Summer of One, a traditional edc challenge

rockgolfer

rockgolfer

Joined
Mar 1, 2008
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The official start of Summer in the US is June 21st, a Saturday. I am planning on carrying one knife this summer to do a little more experimenting with what I like and prefer or rather, to test those boundaries :). I will start some comparisons and show y'all what knives I'm considering for the job in a week or so. Might even have some little competition that I will document to decide which one I carry :). If anyone else wants to impose a "Summer of one" on themselves by all means, join in :thumbup: I am most interested in others experiences and hope one or two of you come along for the ride :D.

As far as rules go I see only one needed. The knife you pick has to be with you every day. I may decide to carry a second knife for the entire summer or I may say no to any companion at all. For me, the end of summer will be the day my kids go back to school. Not sure what that day is right now but it is usually around the end of August or so.

Looking forward to reading anyone else's experiences with this little self imposed challenge :)
 
Jeff,
I'm totally convinced that, whatever knife you will choose, you will be more than fine, cause switching knives in my opinion has alot to do with taste, passion, and itch, more than actual use. Using the same knife for the whole summer is quite easy for me, since basically I only carry one knife and let it rest at home so that the other knives I own get some fresh air :)
As for you, and even before you submit your contestants, my vote goes for your Oeser...for the reason that I will be carrying mine :rolleyes:
Enjoy your sharp summer!

Fausto
:cool:
 
Fausto, I know you are 100% correct :). Can anyone ever go wrong having an Oeser in their pocket? When you said "switching knives in my opinion has alot to do with taste, passion, and itch, more than actual use" I couldn't agree more. I have been looking back at all "the one's" I have had the pleasure of using and realized that I am sure the eye is what wants something different most of the time. My hand can adapt to most handles. My technique can compensate for belly or lack of its presence. My motivation for the experiment is more to take a break from looking for new knives. I have had a store credit for about a month and I just cant pull the trigger on anything. This is telling me something and I am starting to listen to myself.
 
...and listening to yourself will be great. :)
I have found out that carrying a single knife for months does help alot to understand what our "priorities" are, while changing everyday sometimes doesn't. As for everything, it's a matter of choice and taste. Personally, I realized that I feel more comfortable with one knife (or two) in my rotation (if we can call it a rotation anyway), and I got closer to our ancestors' way of only having one knife.
I do like to change from time to time, and feel the lure of buying something new, but it doesn't bother me the least if I don't get anything new, nor if the same knife rides in my pocket day by day.
Anyway, I'm not the only one voting here :p so please let us know what the other contestants are :D

Fausto
:cool:
 
I wouldn't mind giving it a go, this would be my prime candidate. :)

eql3Gds.jpg
 
I think it is an interesting challenge and I look forward to your updates. However, this is just not practical for me as I am
extremely limited to what I can carry during the week at work. At night and on the weekends I prefer to carry a larger
knife.
 
I salute your willpower!! :thumbup:

I will be doing the Summer of One Hundred challenge...like always.
 
Jeff I can't imagine you going the whole summer without your #55 hoondstooth. :eek: Keep us updated friend. :)
 
I carried the same knife every day for years when I was a young man. So, been there. Done that.
 
I'm with SAK Guy on this one. I don't think I could choose one to carry every day. I'll be interested to see which knife you select.

And, if I get the itch to take the challenge, it will be this one:

 
Like Frank, when younger and much poorer, I carried the same knife every day for well over a decade, as it was the only pocket knife I owned. I think in the last 3 years or so, the longest I've carried a single knife is about 2 weeks. I have too many calling to me now to stay with just one.
 
Well I won't carry only one. When I go to gym after work, I wear gym pants and my traditionals fall out of that pocket too easy. So those days, it's a clipped knife. I do, however, only have two that I carry of my collection. The rest are pretty much not carried. I've thought about selling some but I like them too much!

My daily when not in gym shorts or pants is my TA Davison #1054 in ATS-34 and orange g10


I know it's not a traditional but my clipped on is a carbon shirogorov hati in Elmax
 
Please keep the images and discussions about non traditional knives out of the traditional forum.
 
I wish you luck. I tried something similar last Fall and failed miserably. I just have to many that I like to stick with one for long.

Jim
 
I have way to many favorites & there is no way I'd make it even a week without changing things up. Plus June 21st is the day I'm marrying my best friend & for our honeymoon we will be staying a few days in Portland, OR & she has already agreed we are stopping by the KSF store to pick me out a honeymoon knife. I will want to carry that one right away I'm sure so wouldn't even make it 2 days into the challenge. :)
 
Good luck on your challenge. I must admit, I never understood the desire to become a one knife man. It's true that our grandfathers, by-and-large, only had a knife. They also didn't spend their free hours on a website dedicated to cutlery enthusiasts.

Strangely enough, I actually have an EDC, a single blade GEC #73. I never sought to make it an EDC though. I liked having a selection of knives. But the 73 was a Father's Day present. At first I carried it out of sentiment; I wanted to show appreciation for the thoughtful gift my little girl gave me. Eventually I became attached to the stag handled beauty. I started to prefer it over my other knives. After a while I stopped reaching for my other knives altogether.

Here's the rub. Although the 73 is in my pocket every day, it's not the only knife I carry. I supplement it with others as the situation warrants. At home when I change into shorts or sweats, I swap out my 73 for the lighter Charlow. On Sundays and more dressy occassions I'll choose an ivory handled swayback. When I go on day hikes with the family I'll add a puukko to my belt.

I guess I'm trying to say that there is no need to force the issue. Give it enough time and you'll probably discover your "EDC" naturally.

- Christian
 
I'm already carrying the same knife every day. I participated in a similar challenge that RSmith_77 started January 1st, where I only carried a Case Small Texas Jack and a Victorinox Alox Cadet. I stuck with it through early April, but then I found myself leaving the Case at home and only carrying the Victorinox Cadet. So that's been my only daily carry. It seems to do what I need.
 
rockgolfer said:
The official start of Summer in the US is June 21st, a Saturday. I am planning on carrying one knife this summer ... If anyone else wants to impose a "Summer of one" on themselves by all means, join in :thumbup: I am most interested in others experiences and hope one or two of you come along for the ride :D.

As far as rules go I see only one needed. The knife you pick has to be with you every day.
Click to expand...

I'm tempted to join up, since you included a caveat that other knives are okay, as long as the primary blade is on your person at all times (at least that's how I understood it). Just one would be too complicated for me this summer, however, as our family will be taking a mammoth vacation to the U.S. that will cover several states and everything from beach trips to amusement parks to museums to canoeing to (if everything works out) my first-ever hunting trip (hogs). Not saying my peanut wouldn't cover all those bases, but I'd prefer to be carrying a little extra cutting power, if only for my own enjoyment.

-- Mark
 
This GEC #73 Scout is my entry.



It has been with me since I opened the tube in which it was shipped. When at work, it will be supplemented by my Small Sebenza tanto that I use for boxes, but the Scout will stay with me. It has already helped with meals, opened mail, opened a pouch of ibuprofen, and brightened my day. It is a lot of knife in a small package, and I love the way the Pioneer Bone looks and feels.
 
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