The Coper legacy.

[jackknife]

On August 11th, K.Coper made his post about how he gave away most of his SAK's. I understood where he was coming from, as I had been heading in that direction for some years now. Over the past few decades I had been going more and more to a minimalist view, and cutting back on all things. Moving to Texas from Maryland was a humongous downsize going from a three level 2900 square foot 3 bedroom home to a one level two bedroom 1608 square foot little home. A lot of stuff went to Goodwill, Salvation Army, and the dump.

Since August, my main EDC has been the Leatherman squirt, and the Vic classic. Thats it. Once in a while I carry the Wenger SI if I am going to be doing home projects, or going over the sister in laws, to help with a book shelf or something. Once in a while the Christy knife gets dropped in a pocket for old times sake. If I'm fishing, the old Buck Woodsman is on the belt. But for life in and around Georgetown Texas, or on the road to and in Mission Viejo California, the classic handles most my cutting jobs as well as screwing, snipping, plucking, filing, or whatever. If the job is too much for the little classic, the squirt is used. I've come to really love the chisel grind on the squirt. And those little pliers are a Godsend for old fart fumble fingers.

I still feel it is very important to have a knife of some kind on me. But for me, it just doesn't have to be that big. The one time I had to use a knife to save a life, the semi sharp 1 3/4 inch sheep foot blade of a well worn Buck stockman cut through the seat belt just fine. In truth, I tried a classic on a piece if seat belt webbing and it did just fine too. Took maybe a few seconds longer.

Now here I am, a month and a half out of knee replacement surgery, and I'm limping about with some stiffness, but going fishing again, going for walks in the parks with my better half and dog, taking day trips, and getting by with my minimalist stuff. The classic deals with monofilament fishing line like a champ, cuts open plastic snack stuff for me and the dog as we sit by the river, opens all kinds of packages.

Its like, even though the whole knife thing faded for me as I got old, I still will never go without a knife of some kind on me. Never can tell when I may see another accident in front of me with someone trapped in an upside down car starting to burn and a seatbelt needs cutting. But I think of what my dad told me about a lifetime ago; "It doesn't have to be big, just sharp."

Thank you Mr. Coper, for the inspiration for the final step.

 

[redsparrow]

I'm in a boat similar to yours Jack... downsizing and all.
Except for me pocket knives are an enjoyable hobby.
So, I expect I'll continue in it, at least for the time being.
BTW, your Dad was so right, "It doesn't have to be big, just sharp."

 

[Jrgn]

J jackknife ‘K.Coper’ was last seen here on August12th of 2022. Before him, ‘Fass’ was last seen on October 27th 2021. You won’t ever see any more posts from those usernames again. That is because both ‘Fass’ and ‘K.Coper’ were in fact my former usernames

The former username was simply the first four letters of my surname. The latter was an anglicised take on my surname. I did change my e-mail address a couple of times and thus lost acces to those accounts.

I recently created a new BF account with username ‘Jrgn’. My real name is Jürgen and I live in the Netherlands.

Having said that, I’m honoured that I’ve inspired you! And as mentioned, I did gave away those SAK’s last year. I even did away with the Rambler and went back to the Classic SD fulltime.

Since September of 2022, the Classic has been my one and only ‘official’ everyday pocket knive. I really don’t use anything else but the little Classic. It’s either that or when really needed, full size tools like a real screwdriver or an old Stanley 199 for heavy duty cutting.
The only other SAK I do still own is still in the blister package that it came in. The reason I bought it was because I couldn’t pass the opportunity to buy a SAK in Switzerland when was there in August of 2022 as part of a road trip to southwestern Germany. So that’s just a nice souvenir that is not in use.

Very recently it did also buy a Case Peanut but returned it two days later because I did not see any advantage over the small SAK. That and because in hindsight, it was fairly expensive because you can’t easily buy Case knives in Europe. They’re sold at a premium and hard to find, even online.
So there you have it. Me and my Classic SD. Oh and nothing beats the SD tip for removing batteries from those flimsy Chinese made Christmas decorations with battery doors that have very small Philips screws.

- Jürgen -

 

[jackknife]

J jackknife ‘K.Coper’ was last seen here on August12th of 2022. Before him, ‘Fass’ was last seen on October 27th 2021. You won’t ever see any more posts from those usernames again. That is because both ‘Fass’ and ‘K.Coper’ were in fact my former usernames

The former username was simply the first four letters of my surname. The latter was an anglicised take on my surname. I did change my e-mail address a couple of times and thus lost acces to those accounts.

