Pare Down to only 5, what’s your choices. (Traditional Knives! )

[kamagong]

First world problems, I guess.

Ain't that the truth! One is plenty. Five is not enough.

 

[JonMcD]

Trying to wade through the keepers and then dive deeper to cull out sentimental knives and gifts would be too tall a task…so I’ll make my own category. These are the 5 GEC knives I would keep. I just did this project (almost), so it’s a real easy choice ! I do have three GEC’s not shown - a 92, a 14, and a 12. The 92 was my first GEC and was a gift from my FIL. The other two I love but didn’t make it into the top 5.



Almost got rid of the 38, but kept telling myself that one day I’ll be rocking in a chair wishing I had a really good whittling knife . The 71 and 86 for any task that is traditional knife appropriate. TC is the perfect watch pocket knife for me. The 47 is the knife that I love to pick up every time I open the drawer.

One day I’ll scoop back up a brass 44. Had one for a bit. Out of everything I just culled out, it’s the only one I have a bit of itch to own again one day.

These 5 are a joy to own.

 

[Hickory n steel]

I thought that the half-dozen actually just represented ONE of Hickory n steel 's choices, and was eagerly awaiting the other four.

- GT

I was actually going to do that.

Why not just say " the Buck 305 lancer " and sneakily make it all of them instead of just 1 ?

 

[JM2]

Five huh?

#77 Two blade Barlow
View attachment 2003650
Case/Bose Premium Stockman
View attachment 2003648
Case/Bose Cattle knife
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Eureka Jack & Alox Pioneer
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Interesting and nice choices. Thanks for sharing. Man that alox is pretty. I may have to add that to my list. Well to my list of any knife, since I don’t own one. I do like the colored aloxes though.

 

[JM2]

Trying to wade through the keepers and then dive deeper to cull out sentimental knives and gifts would be too tall a task…so I’ll make my own category. These are the 5 GEC knives I would keep. I just did this project (almost), so it’s a real easy choice ! I do have three GEC’s not shown - a 92, a 14, and a 12. The 92 was my first GEC and was a gift from my FIL. The other two I love but didn’t make it into the top 5.

View attachment 2003900

Almost got rid of the 38, but kept telling myself that one day I’ll be rocking in a chair wishing I had a really good whittling knife . The 71 and 86 for any task that is traditional knife appropriate. TC is the perfect watch pocket knife for me. The 47 is the knife that I love to pick up every time I open the drawer.

One day I’ll scoop back up a brass 44. Had one for a bit. Out of everything I just culled out, it’s the only one I have a bit of itch to own again one day.

These 5 are a joy to own.

Thanks for sharing. A very nice assortment.

 

[JM2]

Thanks to all for sharing. Interesting to see that many folks can’t even fathom it. And also that many folks only have folders on the list. I’d think a fixed blade would be on everyone’s list. I considered two on mine, and likely will have two on my imaginary list.

 

[Rsmith_77]

I hope every chair you sit on...has one leg shorter than the others

 

[FranklinG]

View attachment 2003566

I've mentioned it before, but I really like the jigging on those 305's!

The holidays are coming up, so I thought about this in the framework of gift giving.

1) What knives would I enjoy giving to a friend? That whittled down a few.

2) What knifes would I enjoy giving to a brother-in-law? That pared the list some more.

3) What knives would I enjoy giving to one of my brothers? That really trimmed it down. I was left with knives that I wouldn't want to give to a friend, brother-in-law, or brother. I could give them to my kids.

The first is an Utica lockback my dad gave the boys for Christmas 30-odd years ago. It was my daily carry at work in high school, at college, post-college office jobs, grad school, and new parenthood. It's done a lot.

Second is a standard Buck 303. It was my first Buck stockman and a bit of a revelation at the time.

Third is my dad's barlow. It was a promotional knife from a livestock feed company in the '80's. (If you squint really hard, you might see the "Moorman's" etch.) He rotated between this one and a stockman that I haven't seen since I was a kid.

Fourth is a BCCI 301. When I got this, I'd already tried out the 371 and liked it. Absolute home run!

Finally, I need my keys. A Vic Rambler is on my keys. It's gone on adventures with extended family, and Cub scout meetings with my son. Opened lots of packages, an occasional cold drink, and a long conversation with my father-in-law. Between the Rambler and any of the others, I'm pretty set.

The list isn't really logical from a financial perspective. I'd be willing to give away knives that are difficult to replace in favor of these. Theoretically, I could gift the 303 or the Rambler and easily replace them. Utica still makes small lockbacks, and I could probably hunt down another Imperial Barlow or BCCI 301 if I needed to. I think there's something about the time spent doing tasks with these particular knives. The knife reminds me of a particular season in life, or a person. The value isn't in the blade steel or handle materials.

