Shrinking knives.

[jackknife]

Over the last couple of years I have been leaning to smaller knives. When I was alot younger, my favorite edc was the 3 7/8 stockman. I had a Buck 301 that took about 25 years to wear out, a Hen and Rooster with very nice stag I still have. I've always had a soft spot for simple knives like the sodbuster, and I have them by Case, Eye-Brand, Kissing Krane, F. Herter.

But-

I have noticed my preffered knife has shrunk down. I now use 3 1/4 stockmen, and junior sodbusters by the above makers. And my sak's have went down in size as well. Instead of three or four layers like the the Victorinox huntsman and hiker, I now overwelmingly prefer the soldier, tinker and a classic on my keyring.

And new tastes have emerged. I find myself drawn to trying out knives I would never have looked at 5 or 6 years ago. Like the peanut. I bought a little yellow handle Case in CV and have been playing with it like a kid with a new toy on Christmas morning. I was never drawn to "small " knives like that before. But over the past month that little Case has slit open the box the UPS guy dropped off, reamed my pipe bowl, gut some panfish, opened mail, plastic blister packs, opened the little mustard and ketsup plastic packs of condiments for the hot dogs at the zoo for the grandkids, and much more. Its been so nice, that I'm looking at a Amber bone one.

When I was a kid I always wondered why my dad and uncles carried those little "pen knives" . Now I have become them. And not just in pocket knives, but guns and other gear has to be downsized. I have not used a 12 gauge in years, these days a nice light 20 gauge is my choice for upland field use. I've went on this kick about miniaturizing my gear as much as possable, to the extent of using a cane pole for fishing these days, and having a ball with what I'm not carrying. Walking back to the car after an evening of fishing my flashlight is a Photon 2 on the keyring or a little Dorcey AAA pocket light from Walmart for 4.95. Its so small and light, but it lights up the path enough to see where I'm going.

Any of you other "older" gents here experiance this?

 

[glennbad]

I guess it must be wisdom creeping up on us. As we get older, we get wiser (hopefully).

When we were young, we thought we needed a Rambo knife to do any task. As we grew up, we either found the right tool for the job, or realized that brute force was not necessary to have the desired effect, and downsized our blades accordingly. I used to carry a 110 in my younger years, now a stockman or smaller. Also, for me, carrying a huge knife at work is impractical.

Or, it could be that we're getting too old and lazy to do the tasks that a big blade might be used for.

I'd like to think that we're just growing up. Remember when you were younger, and at times you thought your old man was full of it, but as you got older, you had to admit that the knowledge that he was dropping was pretty much right on?

I guess it's the same way with knives...

So...if you can, thank your dad for being so wise.

Glenn

 

[mnblade]

I guess I'm a geezer at 37 but I definitely notice this as well. On any given day you'll find in my pocket an Old Timer Middleman Jack, or an 84mm SAK Spartan, or a Leatherman Micra, or a Buck 55 or 709 or a little Case two-blade penknife about like the Eisenhower models they're putting out these days. I have other bigger knives, sure, but I can't remember the last time I needed more knife than what I was carrying, and I'm going back years. And this even includes my hiking and kayaking days (you know, before the kids arrived ).

I remember a couple months ago, just on a lark, and a little out of nostalgia, I strapped my big old Schrade LB7 onto my belt and wore it around a bit. You know, after awhile I felt kind of stupid. I mean, I live in a city and work at a computer terminal all day. I help get the kids (3 and 1) to and from the store and playground, etc. I take out the garbage and walk the dog. What the hell would I possibly need to cut that would take that much knife!? LOL

Along these lines there's a thread over in the "Multi-tools & Multi-purpose Knives" forum about small SAKs. A poster wrote that Chuck Yeager has said his favorite pocketknife is a Victorinox Executive and that it was the only knife he used to carry on backpacking trips into the Sierra Nevada mountains. That's a pretty good endorsement for the value of a small, quality pocketknife if you ask me.

