Soooo doc, after 5 days, have you seen a difference in how you feel about carrying just the 74mm as a sole EDC? Any feelings still hanging on about how you may not be fully ready for the world may hold for you on a daily basis? Panic attacks?
-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Realizing a SAK IS traditional has helped
- Thread starter shopdoc
- Start date
Soooo doc, after 5 days, have you seen a difference in how you feel about carrying just the 74mm as a sole EDC? Any feelings still hanging on about how you may not be fully ready for the world may hold for you on a daily basis? Panic attacks?
The 'process' is just 50% of my lost love of Opinels. Theres the issue of them being bulky for their size, and its like having a bulky but light weight log on my pocket. Theres other knives that are flatter and easier to carry that still cut great. Like the Victorinox garden knife, Douk-Douk, Mercator K55, and any standard Victoinox.
The other big issue I have with them I the change of the design of the locking ring with a idiotic limiting stud on the ring to limit the travel to only one direction. Yes, the stud can be dremeled off, and the top of the ring can be ground to let it travel the other direction. But this is getting to be too much fiddling with a low cost knife than its worth to me. I may have been willing to screw and with the wood sealing thing, but now you have to fiddle with the wood oiling, fiddle with the locking ring stud, and then fiddle with grinding another slant on the top of the locking ring. Just got too fiddly to fiddle with, when theres other knives for not much more money that I can buy and just drop in pocket and go.
I like the older Opinels. Filed the handle flatter, made them easy openers, oiled hinge wood well then sealed it with clear nail polish ( don't tell wife, she thinks it just evaporated 
Sharpened to hair splitting edge - among sharpest knives around. Painted a couple handles black, stained a couple with dark wood stain.
Rich
Sharpened to hair splitting edge - among sharpest knives around. Painted a couple handles black, stained a couple with dark wood stain.Rich
Soooo doc, after 5 days, have you seen a difference in how you feel about carrying just the 74mm as a sole EDC? Any feelings still hanging on about how you may not be fully ready for the world may hold for you on a daily basis? Panic attacks?
I have not encountered anything in those 5 days that could not be handled with the Executive and the panic attacks have subsided
.One thing I noticed yesterday when I put on my work pants to go outside for yardwork is that I mentally said "ok grab your pocket knife". That may not seem like much, but it actually was. Typical mornings consist of "Ok which knife should I grab today?". The Executive is now MY pocket knife. We are growing closer. It's a tiny bit of unnecessary stress lifted off me in not having to decide which knife to carry. For better or worse, the Executive goes in the pocket. No thinking about it. I like that.
Here is my load out every morning no matter what. Executive in the left pocket (I prefer that to my watch pocket right now). On top of the Executive goes my buff. Right pocket has Fenix E05 clipped to the far right portion of the pocket. This light has been with me for several years now. If I need something more powerful, I have several Black Diamond Headlamps around. Both cars have them in the gloveboxes and there is one in my backpacking bin. I don't think we've touched on this, but I prefer headlamps if I need a more powerful light. Leaves me hands free for plumbing, tire change, working on the mower/car. My wife is starting to see the light (pun intended) and stop making fun of me and my headlamps. Ok, back to my pockets. In my watch pocket is either my zippo with butane insert or, more recently as it's smaller, a mini bic. I'm not a smoker, but see the usefulness of always having a lighter on me. And that's it! Now, if I have my wallet on me, there is a safety pin, a paperclip, and some twine in there.
I guess I shouldn't forget my iphone. I have that on me...wish I didn't. It's my bulkiest/heaviest item. That's usually in the left back pocket. Wallet either right back or right front. It's a slim wallet and easily goes in the front pocket.
Bottom line with the Executive...I like it! And I think I'll feel lost without it eventually. I foresee if I decided to carry something else for the day, I would want to rush home to put the Executive back in my pocket. I'm not an Executive and I feel like this knife can do more than personal grooming which is what I previously thought of this knife when seeing online. Both due to the name and the functions. I'd like to rename it. The Chuck Yeager Knife? CYK?
I have not encountered anything in those 5 days that could not be handled with the Executive and the panic attacks have subsided
One thing I noticed yesterday when I put on my work pants to go outside for yardwork is that I mentally said "ok grab your pocket knife". That may not seem like much, but it actually was. Typical mornings consist of "Ok which knife should I grab today?". The Executive is now MY pocket knife. We are growing closer. It's a tiny bit of unnecessary stress lifted off me in not having to decide which knife to carry. For better or worse, the Executive goes in the pocket. No thinking about it. I like that.