I recently created a new BF account with username ‘Jrgn’. My real name is Jürgen and I live in the Netherlands.

Having said that, I’m honoured that I’ve inspired you! And as mentioned, I did gave away those SAK’s last year. I even did away with the Rambler and went back to the Classic SD fulltime.

Since September of 2021, the Classic has been my one and only ‘official’ everyday pocket knive. I really don’t use anything else but the little Classic. It’s either that or when really needed, full size tools like a real screwdriver or an old Stanley 199 for heavy duty cutting.
The only other SAK I do still own is still in the blister package that it came in. The reason I bought it was because I couldn’t pass the opportunity to buy a SAK in Switzerland when was there in August of 2022 as part of a road trip to southwestern Germany. So that’s just a nice souvenir that is not in use.

Very recently it did also buy a Case Peanut but returned it two days later because I did not see any advantage over the small SAK. That and because in hindsight, it was fairly expensive because you can’t easily buy Case knives in Europe. They’re sold at a premium and hard to find, even online.
So there you have it. Me and my Classic SD. Oh and nothing beats the SD tip for removing batteries from those flimsy Chinese made Christmas decorations with battery doors that have very small Philips screws.

- Jürgen -

Wow, thank you, Jurgen!

I had been heading in the direction of a final downsize for some years. When I posted a lot on the traditional sub forum, I was carrying a Case peanut for a long time. It did all my cutting. BUT...I was still in search of simplifying my carry, and I saw no plus to carrying a peanut plus a multitool/SAK. The peanut was backed up by my SAK bantam or cadet, with a classic in a leather pouch sheath on my keyring. Since 1995 or so, the classic has become a regular carry thanks to the influence of my wife, Karen, in a round about way. I watched her. use and abuse a classic for a few months when she got one, and I did an experiment with a classic I had bought. If I needed to cut something or deal with a screw, I would deliberately go for the classic first to see if it would do it.

After a few months, I became a fan and devote of the teeny tiny itty bitty little SAK. it became a EDC regular. It even handled vacations in Key West just fine, cutting squid bait for fishing, cutting the golf ball size Key limes for a cold vodka tonic, cutting price tags off souvenir t-shirts and trip mementos, and of course slicing the end cap of a nice Dominican cigar after dinner of the fish we caught that day. At the end of the trip, the SAK was gifted off to the airport shuttle driver, or the young grounds keeper at the guest house we stay at. Once home, I'd just get a new classic at the big box store for the price of a chain restaurant lunch.

Little by little, downsize after downsize, a lot of my "other" knives went. They just didn't have the versatility of a SAK. For a walking around pocket knife in modern suburban America, I just don't need that much. Lighter pockets are good. Maximum Minimalism. Most times my EDC stuff is enough to get by. Even with the rolling blackouts we had the Winter of 2021 with the severe ice storm, the wife and I got by with just the little Fenix E01's we keep on our keyring. I carry a small monocular in my bag instead of binoculars, mini Bic lighter instead of a full size one to light my pipe or emergency candles in a pinch. I kept a real Stanley 99 by the recycle bin for breaking down boxes. This past holiday season, the classic did all the battery duty of Christmas lights. The classic SD tip is just the right size for those battery doors as you found out. Our whole Christmas was put up and taken down with a classic.

The month of December was spent laying low, recuperating from knee replacement surgery, and the wife had me doing a LOT of honey do things. Jewelry repair, fix her blow drier, fix some other things around the house that had been promising to fix. Between the classic and Leatherman squirt, I never needed by tool kit but once when I needed some vise grips for a plumbing job.

I no longer even own a non SAK but for one knife; an Eka small lock blade that my son-in-law gave me in 2014 for a birthday gift. I keep it around to use when he's here or Karen and I are visiting them in Mission Viejo, California. My son-in-law is proud of his Swedish roots, and it is a nice little knife, so there it is. The only other non SAK is my old Buck woodsman that I use as a fishing and woods walking knife. I don't feel like clogging up my SAK innards with fish guts.

Your post last August was the final influence on my last bit of downsize. It made me shed the last bit of inhibition and do a final downsize to just a few SAK's and my little Leatherman squirt. What you said made so much sense, and I just decided to go ahead and pull off the bandaid in a last stroke. It felt liberating. Thank you. Your post made me take the very last step I had been hesitating to take.

 

[Jrgn]

For a walking around pocket knife in modern suburban America, I just don't need that much. Lighter pockets are good. Maximum Minimalism. Most times my EDC stuff is enough to get by.

