The edc one knife challenge thread

Some scratches near the edge and some discoloration spots I haven't been able to remove have developed on the blade. Like I said, I haven't been babying it. It'll be interesting to see how it wears and possibly corrodes over time.

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Decided to try something a little more challenging for my daily tasks. Although the Barky comes with a really nice sheath, I decided to make another lighter sheath for it, using strictly the Barky to cut the leather. Here, I've blocked out the leather for each side, and I'm wet forming the leather. The staple holes won't show in the final product.
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Yall haven't heard from me since the first day. For good reason too. I lasted about 3 days, and then I needed a tip. If there is another challenge, I want to do it. This time I bit off more than I can chew. I have used the assist quite a bit for emergency work and such, but I need a tip for edc. And maybe not a bright yellow handle. Thanks for the chance.. I'll continue to follow this thread.
 
Three days left in the challenge. I wonder how many of us are still going strong?

Taking a little break from knife use today; while getting my Companion off my belt, I accidentally tugged on it the wrong way and put a 1cm cut on my finger. I think shallow cuts are really what the Companion excels at most.
 
Kwon Kwang said:
Three days left in the challenge. I wonder how many of us are still going strong?

Taking a little break from knife use today; while getting my Companion off my belt, I accidentally tugged on it the wrong way and put a 1cm cut on my finger. I think shallow cuts are really what the Companion excels at most.
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The dozier still rides in my pocket. This turned out to be harder than other people thought!
 
After nearly a month, I find the butterfly to be equally as well suited to single handed deployment and stowage as any folder or OTF, but the time to do so is much greater. I'll be going back to my Microtech, but I do feel much more comfortable with the benchmade than I thought I would. If any of you want to try something new, don't overlook a butterfly, it can be an effective EDC solution.
 
Im still going, just hard to remember to take pics along the way really. After a month of using it exclusively it becomes second nature and you dont think twice about documenting anymore.

Matt
 
I have really enjoyed this thread. I purposefully finish off this thread with the Bark River`s utilization in the construction of a leather neck sheath symbolizing that I will permanently enter the Bark River into my future permanent EDC rotation. I chose the Bark River for this challenge partially because I had never EDC`ed a full convex grind knife before. I carried it every day in March so far. There was for me a definite and noticeable difference from what I was used to feeling while slicing at first. I like the way the knife pushes sliced items out ahead of the knife as I cut with it. For instance, when slicing potatoes or cucumbers the slices rarely stuck to the blade. As I continued to use to it, I was pleasantly surprised. The knife performed well in all categories of my typical EDC use, which is primarily food prep, open mail, and minor utility. The exceptions for me this month were the whittling and the leather projects. However, this is what I expect from an EDC, a knife that will handle whatever I might expect a good knife to accomplish when I need it. The knife still has the factory edge on it, and it will still shave. I stropped the knife every evening and occasionally gave it a few light passes on oiled wet-dry 1500 grit sandpaper. And I did have to use a steel on it after the whittling project. The cpm20cv steel at 63 Rockwell is simply awesome, and it's my new favorite steel. I must say the convex grind makes it a poor hard cheese slicer. However almost every knife is, unless it is very thin and full flat grind. The Barky is a very versatile weight and and is comfortable almost anyway you want to carry it. The only criticism I have is the factory sheath, which is supposed to be a neck sheath. It has an earth magnet sewn into it making it too heavy and thick for comfortable neck carry. It does redeem itself because it works very well for traditional and inverted side carry. That is one of the reasons I made a very thin lightweight sheath for me to neck carry, which is my second favorite, after scout, way to carry a fixed blade. I would give the Barky knife system a ten out of ten score. Here is the sheath I made for it. I did all the cutting with the Barky, and although I prefer to use a utility knife, the Barky was quite adequate at cutting and trimming the leather:
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Spyder59 said:
I have really enjoyed this thread. I purposefully finish off this thread with the Bark River`s utilization in the construction of a leather neck sheath symbolizing that I will permanently enter the Bark River into my future permanent EDC rotation. I chose the Bark River for this challenge partially because I had never EDC`ed a full convex grind knife before. I carried it every day in March so far. There was for me a definite and noticeable difference from what I was used to feeling while slicing at first. I like the way the knife pushes sliced items out ahead of the knife as I cut with it. For instance, when slicing potatoes or cucumbers the slices rarely stuck to the blade. As I continued to use to it, I was pleasantly surprised. The knife performed well in all categories of my typical EDC use, which is primarily food prep, open mail, and minor utility. The exceptions for me this month were the whittling and the leather projects. However, this is what I expect from an EDC, a knife that will handle whatever I might expect a good knife to accomplish when I need it. The knife still has the factory edge on it, and it will still shave. I stropped the knife every evening and occasionally gave it a few light passes on oiled wet-dry 1500 grit sandpaper. And I did have to use a steel on it after the whittling project. The cpm20cv steel at 63 Rockwell is simply awesome, and it's my new favorite steel. I must say the convex grind makes it a poor hard cheese slicer. However almost every knife is, unless it is very thin and full flat grind. The Barky is a very versatile weight and and is comfortable almost anyway you want to carry it. The only criticism I have is the factory sheath, which is supposed to be a neck sheath. It has an earth magnet sewn into it making it too heavy and thick for comfortable neck carry. It does redeem itself because it works very well for traditional and inverted side carry. That is one of the reasons I made a very thin lightweight sheath for me to neck carry, which is my second favorite, after scout, way to carry a fixed blade. I would give the Barky knife system a ten out of ten score. Here is the sheath I made for it. I did all the cutting with the Barky, and although I prefer to use a utility knife, the Barky was quite adequate at cutting and trimming the leather:
51badbb211ca1b8c1fd513994def24cb.jpg
1a00179345bcee1f3c4aa208c87482e1.jpg
483e42bd5f0744129903c05524d942da.jpg
1a2004f977573f9dcb27e00461821871.jpg
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Dang man, that's incredible!
 