Here is my load out every morning no matter what. Executive in the left pocket (I prefer that to my watch pocket right now). On top of the Executive goes my buff. Right pocket has Fenix E05 clipped to the far right portion of the pocket. This light has been with me for several years now. If I need something more powerful, I have several Black Diamond Headlamps around. Both cars have them in the gloveboxes and there is one in my backpacking bin. I don't think we've touched on this, but I prefer headlamps if I need a more powerful light. Leaves me hands free for plumbing, tire change, working on the mower/car. My wife is starting to see the light (pun intended) and stop making fun of me and my headlamps. Ok, back to my pockets. In my watch pocket is either my zippo with butane insert or, more recently as it's smaller, a mini bic. I'm not a smoker, but see the usefulness of always having a lighter on me. And that's it! Now, if I have my wallet on me, there is a safety pin, a paperclip, and some twine in there.
I guess I shouldn't forget my iphone. I have that on me...wish I didn't. It's my bulkiest/heaviest item. That's usually in the left back pocket. Wallet either right back or right front. It's a slim wallet and easily goes in the front pocket.
Bottom line with the Executive...I like it! And I think I'll feel lost without it eventually. I foresee if I decided to carry something else for the day, I would want to rush home to put the Executive back in my pocket. I'm not an Executive and I feel like this knife can do more than personal grooming which is what I previously thought of this knife when seeing online. Both due to the name and the functions. I'd like to rename it. The Chuck Yeager Knife? CYK?
Doc, you're going through exactly the same thing I experienced with the peanut and the executive. It morphs into your psyche in a disturbing way. After just a little while, it became what I call "my" EDC. If I make a point of leaving behind for say, my Recruit, or old Wenger SI, it isn't very long at all, that I find myself gong back an changing out again for the exec. Weird! Its like my old Case peanut in that it proves itself very quickly able to taken what the majority of what you will run into in a normal life in American Suburbia. I only fully understood my dad when I started carrying his old peanut and found a sort of liberation in the maximum minimalism that he practiced. In the end, I sold off/gave away most my other knives.
Totally agree on headlamps! I had one in the car, but it got confiscated/commandeered by the better half for her daypack. I may have to get another one sometime. But I still have the Fenix E01 on my keyring after almost 13 years. Its been banged around and has seen be very good service literally all over the country from coast to coast. I've looked at the E05, but I fear that I'm spoiled by the insane run time of the E01. How does the E05 work out as far as changing modes with a twist switch?
I too was put off by the name for longtime. Maybe the Chuck Yeager Sierra knife is a good one? The executive makes me think of my dad's slogan for his little knife; "Doesn't have to be big, just sharp."
I think by the end of the month, you and the exec will be fast companions. With a quatro and P-38 in my wallet, I feel okay about being equipped for life in 2020 Georgetown Texas.
I forgot to mention my quatro. It arrived last week. I cannot believe how small it is! I placed it in my wallet as well. My wallet has a magnetized money clip and the quatro and safety pin are in a pocket adjacent to the money clip and magnetically stick to the underside of the clip. I have not purchased a p-38. If I had a history with one as you do, I think I'd be more likely to carry. I don't see myself needing to open a can enough to justify carrying. Maybe I'll change my mind.
So I must admit...I've carried my E05 for 3-5 years maybe. I learned that there are different light modes when you twist...just now! After reading your post. I reached in my pocket, looked at it, twisted once, low light. The only light I've EVER used. Turn off and on again quick with a twist and you have medium light. Do it a 3rd time and you have bright light. I had NO idea. Which is probably why my battery lasts so long. I've changed it once I think. So, with just using the low light, I think you would grow to like the E05.
Chuck Yeager Sierra knife is perfect! I've never been trout fishing, but heading to the Sierras to do a little trout fishing sure sounds nice right now.
Yeah, my history with the P-38 is about 75% sentimental. I was in the old OD green army with C-rations, and the P-38 was one of the earliest bits of gear I was issued, almost right after the fatigues and combat boots. We usually hung it on our dog tag chain and used it for stuff that the designer never dreamed of. Screw driving, scraping, putty spreader, gunk out of corner stuff, awl, sewing thimble, whatever. So after most of a lifetime, I'm sentimental attached to the thing. It has come in handy while flying on airliner and needed a small sharp edge.
The Fenix E05 sounds okay. If it always comes on wit the low setting first, then that's a good thing. Looking at the run time, battery life is short of used on high. With all the use of my little 13 lumin E01, theres been a few times a little more light would have been nice. Not many, but a few here and there over a decade.
