The "Core" knife.

If we are talkng about a knife I always have with me, well the victorinox cadet lives in my wallet, and a victorinox classic lives on my key ring. But for pocket carry, my go to is the Schrade 897UH in one of its many variants. This knife is a bit like a peanut, in being small and light but packs a lot of blade. The sheepsfoot for package opening, the beautiful long turkish clip for food and slicing tasks. C'mon GEC you know you want to....

 
Carl, I understand what you are saying and mine is the Case 62087 kinda larger peanut. Not perfect for everything but seems to always be there even if it is only a worry stone to rub with my thumb.
 
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Before this Midsummer holidays I took a decision of my core knife!
We spend the weekend by boatcamping in the Archipelago of Stockholm.

For boatrelated needs I always bring a stainless Mora & a Leatherman.
For pocketcarry I choosed between my Fällkniven's, Queen made and GEC's.
The choice for a coreknife was the Indian River Jack.

The criterias were stainless, edgeholding, strenght, ergonomics, simplicity and pocketability.
IMO the IRJ has a lot to offer compared to the very tough competition.

The runner up was the Fällkniven GP
In third place came the GEC #68 White Owl.
Both of them great knives that will do the job, but I think the IRJ fits my criterias the best.


Regards
Mikael
 


PAL Cutlery EO Jack
Does everything, perfect size and weight. Not my fanciest but it is the one you'll usually find in my pocket.
Peace
 
Oh dang, this is a tough choice. My core appears to be a black Victorinox Spartan and a black Case Medium Jack. I almost always have the Spartan on me. My other knife is subject to change. Often it's a peanut. Lately I've become quite enamored with the Medium Jack and find that I rather love it.


Alex
 
For me, it's not a particular knife (make & model) so much as it's a particular pattern: the scout/camper/utility knife. I latched onto it after joining the Scouts 50+ years ago, and it always has been cutlery's home base for me.

Initially, it was an Imperial Boy Scout knife, of which the knife seen here replaced the long-lost original:

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In more recent years, I've picked up a couple of the Ulster Scout model from that same era, along with various additional camper patterns, such as the Camillus MIL-K knife, Remington R-4, the Wenger Soldier, and the Vic Pioneer and Cadet.

However, for the past couple years I've settled on the Camillus Army Engineer's knife from WW2 (made 1942-44). I have three of them, two with the U.S.A. shield. That is what goes into my pocket every day now. (And it's accompanied by a Vic Classic, just because that's the other most-core-like knife I own.)

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(This photograph was taken the day I bought it. The photo doesn't show this, but the knife still has about 40% of the original mirror polish on the blades. I have also since cleaned it up soemwhat — and pocket carry has also helped — but the black staining is today pretty much as it shows here.)

From time to time, I'll carry knives in other patterns, but never without a feeling that I'm wandering away from home base. Ultimately, what always brings me back is the sheer versatility of the traditional 4-blade camper.
 
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Every knife I buy is my new Core Knife, the One, the perfection of pocketknife design. Then something new catches my eye....

I really think it's so hard to choose because they are all really great, refined, proven designs, that have stood the test of time. The thing about traditionals is that the handle shapes, and blades haven't changed much in hundreds of years. A spear or drop point with a thin cross-section cuts as well now as it did in Roman times. A handle gently contoured to fill the hand feels as good now as it did when a peasant whittled one in 1750. The only question is one of details: which blades are most useful, which handles feel the best with those blades, and can the whole package be pocketable, and pretty to look at? My hand and eye seem to make a different choice every morning.
 
Always have a 4 blade scout pattern and a 110 on me, no matter what other knives I have in my pocket(s). I suppose they are my core knives, I don't feel complete without them.
 
The little Vic minichamp is almost always with me although I see it mostly as a pocket tool box.
My core knife, the one that no matter what ends finding its way to the pocket is my 1979 6383 whittler, my hands are used to it like to no other.
I used to carry a two bladed jack(before I began whittling) like the boker Barlow, case 6235 1/2, peanut, etc.
But the added little clip is now a must.
Now some pics
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This Barlow was carried everyday for 2 or 3 years until it got replaced because of the whittling needs
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The only downside of the whittler is that the main is a little too thick for my taste, but it's a feature of the split back design
 
Well, the one that's given me greatest pleasure recently, since I got the resolve to get it out of protective custody i.e. the safe is the GEC 38 Farmer.
I'd like to thank Lyle and GEC for making this possible as I'd never handled such a knife here in Europe before. I'd been beguiled by Lyle's pictures and dedicated connoisseurship of the pattern but been unable to get my hands - literally- on such a prize.

Now I have the best of all worlds. A working 38 Lick Creek that I carry regularly and enjoy constantly and an array of Trophy 38s to coon finger and revere when the mood takes me, Lick Creek Ivory Bone and a couple of Orchard Gems - Cranberry and Ebony. Knirvarna!:D

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Will...I got this same knife when my Lick Creek Barlows arrived and carry the 38 more often. It caught me off guard the I liked it so much and has me wondering whether I need to find the smooth ivory. Do you prefer the antique yellow to the smooth ivory?

Will Power said:
Well, the one that's given me greatest pleasure recently, since I got the resolve to get it out of protective custody i.e. the safe is the GEC 38 Farmer.
I'd like to thank Lyle and GEC for making this possible as I'd never handled such a knife here in Europe before. I'd been beguiled by Lyle's pictures and dedicated connoisseurship of the pattern but been unable to get my hands - literally- on such a prize.

Now I have the best of all worlds. A working 38 Lick Creek that I carry regularly and enjoy constantly and an array of Trophy 38s to coon finger and revere when the mood takes me, Lick Creek Ivory Bone and a couple of Orchard Gems - Cranberry and Ebony. Knirvarna!:D

IMG_4064.jpg
Click to expand...
 
Tex I took the Antique Yellow into service before I got hold of the Ivory Bone. Both are beautiful in their different ways so I have no preference, the jigged bone is perhaps a bit more grippy in the hand? That said, my other knives in Ivory Bone that have been used have demonstrated fine ageing characteristics so the Ivory Bone would make a splendid user, no question!

You need one? Of course you do:D But get one while you can, they're not so common...

Thanks, Will
 
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