade
3. Multi-tool
4. Machete
5. Folding shovel (E-Tool)

X. Matches

When I'm with friends, then I let someone else carry the E-Tool and the Machete because they're very bulky.

But if I could only carry 1 thing, then it would be my knife sheath... That has a knife in it, with a multi-tool in the pouch. :cool:
 
Criswell Wakizashi in my car...
Click to expand...
Gary....Wait a minute. I have your Criswell Wakizashi in my car! Did you go and get another one? :D

Usually I have at least 2 knives minimum on my person. 3 or 4 in my rig. A couple in the wife's Suburban. They're everywhere I tell ya! :D
 
Originally posted by Kwaiken56
Gary....Wait a minute. I have your Criswell Wakizashi in my car! Did you go and get another one? :D
...
Click to expand...

As a matter of fact...I did! but it doesn't have the wooden saya yours has, nor not as curved as I remember but they are nice, also had a Katana and the Tanto, those two are gone now but the Wakizashi remains...;)

G2
 
I think another reason people post threads like that is to get an idea for their next knife purchase. Its like asking everyone what the most influential/best book they ever read was. You look down the list that educated people come up with and you start adding them to your list of books to read in the future. The same applies to knives...

Mark
 
I agree with Full Of Lead. Most of my Knifely duties involve opening credit card bills (knife purchases) and boxes from the knife dealers.Any 2 dollar knife would suffice.. or a sharp stone for that matter.If my car breaks down while driving through the jungle, I would use my cell phone to call AAA.The persons knife is purely an extension of his personality.Blade shape,size and material is all subjective,it has nothing to do with what is best. I see people clean their fingernails with an 8 inch Bowie.Most of my friends are knife people.When we get together, it is Show and Tell time.A lot of the enjoyment is the competition of showing off.You really have to love knives if you want to compete.
 
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