I've used the quatro a few times when I thought the torque was going to be a bit much for the executive, and it was a stubborn slightly rusty screw. And while visiting in California and repairing a small battery operated pencil sharpener for the granddaughter, I needed a second small Phillips driver in addition to the spear tip of the executive. The quatro worked beautifully, as does most of Victorinox tools. And it takes up soooo little space in the wallet, you can forget its there, until you need it. Like small SAK's in a pocket. Small SAK's are so darn capable of doing soooo much that its amazing. If my dad had ever used a small SAK, I wonder if he would have abounded his peanut. He was such a minimalist, that I am sure he would have. He had about 4 monoculars stashed around as they could do the job and were smaller and lighter than even compact binoculars.
Good luck with your continuing adventure with the Chuck Yeager Sierra!
Glad you’re enjoying your Executive, shopdoc!
Personally, I don’t mind the name “Executive”, even though I’m not one. IMO, it implies a classy knife, and to me, it could fit in, in a boardroom, a workshop, on a fishing or camping trip, etc., etc. In the same way, I’m not an ancient Greek warrior, but I still pair my Executive with my Spartan.
I still haven’t gone down to total minimalism yet. As I’ve mentioned, I always have my Executive, but also like to carry either my Spartan or my Pioneer in my other pocket. The Exec, paired with either one, creates a great complementary team, as each has something the other doesn’t, while both being lightweight and compact. They’re also models which I use every tool on to some degree or other.
Jim
Personally, I don’t mind the name “Executive”, even though I’m not one. IMO, it implies a classy knife, and to me, it could fit in, in a boardroom, a workshop, on a fishing or camping trip, etc., etc. In the same way, I’m not an ancient Greek warrior, but I still pair my Executive with my Spartan.
I still haven’t gone down to total minimalism yet. As I’ve mentioned, I always have my Executive, but also like to carry either my Spartan or my Pioneer in my other pocket. The Exec, paired with either one, creates a great complementary team, as each has something the other doesn’t, while both being lightweight and compact. They’re also models which I use every tool on to some degree or other.
Jim
- Joined
- Mar 2, 2014
- Messages
- 2,585
Classic is good knife,but i love old style spyderco ladybug on keychain,can be opened with one hand,it locks and is lightweight,that thing is like scalpel,and blade strong and sharp.Lady bug and alox classic are my edc nowadays mostly,have them both on keychain.
- Joined
- Mar 2, 2014
- Messages
- 2,585
Ladybug is perfect option,mine is older version,bought it on clearance for $15,new ones go for 40$us,thats thats ridiculous.
- Joined
- Mar 2, 2014
- Messages
- 2,585
Btw,i got schrade sharpfinger for 10$us yesterday,it was on clearance,is chinese version,but for money is excellent....knives like tenacious from spyderco should be less expensive,along with byrd knives...i ilike byrd cara cara but is way overpriced where i live,and tenacious simply is ok but nothing special ,still pretty good quality.
- Joined
- Mar 2, 2014
- Messages
- 2,585
One dirt cheap but well wade knife complements my swiss army knives when i need longer blade for foor cutting ,thats cold steel Kudu,which i paid 5$us for it,had to thin out the blade and put an edge on it,but now its straight razor sharp,holds edge well,is light,has strong lock,not to hard to carry and if you lose it who cares.Id recommend this one to everyone for any situation and any emergency kit,along with swiss army knife.Blade is thin and i i thk 4,5 inches long,simple flat grind,only con is it doesnt come with an actual edge on it.4116 krupp steel is pretty good.I do not feel this knife in pocket,and started edc ing it along with spartan sak and ladybug on keychain(emergency situation),you never know if you might be in need.
Soooo, doc, how's it going with the CYS knife????
Inquiring minds want to know.
This should say at all, I used my CYS today to trim up A packing label for a slip joint I just sold. I have a handful of knives sitting on my tool bench that I’m going to start listing for sale
. It’s been in my pocket everyday without any intruders even though I’m itching to carry this shiny new red pioneer that I purchased before I started the CYS challenge. I’m afraid this pioneer is going to feel like a rock in my pocket though. I still have not encountered a task that the CYS failed to handle. Have not grabbed another knife other than for making dinner. Ive opened packages, trimmed a shipping label with the scissors and cut into a hamburger on the grill to be sure it was done to my kids liking today. And I have no doubt It would make a fine backpacking knife. Really the classic is a great backpacking knife, but I can certainly see why the longer blade on the CYS would be even better for cutting up some sausage or cheese. A couple years back I went to Munich with my oldest son. We typically would purchase a lunch from various stalls in the farmers market which was fantastic. We would get a buttered soft pretzel, a cup of raspberries, a wedge of cheese, and some type of meat. I wasn’t sure of the knife laws over there so I purchased a classic only which I thought would be safe to carry And I survived a whole week with only that night. It’s main use was cutting the meat and cheese during our lunches. CYS would have been even better.
