Summer of One, a traditional edc challenge

As long as the knife is sharp I don't see it as much of a challenge plus living with one knife isn't the end of the world, just saying'. :p
 
csisland said:
As long as the knife is sharp I don't see it as much of a challenge plus living with one knife isn't the end of the world, just saying'. :p
Click to expand...

Traditionals are old school. And what could be more old school than using one traditional knife every day for a period of time. The more I think about it, the more I like the idea.
 
I may jump in on the challenge, but since I'm down to just a few knives anyways, it may not be much of a challenge. Ever since Dan gifted me the very light pull Northwoods, it's been in my pocket. It's heavier than my peanut and similar size knives, but my arthritic fingers can deal with it easy. It may become my new edc. As much as I like Opinel's and my resolza, it feels like coming home to a stockman pattern, since that is what I carried most of my life. Having a couple blades on tap in one package is nice.
14326127061_b1343f8a61_c.jpg
 
Back at the turn of the new year a few folks around here did the same thing. Back then I scoffed like a few here and said to myself that I could never do such a thing right now. But like all things knives or not, my thinking has evolved and I am more interested in learning something then just carrying my favorite knife just because. Like maybe a few here I feel like I am constantly on a seemingly never ending search for "The One". I do not have any money really to collect anything in my life. I have a young family and the small discretionary funds I get do go to this obsession of mine. Lately I have had the itch to start making knives and have started a fixed blade. As part of this phase I am questioning things differently and trying to step out of my comfort zone. I have to admit that I have become a wharncliffe-a-holic and grown to not even look at knives that don't have one or at least some kind of straight blade. I have openly admitted an almost hatred of pen blades because I just don't see them being any more useful then a small coping blade. Part of me wants to make myself carry a knife without any straight blades for the summer to truly find the strengths and weaknesses in comparison. I have also been debating on carrying a smaller stockman or whittler pattern because I just never carry 3 blade knives anymore. I think at this point I can say one thing for certain about my pick for the summer. It will not be something I currently own.
 
" I think at this point I can say one thing for certain about my pick for the summer. It will not be something I currently own."
Sounds like a perfect reason to buy a new knife to me.
Just got in today a #66 slim pen & I think I will join you for the summer & carry only it. I am sure it will handle any task that I
need to do.

George
 
Summer of one challenge accepted! I will be carrying my SAK Camping model (hope it's traditional Knarfeng:p) with an opinel no.8 as my secondary if required. Both knives are two-two and a half weeks in my possession from brand new. I look forward to the prospect of streamlining my carry habits.:)
 
I carried the same folder for 12 yrs because I liked it. Not a traditional so that's all I'll say about that. For over 2 years now I've been carrying a black delrin Case Peanut. For the first 30 days I carried nothing but the peanut and didn't really find it lacking for my EDC chores. It's stayed as an EDC since. Now I've bought a few more Peanuts and for different occasions. I may carry a bone handle in one of the various colors I've picked up. But I always have a Peanut in my pocket. I may carry a modern knife as well, but the Peanut is there and it's safe to say it's used the most. Where I work I can't carry a larger knife so Mon-Fri I only carry a Peanut. I have an EDC bag that holds my cell phone that also has a SAK in it. We can't have phones in the open in the office so my little bag (not much bigger than my phone) is also an EDC. But the Peanut is in my pocket. So, carrying one knife for an extended period of time shouldn't be a problem.
Good luck to all that choose to take the challenge. If you're like me, you'll find that whatever traditional you decide on will be a trusted tool, worry stone, and you'll like grow very attached to it.
Carry it, use it and enjoy it.
I've even purchased a couple of Peanuts that only get carried on special occasions where I may wants dressier or something. Weddings, a date, and that kind of thing. After carrying the black Peanut for so long, I can look at it and see every scratch, ding and scar and remember what, when and wear they happened. It's like carrying your own history book. :)
 
Last edited:
Paradiggum said:
I carried the same folder for 12 yrs because I liked it. Not a traditional so that's all I'll say about that. For over 2 years now I've been carrying a black delrin Case Peanut. For the first 30 days I carried nothing but the peanut and didn't really find it lacking for my EDC chores. It's stayed as an EDC since. Now I've bought a few more Peanuts and for different occasions. I may carry a bone handle in one of the various colors I've picked up. But I always have a Peanut in my pocket. I may carry a modern knife as well, but the Peanut is there and it's safe to say it's used the most. Where I work I can't carry a larger knife so Mon-Fri I only carry a Peanut. I have an EDC bag that holds my cell phone that also has a SAK in it. We can't have phones in the open in the office so my little bag (not much bigger than my phone) is also an EDC. But the Peanut is in my pocket. So, carrying one knife for an extended period of time shouldn't be a problem.
Good luck to all that choose to take the challenge. If you're like me, you'll find that whatever traditional you decide on will be a trusted tool, worry stone, and you'll like grow very attached to it.
Carry it, use it and enjoy it.
I've even purchased a couple of Peanuts that only get carried on special occasions where I may wants dressier or something. Weddings, a date, and that kind of thing. After carrying the black Peanut for so long, I can look at it and see every scratch, ding and scar and remember what, when and wear they happened. It's like carrying your own history book. :)
Click to expand...

