Small Pocketknife Carriers Unite!

TAH

TAH

Joined
Jul 3, 2001
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6,135
On occasion, I venture out into the other forums and have come to the conclusion that I am getting old and boring. The knife I carry the most isn't super cool, aggressive looking, or made of titanium, high-end steel, and a complex lock. It's just a pocketknife at the bottom of my pocket, that cuts stuff like food packaging, horse supplies, and my wife's loose clothing threads on our way to church. If I ever need to pull a knife for self defense, I hope it's against a 1st grader. :D

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im with ya. i tried the fancy tactical knives and came back to simple. im not a knife fighter.
 
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I've never neen "into" the modern "tactical" "over-built sharpened prybars".

I don't need "tactical". I see no situation in the foreseeable yet to be where I will have need of taking out an enemy sentry, nor having to stab some poor vehicle, or even size an 8x8x16 concrete block or a brick paving stone with a knife. (there are far better tools for trimming those blocks and bricks than a knife -like a chipping hammer or concrete saw.)

The "smallest" knife I feel comfortable carrying is a under 3 inch closed two blade Barlow. I have smaller, but they rarely if ever see pocket time. I don't care for the way they feel in hand, and I have to keep whacking my pocket to make sure it is still there.
("people" look askance at an old ugly bearded thing with a rollator hitting its leg.)

Of course in my case "people" (or if you prefer "humans") look askance at me anyway, since I am so ugly ... women run away screaming ... children point and cry ... mirrors self destruct if I am fool enough to pass in front of one ...
 
I usually have my 303 in pocket no matter what else I have on me. There’s a lot of things a big blade can’t do where a small multi blade will cover them just fine. They aren’t heavy, bulky and most people don’t see them as dangerous. The times I’ve forgotten and left my 303 at home and need it I miss it.
 
TAH, Your now carrying a classic, since the 309 is discontinued. That puts you soundly in the classical lifestyle area. But not trying to be a "old sod", again it comes down to what's selling to the biggest market is what is designed and made. I am really in the dust, I'm carrying a Camillus made 303 I glued some nice burl wood on as scales , so I guess it's a 'classic custom'. Life goes on if your lucky. I have never sharpened all the good off a blade before I finally lost it anyway..... 300
 
afishhunter said:
("people" look askance at an old ugly bearded thing with a rollator hitting its leg.)

Of course in my case "people" (or if you prefer "humans") look askance at me anyway, since I am so ugly ... women run away screaming ... children point and cry ... mirrors self destruct if I am fool enough to pass in front of one ...
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^you crack me up, Sir.
 
I always have a plain old black saw cut 303 in my pocket; but if, for some strange reason, I needed to get dressed up I could polish the bolsters on this Santa Fe Stoneworks 303. For simple elegance it is hard to beat.

Bert

303 Santa Fe Stoneworks 3.jpg
 
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I love the whole 300 series and carry them regularly. I have to admit I think my favorite bucks are the 505 sized Lockbacks. 505, 525 and alumni’s are a lot of knife in a small package. I have done everything from open packages to skinning game with my little 505 knight.
 
TAH said:
It's just a pocketknife at the bottom of my pocket, that cuts stuff like food packaging, horse supplies, and my wife's loose clothing threads on our way to church.
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This year / in the last couple of months I got all interested in the smallest Bucks.
Now I have looked into this whole EDC (non self defense, no grizzly fighting, city slicker knife life) . . .
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I've experimented and thought about it . . .
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(sorry I've had too much sleep, too much coffee and you'll just have to bare with me)
When I think about how I bought my Dad a nice fairly conservative SAK for Christmas way back in the day (seventies) and he returned it for the Buck 305 Lancer (the very knife is shown here )
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I couldn't imagine carrying only that. Matter of fact the two below is what he EDC'd even before he retired and he was a big time steam fitter.
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But, but BUT !
What if a guy has to cut up a cinnamon role or something which I do al the time.
I mean you have to kill it first.
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Then dress it out . . .
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. . . how does one do that even with them little tiny knives like the Buck 110 ? ? ?
I guess them old dudes just know how to get things done with less !

Now I'm an old dude . . .
. . . I don't know . . .

I've always said here that MOST people only need this little box knife.
Fearsome OUT THE FRONT one hand opener that it is. Is this illegal in the UK ?
I mean it is locking and all ! ! ! !
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Here are the little Bucks I have been carrying of late. The lower three in this photo.
Sorry If this has been seen around here too often. I just got all of these and have been enjoying them quite a bit.
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Word to the wise if you like these smallest Bucks best to buy now; they seem to be getting scarce. Is that right has Buck discontinued them ? ? ?

I mean I have tried key chain knives . . .
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Now I'm kidding around
 
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So I thought about it some more and
Experimented some more
and wished some more
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And the one I came up with that pleases me the most,
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for a small knife is this modded one. The top knife. (I took the blade out of the orange one, cut a bunch of it away and put it in the black handle and vicyversy). It has a fairly tiny thin blade now like a Traditional, but has super steel HAP-40 and a super grippy handle which I kind of am addicted to.
So . . . some where between the tiny Bucks and the modern stuff.
I carry it in the bottom of my pocket (I took the clip off) because it waves open so easy if clipped to my pocket it is dangerous and I for get to grip it so it doesn't fly open if I am just taking it out of my pocket. If it is in the bottom of my pocket I always grip it so it doesn't wave open unless I want it too. Seriously ! Beware if anyone does a similar mod !

So . . . in the end . . . I'm with you on the small pocket knife thing . . . some what . . . some times.
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Thanks for the detailed description of your EDC selection process. That was quite entertaining. :)
 
Love the little ones, you're picture right there just made me buy a 309 off eBay.
Currently I've got a similar Schrade manufactured knife but since this is the Buck forum I'll limit myself to posting Bucks.

As a teenager I was into the craze of modern one handed folders, now it's just traditional folders and belt knives for when I need a one handed blade.
 
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TAH said:
To me, the 309 is the quintessential Buck pocketknife. Not too big, not too small. Perfect blade selection. Enjoy your new Companion! :thumbsup:
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I sure hope to.
It's a 2012 and appears unused, the more modern Buck made version don't look as nice as your ( Camillus made ? ) example but still nice.
 
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I love small knives. No matter what I'm carrying, I usually have at least one small knife with me, somewhere in the range between a Buck 305 Lancer and a Case Swayback Gent.
 
This thread reminds me of how much I miss Spanky and the little rascals.

as far as small knives are concerned I thought the 110 was a small knife. It’s the smallest I carry.
 
TAH, thanks for starting this topic and the lead in. I'm not against a large locking folder, especially for our military, law enforcement and saving lives like a Fireman. But for my use the 500 Duke is as small as I go and that is when I'm attending a dressed up occasion. For everyday work around my farm I'll carry my Buck Trapper. The blades don't lock and I don't care. It will dress a quail, castrate a goat or prune limbs and cut up my lunch apple. Plus many more chores I need to do during my work day. It doesn't have the latest, greatest steel, one hand opening feature or a whiz bang assisted opening pivot but it's all I need with good blade shapes. Just so you know, I smile when someone calls me 'retro'. DM
Trapper3.jpg
 
Thanks for the post, David. That trapper is so good looking. Don't get me wrong, larger knives than the 309 certainly have their place. I still grab my 110 and 301 all of the time for heavier work. However, the 309 is so light and easy to carry, it's the one I have on me the most, so I end up finding a way to make it work.
 
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