Just like realizing that a Swiss Army knife is a traditional knife, also realizing that a pocket knife does not make the Best self defense weapon really changed my philosophy on what I carry. Realizing the above has allowed me to carry a much smaller knife. A smaller knife handles 99% of knife tasks better. Im not going to get into a knife fight. I’m not saying a knife can’t do some damage. I’ve seen the damage than a knife can do. I’m just saying I don’t ever want to be in a knife fight. So, I’ll carry something else for self-defense and my knife will be a tool as it should be.
I’m just saying I don’t ever want to be in a knife fight. So, I’ll carry something else for self-defense and my knife will be a tool as it should be.
I still haven’t got to the point where I can pull the knife out of my pocket and accurately grab the blade instead of the scissors without looking. But I’ll get there.
I'm really enjoying carrying a small knife. Forget that it's in your pocket until you need it which is maybe what a pocket knife should be.
- Joined
- Nov 20, 2005
- Messages
- 19,385
This has been a thread down SAK memory lane for me. I'll probably re-read the whole thing again. I have not done nearly the experimentation that many of you have done with SAKs. I started with a Tinker in the early 80's, used an old Soldier for a while, then went to the 111mm side lock Adventurer which I carried for something like 15 years. Only in the last year or so have I changed. The change reflects my typical usage of knives in general..... went to the Small Tinker and I like this one quite a lot as I like the basic tool set in a two layer SAK. Before 1980, I considered SAKs toy knives.
I really like the Electrician. But generally I favor plastic handled ones for the tweezers and toothpick. The Trekker gets use when I am in the woods as the saw comes in handy for little things like trimming small trees around plants I might be trying to photograph. I am in a bit of a rut, but I'm totally satisfied. The floral knife looks interesting, but I know I won't use it much, so I'll just stick to the tried and true models I like and use.
J jackknife is the one that basically prompted me to try a Peanut or in other words "go small" to at least consider it. I like the little Peanut but I like the Small Tinker better. So, the peanuts stay at home. I can always change. I really like the little GEC #14's which are sized similar to the Small Tinker.... very functional for me. But again, it is hard to not carry the Small Tinker as the other tools are just so useful for me.
Of late I have been carrying a small fixed blade on my belt and using it quite a lot for most of the cutting tasks that I used my SAKs for. I didn't know if I could adjust to the a small fixed blade for regular carry, but I have and generally the small fixed blade is accompanied by the Small Tinker.
I have never been particularly a fan of Opinels or Mora's in general. I just find them boring. Both are too similar to what I use in the kitchen and there is no special interest in using one for general purposes or outdoors in general.
I really like the Electrician. But generally I favor plastic handled ones for the tweezers and toothpick. The Trekker gets use when I am in the woods as the saw comes in handy for little things like trimming small trees around plants I might be trying to photograph. I am in a bit of a rut, but I'm totally satisfied. The floral knife looks interesting, but I know I won't use it much, so I'll just stick to the tried and true models I like and use.
J jackknife is the one that basically prompted me to try a Peanut or in other words "go small" to at least consider it. I like the little Peanut but I like the Small Tinker better. So, the peanuts stay at home. I can always change. I really like the little GEC #14's which are sized similar to the Small Tinker.... very functional for me. But again, it is hard to not carry the Small Tinker as the other tools are just so useful for me.
Of late I have been carrying a small fixed blade on my belt and using it quite a lot for most of the cutting tasks that I used my SAKs for. I didn't know if I could adjust to the a small fixed blade for regular carry, but I have and generally the small fixed blade is accompanied by the Small Tinker.
I have never been particularly a fan of Opinels or Mora's in general. I just find them boring. Both are too similar to what I use in the kitchen and there is no special interest in using one for general purposes or outdoors in general.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Nov 20, 2005
- Messages
- 19,385
I took a hard look at just what I actually cut. As mentioned, I carried the 111mm SAK for 15 years and used it pretty much every day. The Peanut approach made me take a serious look at what I actually did..... My conclusion was that 95% of the cutting I did could easily be handled with a smaller SAK model like the Small Tinker. I keep other knives handy to be used it the need is there. There is no shortage of knives to choose from. I can keep them in vehicles, in the garage, where ever I might be when the need for a larger knife strikes. I generally do favor a bit larger knife in the woods which is why I often will have the One-Handed Trekker with me in my carry bag. The little Tinker remains in my watch pocket regardless.
I had no limitations either with 111mm SAKs. But the Small Tinker takes up much less real estate in my pocket.
Added: I had no particular desire to down size either as the 111mm Adventurer did it all for me. But carrying the Small Tinker is just so much easier and functions for almost all the cutting I do. I can't do a Classic though.... just too small.
Last edited: