Bigbluefish
Gold Member
- Joined
- Aug 19, 2009
- Messages
- 725
I recently posted in that "Man/Groovy Chick" list your knives thread the state of my present collection. Then I took stock of the number of knives I presently have, and thought about the time I spend actually cutting something with them. Not including, of course, kitchen knives, which see quite a bit of daily use.
And I wondered if maybe I am going a bit overboard with the whole knife thing? Not in the sense that I can't afford it, my kid is still getting fed and I haven't missed a mortgage payment. But just in the broader "what's the point?" sense.
Yesterday, just for an example: I used my pocket knife of the day, a Spider Monkey, to open a bag a cashews. The knife in my other pocket, a SAK Alox pioneer, did not get used at all that day.
That's it.
Not unusual, at all.
At present, I have the following knives.
Fixed
Buck 105
ESEE IZULA
Fallkniven Kolt
Folders:
Al Mar Nomad
Fallkniven U2
HK Mini Axis
HK Nitrous Blitz
Southern Grind Spider Monkey (inbound)
Spyderco Worker
SAKS
Vic Alox Silver Pioneer
Traditionals
Case Purple Haze Slim Trapper
GEC Ebony #15 Beer Scout
GEC Smooth Ivory Bone #15 Beer Scout
GEC Nitebrite 15 Boy's Knife
GEC Green Camel Bone #63 Mako
GEC Ebony 66 Calf Roper Slim
GEC Smooth Ivory Bone #77 Barlow
Of the fixed blades, the Buck 105 gets carried for maybe 3 days each year, and actually gets used (field dressing, skinning and butchering deer) for maybe a few hours a year. The Izula goes hiking and/or camping with me maybe 2 or 3 days per year, but so far hasn't done much other than cut some feather sticks for starting fires and opening some food packaging material. The Kolt I haven't had that long, but it's only ridden around in my jeans pocket on a few Saturdays, but never had the need to cut anything.
The folders are all pretty much EDC blades, and I'll have one or the other on me, law permitting, at any given time. I would say though that I probably actually cut something, usually packaging material, or one form or another while at work or out for lunch, maybe once or twice a day. And once a week or so, I'll slice up some cardboard boxes at work and/or home, and cart them off to the dumpster.
The HK Mini Axis did come car camping with me the past weekend, and feathered some sticks (not very well, I might add), opened bags. And sliced some steak, as did the SAK pioneer.
I generally carry the SAK or one of my traditionals with me in addition to one of the modern folders, to use if I'm in a situation where using the larger knife would not be appreciated.
However, I have yet to encounter that situation.
Of all my traditionals, in fact, the two that get used the most are the little Case Slimline Trapper and the GEC Nitebrite 15, and those only at home to again...open packaging materials. I do use the Beer Scouts to open beer at home, and take them with my to parties/barbecues/picnics/family gathering for the same purposes for the past year where they have opened, maybe, one-dozen bottles all told, and sliced some cheese. The others I've carried with some frequency, but never actually used.
So, point being, I have 17 knives. As you can see, It's not like I'm out there constantly slicing and dicing things. I don't use a knife routinely as part of my job. I'm not wandering the woods on a regular basis. I'm not in the military or an LEO; I don't have need for an edged weapon. In all honesty, I could probably get by with the 105 and the SAK. If it weren't for deer hunting, I could probably go with the SAK and the Izula.
But after the camping trip, I've been thinking that 1. obviously, I should have brought the Izula instead of the HK Mini Axis; but also 2. I should get a Rat 1 for the camp chores, and maybe a maybe a (or 2, since my wife has to eat as well) Boker Urban Trapper or Kizer Begleiter which would make far better steak knives than the Mini Axis and SAK.
Why am I thinking about getting one or two more knives that objectively, I do not need? I can't just blame it on the internet. (Though my wife might.)
I am also considering getting a Mantra 2 for wear with a suit, since the Worker is pretty obvious in the pocket, knives really don't look appropriate with business attire, but clipless pocket knives in loose fitting dress slacks are generally not going to be in your pocket very long. Oh sure, the Urban trapper could go in the suit to work, but that really should stay with the camping gear, and besides, the Mantra 2 is really a nicer knife, more appropriate for dressier wear...
Another excuse for another knife.
