Picking the Perfect Pocket Knife

Dr-Mabuse said:
For me the Northwoods Presidential was a revelation. Mine came with blue camel bone handles that contain all the colors of an iceberg. I'd carried spydercos for over a decade when I got it. At first, I had no intention of carrying it really, I thought it was nice piece of semi-functional art. No knife that required you to reach into your pocket and open it with both hands could ever be useful. How little I knew! This knife has so much to offer, it's slim, light and the blade combo is incredibly versatile. It is graced with a long beautifully proportioned slim spear at one end that swings above it's weight class and good sized wharncliffe for trimming, peeling and performing precision cuts. It quickly replaced my modern knives and opened my eyes.

But the Perfect Pocket Knife (PPK) is not the Pres, it is an ever moving target. To me the PPK is rides well in the pocket, can handle any cutting task you might encounter, looks good enough to draw praise even the most knife adverse, and is durable enough to handle constant use. Maybe it's a 54 or 79 or maybe I should see what this barlow hype is all about.
So what does the perfect pocket knife mean to you? Have you found it?
Click to expand...


One of the first things I might suggest,is that a person asks themself about opening the blades.
Can you use your fingernails ?
Do you need it to be a pinch - able pattern ?
And pull strength on the spring,light or firm.

There's so many knives but as nice as any one could be (PPK),it will not be any good if you can't open it
 
Like others, I know what my sweet spot is for edc. I have handled a lot of patterns in the past 3 years or so(when I got into traditionals) and with use I have determined what works best for me. The hardest part is actually owning just one, if you are around here I think this task is almost impossible. If you own more than one, it would be hard not to rotate in my opinion. I hold onto the ideal of "the one" but more as dream. I can certainly get away with just a single 3.5" handled knife with a wharncliffe blade(a very unique knife). I have done it for months with no problem. Then one day another in my humble collection will spark my interest again and then the switch happens. I can say for me, my scope of knives I hunt has drawn very tight. 3.5" handles are the smallest I choose to carry for instance. 4.25" seems to be about the max I want to carry in my pocket and I am not one for belt sheaths.

I like single blades at times and own 2 to suit my tastes. I consider my little 55 houndstooth to be a perfect edc utility knife and it excels at what I ask of it(and pairs great with a bigger, modern knife). I also have a 3.75" single blade clip point knife that is perfect for those days I think I will encounter food prep or just need a little more. But ultimately if I had to pick a "one" it would be neither of those. To me the ultimate utility comes from 2 blades and I am very specific with my needs here. I prefer a single spring configuration as it allows for a longer handle and slimmer carry. It must have a main clip blade because I love the protected point and this is a very useful blade shape for many tasks. The secondary blade is to be a coping/sheepsfoot because it is the best utility blade I have found. Very strong tip and easy to sharpen. The tip being well below the center line of the knife lends itself to piercing applications. It makes a good scraper as well.

I know what I like/prefer but getting myself to only carry that "one", well, its harder then one thinks :)


This is the closest I own to perfection but I have things I would improve on for my ultimate knife. Little tweaks like a slightly more robust and longer coping blade. I think I would like a frame with a little more character but that's not a deal breaker at all. The clip is just about perfect in my opinion though I would just want to maximize its length to frame ratio a little better.

 
Of course I have to assume we're all working under the presumption that the perfect knife would be different for each individual. Whew! There for a minute I thought maybe I'd missed something. :D

I keep accumulating because I like knives in general and I'm a sick individual but I think I may have found the perfect knife for me. That is until I had a dream this morning that it was inadequate for the task at hand. (True story. That actually happened this morning.)

I'll keep carrying this until something comes along that knocks my socks off. I don't see that happening but you never know.