I really enjoy reading these types of accounts. More and more I've been leaning towards simplifying things in life. I know in my "Case", since my yellow Peanut arrived in the mailbox about 7 weeks ago it's not once been out of my pocket or been out of arm's reach. I use it multiple times a day and love this little wonder more and more. It's always the #2 in my two-knife EDC.

D5B75BDF-9DD7-411B-8A47-39E4B0B7B22B_zpsbufzjs6t.jpg
 
Last edited:
knarfeng said:
I carried the same knife every day for years when I was a young man. So, been there. Done that.
Click to expand...

I am sure this will be a fun thread, but been there done that like you, Frank. I have the last surviving work knife that I bought as a young tradesman and it looks like I carried it without a break for 20 years, not ten. At first I carried it all the time because I had no money for a new knife, but liked it so much (a large 4" CASE copperhead clip/pen) that I kept it in the pocket long after I could afford another.

Nowadays, it still feels just a tiny bit luxurious to go to the drawer and change out the knife I am carrying every once in a while. It is in the mid 90s here in South Texas now, so the carbon knives go back in the box till Fall. My sweaty self has really grown to love stainless and D2 over the last few years.

It is fun going through the stainless folders to find the right traditionals to make the summer in my pocket. Every turn of the season makes me rediscover my favorites again.

Robert
 
Last edited:
I'm a teacher so I have my summer off, which I plan to spend in the woods. I will be working on my family's tree farm, and had already planned to carry a Case large stockman. I may also carry a variety of belt knives as secondaries, but the stockman will be with me always. I must confess though, I almost always carry a medium stockman throughout the year, so I don't think this challenge will be too tough for me. I've always found the challenge of putting my favorite knife away to carry a new one is tougher for me.
 
Someone started a similar challenge last year, about September or October I think. It was a three knives only for three months. I struggled with that one so I'll stay clear of this.

I like to mix it up too much ;)
 
1 week to go and I have it down to 2 knives. Problem is one of them is not available just yet...

First is the single spring 79, stole this pic from Lambertiana



Next up is the almost released Dixie Stock knife


Very tough for me to choose. I have the three spring 79 and it is a great knife, just overly beefy for every day. The single spring has a great blade combo and its slim package and shorter frame appeal to me over the Dixie 82. I have spent months only carrying single spring wharncliffes and the idea of going back to a full size stockman and pocketing that beast for everything is something for me to consider. Just hard to overlook how sleek the 82 is and the great combo of blades it provides. Decisions, decisions.....
 
Good luck, Jeff. I like switching them up too much, although two of my customs get most of the pocket time.
 
Thanks Trey. I like to switch them around as well. I will likely go back to swapping out my carry afterwords. Sometimes its nice to think about other things and this summer my focus will be on other things. Maybe I wont make it a week, not like I lose anything for trying :)
 
I hear you, Jeff. It's easy to get caught up in the knife thing too much. They are more enjoyable as a hobby than an obsession. I read things - people ruminating or arguing over knives and knife issues, and I think 'chill out, they're just knives!'.
 
If you're only going to carry one knife for the summer, why not carry a knife that one would carry life long? I've been there, liked the journey, so no need to stop now....

 
Certainly a fine line between hobby and obsession. This is my way of centering it all I guess :)

Vet68, beautiful Pioneer Alox! I have a farmer that I received last year for fathers day and just rarely use it. I prefer carbon steel these days for one. I carried it with me for the first month or so and just never used anything but the blade after the first few days. The saw blade cuts sheetrock well but very slow compared to my vibrating saw. The screw driver works great but I have a screw gun less than 10 paces away at work(not to mention most screws I deal with are Philips tipped). The awl never got used and neither did the can opener. My tool box is streamlined from years of use and goes with me into every house. Even in the shop the full size tools are near by and I just never used it. I have contemplated an electrician or bantom purchase but never pull the trigger. The farmer now resides in my daypack and is the only tool I have with me when I go on day hikes with the family. The spear blade is great for picnics :)

Well Fausto, if I cast my vote the other direction then I would have a draw.....maybe option 3 is in order? lol :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top