Way back in the day, between college and grad school, I worked in a nursery, carried two knives, a SAK Spartan and Schrade Sharpfinger, and used them every day, for all sorts of things. And I had a filet knife I took fishing with me, along with the SAK. And the Sharpfinger went hiking and camping, along with the SAK.
Came time I lost the SAK. So, I got another SAK.
I didn't think I really needed another knife. I didn't even think about thinking whether I needed another knife.
Now, a quarter century or more later, maybe I'll cut open a bag or box during the day. Or slice a block of cheese. But now I have 17 knives.
And I want to get a Spyderco Pattada or a Benchmade 710. Do I need either of these?
Of course not. They're both a bit large for EDC, though still legal in my jurisdiction. I am certainly not a knife fighter. But, dang, they are nice. And I'm sure I'd be happy with either clipped in my jeans on the weekend. Might scare the crap out of anyone if I ever took one out do anything, though.
It's not really the same as the gun thing. I neither expect nor intend to be doing had-to-hand combat with my U2 or even my Spider Monkey. I'll have a 638 or a G42 or P32 with me likely as not. Again, law permitting. So why is it so important to have the knife?
There are a couple of layers to this. The first is, not only are most people not knife-knuts, they aren't even in the slightest bit aware of knives, beyond their own kitchens. The vast majority of my friends don't even carry a SAK. Ever. How do you go through life without a knife? These are the same people who will routinely go out at night without flashlights, either. Honestly, I don't get it. At least, they've all got their cellphones, without fail.
But beyond that, as said, I could probably get through life with my SAK and my Izula. But, where would be the fun in that? There's some value, some happiness gained by using, or more accurately carrying and having available for use, knives that we just like.
I get it: I like knives. I do. I get the warm fuzzies popping a bottle of beer with my Beer Scout rather than a kitchen can opener. Or slicing a summer sausage at lunchtime with my Nomad instead of some plastic facsimile of a knife from the office kitchen. Or breaking down a box with the Worker rather than a box-cutter. I like just having my Mako or 77 Barlow in my pocket, even if they don't get used.
You probably get it, too. My question is...why? What is it we see that, well, non-knife people don't? Why is this somehow, important to us?
Why am I happy to have 17 knives when 2 will do?
And I wondered if maybe I am going a bit overboard with the whole knife thing? Not in the sense that I can't afford it, my kid is still getting fed and I haven't missed a mortgage payment. But just in the broader "what's the point?" sense.
Yesterday, just for an example: I used my pocket knife of the day, a Spider Monkey, to open a bag a cashews. The knife in my other pocket, a SAK Alox pioneer, did not get used at all that day.
That's it.
Not unusual, at all.
At present, I have the following knives.
Fixed
Buck 105
ESEE IZULA
Fallkniven Kolt
Folders:
Al Mar Nomad
Fallkniven U2
HK Mini Axis
HK Nitrous Blitz
Southern Grind Spider Monkey (inbound)
Spyderco Worker
SAKS
Vic Alox Silver Pioneer
Traditionals
Case Purple Haze Slim Trapper
GEC Ebony #15 Beer Scout
GEC Smooth Ivory Bone #15 Beer Scout
GEC Nitebrite 15 Boy's Knife
GEC Green Camel Bone #63 Mako
GEC Ebony 66 Calf Roper Slim
GEC Smooth Ivory Bone #77 Barlow
Of the fixed blades, the Buck 105 gets carried for maybe 3 days each year, and actually gets used (field dressing, skinning and butchering deer) for maybe a few hours a year. The Izula goes hiking and/or camping with me maybe 2 or 3 days per year, but so far hasn't done much other than cut some feather sticks for starting fires and opening some food packaging material. The Kolt I haven't had that long, but it's only ridden around in my jeans pocket on a few Saturdays, but never had the need to cut anything.
The folders are all pretty much EDC blades, and I'll have one or the other on me, law permitting, at any given time. I would say though that I probably actually cut something, usually packaging material, or one form or another while at work or out for lunch, maybe once or twice a day. And once a week or so, I'll slice up some cardboard boxes at work and/or home, and cart them off to the dumpster.
The HK Mini Axis did come car camping with me the past weekend, and feathered some sticks (not very well, I might add), opened bags. And sliced some steak, as did the SAK pioneer.