Camillus 72 Frankenknife, modified by Robb in SW Missouri.
C-72_cap_lifter.JPG
 
The 2013 Forum knife gets a lot of pocket time with me, but its not perfect. Real close though. My other primary carry is a old Cat Congress. Normally I find two blades to be ideal. I like the Stockman shape but have no use for the spey. I like the utility of the Scout, but not in my pocket. Barlows seem bulky, single blades fail when I need a small one for something fine, and anything over 3.75" may just as well be a fixed blade. Of course I have a huge supply of "backups" just in case.
 
Early in my quest for an EDC I concluded that a traditional knife between 3 1/2" to 3 7/8" would be the perfect pocketknife for me.

There are many nice choices in that size range. I tried and loved the Case Mini-Trapper but wanted a more substantial main blade. Bought a GEC 55 and thought, this was it but got tired of the heavy pull. Carried a Buck 301 because it has light springs and 3 great blades but it's longer than I wanted to carry on certain occasion. Then came (in no particular order) a Case Texas Jack, GEC 73, 72, 68, 77, 99,... various SAK's, Schrades, Colts and so on and so on. Knives too numerous to list. I still have and enjoy most of these knives, yet not one was the perfect EDC. Now I wonder if there is such a thing.

During the last few years I've been favoring above all my other knives, a slightly modified Antique Yellow GEC Farmboy and a Victorinox Bushcrafter. They're among the most ergonomically correct knives that I have held, making them comfortable to use. They have the most useful blade selections, are easy to keep sharp and carry extremely well. These knives are so close to perfect that if either one was the only pocketknife I could own I'd still be completely satisfied. Oh yeah, I think they look good too!;)

I'll continue my quest (because I enjoy it:o) but I really don't expect to find a more perfect pocketknife than the "FARMBOY" or "BUSHCRAFTER" two truly great knives.:thumbup:

no pics provided cuz then I'd have to start a search for the perfect camera:cool:
 
Last edited:
For me, the solution to the obsession was to start EDCing 2 knives. Usually a Vic Recruit plus a Buck Cadet. They carry together well. Sometime I swap out the Buck Cadet for the larger Buck Stockman or a Case such as a trapper or CV stockman. Satisfies.
 
Finding the perfect knife is a tough one for me. If you put a gun to my head and tell me I can only have 1, I would beg to have two at the minimum. One would be my favorite classic 3 blade Winchester Eureka whittler shown here:

IMG_0281_zpse038d6dc.jpg


The other would be an SAK, with a minimum of a cap lifter and toothpick. One of my favorites is this old horn handled "Victoria":

2014-08-12%2010.49.33_zpszujfhdce.jpg


Now, if you absolutely made me choose one, it would have to be the SAK, only because the utility far surpasses anything else, in my opinion. When puttering around the house, I usually only carry a pocket knife with one to three blades, knowing full well I can go get anything else I need when I need it. When out and about, I like to carry an SAK and a regular traditional, to meet all needs. Depending on where I am going, the knife will vary. If I know I am going to the farmer's market, I will usually bring a 3 to 4 inch clip blade knife (single or multiple blade). If I am going to the park, I will bring something with some good whittling blades on it (like my favorite Eureka whittler, which has a pen blade I have reprofiled to be a wicked whittling blade). When I travel, I always want a knife, so I check my bags, and take something that I would not be upset losing...plus an SAK.

I am thankful to have the first world problem of not having to choose only one.
 
The perfect knife is a medium size stock. Any brand with good carbon steel. With a good strong clip and sheep foot.

Scatch that - gec #48 dog leg jack.

Anyone who disagrees, I challenge to a duel. 20 yards - nerf single shot.

Rex out
 
Evening Jim, that is a GEC #53 TK cuban. The secondary comes as a pen but taking the lead of a fellow member I filled the secondary into the little sheepsfoot. While being a hair over 4" long it remains very pocket friendly due to its slim frame and rounded bolsters. I highly recommend it :)
 
I would love a 15 with 2 blades. Spear point on one end and cap lifter on the other.

Anyone know who can mod one for me???