 

[Rsmith_77]

Thanks to all for sharing. Interesting to see that many folks can’t even fathom it. And also that many folks only have folders on the list. I’d think a fixed blade would be on everyone’s list. I considered two on mine, and likely will have two on my imaginary list.

The fixed blades I would chose, would not be considered traditional soooo

 

[FranklinG]

Thanks to all for sharing. Interesting to see that many folks can’t even fathom it. And also that many folks only have folders on the list. I’d think a fixed blade would be on everyone’s list. I considered two on mine, and likely will have two on my imaginary list.

My fixed blades are kitchen knives. Honest.

See? Kitchen knife drawer.

View attachment 2003956

 

[OldHercDude]

I think it's totally unreasonable you get to keep your Leatherman/multitools but Saks count as knives...

I hope you step in water in your socks

I tend to agree with the red stuff - most of my SAKs have way more tools than blades.

Heck, I'd feel like I was missing stuff if I was to pick just 5 patterns...

I'll have to ruminate a bit.

After ruminating...

1) Tribal Lock
2) Single-blade Stockman
3) Double-blade large Pen or medium Jack
4) Single-blade Barlow
5) Another single-blade Barlow or a single-blade Tear Drop Jack, OR a smaller fixed-blade like an Albers

Ask me later today or tomorrow and the list might look a little different.

 

[ddallam]

I ponder this so I’m going to share with y’all.

First is you pare down to only 5 knives you already own. Which ones are your keepers?


Second is, what’s your 5 if you can pick any that you want price or availability not withholding. That’s still only 5, not an additional 5 btw.

Now, you get to keep your leatherman and gerber tools. They ain’t knives. But SAKs are knives and count. And you get to keep your kitchen knives, unless they are traditional knives you use as kitchen knives. Got it? Go!

My five are

Buck 192, Case 75 stockman, case 65 hunter, GEC pocket carver, schrade USA 33ot.

https://imgur.com/5E0svJJ

https://imgur.com/SWY8C7t

https://imgur.com/1RZnkl1

#1: CRK Impinda
#2: Eric Albers Jack (Blue/Yellow Kirinite)
#3: GEC 715121 (Red Linen Micarta)
#4: GEC 152121 Smooth Autumn Gold Bone
#5: Boker Barlow Integral Leopard-Damast
#6: Victorinox Alox Cadet (Sorry, can't get it to five.)

#1 non-Traditional: CRK Small Plain Jane Damascus Sebenza

Each have different uses and reasons to carry.

 

[Hickory n steel]

I think it's totally unreasonable you get to keep your Leatherman/multitools but Saks count as knives...

I hope you step in water in your socks

The way I see it , one is a knife with tools and the other is a pair of pliers that might have a knife blade among other implements.

 

[kamagong]

OK. I did it. I narrowed it down to five. Most of my knives are better than anything my father or grandfathers carried. They're better than anything I could have imagined for myself as a kid who has always been interested in sharp and shiny things. These are the ones that I can make do with if I had to.

First is this GEC #73 Scout. Given to me as a Father's Day present, it is my most treasured knife. It stays until the day I pass it on.

A lightweight belt knife, this puukko is among my favorite users.

I don't often use a chopper, but when I need one they sure are handy. Plus, khukuris are a sentimental favorite, being the reason I found BladeForums in the first place.

The resorza is new to me, but it triggers my love of knives.

I need this bowie for the same reason I need my semiauto rifle. Because I am an ornery, free man under arms.

 

[Rsmith_77]

I think this deserves a bump

For two reasons ...
1) I think my 5 have changed
2) And because I want others to suffer as I suffered pondering this

 

[JB in LV]

Ok, I didn’t see this in the first go-round. I’ll add pics at a later time.

Northwoods Presidential, GEC 15 Beer Scout, GEC 78 American Jack, GEC 61 4 blade congress, Redmeadow Cowbell.

Missed the cut: Buck 301 Forum Knife, GEC 66 Calf Roper, Victorinox Alox Farmer.

Edit: add thumbs

 

[JM2]

I never decided on 5 for which I may not have.

Those are
Case 75 stockman in carbon (I only have a stainless)
Buck 192 in carbon, I forget the steel number. Remember now it’s 5160.
Ontario sp10 Bowie but modded with an antler handle and stripped of paint.
Alox pioneer
And I think a case ridgeback with rosewood handle.

I don’t have any of these but I’ve had the Bowie and the ridgeback before. And I had an electrician alox, so I’m familiar with them.