I generally carry the SAK or one of my traditionals with me in addition to one of the modern folders, to use if I'm in a situation where using the larger knife would not be appreciated.
However, I have yet to encounter that situation.
Of all my traditionals, in fact, the two that get used the most are the little Case Slimline Trapper and the GEC Nitebrite 15, and those only at home to again...open packaging materials. I do use the Beer Scouts to open beer at home, and take them with my to parties/barbecues/picnics/family gathering for the same purposes for the past year where they have opened, maybe, one-dozen bottles all told, and sliced some cheese. The others I've carried with some frequency, but never actually used.
So, point being, I have 17 knives. As you can see, It's not like I'm out there constantly slicing and dicing things. I don't use a knife routinely as part of my job. I'm not wandering the woods on a regular basis. I'm not in the military or an LEO; I don't have need for an edged weapon. In all honesty, I could probably get by with the 105 and the SAK. If it weren't for deer hunting, I could probably go with the SAK and the Izula.
But after the camping trip, I've been thinking that 1. obviously, I should have brought the Izula instead of the HK Mini Axis; but also 2. I should get a Rat 1 for the camp chores, and maybe a maybe a (or 2, since my wife has to eat as well) Boker Urban Trapper or Kizer Begleiter which would make far better steak knives than the Mini Axis and SAK.
Why am I thinking about getting one or two more knives that objectively, I do not need? I can't just blame it on the internet. (Though my wife might.)
I am also considering getting a Mantra 2 for wear with a suit, since the Worker is pretty obvious in the pocket, knives really don't look appropriate with business attire, but clipless pocket knives in loose fitting dress slacks are generally not going to be in your pocket very long. Oh sure, the Urban trapper could go in the suit to work, but that really should stay with the camping gear, and besides, the Mantra 2 is really a nicer knife, more appropriate for dressier wear...
Another excuse for another knife.
Way back in the day, between college and grad school, I worked in a nursery, carried two knives, a SAK Spartan and Schrade Sharpfinger, and used them every day, for all sorts of things. And I had a filet knife I took fishing with me, along with the SAK. And the Sharpfinger went hiking and camping, along with the SAK.
Came time I lost the SAK. So, I got another SAK.
I didn't think I really needed another knife. I didn't even think about thinking whether I needed another knife.
Now, a quarter century or more later, maybe I'll cut open a bag or box during the day. Or slice a block of cheese. But now I have 17 knives.
And I want to get a Spyderco Pattada or a Benchmade 710. Do I need either of these?
Of course not. They're both a bit large for EDC, though still legal in my jurisdiction. I am certainly not a knife fighter. But, dang, they are nice. And I'm sure I'd be happy with either clipped in my jeans on the weekend. Might scare the crap out of anyone if I ever took one out do anything, though.
It's not really the same as the gun thing. I neither expect nor intend to be doing had-to-hand combat with my U2 or even my Spider Monkey. I'll have a 638 or a G42 or P32 with me likely as not. Again, law permitting. So why is it so important to have the knife?
There are a couple of layers to this. The first is, not only are most people not knife-knuts, they aren't even in the slightest bit aware of knives, beyond their own kitchens. The vast majority of my friends don't even carry a SAK. Ever. How do you go through life without a knife? These are the same people who will routinely go out at night without flashlights, either. Honestly, I don't get it. At least, they've all got their cellphones, without fail.
But beyond that, as said, I could probably get through life with my SAK and my Izula. But, where would be the fun in that? There's some value, some happiness gained by using, or more accurately carrying and having available for use, knives that we just like.
I get it: I like knives. I do. I get the warm fuzzies popping a bottle of beer with my Beer Scout rather than a kitchen can opener. Or slicing a summer sausage at lunchtime with my Nomad instead of some plastic facsimile of a knife from the office kitchen. Or breaking down a box with the Worker rather than a box-cutter. I like just having my Mako or 77 Barlow in my pocket, even if they don't get used.
You probably get it, too. My question is...why? What is it we see that, well, non-knife people don't? Why is this somehow, important to us?
Why am I happy to have 17 knives when 2 will do?
I use most of them throughout the coarse of a year. I cut things every day, sometimes all day long dependin' on what I'm doin'.