^^^Awesome Sheath. I need to make a few for some of my knives, just need to learn how first.

For the last day of the challenge, I have a photo from last night dinner prep cutting some carrots. It did very well and I was surprised how it sliced through the carrots with little wedging. Also this pic does a good job of showing the patina gained over 1 month of use.

Overall I had fun with this challenge. As stated before I think I bit off more than I could chew with this knife. The sheath is not the best, and the blade is a little large for my EDC needs. I did learn a lot from this exercise and am very happy to have completed it. If anything I learned what size fixed blade I may want to try out next: a smaller one. This knife will not be seeing regular carry in the future, and will probably become an outdoor or hunting knife where it's size and concealment will not be as much of an issue.

Congratulations to everyone who made it to the end of this challenge.

Day 1

Day 31
 
Thanks for the encouragement guys! I really really appreciate it. Congrats to everyone who entered the challenge, it's been a real hoot. I nominate Riley12 for starting the outstanding thread of 2016, so far! [emoji41]
 
CHALLENGE: Cadet



Cadet vs Soldier/Pioneer

Last month I turned the little Cadet over to a neighbor of mine for testing because his normal carry is a Wenger Soldier. The Swiss military version of the Pioneer. Other than size, both of
these knives are very much like the Cadet. So much so that over the years the Cadet has earned the nickname "Baby Pioneer". They all use the same blade steel. The same style of aluminum scales. Even the same heat treatment on the blades.

I was curious as to what my friend Greg would have to say about the Cadet in comparison to the Soldier model. He carried the Cadet over two weeks and the only real complaint about the Cadet was it's size. Just a little to small for his hand. Overall, the Soldier just works better for him. He felt that the Cadet is, and I quote, "A very handy knife." I should let you guys know that he purchased a Cadet earlier this month, after mine was returned.


My Findings and Opinions

I like the idea of the Swiss Army Knife in concept but, like many products, they fall short of being perfect. I want to like SAKs and use them for EDC but just can't do it because of their limitations, You see, I like knives with easy access to the blade. For me, SAKs don't offer that. I like knives that have locking blades. Another thing most SAKs don't have. Nail nicks are not my best friend. Strike three. SAKs have nail nicks. A modern locking knife overcomes all of these shortcomings. Why would I want to normally carry any thing but a modern blade as my EDC? The Cadet was only purchased just so I would have a knife to carry at weddings and stuff. Places that I would never have a need to use a blade. Something I could carry around complete strangers and not have to worry about it. After all, It would never get used.

At the beginning of the month, having a Cadet in my pocket was wrong. It would sink to the bottom of my pocket and rattle against my keys. I had to dig for it anytime I wanted a knife.
It was so small I could not find it in my pocket. I tried clipping it to my key ring so that I could keep track of the thing. That is a no-go because then I have to dig my keys out any time I want my knife. Not a good idea.

About 10-12 days into the challenge, I noticed it was beginning to feel natural to have the Cadet in the bottom of my pocket. No longer a huge emotional battle to take my Kershaw or Benchmade with me when I walked out the front door. Just a small argument with myself.

Now it is the end of the month and it feels very natural to have the Cadet at my side. It is so light that I hardly take any notice that it is there. I still find it a little small for an EDC and can't picture it taking the place of my Benchmade Griptilian, Volli or Kershaw Zing. It has, however, earned a permanent place in my collection of carry knives.

Some of the things I have learned (or was reminded of) over the last thirty-one days:

1. Blade deployment on the Cadet is the easiest of any Alox SAK I have ever tried. It is now the standard that I will use to compare other SAKs.

2. I don't want a knife with a blade shorter than 2 1/2 inches, for any reason.

3. A knife on my keyring is bad thing. I must admit, though, I have found that I kinda like clipping the knife to my keys when I go to bed. Then I have one less item to grab as I get
dressed in the morning. I just have to remember to remove the knife from my keys before I get in the car.

4. The Cadet is a wonderful knife to have if you are around people you don't know or someone who feels threatened by a knife.

5. It is nice to have a budget knife that you don't have to worry about.

6. The Cadet is super easy to sharpen.

7. The Cadet would make a very good "secondary" blade to carry with fixed blade or large folder.

8. I really don't care for knives with nail nicks.


Much to my surprise, I found closing the Cadet a joy. Nothing to push, swing or pull on before you close the blade. Simple. Easy. Fun. Maybe you traditional knife guys are on to something.
 
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Not concerned about who wins at this point; the challenge was a superb learning experience and I'm pleased to have taken part. Knowledge is more valuable prize than anything material. Great idea, Riley! :thumbup:
 
I agree! I had fun and proved a couple things to myself. 1) initially I love the idea of a small fixed blad EDC. 2) that quickly wore off and I got annoyed with it 3) the annoyance also quickly wore off and being that I was forced to deal with it, I got to rely and enjoy it again 4) I use a knife ALOT more than I thought I would during the course of the day 5) its super nice to have multiple blades to do different jobs but if it came down to it, 1 knife can do damned near anything you need if need be. And to finish it off, 6) I decided NOT to pack it today and finally use my Cryo that I bought early in the challenge for the first time...and I miss having the little POS in my pocket already (not the Cryo's fault) LOL.

Matt
 
I learned that I don't like the tiny thumb stud on the dozier, and the coating lasts about as long as spray paint. Still, a wonderful knife for a great price, holds an edge well, unless you open up a tin can with it, and super slim in the pocket. I'll post up an in depth review this weekend hopefully.
 
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