Same for me. Like I said, the final goodbye to the other SAK’s was in September of last year. I need some small sharp blade and some tool capabilities. The Classic is the knife that gives me exactly that, so why bother with larger or more expensive knives? It’s also a plus that it doesn’t freak out my fellow commuters when I use it on the subway. Pocket knives are simply something people are not used to in this country.

I do like to have a dedicated bottle opener on me, not because it is really a necessity, but because it is easier. Where I live, 99% of all bottled beer still comes with classic crown caps. The Classic has no bottle opener so I simply solved that problem by putting a Kershaw ‘Recap’ bottle opener on my keychain. It can also act as a little larger flathead driver and light pry tool. It is not larger or heavier than a standard key so it is a great solution for my ‘problem’ of the Classic SD not heaving a bottle opener.

My usual “walking aroud” carry is just my wallet, light keychain with Kershaw opener, some loose change and the Classic SD as a pocket knife, carried just loose in the right front pocket so I can access it easily. Many people put small SAK’s on their keychain but I never really understood that. Phone just goes in my backpack or is even left at home very frequently. This setup serves me well and covers all my needs.

 

[jackknife]

My usual “walking aroud” carry is just my wallet, light keychain with Kershaw opener, some loose change and the Classic SD as a pocket knife, carried just loose in the right front pocket so I can access it easily. Many people put small SAK’s on their keychain but I never really understood that. Phone just goes in my backpack or is even left at home very frequently. This setup serves me well and covers all my needs.

No small flashlight?

I don't know how many times my little Fenix has been a huge help. Looking for something dropped in the car,(black interior with window tinted against the Texas sun, looking for the keyhole at night, Looking for something in the back of the closet, finding the way to the circuit breaker box when something tripped a switch, Finding something small dropped on the floor by turning out the light and shining the flashlight around at floor level. Even a small screw will stand out like a bill board.

 

[Jrgn]

No small flashlight?

No, but I am considering one. I do happen to walk a lot and this time of year, it’s a lot of walking after sunset.

 

[jackknife]

No, but I am considering one. I do happen to walk a lot and this time of year, it’s a lot of walking after sunset.

I've found that the addition of a small single AAA cell flashlight is not a hindrance. As long as I've been alive, its got dark every night. Not often, but enough, a small flashlight has been a very good thing. Tripping over a tree root on a dark path is unpleasant, as is finding that first step in the stairwell in a building power outage.

The two items I consider most important to my daily routine is, my Vic classic, and Fenix E01. A while back I thought my E01 was lost as it came off my keyring. I ordered the Fenix that replaced it, the Eo1.02 or something like that. It ha three settings to the old E01's one, and on low has an even longer insane runtime. I think it was all of 12.95 dollars. Great little light.

 

[Jrgn]

The two items I consider most important to my daily routine is, my Vic classic, and Fenix E01.

The Fenix light you mention seems interesting and the price seems right as well. Is the output enough for seeing what is on the pavement in front of you at night ?

 

[Rsmith_77]

I think the Eo1 is discontinued
You have to settle for the EO2 now

 

[jackknife]

The Fenix light you mention seems interesting and the price seems right as well. Is the output enough for seeing what is on the pavement in front of you at night ?

Yes.

The replacement of the E01, is the E01 v2.0, and I didn't think I was going to like the variable power as much as I do. My E01 is now retired to the sock drawer, and the E01 v2.0 is on my keyring.

On my last dog walk of the night, about 10 to 11pm, it has more than enough power to see the sidewalk in front of my feet on the low setting. When you twist it on, it comes on the low setting first, and its a decent amount of light, but not enough to mess up your night vision. Run time on low is insane.

If you need more light, its available, but on high, the 100 lumens setting, run time is less than an hour on a new battery. I very rarely use the high not because ti chew up juice, but its simply not needed.

I have a night-exe s-biner on the light so it can be quickly detached from the keyring. At night I clip it to the pocket of t-shirt I sleep in so if I need to get up in the middle of night, I don't have to turn on any light and wake up the wife. I can go let the dog out, or if I can't sleep, just see myself out to the back patio for a pipe smoke and let the dog explore the yard. I can go back to bed in a while and not trip over anything or walk into a door frame. I cup the light in my hand so's not to wake the wife.

The small light is like the classic, small enough to be always on you. Like I said, it gets dark every night. and as a senior citizen old fart, my night vision is not real great. A little light can be a good thing.

 

[Rich S]

I always have my beloved Tinker in my pocket and a Fenix E02 on my keyring. Plenty of light for short distances.