 

[Amos Iron Wolf]

With one exception I've gone lighter, and in some cases smaller. I used to tote a SAK Swiss Champ on my belt and sometimes a lockblade too. Before slipping back to slippies (pardon the pun) I was carrying a Kershaw Ken Onion 1550 assisted opener, which to be honest was light and comfortable in the back pocket, even with the big blade. But now I find that probaby the knives that carry best for me are the yellow handled Sodbuster Jr., Slimline Trapper, and that same Peanut that Jacknife is carrying. Sometimes I'll toss the Peanut in the front pocket and either of the other two in the back. At times I've also just carried one of the other two or a slim SAK. I like a longer blade for carving up fruits and veggies at lunch, but I like it slim and light. All told though, that yeller CV peanut is a neat, walk'n, talk'n little bit of usabiltiy. I have a single blade Remington peanut that came with a .22lr ammo pack many years ago. That one is carbon steel, with yak and strut, and is extremely easy to carry. It gets pretty sharp too.

The one exception is the Remington Daddy Barlow. When I'm wearing jeans this one spends a lot of time in the front pocket where it rides surprisingly well. I don't carry a regular barlow because it feels too heavy and bulky, but long, lean DB rides so well I sometimes pat my pocket in a mild panic thinking I've lost it. The Soddie jr. rides the same way in the front, while the slender trapper rides the rear pocket well. With the expection of the SAK, none of my multi-blades ride as well, except the peanut. So even when I'm not going that small, I'm going light and trim.

I found it interesting on the survival folder and in so many survival sites the huge list of stuff they list as minimal to carry for any outing. When one guy actually wanted to learn to get by with bare minimum stuff with the logic that you and your stuff could easily become separated, most pretty much told him he was nuts.

Like the point where we stop reading various magazines because we've heard it too many times already and we've started to see through the BS that is used to sell magazines, maturity seems to bring us around to simple. It also takes a bit more to impress us, so when something does, it really does.

Truth is nearly all of us could get by with one of the simpler SAKs. The real truth is most of us are happy we don't have to and can indulge in various patterns and brands. Many of us just don't need em to be all that big, heavy, or showy these days. We're more about enjoying ourselves and less about impressing others.

Sometimes it's the lack of size that matters.

Jacknife, I haven't fished for several years, but you keep talking about that cane pole and I may have to stuff some burley in a cob, grap a pole, and find a spot on the bank.

 

[Yosemite Sam]

I've never really carried anything "big" (4" blade about the max) but I find myself going toward the smaller side of things as I get older (46), too. Started a few years ago when I realized I didn't need anything bigger than a Chive for day to day stuff. Now my current EDC is a Mini Copperhead. I've got a CV Small Toothpick and a CV yellow Peanut on the way as we speak.

Personally, part of the transformation for me is a completely "anti-tactical" approach. Having realized that most of these guys clad head-to-toe in ballistic nylon with 15lbs of crap hanging off their belt just look silly -- and rarely use any of said crap -- I decided simpler was better. Must be getting old.

-- Sam

 

[jackknife]

Like the point where we stop reading various magazines because we've heard it too many times already and we've started to see through the BS that is used to sell magazines, maturity seems to bring us around to simple. It also takes a bit more to impress us, so when something does, it really does.



Jacknife, I haven't fished for several years, but you keep talking about that cane pole and I may have to stuff some burley in a cob, grap a pole, and find a spot on the bank.

Amos, your soooo right about the magazines! I stopped reading those rags back around the late 80's I think. The gun rags before that. I think some people forget the magazine is in the advertising buisness. They exist just to make money off the sale of space for adds in the rag. They don't really make much off the subscription or sale of the magazine itself. Its in thier best interest to push what the manufactures want to sell. And the manufactures want to sell the product that takes the least material and labor, and makes the most money. Like this tactical insanity. Same with car magazines, motorcycle magazines and so on.

