My preferences have been shaped by life circumstances. Growing up in Texas I, and most of my friends, carried some kind of cheap slip joint. During the first part of my Navy life, when I spent time on deck handling lines, etc., I carried a Case fixed blade. Then, working on nuclear boats it was generally a SAK (which, unbelievably, I still have). When I lived and worked on a small mountain farm it was various Buck and Puma fixed blades, depending on what needed to be done, and a Buck 112, early 1970s micarta vintage, which was constantly with me in my hand made sheath. I also still have that knife and sheath.
I’ve been through many modern screw-together steel and clip synthetic knife sandwiches. They are all gone except for my scary sharp Bob Lum Chinese folder. My focus now is on traditional patterns that are exceptionally well made and of a size — small and “medium” — that feels right to me. My cutting needs are few these days being an old man who doesn’t get around much and I buy and keep knives that please me to look at, hold and that demonstrate the quality of makers who care about what they do.
In my pockets this morning are a 29 Grits and Molasses, and a beautiful 66 in Jigged autumn bone.
I’m eyeballing a canvas micarta Dixie Stockman just because.
