That time when I used 1 knife for almost 10 days

[Boattale]

My friends invited me to their vacation house on an island.

They just bought it, it's pretty much in nature and they possibly needed to do some stuff there as they didn't know if previous owner even left them furniture.

My initial plan was to take my Warcraft tanto, ESEE 3 and either Boker GoBag or Viper Berus 1.

But things don't always go as planned, and I did pack in my Warcraft, but I also took it out to add some more things (it was in the way), and then I forgot to put it back in my luggage.
And I also woke up late so I forgot to just toss a smaller knife in my pocket before I left.


So, all I had was ESEE 3 and Fallkniven DC4 pocket sharpener.


I used this knife for everything, it didn't leave my pocket. I was opening food with it, prepping food with it, I even used it to spread pate or cheese on my bread as they only had plastic knives there. I also took it on our camping, I used it to cut fishing strings, cords, rope, clean and prep fish for cooking or grilling... and I used it to cut my food too.

Out of 6 people, only I had a knife, unless you count box cutters, leatherman and SAK's. They had few box cutters, one guy had a leatherman, one girl and one other guy had Victorinox SAK. I had an ESEE.

So, yes, it can be done.

Handle is comfortable, edge retention is more than good enough, and I didn't even have corrosion issues. Few swipes on a stone that I'd do anyways to sharpen the blade - and staining is gone. Finger choil is also suprisingly helpful for some tasks.

It is small enough and big enough at the same time, it's full flat grind and thin enough to be amazing slicer (it would definitely glide through food better if there was no coating). It is also tough enough for wood processing.

That's a well rounded knife.
Comfortable to use, good edge retention and really easy to sharpen once it does get dull, nice ergonomics and good blade geometry, and blade size is just right there to make it versatile.

I'll also probably get a SAK myself, but I kinda keep delaying that purchase, and even I don't know why.

Also, Fallkniven DC4 is also a great pocket sharpener. It's compact and very simple to use. It also won't ruin your edge as "pull through" sharpeners that they're using. I didn't want those things even near my ESEE.

I recently spent a week in Islamorada with wife and another couple. The only decent knife available was my Kabar Dozier Design Folding Hunter that was in my checked bag. Broke down a two rib bone in ribeye with it, chopped everything for salads, used it for steak knife, sliced limes, apples etc. Next time I go on vacation, something a little larger will come along too. Probably a Buck 119 and a filet knife of some sort, most likely an old birch handled Rapala. Love those things.

 

[jackknife]

I recently spent a week in Islamorada with wife and another couple. The only decent knife available was my Kabar Dozier Design Folding Hunter that was in my checked bag. Broke down a two rib bone in ribeye with it, chopped everything for salads, used it for steak knife, sliced limes, apples etc. Next time I go on vacation, something a little larger will come along too. Probably a Buck 119 and a filet knife of some sort, most likely an old birch handled Rapala. Love those things.

Those old Rapala's are great kitchen knives!

They slice up veggies like magic, and they make short work of meat and fish.

 

[James Y]

I carried a Victorinox Spartan SAK as my only knife for 12 years, until the late '90s. I still often carry a Spartan, in addition to whatever else I might be carrying.

I've been carrying the same Victorinox Executive SAK every day since 1999. Often paired up with the Spartan in another pocket, and a Spyderco of my choice clipped to my RF pocket.

Jim

 

[crzyhorse]

I've been carrying a Spyderco Military daily for the last 25 years and except for worry about blade length laws when I travel it would be perfect for everything. I've used it for anything you would use a knife for. Cleaning rabbits, cutting food, opening boxes, opening packages, slicing bagels and spreading cream cheese, preparing meals, you name it.

Of course I'm not carrying the same one for that time period, as my first one with ATS-34 got lost in a river, my second one in S30v got the tip snapped off when I leant it to someone who used it to pry with, my third one with BG-42 got stolen (along with my car when I left it in the car to go in a nightclub). I still have the fourth one and all the rest I bought after when a new run in a new steel would come out.

For travel I bought a Spyderco Cat with a 2.5" blade in 440c. It was small enough it should be legal most places in the states and cheap enough I won't be too upset if I had to leave it behind or it got lost or stolen.