When I was young and impressionable I read those rags and carried all sorts of ridiculous knives. Then it got to the point I started seeing that it was B.S. and stopped. I sold off most of the stuff, and gave away others. Went back to what served me well when I did't know what was the "in" thing to be carrying. Got rid of the one hand wonders, the balisongs, the tactical junk, and went back to stockmen, barlows, sodbusters. I realized that I had never been in a quick draw situation in my life, but having more than one blade on a pocket knife was a handy thing. The couple of very real emergencys I've had to deal with, my old stockman did just fine. When the little girl got her shoe cought in the esculator and it was pulling her foot into the mechanisim my stockman got the laces cut to free her. It was fast enough. From her first scream of panic to the cut laces was of couple of seconds.

Now these days I guess I could say I'm in my autum years and I think I've learned alot. Like glennbad said in his post, I've learned that I was wrong in my younger day when I thought my dad was full of it. I should have paid more attention to the things he said, because I now know that he was right about most of them. I know I could have saved myself a boatload of money on knives by not buying alot of that junk. I recall sitting and watching my dad and granddad cleaning the days game birds, and using a stockman to fillet the breast of the bird. These were hard working blue collor workers who did'nt spend alot on fancy equiptment. If they went afield whatever pocket knife they were carrying was their hunting knife. If they took us kids fishing that same knife became a fishing knife. Dad and granddad never read any knife magazines, so they never knew how ill equipted they were with a multi-blade slipjoint pocket knife and a simple break open shotgun. But we ate our share of skillet fried rabbit, broiled quail breast, and roast duck. All curtiousy of an old Stevens shotgun and a well worn stockman.

I guess I've come full circle, Amos. I'm not impressed anymore by glitz, hype, and magazines. I just want stuff that really works, is compact to carry, and does not cost an arm and leg.

Now my fancy Garcia rod with the Shimano reel is gathering dust while I sit on the lake bank with a cane pole, a sodbuster junior in my pocket, and I'm happy as a clam with my iron skillet fried fish dinner that night. And I'll whittle a toothpick with my smaller slippy, be it a peanut or a 3 1/4 stockman.

Wow, I did a semi-rant. Sorry guys for the rambling long post.

 

[Metis]

right there with you guys.

Schrade OT stockman
small SAK
cali-legal autos for the gadget factor

 

[jacknife]

Jackknife: You should write books you know that?

I could read your posts all day. So much of what you write strikes a chord with me. I've been buying a few Trappers, Stockmen and Barlows of late and funnily enough I bought some Peanuts off ebay and I've been using one at work and delighting in the utility of it for its size.

Keep your posts coming....and make them a bit longer if you would :thumbup:

 

[Yosemite Sam]

Like glennbad said in his post, I've learned that I was wrong in my younger day when I thought my dad was full of it. I should have paid more attention to the things he said, because I now know that he was right about most of them.

"When I was a teenager I was convinced my father was the stupidest man on earth. When I got to my 30s I was amazed at home much the old man had learned." I forget who said that originally, but I think of it often.

-- Sam

 

[jackknife]

"When I was a teenager I was convinced my father was the stupidest man on earth. When I got to my 30s I was amazed at home much the old man had learned." I forget who said that originally, but I think of it often.

-- Sam

Thats the truest statement on earth. I will always feel that it was a tragedy that I did not appretiate my fathers wisdom untill after it was too late to tell him. It is an unfortunite thing that my father and I had sort of an estrangement thing, as I don't think he understood me, and in my youthfull arrogance I never understood him. I was closer to my granddad and uncle than my own dad, and they were a bit different.

Now in my more mature years I can only pay him the homage due him by trying to be like him. That's sort of part of what has been driving my retro move to the old school of doing things. The realization that he was right about a heck of alot of things, makes me think about it a bit different. Gone are my black handguns and rifles. My old Marlin lever action does my rifle duty, and an old Smith and Wesson revolver takes care of the personal protection duties. Same for the knives I use.