They can use my GEC Forum 2014 knife or I'll buy another 15 if needed or a modded SAK Alox would work as well.

My SAK Cadet is as close as I can get for a user but definitely don't need the awl or small blade.

That MIGHT be the PPK for me!
 
One Jim - that's a tk cuban 53 that he modified the factory pen into the coping blade.

Jeff - I really appreciate your perspective on Your TK. It answered some previous questions i had about blades with flat edge profiles and I can relate to your over all thoughts on the knife. I love mine. Perhaps you would really enjoy the secondary of the Northwoods presidential added to the clip in the TK. Anyone with a TK can appreciate the thought process and detail of the grinds. Look at that clip in the open position from above. Blade thicknes is thinned on one side to accomidate the pen, so the centerline of the clip is offset and thus the blade is super thin-like a razor behind the edge. The two swedges are different different to allow for a long pull and yet clear that pen. At first you think it looks weird, but then you come to realize the masterful thought process to get both of those great blades in that slim package. That being said, I think they've maxed out the efficiency in terms of blade to pattern ratio. Also, mine is jigged bone and I think the ebony is a better hard user cover. I dropped an ebony 92 in my driveway. The ebony dented - no crack or chip. I rubbed it on my kitchen counter and beat the deformed part back down flush. Good to go. Can't do that with bone. Anyhow, sorry for the rant.
Josh
 
rockgolfer said:
Evening Jim, that is a GEC #53 TK cuban. The secondary comes as a pen but taking the lead of a fellow member I filled the secondary into the little sheepsfoot. While being a hair over 4" long it remains very pocket friendly due to its slim frame and rounded bolsters. I highly recommend it :)
Click to expand...

Rockgolfer

I just spent the last few minutes searching for a TK Cuban with sheepsfoot and came up empty.....was wondering.

Is that one spring or two?

Thanks,

Jim
 
I don't think the perfect pocket knife exists, at least I hope not. If I actually found the perfect pocket knife, what would I do with all the others? Half the fun is in the search. So far the closet I have come to perfect is a medium stockman from several makers. That said I don't carry one everyday, too many other knives need pocket time.
 
VCM3 said:
One of the first things I might suggest,is that a person asks themself about opening the blades.
Can you use your fingernails ?
Do you need it to be a pinch - able pattern ?
And pull strength on the spring,light or firm.

There's so many knives but as nice as any one could be (PPK),it will not be any good if you can't open it
Click to expand...

Oh now there's an interesting thought. I like where this is going. One armed knives such as on a #15 seem fun but I imagine they are pokey in the pocket and don't sit well in the hand when another blade is in use. Pinchable is a fine compromise especially when it's -10 outside and you don't wanna take off your gloves. Although I can live with a nail nick this is the PPK! Pull should be strong a 7 or higher, in my mind this knife is lean but robust, a true worker. A single spring design would be best for the pocket and I only want 2 blades anyhow. A good clip or spear with a sheepsfoot on the other end. The handle design hasn't formed in my mind's eye yet but I think you just added an EZ open notch.

RexRazorX said:
The perfect knife is a medium size stock. Any brand with good carbon steel. With a good strong clip and sheep foot.

Scatch that - gec #48 dog leg jack.

Anyone who disagrees, I challenge to a duel. 20 yards - nerf single shot.

Rex out
Click to expand...

I'll take you up on that anytime, anywhere Rex. :D

jerryd6818 said:
I keep accumulating because I like knives in general and I'm a sick individual but I think I may have found the perfect knife for me. That is until I had a dream this morning that it was inadequate for the task at hand. (True story. That actually happened this morning.)

I'll keep carrying this until something comes along that knocks my socks off. I don't see that happening but you never know.

Camillus 72 Frankenknife, modified by Robb in SW Missouri.
C-72_cap_lifter.JPG
Click to expand...

That's hilarious, I have dreams that I lose my knife all the time. lol

That custom is very nice indeed. The spring configuration wouldn't be a split back would it?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top