 

[SteeleJ1976]

Tinker, Classic SD, and a rechargeable Streamlight Microstream are what I EDC. I went 40 some years without any of them and did just fine but I do love the Tinker and can't see going back to not carrying some type of knife\multitool and flashlight because they come in so dang handy when you least suspect it.

 

[Enkrig]

Many people put small SAK’s on their keychain but I never really understood that.

I keep a small flashlight and a Victorinox Manager (i.e., Rambler with pen) in the keychain always. This way whenever I go out the door I am prepared. I usually carry another SAK or folding knife and, depending on the circumstances, a full size flashlight as the main tools. But, even if I forget either of those, I'm covered. The "2 is 1" mentality...

 

[jackknife]

I keep a small flashlight and a Victorinox Manager (i.e., Rambler with pen) in the keychain always. This way whenever I go out the door I am prepared. I usually carry another SAK or folding knife and, depending on the circumstances, a full size flashlight as the main tools. But, even if I forget either of those, I'm covered. The "2 is 1" mentality...

That was my original thought on it; if its on my keyring, then I can't leave home without it. I don't like using tools on a keychain, so I have it so they are either on a fast release clip of some kind like a Nite-Eze S-biner, or other Rudy to release fastener. Or in the case of my classic, a snug fitting leather pouch sheath that is mounted on the keyring so the classic can just be pulled right out of the sheath and put to use.

Theres a few very small items also in the zipper compartment of my Eagle Creek tri fold wallet. So if I have my wallet and keyring, I'm equipped for most common day stuff.

 

[Jrgn]

Theres a few very small items also in the zipper compartment of my Eagle Creek tri fold wallet.

I forgot those. In my wallet there’s always a folded A4 piece of copy paper, just to write things down when needed. And I also forgot to mention the cheap BIC click pen or sometimes just a pencil that rides along. I mostly prefer a pencil because it always writes and won’t leak.

 

[Enkrig]

That was my original thought on it; if its on my keyring, then I can't leave home without it. I don't like using tools on a keychain, so I have it so they are either on a fast release clip of some kind like a Nite-Eze S-biner, or other Rudy to release fastener. Or in the case of my classic, a snug fitting leather pouch sheath that is mounted on the keyring so the classic can just be pulled right out of the sheath and put to use.

I used to use a small carabiner to hold things together also, and it is a great way to do it. I suspect the reason why so many people don't like a SAK and flashlight on their keychain is because theirs is already heavy and bulky. In my case it is those two things and two house keys; that's it! I don't always need to drive so car keys are on separate keychains. And if one is using the carabiner method, things can be added and removed as needed for each outing.

 

[jackknife]

I used to use a small carabiner to hold things together also, and it is a great way to do it. I suspect the reason why so many people don't like a SAK and flashlight on their keychain is because theirs is already heavy and bulky. In my case it is those two things and two house keys; that's it! I don't always need to drive so car keys are on separate keychains. And if one is using the carabiner method, things can be added and removed as needed for each outing.

Yes, thats the key to it. Make it so any item can be removed instantly for both convenience of use, and reconfigure the keyring for the days activities. Thats why I like the small Nite-Eze s-biners, as they go right on the split rings that come with the small SAK's and flashlights. Makes for a quick release for the items.

 

[Jrgn]

I’ve never really used small carabiners. My keychain only contains two keys and my Kershaw Recap bottle opener/driver.

I’m more of a ‘loose in the pocket’ person and never really lost smallish items like a small SAK Classic. I wear jeans virtually 100% of the time and all stuff fits in my LFP and RFP.

I don’t like having stuff in the back-pockets as this makes it uncomfortable when sitting down. This is also the reason I’ve adapted my daily carry strictly to what can be carried in the front pockets of my jeans. At most their is a receipt from some store or a small denomination 5 or 10 euro bill in my back-pocket.

I am even considering to do away with the wallet altogether, because all I carry in it is my bank card, ID/driver’s license and public transport card. That plus some bills. I figured I can just carry those cards and bills with a rubber band and thus ‘win back’ some more pocket space. Anyone carry cards and cash without a wallet with just a rubber band?

 

[jackknife]

. I figured I can just carry those cards and bills with a rubber band and thus ‘win back’ some more pocket space. Anyone carry cards and cash without a wallet with just a rubber band?

Our son John has been doing that for years now. He won't carry a wallet because its too bulky. Just his credit card, drivers license, and a few other things with a big rubber band. It seems liberating, but I'd miss the P-38, safety pins, paper clips and diamond knife sharpener that is in the zipper pocket of my wallet.

John also carries his Vic classic and Fenix flashlight loose in his side pocket.