 

[Amos Iron Wolf]

Over the years I've played the Remington vs Winchester vs whoever, Nikon vs Canon, PC vs MAC, Chevy vs....For several years now though, I've figured out that it's a tool and if it works, then I can use it. How well I use it is up to me. I get a kick out of all these rags and the guys that hang on their every word. According to them only the hottest, latests, priciest combat auto pistol, then tuned by a top level, custom gunsmith, is suitable as the bare minumum for self defense. Yeah, how many bad guys have gone down from rattling, arms room .45s, or old 1917 S&Ws and Colts? Not to mention the showing the quickly un-retired SAA .45s made in the Phillipines against the Moros? How many factory stock, short-tubed .38s have made the difference?

How many guys have gotten cut-up, maimed, and killed by cheap knives in the dark alleys and bars?

Even though I'm a commissioned security officer and can work armed positions, I've decided to stay in the unarmed site I'm at now that I'm on days. It's 10 miles from home and the pay is better than average. I don't even have to fight city traffic. I'm now off on Thursday and Fridays. So, this Friday I packed up my .40 cal Glock 22 I kept for duty, 5 mags, ammo and some accessories, and trundled on down to my favorite gun store. I'd gotten the gun second hand at a good price so I could trade it in and not get hurt much. Now sitting by the bed is a Ruger Blackhawk in .357 Mag. I'd have preferred a three-screw, but you just don't see them around here much anymore. Since it's a New Model, it can be safely loaded with six rounds. I figure if I can't handle an intruder or two with 6 rounds of .357 from that thumb buster, I'm pretty screwed anyway. Simple, rugged, steel and wood (until I get some nice stocks for it anyway, someday), and versatile. Like Jackknife and some others on here, I like a good old fashioned lever gun for rifle work. I wouldn't feel the least undergunned if you handed me a single shot shotgun and have kept one around now and then. I will admit, I do have my eye on a nice, used Remington 1100 LH Skeet gun that has pretty wood. But there's some nostalgia wrapped in that too.

Just getting in from work, my Case yaller peanut is in my pocket. It gets a regular inclusion in my rotation. (Only a few months ago I wasn't a rotation guy. The soddie jr was THE EDC. You guys are a bad influence.) The only time I know it is there is when I reach in my pocket to grab it. The slimline trapper rode in the hip pocket today. I didn't pay much attention to it either, and it never left my pocket. The peanut took care of anything I needed today.

Keep rambling JK. Makes good sense to me.

 

[waynorth]

You guys are on the right track, the good old KISS principle!
I shot competitive pistol for many years, starting out in ISU, the international version of NRA style competition, later adding IPSC, and other combat shooting. My first revolver was a Smith&Wesson model 14, and after years of shooting other revolvers, and pistols, I never could outshoot myself with another gun. Still got that baby, and I'll always keep it nearby! So now, a thousand knives later, I mostly use a sodbuster jr! Don't need much else; sweet and light. I've got a Sebenza coming in the mail, in a trade; never owned one before. They are apparently pretty good, but I'm not nearly as excited as when I was waiting for this latest soddie!

 

[El Lobo]

This thread has taken on new life!! Great stories...I'm feeling nostalgic here.

El Lobo

 

[Amos Iron Wolf]

Well now, Wolf brother, turn it blue, make the barrel 6.5 inch and change the knife to a Boker Stag Congress (or Whittler) and that could be taken at my house now. Mine's stoked with 6 HPs, but I have the snake shot nearby to switch out too. The neighbor found a Diamondback Rattler on her back steps a few days ago. The drought seems to be bringing them in for water and food.

I set my Daddy Barlow opened along side the Blackhawk and the knife was near as long as the gun.

On the way to the store tonight I was telling my wife about Jackknife and his cane pole escapades and a few of the other minimalists. I mentioned I was thinking of actually getting a fishing license again when the next years tag's start in July and getting a cane pole. She told me she thought I needed to do just that. She wasn't as enthused when I mentioned old fashioned DuPont fishing. Especially when I explained the dynamite part. Heheh.

Old Cajun in boat as he hands the game warden a lit stick of dynamite, "You come to fish or you come to talk?"

The Alison Krause and Nanci Griffith tunes on the headphones streaming from Pandora.com just fits right in with this thead.

Reminds me of a time in Alaska when I was trying to decide between a 63 Ford pickup and a 54 Chevy 5 window pickup a guy had for sale. I was sitting in the Chevy and my then wife said, "Honey, you just look like an old truck." She says she meant it that I looked like I belonged in an old truck. Either way, it sounded good to me. I got rid of both the wife and the truck while still in Alaska. Wish I still had that truck.

LOL, the Wildwood Vally Boys just came on singing, "Are You on the Right Road?" Yep, seems we are, as Waynorth pointed out.

I'll see you all on the road. I'll be the one that looks like an old truck!

 

[Yosemite Sam]

Oh, man. Despite my username*, my revolver collection has always been the heart of my firearms cache. Models 19 and 27, both pinned and recessed (you know, when things were actually hand fitted), J-frames, K frames, with Ruger Bisleys rounding things out. Also found I enjoy the classics: John Browning is my hero. Hi-Power, 1911s, a (yes) single shot BT-99 plus, and a Winchester over/under derived from a Browning design. And yeah, I bought a semi-auto rifle recently, but it wasn't one of those plastic fantastic wonders, it was an M1A for which I quickly found a wooden handguard.

This feels like old home week.

*I picked this username back in '01 when I had just bought a ParaOrd LDA 1911 and a Glock model 17. Still have 'em both, mainly 'cause the Para is the only Officer's length 1911 I own, and the Glock -- well, I just don't usually sell stuff. Besides, that model (the original) is pretty much a "classic" these days, too. I never was much of a Tactical Ted type.

And I just scored another Case toothpick today! And found another one I want. And I have to put that Boker Barlow into rotation, too. Does anyone notice a theme here?

-- Sam

P.S. Anyone want to buy my '75 Ford F100 short bed with a 300hp 302? OK, it's not a '50s classic, but it was new when I was in high school...

 

[Yosemite Sam]

P.P.S. Allison Krause was just on my stereo yesterday morning. That Union Station Live CD is amazing. And her voice can bring tears to your eyes (in a good way). Considering she's also the youngest person to ever win the national fiddling contest, that young lady has more talent in her little finger than all of these "pop queens" combined. And she's not hard on the eyes at all. It's a shame she doesn't get more recognition. Though I guess she does have two grammys at this point, which is nothing to sneeze at.

-- Sam

 

[waynorth]

Nice Ruger! Am I seeing snakeshot, hollowpoints, and a wadcutter, or is it just nostalgic hallucinations??;-)
Appropriate knife, the well equipped adventurer!

 

[waynorth]

Sounds like a nice truck! OOOOps there we go off on another tangent; better get some knife talk in here somehow,,, Ahhh how many knives do you want for your truck?? Smaller knives of course!
HMMMM, as I got older, my trucks started shrinking!! Yeah that's it!
Seriously, I've gone to a short bed, step-side Ranger, with an off-road package. It'll still hold a lot of smaller knives though!
Enough nonsense! This is a great thread JK!!

 

[El Lobo]

waynorth you have good eyes my friend. Right on all 3 counts. :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

The knife is a stockman pattern, made up of Queen components in O-1 tool steel...and hafted by Wendell Carson of Carson/Fightin Bull knives fame. It's all the knife I'd need.

Bill

 

[textoothpk]

Shrinking knives? I always used to think 5" closed was the right size for a texas toothpick. But a tad smaller, like this Ka-Bar barn door hinge at 4 1/4" fits into the pocket much better.

Didn't take long to find a gun to go with the knife here. Although the cap and ball Ruger is derived from a gun that came about 60 years before the Toothpick was introduced as an all-American knife pattern.

Fun thread.

Phil

ps... I read 'Kieth on Sixguns' at a very young age. He had it right.